Mariners P and Australian Ace-To-Be has decided to skip the tourney to enhance his chances of winning a spot in the M’s rotation.
The A’s are holding both Joey Devine and Santiago Castilla out of the WBC.
The South Korean Manager Kim In-Sik (In-Sik Kim?) has taken the team off of Hawaii, bound for further training for the WBC. He has the added challenge of having his usual team needing to get ready as well.
The Yomiuri Shimbun says that Japanese camp has opened.
Venezuela continues to have players disappear from their roster, as Asdrubal Cabrera has decided to skip.
Now, a preview for Panama:
Panama was utterly and completely embarassed in the first WBC, although they were able to force the mighty Cubans into extra-innings, they were then mercy-ruled and no-hit by the Netherlands and Shairon Martis. So, going into this year, the Panamanians main goal should be not to get no-hit. Oh, and win a game. Three problems:
1) Once again, Mariano Rivera is doing as little as possible during the spring.
2) Rod Carew is over 60 years old.
3) Ruben Rivera will probably play, and he may steal everyone’s uniforms and sell them, forcing the team to play in T-Shirts.
All kidding aside, Panama is by leaps and bounds the worst Caribbean country in the WBC. This isn’t surprising, as it is also probably the worst Baseball country among those nations that have ever participated in the Caribbean World Series (and they don’t anymore). The roster for the WBC is full of a few MLB regulars, several has-beens, and some prospects of widely varying potential. Who should people watch for?
Besides Carlos Lee, obviously. I mean, he’s easily the best Panamanian in MLB (non-Mariano division), and back in January he said he’d participate, although he may have changed his mind (you can never tell some times). If Panama is going to get out of the first round, they will need him to be on fire.
But other than him? Well, both Manny Corpas and Manny Acosta are on the provisional roster, and Ramiro Mendoza is as well. Carlos Ruiz may be catching them. Former Cub/Tiger/Expo Jose Macias is listed as a infielder on the Panama Roster, although he played OF as well during his MLB days. Infielder Ruben Tejada (who is 19 years old) didn’t do too well for the St. Lucie Mets last year, but is notable because he played in the Little League World Series. Julio Zuleta is currently in Japan (where he hit .216/.274/.386 in 73 games last season), but played with the Cubs in ‘00 and ‘01. And then, we have Ruben Rivera and Fernando Seguinol.
Ruben Rivera will always have a special place in all of our hearts. Outside of “Operation Shutdown”, nothing from 2002 is more ripe for parody than him. Ruben apparently has been in the Mexican League the last few years, and no doubt everyone makes sure to know where their gloves, bats and towels are at.
Fernando Seguignol is currently in Japan, but his Baseball Cube page will remain forever.
But anyway, I’ve been rambling (surprising, I know), so it’s time to get down to business: The Panamanians are in a veritable group of death, being in the same pool as Puerto Rico, the Dominican and Dark Horse Netherlands. It is certainly possible that they get out of the pool, but unlikely. As I said earlier: Carlos Lee will need to be on fire. And they have to make sure Ruben Rivera doesn’t steal their stuff.
Panama will win the WBC if: Carlos Lee hits a Home Run every at-bat and Mariano decides that he will participate. And Ruben Rivera steals all the opponents’ stuff.
Panama will get out of the pool if: Carlos Lee is on Fire and Ruben Rivera doesn’t steal their stuff.
Panama will win a game if: They pitch well and have timely hitting…. and Ruben Rivera doesn’t steal their stuff.
Panama will not get No-Hit if: They get a hit in every game.
Worst Case Scenario: Carlos Lee doesn’t show up, Ruben Rivera steals their stuff and they are no-hit…. by Sidney Ponson.
Most Likely outcome: 2 losses and quick elimination.
My bold prediction: They lose 2 straight games and are quickly eliminated, but they take solace in the fact they weren’t no-hit and Ruben Rivera didn’t steal their stuff.
Next preview: Italy.
Reader Comments and Retorts
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Stuff that "missed the deadline":
Yovanni Gallardo still hasn't decided whether he will represent Mexico. The problems are his health and whether the insurance people will cover it.
For similar reasons, Albert Pujols may miss the WBC. Stupid Insurance Companies.
Jair Jurrjens will skip the tournament after he was told by Braves officials that they would want him to come back to camp immediately following his first start, and where would the fun be in that?
The
Sun-Times says that AJ Pierzynski is still waiting to hear whether he will be one of Team USA's catchers. My guess: No.
Now we know why Jorge Cantu was used in the promotional material...he's the only Mexican who they know is going to play!
Thanks. It gets a bit confusing sometimes since I was getting the news from a English version of a Korean source.
Oh, and I'm still wondering if anyone else cannot see this on the main Newsblog page...
Yorvit Torrealba may be the Rockies' opening day catcher if Chris Iannetta misses too much of Spring Training at the WBC.
I remember hearing that Cantu's family owns tons of ranchland and are pretty loaded.
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