How did Canada end up in the qualifiers? They've got as much talent as the other 7 countries combined.

For failing to beat 3 of the upper tier teams last year. The 0-fer teams got kicked back down and need to re-qualify.

Yeah, it's because Canada laid an egg in the 2009 WBC. Losing to the USA and then being upset by Italy. They lost, so they went to the qualifiers.

Of course, had the USA or the DR laid an egg, I'm sure MLB would bend the rules with extreme abandon. Either that or use it as a publicity stunt to get the WBC above the "kind of neat detour from Spring Training" it is for the majority of American MLB players and fans. Although, hey, GIancarlo Stanton says he'd gladly play for Team USA, which is a good sign.

I am officially excited!

So is Shawn Hill the ace?

I see the British Baseball Federation Domestic League gets some representation with Michael Trask of the Bracknell Blazers. Nice!

Wait, Jupiter gets a team now? Will Nyjer Morgan play for them?

At least Martin Cervenka had less passed balls this year than Clint Coulter did. Although I think almost everyone in affiliated baseball had less passed balls this year than Coulter, including the full-season players. (21!)

Also re "ringers" etc, didn't realize Kieran Lovegrove was South African, as B-R and the official MiLB site both indicate he's from California. Anyway, he was one of the few pitchers I recall the AZL Brewers doing anything against, which doesn't say much.

Jupiter, huh? About an hour's drive north of me. At first glance it looks exciting, but I wonder if it's worth attending or will it be like Little League played by grown-ups?

So, as a Somerset Patriots fan, I guess I'm rooting for Spain, since they have Yunesky Sanchez on the roster. That has got to be weird, a Cuban defector playing for Spain. (He qualifies under the "grandparents born there" clause.)

And it's a bit unfair to say that MLB would bend the rules for the USA or the DR, since they didn't actually make these rules until after the results from 2009 were in the books.

Just looking at the number of players in affiliated ball, Israel would be the favorite in the Jupiter group. I assume the South Africans have played together more, for whatever that's worth in baseball.

Andy Pitcher is a CF? Stupid French can't do anything right...

Not just the French.

Jupiter, huh? About an hour's drive north of me. At first glance it looks exciting, but I wonder if it's worth attending or will it be like Little League played by grown-ups?

It'd be higher than that. I'd say the average level of play would probably be about A-Ball or AA, especially outside of France.

South Africa had multiple players named Rutgers last time. Oh wait, maybe that was the Netherlands. Maybe it South Africa that had Erasmus, my other favorite player name.