After it appeared as if Simontacchi was going to be a minor league journeyman, Simontacchi's career was revitalized by a dominating stint in the Italian Leaagues. A team in the Italian Leagues purchased his contract from an Independent League team for $500 because his name sounded Italian. His performance was so good that he wound up pitching for Italy in the Olympics. After some more knocking about, he wound up in St. Louis.

All of which is to say that it's not entirely stupid that Simontacchi is pitching for Italy. He has represented them in International competition before and has lived there in the past.

I'm kind of glad they set the WBC up that way (parents and grandparents count for country of origin). Without doing it, they would have had a much harder time fielding 16 competitive teams and the US team probably would have been even more stacked than it already is.

Reminds me of the note posted on the jacket of Elvis Costello's album "Trust," which described one Declan Patrick McManus as "looking Italian."

BTW, my library has a DVD of the '86 Chet Baker concert in London in which Costello (who had used Chet for a trumpet solo in "Shipbuilding" a few years before) and Van Morrison make guest appearances. Anyone here seen it? Is it worth checking out?

I had a throwaway line in one of my blogs once that "Irish" Museul got the nickname from his appearence rather than any actual heritage. I assume (and, for that matter, hope) I didn't just make that up, so anyone know where I might've gotten that notion?

any Neopolitan who feels a twinge of national pride as Jason throws strike three passed a bewilderd Aussie batsman really needs to get out more.

There's a Maradona joke in here somewhere.

any Neopolitan

Are these fans of The Matrix? You were looking for Neapolitan.

The national origin rules for the WBC are similar, if not identical (I'm not certain), to those used in the Olympics.

The qualification rules for the WBC amuse me immensely.

My great-grandfather was born in Luxembourg...I'm holding out hope for a Luxembourgish National Team in the next WBC. I can't hit and I have no wheels, but really - how many Luxembourgish baseball players can there possibly be?

Holy cow and high-button shoes, that was dumb typo. Thanks Vince. Now corrected. I apologize to our extensive readership based in Naples.

RB, I concur with your version of how Emil "Irish" Meusel got his name. Solid hitter and, little known, a movie star. Check out his entry at IMDB.

Now, Henry "Irish" McIlveen - there's a true Celt, born in Belfast. Not much of a career but, interestingly enough, he put up five ABs for the '06 Pirates. Maybe he saw the legendary '06 Cubs in person.

I'm pretty sure I could play for either Ireland or Scotland. I would like to advertise my services as a curveballer with respectable K rates and astronomical BB tendencies; as a high-contact, sure-handed, strong-armed third baseman; or as a point guard with a strong grasp of the fundamentals.

I could totally make team Ireland as a JT Snow good glove first baseman. Except I'd actually be good at D.

I could probably pass for citizenship in Poland, Germany, or the Ukraine. Given the lenient requirements, I could probably qualify for Spain or France (speak the languages), Mexico (have had Taco Bell a few times a year), or Japan (I've seen Rashomon).

I always thought that line in "Kid Charlemagne" went: "Do you realize/You are still Italian in their eyes."

Maybe that's what Simontacchi heard too.

I always thought that line in "Kid Charlemagne" went: "Do you realize/You are still Italian in their eyes."


Amen to that.

I was born in Chicago and am I citizen and resident of Israel.

My great grandparents were from Russia, Lithuania, Germany, Austria and England.

Let the recruiting war begin!

"I've seen Rashomon"

How can we be sure?

How can we be sure?

Well, I know I saw Dan watching Rashomon

Well, I know I saw Dan watching Rashomon

But I saw him trimming his toenails the whole time.

Well, I know I saw Dan watching Rashomon

That's not at all what it looked like to me.

i call dibs on the polish roster, we could fill half the starters withmy self and my brothers alone...we need for a joke to create our own btf entrys using primates, then create them in dmb or something and do our own WBC

Go CUBA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If they make it to the finals, I'll be wearing my Cooperstown Ballcap '48 Havana Kings cap!

I was in a band in college called "Looking Italian" ( a reference to Elvic C.)... We ended up putting out a song on a Costello tribute album (Life Imitates Art Volume #1) and immediately got a "cease and desist" letter from another band called Looking Italian.....Sheesh!

I, for one, love these citizenship requirements. My great-grandparents were born southeast of Naples and left for the States around 1890. I was able to gain Italian citizenship a couple years ago and am thinking of heading back at the end of March to play a third straight season of baseball over there. Not good enough for the Olympic team, but an incredible experience nonetheless.