Sizing Up the WBC Rosters
Final rosters for the second World Baseball Classic were announced today, and my initial reaction is that no team is nearly as good as it could be. Like many, I love the WBC in theory more than in practice. Nevertheless, I'll be watching intently when the tournament begins March 5. Here are my observations on some of the teams.
United States: The US obviously benefits from the deepest talent pool in the tournament, and they needed it with all the players not participating. Even without players like Joe Mauer, Chase Utley, Lance Berkman, and Matt Holliday, Team USA still has, in my opinion, the best lineup from top-to-bottom in the tournament. Grady Sizemore, Dustin Pedroia, David Wright, Chipper Jones, and Ryan Braun are among the big names. The starting rotation consists of Jake Peavy, Roy Oswalt, Jeremy Guthrie, and Ted Lilly. The US should have had by far the best pitching staff in the tournament, but instead of C.C. Sabathia, Brandon Webb, Roy Halladay, or Tim Lincecum (no objection from me), we get Guthrie and Lilly. Those two should be used in lower-pressure games. Because of pitch count limits, the bullpen takes on a greater importance, and the US makes up somewhat in this department. Joe Nathan, Jonathan Broxton, J.J. Putz, and Brian Fuentes provide plenty of firepower. Team USA should make it out of Pool A (with Canada, Italy, and Venezuela) fairly easily.
Dominican Republic: This could have been a devastating lineup, but Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez, and Vladimir Guerrero will all be staying home. There's still plenty of thump, with Alex Rodriguez, Hanley Ramirez, and David Ortiz, but there are pretty big holes in the outfield and at catcher. It will be interesting to see what manager Felipe Alou does with Ramirez and Jose Reyes, the two best shortstops in the game, on the same team. The pitching staff of Edinson Volquez, Ubaldo Jimenez, Johnny Cueto, and Pedro Martinez is intriguing, and there are some live arms in the bullpen, though the loss of Carlos Marmol hurts. I don't know if the DR can compete with the US, but they're definitely the best team in Pool D (with the Netherlands, Panama, and Puerto Rico).
Venezuela: Even without Johan Santana, Team Venezuela may have the best 1-2 punch in Carlos Zambrano and Felix Hernandez. In a short tournament, that could get them far. A trio of Tigers - Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, and Carlos Guillen - highlight the offense, which also includes Bobby Abreu and Melvin Mora. I expect them to be the runner-up to the US in Pool C.
Puerto Rico: The only significant Giant in the tournament is Jonathan Sanchez, who will be a part of a rotation with Javier Vazquez and Ian Snell. Puerto Rico's strength is the middle of the order, consisting of Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, Alex Rios, and Geovany Soto. That should be enough to get them at least out of round 1.
Japan: I can't speak with too much authority on the Japanese team, but the defending champs can't be counted out. All eyes will be on Yu Darvish, who forms a formidable 1-2 punch with Daisuke Matsuzaka. Other major leaguers on the team include Ichiro Suzuki, Kosuke Fukudome, and Akinori Iwamura.
I also expect Cuba, Korea, and Mexico to make it out of the first round. Team USA is the early favorite, but not by much.
United States: The US obviously benefits from the deepest talent pool in the tournament, and they needed it with all the players not participating. Even without players like Joe Mauer, Chase Utley, Lance Berkman, and Matt Holliday, Team USA still has, in my opinion, the best lineup from top-to-bottom in the tournament. Grady Sizemore, Dustin Pedroia, David Wright, Chipper Jones, and Ryan Braun are among the big names. The starting rotation consists of Jake Peavy, Roy Oswalt, Jeremy Guthrie, and Ted Lilly. The US should have had by far the best pitching staff in the tournament, but instead of C.C. Sabathia, Brandon Webb, Roy Halladay, or Tim Lincecum (no objection from me), we get Guthrie and Lilly. Those two should be used in lower-pressure games. Because of pitch count limits, the bullpen takes on a greater importance, and the US makes up somewhat in this department. Joe Nathan, Jonathan Broxton, J.J. Putz, and Brian Fuentes provide plenty of firepower. Team USA should make it out of Pool A (with Canada, Italy, and Venezuela) fairly easily.
Dominican Republic: This could have been a devastating lineup, but Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez, and Vladimir Guerrero will all be staying home. There's still plenty of thump, with Alex Rodriguez, Hanley Ramirez, and David Ortiz, but there are pretty big holes in the outfield and at catcher. It will be interesting to see what manager Felipe Alou does with Ramirez and Jose Reyes, the two best shortstops in the game, on the same team. The pitching staff of Edinson Volquez, Ubaldo Jimenez, Johnny Cueto, and Pedro Martinez is intriguing, and there are some live arms in the bullpen, though the loss of Carlos Marmol hurts. I don't know if the DR can compete with the US, but they're definitely the best team in Pool D (with the Netherlands, Panama, and Puerto Rico).
Venezuela: Even without Johan Santana, Team Venezuela may have the best 1-2 punch in Carlos Zambrano and Felix Hernandez. In a short tournament, that could get them far. A trio of Tigers - Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, and Carlos Guillen - highlight the offense, which also includes Bobby Abreu and Melvin Mora. I expect them to be the runner-up to the US in Pool C.
Puerto Rico: The only significant Giant in the tournament is Jonathan Sanchez, who will be a part of a rotation with Javier Vazquez and Ian Snell. Puerto Rico's strength is the middle of the order, consisting of Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, Alex Rios, and Geovany Soto. That should be enough to get them at least out of round 1.
Japan: I can't speak with too much authority on the Japanese team, but the defending champs can't be counted out. All eyes will be on Yu Darvish, who forms a formidable 1-2 punch with Daisuke Matsuzaka. Other major leaguers on the team include Ichiro Suzuki, Kosuke Fukudome, and Akinori Iwamura.
I also expect Cuba, Korea, and Mexico to make it out of the first round. Team USA is the early favorite, but not by much.
Labels: World Baseball Classic
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