The opening round of the World Baseball Classic will take place from March 5 to March 12. The tournament consists of two double elimination rounds followed by a single elimination Semi-Final and a single-elimination Championship round. All of the World Baseball Classic games will be played in California.Who are the favorites to win the World Baseball Classic in 2009?
Once again, the Japanese national team is the early favorite. However, one of its top pitchers from 2006, Koji Uehara, is not on the provisional roster after just signing with the Baltimore Orioles. The Dominican Republic team is very much at the top, the United States should be much improved, Venezuela is always tough and Cuba can never be discounted.
What are other teams to watch out for?
Korea is the first team that comes to mind, especially since they beat the Cubans at the Summer Games and finished third in the 2006 World Basebal Classic. Hey, Puerto Rico is going to be super tough, considering that the following MLB stars are expected to play for them: Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Alex Rios, Yadier Molina, Mike Lowell, Bengie Molina, Geovany Soto and retired Yankee Bernie Williams.
Just south of the border, Mexico will also be in the mix, with veterans Oliver Perez, Elmer Dessens and Rodrigo Lopez as impressive starting pitchers. They will be joined by newcomers Matt Garza and Jorge Campillo along with bullpen stud Joakim Soria.
Team USA will have some outstanding talent and will be lead by manager Davey Johnson. Some familiar names include infielders Derek Jeter of the Yankees, Derrek Lee of the Chicago Cubs, Atlanta's Chipper Jones and Boston Red Sox's Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkalis. Some of the big name pitchers expected to play include the Angels' John Lackey, the Padres' Jake Peavy and Houston's Roy Oswalt.
The starting lineup could include: Derrek Lee or Kevin Youkilis at first base, Pedroia and Cleveland's Mark DeRosa at second, Jeter and Philadelphia's Jimmie Rollins at shortstop, Chipper Jones and the Mets' David Wright at third and Brian McCann of the Braves behind the plate.
It looks like the outfield of Team USA may be in good hands with Ryan Braun of the Brewers, Curtis Granderson of the Tigers and Grady Sizemore of the Indians. However, you would expect more superstars and/or well known players.
The starters could be Peavy, Lackey and Oswalt or even Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir. The bullpen possibilities are the newly signed Angel Brian Fuentes, Joe Nathan, Scot Shields, Jonathan Broxton of the Dodgers, B.J. Ryan of the Blue Jays, J.J. Putz of the Mets, Matt Thornton of the White Sox and Matt Lindstrom of the Marlins.
The one and only, Yankee, Alex Rodriquez will play for the Dominican Republic in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He played for Team USA in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
The teams for the double elimination Round One will be divided into 4 pools, they are:
Pool A - China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea
Pool B - Australia, Cuba, Mexico, South Africa
Pool C - Canada, Italy, USA, Venezuela
Pool D - Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico
It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia.Daisuke Matsuzaka won his second World Baseball Classic MVP Award.
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