[davethesportsguy]

USA Baseball announced today the 30 Major League players that will compete for Team USA in the first-ever World Baseball Classic, to be played March 3-20. The following players have confirmed their position on Team USA’s 30-man roster, and are scheduled to report to Team USA Training Camp in Arizona on March 2:



Clemens, Roger RHP

Cordero, Chad RHP Washington Nationals

Fuentes, Brian LHP Colorado Rockies

Jones, Todd RHP Detroit Tigers

Lidge, Brad RHP Houston Astros

Nathan, Joe RHP Minnesota Twins

Peavy, Jake RHP San Diego Padres

Sabathia, C.C. LHP Cleveland Indians

Shields, Scot RHP Los Angeles Angels

Street, Huston RHP Oakland Athletics

Timlin, Mike RHP Boston Red Sox

Wagner, Billy LHP New York Mets

Wheeler, Dan RHP Houston Astros

Willis, Dontrelle LHP Florida Marlins

Barrett, Michael C Chicago Cubs

Schneider, Brian C Washington Nationals

Varitek, Jason C Boston Red Sox

Jeter, Derek IF New York Yankees

Jones, Chipper IF Atlanta Braves

Lee, Derrek IF Chicago Cubs

Rodriguez, Alex IF New York Yankees

Teixeira, Mark IF Texas Rangers

Utley, Chase IF Philadelphia Phillies

Young, Michael IF Texas Rangers

Damon, Johnny OF New York Yankees

Francoeur, Jeff OF Atlanta Braves

Griffey Jr., Ken OF Cincinnati Reds

Holliday, Matt OF Colorado Rockies

Wells, Vernon OF Toronto Blue Jays

Winn, Randy OF San Francisco Giants



The status of all players is subject to change. The official United States 30-man roster will not be submitted to WBC Tournament organizers until March 2.

The following 22 players remain on USA Baseball’s provisional roster as reserve players:



Jeremy Bonderman RHP Detroit Tigers

Roy Halladay RHP Toronto Blue Jays

Dan Haren RHP Oakland A’s

Tim Hudson RHP Atlanta Braves

Brett Myers RHP Philadelphia Phillies

Andy Pettitte LHP Houston Astros

Ben Sheets RHP Milwaukee Brewers

Al Leiter LHP New York Yankees

Gary Majewski RHP Washington Nationals

Paul LoDuca C New York Mets

Joe Mauer C Minnesota Twins

Chad Moeller C Milwaukee Brewers

Eric Chavez IF Oakland A’s

Craig Counsell IF Arizona Diamondbacks

Morgan Ensberg IF Houston Astros

Bill Hall IF Milwaukee Brewers

Jimmy Rollins IF Philadelphia Phillies

David Wright IF New York Mets

Lance Berkman OF Houston Astros

Barry Bonds OF San Francisco Giants

Carl Crawford OF Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Luis Gonzalez OF Arizona Diamondbacks



Team USA will hold their first workout on March 3 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, beginning at 9:00 am. WBC credentialed media members are welcome to attend the workout. Team USA opens play in the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday, March 7 at 2 p.m. local time vs. Mexico.



NOTE: TWO COACHES ADDED - USA Baseball also announced that John McLaren (Devil Rays) will be Team USA’s Third Base Coach, while Rick Eckstein (Nationals) will serve as Bullpen Coach.



THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC

The World Baseball Classic, a 16-team tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), will feature many of the best players in the world competing for their home countries and territories for the first time ever in March 2006.

The 16 teams invited to participate in the event have been divided into four pools of four teams for the first round of play. The four Round 1 pools will be played at venues in Japan (Tokyo Dome – Tokyo), Puerto Rico (Hiram Bithorn Stadium – San Juan) and the United States (Chase Field – Phoenix, Arizona; Scottsdale Stadium – Scottsdale, Arizona; Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex – Orlando, Florida).

Round 2 will feature two pools of four teams each and will be played in Puerto Rico (Hiram Bithorn Stadium) and the United States (Angel Stadium – Anaheim, California). The Semi-finals and final game will be played at PETCO Park in San Diego, California.

The WBC will feature a bracket-style format with the 16 teams competing in four groups: Pool A - China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea; Pool B - Canada, Mexico, South Africa, United States; Pool C – Cuba, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico; Pool D - Australia, Dominican Republic, Italy, Venezuela.

[Lefty Noob]

Great, thanks for posting this, Dave. Quite frankly, I'm a little disappointed by the final U.S. roster. Just doesn't look as strong in some areas, namely pitching and catching, as I would've hoped.

Who starts? I'd guess Varitek behind the plate and Lee at 1st. Utley would almost have to get the nod at 2nd, due to the fact that he's the only 2B on the roster. That'd put Jeter at short and A-Rod at 3rd. Damon will be one of the outfielders, but I don't know about the other two. It's a toss up.

What do you guys think about the America's chances? The way I see it, we should be able to get through at least to round two. After that, it depends who we wind up facing.

EDIT: Heard this morning that Young has agreed to play 2B, so I imagine he will start over Utley, although it sounds as though everyone will see significant playing time.