Listen, I know you’re not exactly pumped about the second round of the WBC, or even baseball in general. Maybe it’s all the steroid talk that has dulled your brain to America’s past time. I can’t say I really blame you on that one. Maybe it’s the 162 game, 8 month season that causes you to not care about baseball until September. I understand that as well, because that’s how I feel about the NBA.
But after this country rallied around a goofball who can swim really fast, I got the feeling that patriotism in sports is not dead. The fact about international sports competition is that the rest of the world has caught up to us. Long gone are the days of Barkley and Jordan and Magic rolling over the rest of the world. Here and now are the days where we don’t win a tournament in the sport we invented.
Besides, what else are you going to do right now? The WBC will be over before the NFL draft and NBA playoffs, so take this opportunity to get really excited about something. If nothing else, recognize the window to drink some American beers and scream mildly racist things at the other teams through your TV.
So give it a chance, America. Let’s bring the WBC trophy (I assume there is a trophy, or what else are they playing for?) back to where it belongs!
Now, because you just started caring (thanks to my inspiring speach no doubt) I’ve taken the liberty of copying/pasting the American team that will be competing, complete with my thoughts on who will be playing, and who should be playing.
1B – Kevin Youkilis - I like but don’t love having Youk here. I think he had a great year last year and is definitely a ‘team’ kind of guy. He even looks like an American: kind of overweight, bald, goatee. The only reason I don’t love it is because there are so many better options here.
Should be: Teixeira. Or Howard if you feel the team needs more power…and strikeouts.
2B – Dustin Pedroia - Of course he’s on the team. Ugh. You already know how I feel about Pedroia, so I won’t bore you by going through all that again. As long as his “hustle” and “grit” (“grustle”?) can inspire his teammates, then I’m fine with it.
Should be: Chase Utley. Even if you feel Pedroia is better (Hi, Red Sox fans!), you have to recognize the lack of lefty hitters on this squad.
3B – David Wright/Chipper Jones - Everything I’ve heard is that these guys are going to split time at the hot corner. Chipper is going to be one of the older guys on the team, and will be in a leadership role, which I’m fine with. If I’m the Braves, I want my fragile, aging player to do more leading than playing.
Should be: N/A. I feel like they got this one…wait for it…Wright! Okay, I was just leaving anyways…
SS – Derek Jeter - Not really a surprise here. Jeter will probably be a team captain and is a great face for American baseball. I just can’t put it out of my mind that he brings negligible power, a diminishing with age bat, and a sub-par glove.
Should be: Jimmy Rollins. Rollins is on the team, but will be sitting behind Captain Clutch. It should be reversed.
LF: Ryan Braun - I assume Braun will be playing in his natural position. Although his defense may be a liability at times, his bat more than makes up for it. He adds some pop to the line-up.
Should be: N/A
CF: Grady Sizemore - Mr. Do-it-all will be a great asset roaming around in CF for the American squad. I love multi-faceted players (like Sizemore, Rollins, and Wright) that can bring different demensions to each situation. Now the world can see the talent that has been hiding in Cleveland all these years.
Should be: N/A
RF: Curis Granderson - I assume Granderson is starting even though RF is Brad Hawpe’s natural position. Granderson brings a nice speed asset to the team and will play good to great defense out there.
Should be: Josh Hamilton. Or Matt Holliday. Or BJ Upton. Or anybody over BRAD FREAKIN’ HAWPE!
C – Brian McCann - I actually like McCann a lot. He’s worked with guys like Smoltz and Hudson so he knows how to handle top end pitchers. Also a big plus: he’s left handed.
Should be: Joe Mauer. To quote Billy Madison: “heh, he’s good…”
SP – Jake Peavy/Roy Oswalt - I know Ted Lilly and Jeremy Guthrie are also on the roster as SP, but let’s face it, it’s going to be all about Peavy and Oswalt. I love Peavy on here because I think all the trade talks this winter have put a chip on his shoulder. Plus, he won’t worry about tiring his arm because I think his loyalty to the Padres has been severed. Oswalt, like Youkilis, I like but don’t love.
Should be: CC Sabathia/Cole Hamels. What can I say, I just really want a top end lefty starter.
RP – Jonathan Broxton/Brian Fuentes/JP Howell/Matt Lindstrom/Joe Nathan/JJ Putz/BJ Ryan/Scot Shields/Matt Thornton/Brad Ziegler – I like it. Nathan is the obvious anchor, but you’ve got Putz/Fuentes/Ryan to come in and ‘close’ an inning in the middle to late innings. And don’t feel bad if you haven’t heard about three or four of these guys. They’re relief pitchers. No one has heard of them.
Should be: N/A
Note: I recognize that some of the names I’ve included under ‘Should be’ were indeed invited and declined. I’m just saying in a perfect world who should be playing not who could or would.
BJ will not be playing on the American squad.
He’s going to spend time in Dunedin with the Jays instead, working on his pitching mechanics.
Massimo – since writing this, Ryan, Fuentes, and Nathan (two guys with first names for last names; coincidence?) have dropped. Their replacements (LaTroy Hawkins (Astros) and Joel Hanrahan (Nationals)) do not inspire hope.
Worse loss though: Sizemore. Team USA – Sizemore + Adam Dunn + Shane Victorino = A worse team.