The deadline for final World Baseball Classic roster submission is Thursday, meaning the next few days figure to be chock-a-block with news bites on who is in and who is out for the upcoming festivities. The biggest one to surface over the past 24 hours ago suggests that, perhaps, Troy Tulowitzki will not suit up for team USA.
Tulowitzki insists his is healthy but, as is the nature of the beast, his is an insurance issue now. The WBC must insure his contract, all $140 million dollars of it. So…let’s assume Tulowitzki is out for now.
Tidbits ahoy!
- From the same Denver Post report: Tulowitzki’s teammate Wilin Rosario will not play for the Domincian Republic in March, citing his desire to work closely with his pitching staff and improve his less-than-stellar defense behind the plate.
- Fernando Rodney will pitch for the DR, insisting he needs no “permission” to perform for his country. I like your attitude, Nando. Tilt that hat a little more to the side, really turn your swag on.
- Exciting young Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo will represent Italy at the event. When reached for comment, the native of Fort Lauderdale, informed reporters that he was, in fact, Wario and “he’s a gunna win.”
- Fellow Baby Bear Starlin Castro will not play for the Dominican.
- Padres in the tournament: Chris Denofria plans to play for Italy, Edinson Volquez for the DR, and Luke Gregerson for the USA.
- Brewers news! Yovani Gallardo represents Mexico, catchers Jonathan Lucroy and Martin Maldonado suit for the US/Puerto Rico respectively, with a whole raft of Canadians donning the red and white. Marco Estrada may also pitch for Mexico.
- As of now the Cardinals are sending three players: Yadier Molina (Puerto Rico), Carlos Beltran (Puerto Rico) and Jaime Garcia (Mexico) according to Jennifer Langosch of MLB.com
As the full tournament is available on the MLB Network, they are extracting as much content from this event as possible. The full rosters will be announced live on the Network on Thursday. Team USA gets its own show at 10am with the full remaining rosters going up at 4pm.
Just as excitement starts to build, however, the rules committee smacks down the tournament with furious anger.
Tighter pitch counts for WBC – 65 per game in first round, 80 in second, 95 in semis/finals, down from 70-85-100 in 2009.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 15, 2013
I mean, really? C’mon, guys. LIVE A LITTLE. I guess that explains why Glen Perkins is on the American roster. Everybody needs a good swingman if they want to survive the hamstringing of the event.
I assume from the image that Beltran is to blame for the tighter pitch counts.
You aren’t wrong…
Apparently we have another ” found” Canadian.
“There is a chance that Freddie Freeman, Heyward’s good friend, could take advantage of the chance to play with either Team USA or Team Canada. Both of Freeman’s parents were born in Canada.”
This according to the Braves MLB beat reporter Mark Bowman.
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130104&content_id=40850554&vkey=news_atl&c_id=atl
With Morneau and Votto we don’t really need any big slow first base/ DH types so maybe next time around. Freeman is only 23 with 2 years as a regular . In fact Law has him ranked in his recent top 25 under 25 article.