Anyone planning on checking it out? I got some tickets for the series in Arizona. Could be interesting.

I still don't even really know what it is. I keep hearing about it, but haven't had enough interest to check it out. So, my answer to whether I'll attend any games is no.

i am really looking forward to this. i'll post the rosters soon.

here's a current list of players commited to play and which country they'll be representing. alex rodriguez and marco scutaro have not yet decided which team to play for.

Australia
Player Country MLB Organization Last MLB Club Professional club
Burnside, Adrian Australia TOR
Durrington, Trent Australia -- MIL
Huber, Justin Australia KC
Stephens, John Australia BAL
Williams, Glenn Australia MIN

Canada
Player Country MLB Organization Last MLB Club Professional club
Bay, Jason Canada PIT
Bedard, Erik Canada BAL
Cormier, Rheal Canada PHI
Crain, Jesse Canada MIN
Francis, Jeff Canada COL
Gagne, Eric Canada LAD
Green, Steve Canada -- (ANA - 2001)
Guiel, Aaron Canada KC
Hill, Shawn Canada -- (MON - 2004)
Koskie, Corey Canada TOR
LaForest, Pete Canada -- (TB - 2005)
Loewen, Adam Canada BAL
Martin, Russ Canada LAD
McKay, Cody Canada -- (STL - 2004)
Morneau, Justin Canada MIN
Orr, Peter Canada ATL
Quantrill, Paul Canada -- FLA
Reitsma, Chris Canada ATL
Stairs, Matt Canada KC
Thorman, Scott Canada ATL

Dominican Republic
Player Country MLB Organization Last MLB Club Professional club
Alfonseca, Antonio Dominican Republic -- FLA
Belliard, Ronnie Dominican Republic CLE
Beltre, Adrian Dominican Republic SEA
Brito, Eude Dominican Republic PHI
Brito, Juan Dominican Republic -- (ARI - 2004)
Cabrera, Daniel Dominican Republic BAL
Cano, Robinson Dominican Republic NYY
Castillo, Alberto Dominican Republic -- (OAK - 2005)
Colome, Jesus Dominican Republic TB
Colon, Bartolo Dominican Republic LAA
Cordero, Francisco Dominican Republic TEX
Feliz, Pedro Dominican Republic SF
German, Franklyn Dominican Republic DET
Guerrero, Vladimir Dominican Republic LAA
Martinez, Pedro Dominican Republic NYM
Mesa, Jose Dominican Republic COL
Ortiz, David Dominican Republic BOS
Pena, Wily Mo Dominican Republic CIN
Perez, Neifi Dominican Republic CHI
Polanco, Placido Dominican Republic DET
Pujols, Albert Dominican Republic STL
Ramirez, Manny Dominican Republic BOS
Rodriguez, Felix Dominican Republic -- NYY
Sanchez, Duaner Dominican Republic LAD
Soriano, Alfonso Dominican Republic WSH
Tavarez, Julian Dominican Republic -- STL
Tejada, Miguel Dominican Republic BAL
Tejeda, Robinson Dominican Republic PHI
Torres, Salomon Dominican Republic PIT

Italy
Player Country MLB Organization Last MLB Club Professional club
Catalanotto, Frank Italy TOR
DeRosa, Mark Italy TEX
Dellucci, David Italy TEX
DiFelice, Mike Italy -- NYM
Fiore, Tony Italy -- (MIN - 2003)
Gallo, Mike Italy HOU
Grilli, Jason Italy DET
Mantei, Matt Italy -- BOS
Menechino, Frank Italy -- TOR
Mirabelli, Doug Italy SD
Pascucci, Val Italy -- (MON - 2004)
Piazza, Mike Italy -- NYM
Vitiello, Joe Italy -- (MON - 2003)
Zoccolillo, Pete Italy -- (MIL - 2003)

Japan
--------
Player Country MLB Organization Last MLB Club Professional club
Abe, Shinnosuke Japan -- -- Yomiuri Giants
Aoki, Norichika Japan -- -- Yakult Swallows
Arai, Takahiro Japan -- -- Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Fujikawa, Kyuji Japan -- -- Hanshin Tigers
Fujita, Sochi Japan -- -- Chiba Lotte Marines
Iguchi, Tadahito Japan CWS -- --
Imae, Toshiaki Japan -- -- Chiba Lotte Marines
Ishii, Hirotoshi Japan -- -- Yakult Swallows
Iwamura, Akinori Japan -- -- Yakult Swallows
Kawasaki, Munenori Japan -- -- Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Kinjoh, Tatsuhiko Japan -- -- Yokohama BayStars
Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Japan -- -- Chiba Lotte Marines
Kuroda, Hiroki Japan -- -- Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Matsunaka, Nobuhiko Japan -- -- Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Matsuzaka, Daisuke Japan -- -- Seibu Lions
Nishioka, Tsuyoshi Japan -- -- Chiba Lotte Marines
Ostuka, Akinori Japan SD --
Ogasawara, Michihiro Japan -- -- Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Satozaki, Tomoya Japan -- -- Chiba Lotte Marines
Shimizu, Naoyuki Japan -- -- Chiba Lotte Marines
Sugiuchi, Toshiya Japan -- -- Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Suzuki, Ichiro Japan SEA -- --
Tamura, Hitoshi Japan -- -- Yokohama BayStars
Tanishige, Motonobu Japan -- -- Chunichi Dragons
Uehara, Koji Japan -- -- Yomiuri Giants
Wada, Kazuhiro Japan -- -- Seibu Lions
Wada, Tsuyoshi Japan -- -- Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Watanabe, Shunsuke Japan -- -- Chiba Lotte Marines
Yabuta, Yasuhiko Japan -- -- Chiba Lotte Marines

Mexico
Player Country MLB Organization Last MLB Club Professional club
Amezaga, Alfredo Mexico FLA
Ayala, Luis Mexico WSH
Beltran, Rigo Mexico -- (MON - 2004)
Cantu, Jorge Mexico TB
Castilla, Vinny Mexico SD
Castro, Juan Mexico MIN
Dessens, Elmer Mexico KC
Garcia, Gerardo Mexico --
Garcia, Karim Mexico -- (BAL - 2004)
Garcia, Luis Mexico -- (BAL - 2002)
Gonzalez, Edgar Mexico ARI
Huerta, Edgar Mexico SD
Loaiza, Esteban Mexico OAK
Lopez, Rodrigo Mexico BAL
Ojeda, Miguel Mexico COL
Osuna, Antonio Mexico -- WSH
Perez, Oliver Mexico PIT
Ramirez, Roberto Mexico -- (COL - 1999)
Reyes, Dennys Mexico -- (SD - 2005)
Rincon, Ricardo Mexico -- OAK
Robles, Oscar Mexico LAD
Valdez, Ismael Mexico -- FLA
Villareal, Oscar Mexico ATL

Netherlands
Player Country MLB Organization Last MLB Club Professional club
Jones, Andruw Netherlands ATL

Panama
Player Country MLB Organization Last MLB Club Professional club
Chen, Bruce Panama BAL
Lee, Carlos Panama MIL
Macias, Jose Panama CHI
Ruiz, Carlos Panama PHI

Puerto Rico
Player Country MLB Organization Last MLB Club Professional club
Alomar, Sandy, Jr. Puerto Rico -- TEX
Baerga, Carlos Puerto Rico -- WSH
Beltran, Carlos Puerto Rico NYM
Calero, Kiko Puerto Rico OAK
Cintron, Alex Puerto Rico ARI
Cruz, Jose Jr. Puerto Rico LAD
Delgado, Carlos Puerto Rico NYM
Hernandez, Jose Puerto Rico -- CLE
Ledee, Ricky Puerto Rico LAD
Lopez, Felipe Puerto Rico CIN
Lowell, Mike Puerto Rico BOS
Matos, Luis Puerto Rico BAL
Pineiro, Joel Puerto Rico SEA
Rodriguez, Ivan Puerto Rico DET
Romero, J.C. Puerto Rico MIN
Sanchez, Rey Puerto Rico -- NYY
Sosa, Jorge Puerto Rico ATL
Torres, Andres Puerto Rico -- (TEX - 2005)
Valentin, Javier Puerto Rico CIN
Vazquez, Javier Puerto Rico ARI
Vidro, Jose Puerto Rico WSH
Williams, Bernie Puerto Rico -- NYY

United States
Player Country MLB Organization Last MLB Club Professional club
Barrett, Michael United States CHI
Berkman, Lance United States HOU
Biggio, Craig United States HOU
Bonds, Barry United States SF
Buehrle, Mark United States CWS
Chavez, Eric United States OAK
Clemens, Roger United States -- HOU
Cordero, Chad United States WSH
Crawford, Carl United States TB
Damon, Johnny United States -- BOS
Dunn, Adam United States CIN
Fuentes, Brian United States COL
Guardado, Eddie United States SEA
Halladay, Roy United States TOR
Isringhausen, Jason United States STL
Jeter, Derek United States NYY
Jones, Chipper United States ATL
Jones, Todd United States DET
Lee, Derrek United States CHI
Leiter, Al United States -- NYY
Lidge, Brad United States HOU
Mauer, Joe United States MIN
Peavy, Jake United States SD
Pettitte, Andy United States HOU
Pierre, Juan United States CHI
Rollins, Jimmy United States PHI
Ryan, B.J. United States TOR
Sabathia, C.C. United States CLE
Schneider, Brian United States WSH
Sheets, Ben United States MIL
Smoltz, John United States ATL
Street, Huston United States OAK
Teixeira, Mark United States TEX
Utley, Chase United States PHI
Varitek, Jason United States BOS
Wagner, Billy United States NYM
Wells, Vernon United States TOR
Willis, Dontrelle United States FLA
Wright, David United States NYM
Young, Michael United States TEX
Zito, Barry United States OAK

Venezuela
Player Country MLB Organization Last MLB Club Professional club
Abreu, Bobby Venezuela PHI
Alfonzo, Edgardo Venezuela SF
Blanco, Henry Venezuela CHI
Cairo, Miguel Venezuela -- NYM
Carrara, Giovanni Venezuela -- LAD
Garcia, Freddy Venezuela CWS
Guillen, Carlos Venezuela DET
Mora, Melvin Venezuela BAL
Perez, Tomas Venezuela PHI
Rodriguez, Francisco Venezuela LAA
Santana, Johan Venezuela MIN
Silva, Carlos Venezuela MIN
Vizquel, Omar Venezuela SF
Zambrano, Carlos Venezuela CHI
Zambrano, Victor Venezuela NYM

I'm hoping it will be a fun exhibition before the "real" baseball season starts. Does anyone know if any of the games will be on TV?

that dominican team is gonna be tough

The only answer to that question that I can give is...yes. I would guess some of the games will be on ESPN and the final game on ABC.

World Baseball Classic FAQ

i'm looking forward to it. I look forward to Olympic hockey more, but that's because Canada can win it.

I think Canada will have some really tough pitching from both the starters and the bullpen (adding Dempster would be a big help) and a few good bats, but overall... no chance.

BJ Ryan is so overrated.

Honestly, this thing sounds kinda lame. Who knows, I'll probably end up watching though.

I hope I'm wrong, and I hope it's entertaining.

I'd love to see him play, so hopefully more players will sign up....if there are any more. (??)

I've never even heard of this even before, but it looks interesting.

If Miguel Cabrera commits to play Venezuela has a chance to win.

They have the pitching to do it without him.

Venezuela, the US, and DR seem to be the favorites going in. Should be fun.

yea, i know. i guess what i should've said is that the addition of cabrera would put venezuela over the top.

Their bats are a bit weak, adding him would be huge. Glad I have him in a keeper league, he's amazing. Too bad he's getting hung out to dry for the next 2-3 seasons in FLA.

I hope there is a beanball battle between Australia & Italy.

Looks like Andruw Jones is fucked.

Japan will probably win it all .

Where's Pay-Rod? He said during the season that he was playing for the Dominican team (ya know, cause he lived there for a whole year when he was 4), but I don't see him listed.

Maybe they didn't want his sorry carpet-bagging ass.


Anyway, this should be a lot of fun.

obviously you have strong reading skills