After last years hearings it seems strange that it's not been universally accepted that Olympic testing is why Barry's not playing in the WBC.
"After he played only 14 games a year ago, you can understand why he came to this decision," said U.S. manager Buck Martinez.
Actually, 8 games over 14 days, all of them as DH shouldn't be too taxing even for BB. I'd be willing to wager that it's the olympic standard laboratories that are Barry's cause for concern...
I wonder if the US players looked at the Dominican roster, and thought 'Damn, now that's a murderers row if I ever saw one', as the US players are now lining up to play. Although Roger's probably lickin' his chops to face the Dominicans, it does indeed take a confident pitcher to face a lineup consisting of;
Miguel Tejada, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Jose Guillen, OF
Manny Ramirez, OF
Vladimir Guerrero,OF
Aramis Ramirez/Adrian Beltre, 3B
Alfonso Soriano, 2B
Albert Pujols, 1B
Miguel Olivo, C
I mean GEEEEEEZZZZZZZ, how do you even put together a lineup? You've got 7 guys or more who normally hit 3rd or clean-up? I'd guess Soriano would revert to his Yankees' lead-off position and Olivo would hit ninth, but after that I'm stumped. Maybe I'll have to put together the lineup in MVP 2005 and simulate it...
Now that ESPN signed a deal to show the WBC, I wonder if we get to see it here in Europe? NASN, if you build it, they will come!
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With Alex Gonzalez signed as short stop on a one year/$3m deal, the Red Sox roster is getting close to finalised.So far, it looks like the opening roster will be:
1. Coco Crisp, CF
2. Mark Loretta, 2B
3. Manny Ramirez, LF
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Jason Varitek, C
6. Trot Nixon, RF
7. Mike Lowell, 3B
8. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
9. Alex Gonzalez, SS
The rotation is a lot more unclear past spots 1 and 2, as the future of Clement and Wells is still up in the air (Wells now more so than Clement), but the pitching staff should look something like:
SP: Curt Schilling, RHP
SP: Josh Beckett, RHP
SP: David Wells, LHP
SP: Matt Clement, RHP
SP: Tim Wakefield, RHP
Bullpen:
Bronson Arroyo, RHP
Jon Papelbon, RHP
Julian Tavarez, RHP
Rudy Seanez, RHP
Lenny Dinardo, LHP
Mike Timlin, RHP
Keith Foulke, RHP
It's not clear whether Red Sox will carry 11 or 12 pitchers, but with Wells most likely on the move, Arroyo will probably take the 5th spot in the rotation and Papelbon and Seanez will share the long relief spots. We'll also have to keep a look out for Melcarmen, Hansen and Lester, as they will most likely climb the ranks this year.
To quote Hannibal - "I love it when a plan comes together..."
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