3/7 Mexico (Lopez) @ U.S. (Peavy) 3:00 P.M. CT on ESPN2

[Omar]

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/9504/mexicof3b8is.gif Vs. http://www.hellasmultimedia.com/webimages/fourthofjuly-htm/fourthofjuly/images/flags/usaflag6.gif

 

Do not miss United States facing off against their neighbors to the south! It will be hosted at Chase Field in Pheonix, Arizona. The park is better known as "Bank One Ballpark" or "The BOB" The game will start at 3:00 P.M. CT with the first pitch thrown around 3:09 P.M. CT. It will be televised on ESPN2.

 

and inspired by Jon:

 

Mexico preview[/url]"]TUCSON, Ariz. -- The last time Mexico faced the United States in international baseball competition was in the 2003 Olympic Qualifying tournament in Panama. Mexico upset Team USA, knocking the game's creators from the chance to compete in the Olympics and setting up a grudge match to be settled Tuesday, when the inaugural World Baseball Classic kicks off with a rematch in Arizona.

 

In a warm-up game against the Diamondbacks on Saturday, Esteban Loaiza showed how important starting pitching can be, as he retired all eight batters he faced, igniting a 6-1 victory and setting a trend his pitching mates hope to follow.

 

For the opening match against Team USA, Rodrigo Lopez will take the hill, attempting to build on the momentum Loaiza established. Lopez is 51-43 with a career 4.56 ERA over four-plus years in the Majors with the Orioles. He has considerable experience against the hitters in the Team USA lineup, having faced many members of the star-studded lineup.

 

United States preview[/url]"] The U.S. will open with a battle of right-handers: San Diego's Jake Peavy against Baltimore's Rodrigo Lopez, who has won 51 games for the Orioles during the past four seasons. Martinez said Alex Rodriquez will start at third base and Brian Schneider will be behind the plate, along with much of the same starting lineup that played against the Giants on Sunday.

 

Peavy, who was the National League ERA leader in 2004 (2.27) and the NL strikeout leader last season (216) will be followed by some combination of seven of the 10 U.S. relievers.

 

The U.S. is the prohibitive favorite in the inaugural tournament, but it certainly will be under pressure to get to and win the championship game at San Diego's PETCO Park on March 20. The Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Cuba and Puerto Rico are all considered powerhouses. Korea and Japan, the winners in the just-concluded Asian pool, are also tough, and will face the pair that survives this Pool B in Angel Stadium on March 12-16.

 

Here are the line-ups for tomorrow.

 

Team Mexico

 

Karim Garcia, CF

Jorge Cantu, 2B

Vinny Castilla, 3B

Erubiel Durazo, DH

Luis Alfonso Garcia, LF

Adrian Gonzalez, 1B

Geronimo Gil, C

Mario Valenzuela, RF

Juan Castro, SS

Rodrigo Lopez, RHP

 

Team USA

 

Johnny Damon, LF

Derek Jeter, SS

Ken Griffey Jr., CF

Alex Rodriguez, 3B

Mark Teixeira, DH

Derrek Lee, 1B

Brian Schneider, C

Randy Winn, RF

Chase Utley, 2B

Jake Peavy, RHP

 

Match-ups!

 

Noteworthy Match-ups (Mexico) Vs. Jake Peavy (RHP, 13-7 with a 2.88 ERA for the San Diego Padres in 2005)

Vinny Castilla: 2 for 11 with 1 SO (.182)

Juan Castro: 0 for 2 (.000)

 

Noteworthy Match-ups (United States) Vs. Rodrigo Lopez (RHP, 15-12 with a 4.90 ERA for the Baltimore Orioles in 2005)

Chipper Jones: 1 for 8 with 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SO (.125)

Jason Varitek: 9 for 34 with 1 double, 1 RBI, 4 walks, 8 SO (.265)

Ken Griffey Jr.: 1 for 4 with 1 SO (.250)

Johnny Damon: 12 for 48 with 2 doubles, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 4 walks, 5 S) (.250)

Derek Jeter: 21 for 43 with 2 doubles, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 3 walks, 5 SO (.488)

Alex Rodriguez: 12 for 32 with 2 doubles, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 7 BB, 9 SO (.375)

Randy Winn: 2 for 14 with 1 double and 7 SO (.143)

Mark Teixeira: 1 for 11 with an RBI and 2 SO (.091)

Michael Young: 5 for 17 with 1 double, 1 triple, 2 RBI, and 3 SO (.294)

Vernon Wells: 10 for 33 with a double, 3 HR, 11 RBI, and 4 SO (.303)

 

ENJOY THE GAME!

[A New Era]

I know this might sound like sagreliege but I might actually skip a day of following Cubs ST game threads, and watch this game tommorow! Venuezela also faces off against Dominican Replublic today too, and it's on before USA vs. Mexico.

 

Well Cubs baseball ain't on the air but atleast there is something fun, baseball related to watch instead!

 

Wow nice line-up for USA. Go Dlee!! Prediction, USA will crush Mexico. Mexico just doesn't have the calibur of offense to match team USA.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

It really is a shame that there is no true RF for the US, and that someone of Chipper Jones's caliber has to sit while Randy Winn plays.

[Balsa]

It really is a shame that there is no true RF for the US, and that someone of Chipper Jones's caliber has to sit while Randy Winn plays.

Yep.

 

There must have really been some backouts of RF.

 

I'm PUMPED for this game!!!!!

 

GO USA!

[Tim]

It really is a shame that there is no true RF for the US, and that someone of Chipper Jones's caliber has to sit while Randy Winn plays.

Yep.

 

There must have really been some backouts of RF.

 

I'm PUMPED for this game!!!!!

 

GO USA!

The list of American right fielders drops off pretty quickly after these two guys:

 

Sheffield

Giles

 

After them, it's pretty much into the Jenkins, Dye, Gibbons & Lane crowd.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Berkman could have played right had he not dropped out. Defensively, he would not have been good, but his bat would have been nice.

[UMFan83]

I know everyone is saying the DR team's lineup is stacked, but one look at that US lineup and I'm thinking they match up very well.

 

1B - Pujols vs. Lee - Slight Adv. DR

2B - Soriano vs. Utley - Adv. DR

SS - Tejada vs. Jeter - Adv. DR

3B - Beltre vs. Rodriguez - Adv. US

RF - Pena vs. Winn - Adv. Even

LF - Alou vs. Damon - Slight Adv. US

CF - Encarnation vs. Griffey - Adv. US

DH - Ortiz vs. Teixeira - Slight Adv. DR

C - Schneider vs. Castillo - Slight Adv. - US

 

By batting order:

 

Soriano vs. Damon - Adv. US

Tejada vs. Jeter - Adv. DR

Pujols vs. Griffey (3rd?!?!) - Adv. DR

Ortiz vs. Rodriguez - Adv. US

Alou vs. Teixeira - Adv. US

Beltre vs. Lee - Adv. US

Pena vs. Schneider - Adv. DR

Encarnation vs. Winn - Adv. DR

Castillo vs. Utler - Adv. US

 

It's pretty even IMO

[goonys evil twin]

I know everyone is saying the DR team's lineup is stacked, but one look at that US lineup and I'm thinking they match up very well.

 

1B - Pujols vs. Lee - Slight Adv. DR

2B - Soriano vs. Utley - Adv. DR

 

Soriano is not an advantage for the DR. I'd take Utley every day.

[Mizzou]

Junior is hitting 3rd?! What is this, 1997? No way he should be hitting 3rd on this team.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Junior is hitting 3rd?! What is this, 1997? No way he should be hitting 3rd on this team.

 

You dare question the great Buck Martinez?!?! The Big Chair will be gunning for you.

[Diffusion]

Team USA

 

Johnny Damon, LF

Derek Jeter, SS

Ken Griffey Jr., CF

Alex Rodriguez, 3B

Mark Teixeira, DH

Derrek Lee, 1B

Brian Schneider, C

Randy Winn, RF

Chase Utley, 2B

Jake Peavy, RHP

 

Griffey third and playing CF? Utley ninth behind Schneider and Winn? Schneider and Winn?

[Tim]

On a team with Varitek & Barrett, how does Schneider get the first start?!?

[Jon]

On a team with Varitek & Barrett, how does Schneider get the first start?!?

At least Barrett caught Clemens yesterday in the exhibition game, so hopefully he'll catch him when Roger takes the mound.

[OleMissCub]

Junior is hitting 3rd?! What is this, 1997? No way he should be hitting 3rd on this team.

 

Heck ya dude, i've got the Spice Girls on in the background and i'm going to see Titanic with my woman tonite :-)

[da bears]

That would be so sweet to be able to represent the United States in a sport. I just got goosebumps seeing our players wearing their uniforms. I wish I got the opportunity to represent our country in something. Oh well. GO USA!

[CuseCubFan69]

On a team with Varitek & Barrett, how does Schneider get the first start?!?

 

One Day at a Time my friend...One Day at a Time.

[Chris]

Strange commercial interruption there

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Bad call, looked like Lee had the bag and the ball for a moment before he pulled.

[Anna]

for a second, I was afriad Derrek got spiked on that play.

[Chris]

DP!!!!!!!!

[Chris]

DP!!!!!!!!

[Chris]

Nice inning

[Fro]

Haha, Lee's getting a lot of practice at 1st base this inning trying to handle bad throws.

[Guest]

Nice to see that the US middle infielders are testing out the flexibility of Lee's groin muscles.

[Brian]

Nice to see that the US middle infielders are testing out the flexibility of Lee's groin muscles.

 

Yeah :(