Cubs in the WBC

[wvcbxl]

Cubs on provisional 45-man WBC rosters:

 

http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/rosters/index.jsp?season=2009&&sort=mlbclub#112

 

Remember that being on the provisional roster doesn't guarantee in the slightest that they'll actually be on the final 28-man roster for their country.

 

That's probably what awaits Dwayne Kemp - he hasn't played for the Dutch international squad before (only on the junior level); I'd be surprised if he makes it now.

 

Well he did show up for the start of preparations of the Dutch team this week: http://www.honkbalsite.com/nieuws/2009/training_nederland2401.html (scroll down - bottom right hand pic is Kemp).

 

In related news, the Dutch announced that Sidney Ponson would play for them in the WBC.

[BCVM22]

With Marmol's decision not to pitch for the Dominican Republic, the Cubs will ultimately send three players from their projected 25-man roster to play in the Classic:

 

C Geovany Soto - Puerto Rico

OF Kosuke Fukudome - Japan

SP Ted Lilly - USA

 

Lee, Ramirez, Zambrano, Soriano, Dempster, Harden and Marmol were all listed on provisional rosters but elected not to participate.

[Guest]

I wonder if this is the beginning of the end of the WBC. As all the big names stop participating, attendance could drop as well. Especially if they continue charging premium prices for tickets for not so premium talent.

 

Was this a novelty that wore off quickly, or will they be able to hold on and gather up new steam in another 4 years?

[BCVM22]

will they be able to hold on and gather up new steam in another 4 years?

 

This, I would think, because what "big names" participate is dependent almost entirely upon factors that the WBC organizers can't control. For example, Big Z is healthy ( ) but is coming off a year where his shoulder was acting up and thus he doesn't want to throw a wrench into his normal spring routine. Johan Santana is coming off a knee surgery. Albert Pujols is, by all accounts, a perfectly healthy 36-year-old, but because of offseason elbow nerve surgery he couldn't get insurance on his contract and thus won't play.

 

Add to that the fact that the WBC can't control when players might switch teams or be fighting for a roster spot, both of which are factors that would usually lead a player to remain in camp with his team rather than fly off and represent his country.

 

You get the idea - it's not as if players are completely dismissing the tournament outright, it's simply that they'll always defer first and foremost to the organizations paying their salaries, which is something that won't change and shouldn't. And even with all the players who elected not to complete, most of the countries with sizeable contingents of players in the majors have still been able to assemble some darn good talent, which we'll see tomorrow when the final 28-man rosters are made public.

[Brett]

There's an article on SI that Zambrano IS going to participate this year (noted here). The SI article is from this evening, and says that the Venezuelan team lineup was just released today. Is it bunk, or what's the deal?

 

So you don't have to click, the two relevant quotes:

 

Carlos Zambrano of the Chicago Cubs will stand in for Santana on the mound while sluggers Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers will lead Venezuela’s offense, according to the line-up released on Monday by Edwin Zerpa, president of the Venezuelan Baseball Federation.

 

And

 

Zambrano was not originally expected to join the line-up, but the Cubs decided to clear him.

[BCVM22]

That's quite odd, given that everything Zambrano has said has pointed him in the direction of not participating so as to make sure his shoulder checks out completely and to get his eye issue taken care of.

 

We'll know for sure tomorrow, I guess.

[Brett]

That's quite odd, given that everything Zambrano has said has pointed him in the direction of not participating so as to make sure his shoulder checks out completely and to get his eye issue taken care of.

 

We'll know for sure tomorrow, I guess.

Yeah, it makes no sense for a whole host of reasons. But I'm getting very nervous.

[BCVM22]

Big Z is in fact on Team Venezuela's roster. :|

 

Geo, Z, Lilly and Fuku will play for their respective countries.

[haubrich91]

Well crap, I thought he was getting LASIK surgery.

[BCVM22]

Well crap, I thought he was getting LASIK surgery.

 

Maybe he's getting it up in Toronto.

[17 Seconds]

Well crap, I thought he was getting LASIK surgery.

 

Maybe he's getting it up in Toronto.

 

i alays have trouble getting it up in canada

[Cubswin11]

So now that Z is pitching in the WBC, is it possible he pitches in like 1 or 2 ST games? If he is already being skipped the first time around, for whatever reason, he probably won't pitch with the Cubs until after the WBC is over.

[BCVM22]

So now that Z is pitching in the WBC, is it possible he pitches in like 1 or 2 ST games? If he is already being skipped the first time around, for whatever reason, he probably won't pitch with the Cubs until after the WBC is over.

 

He's scheduled to start for the Cubs on Monday.

[wvcbxl]

Cubs on provisional 45-man WBC rosters:

 

http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/rosters/index.jsp?season=2009&&sort=mlbclub#112

 

Remember that being on the provisional roster doesn't guarantee in the slightest that they'll actually be on the final 28-man roster for their country.

 

That's probably what awaits Dwayne Kemp - he hasn't played for the Dutch international squad before (only on the junior level); I'd be surprised if he makes it now.

 

As I expected, Dwayne Kemp didn't make the final cut for the Netherlands.

[soapy]

I don't know how I missed this earlier, but they mentioned on XM 175 this morning that Cueto and Volquez are both pitching for the Dominican team.

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

 

I seriously laughed so hard I almost cried.

[MWV]

Didn't see this mentioned:

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090225&content_id=3880006&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

Looks like he's staying in camp afterall. Drama!

[B]

Well crap, I thought he was getting LASIK surgery.

 

Maybe he's getting it up in Toronto.

 

i alays have trouble getting it up in canada

too cold?

[Guest]

Updates:

 

Carrie Muskat[/url]"]U-S-A, U-S-A

Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly started for Team USA on Wednesday in an exhibition game against the Toronto Blue Jays, and gave up one run on two hits over four innings. He struck out two. Lilly is slated to start the U.S. team's third game in the World Baseball Classic.

 

Carrie Muskat[/url]"]Classic exhibition update

Alex Maestri picked up the win in relief for the Italian team in an 5-1 exhibition victory Wednesday against Florida. Maestri pitched at Class A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee last season for the Cubs.

 

Vince Perkins took the loss in Team Canada's 9-2 loss to Florida on Wednesday. He gave up three runs on two hits and struck out three in 2 1/3 innings.

[JGalt73]

Fukudome played CF for Japan and went 0-0 with 4 BB.

[apete6]

Fukudome played CF for Japan and went 0-0 with 4 BB.

 

Really? OK, I'll take it. A 1.000 OBP would be nice...

[Sammys Boombox]

Fukudome played CF for Japan and went 0-0 with 4 BB.

 

Really? OK, I'll take it. A 1.000 OBP would be nice...

 

I saw that. I wonder what those plate appearances were like. They had him hitting 7th.

[sweetpeteman]

Marmol pitched one inning for the DR today, threw 16 pitches, 11 for strikes and struck out 3 after hitting Randall Simon to start the inning.

[Mark_R]

DERO WITH A TRIPLE!!!!

 

 

Oh wait, this is about Cubs in the WBC.... :(

 

Damn you Hendry.

[The Voice of Reason]

Marmol pitched one inning for the DR today, threw 16 pitches, 11 for strikes and struck out 3 after hitting Randall Simon to start the inning.

 

When you think of the Netherlands, isn't Randall Simon the first thing that pops into your mind?

[hardcorecubfan]

DERO WITH A TRIPLE!!!!

 

 

Oh wait, this is about Cubs in the WBC.... :(

 

Damn you Hendry.

 

 

I loved that 4 RBI's in one game