Baseball World Cup is on for 2006 according to BA

[satxcubfan]

Poor Panama has to start Jose Macias at second base.

 

Yeah, but watch... Zuleta will throw some voodoo mojo on Macias and he'll be the MVP... ugh!

[erik316wttn]

C—Miguel Olivo (Mariners)

1B—Albert Pujols (Cardinals)

2B—Alfonso Soriano (Rangers)

3B—Aramis Ramirez (Cubs)

SS— Miguel Tejada (Orioles)

LF—Manny Ramirez (Red Sox)

CF—Jose Guillen (Nationals)

RF—Vladimir Guerrero (Angels)

DH—David Ortiz (Red Sox)

SP—Pedro Martinez (Mets)

SP—Bartolo Colon (Angels)

SP—Odalis Perez (Dodgers)

SP—Daniel Cabrera (Orioles)

RP—Francisco Cordero (Rangers)

Wow....

 

SP—Johan Santana (Twins)

SP—Carlos Zambrano (Cubs)

SP—Freddy Garcia (White Sox)

SP—Kelvim Escobar (Angels)

RP—Francisco Rodriguez (Angels)

I would love that rotation

 

Dear God. That's almost unfair!

[erik316wttn]

I think the final 4 would be Japan, Venezuela, USA, and the Dominican.

 

Although Puerto Rico has a great team too. Probably the best offense in the tournament, but thier starting pitching is lacking.

 

This will be some damn good baseball. Too bad it'll only be once every 4 years.

[wolf stansson]

What is the format? 5 game series? 7? Pool play?

[erik316wttn]

What is the format? 5 game series? 7? Pool play?

 

I think it would be pool play while they'd be in groups, then the final 8 would probably be single elim.

 

Although I'd love it to be best 2 of 3 when it got to that point. There is no way they'll have the time to do best of 5 or 7 when it gets down to the nitty gritty because it will overlap with the regular season.

[wolf stansson]

That would make that Venezuelan staff incredibly dangerous.

[erik316wttn]

That would make that Venezuelan staff incredibly dangerous.

 

Damn right it would. Especially in a short series, if the final 8 is best of 3.

 

Something I'd like to see... that Venezuelan staff against the Puerto Rican offense. Who would win?

[burnt out cubbie fan]

The whole thing would be a crapshoot, especially if it got down to the top 4-5 teams playing each other. It certainly would be entertaining to watch Z and Santana go against that Dominican lineup.

[Guest]

Some of these projected rosters are just sick.

If some of those rosters are just half as good as BA projects, this is going to be one heck of a blast to watch. I also like the fact that later rounds will be played in MLB stadiums. A US. vs. DR showdown in Petco would be awesome... this'll be sweet. Any details on how games will be broadcasted?

[erik316wttn]

Some of these projected rosters are just sick.

If some of those rosters are just half as good as BA projects, this is going to be one heck of a blast to watch. I also like the fact that later rounds will be played in MLB stadiums. A US. vs. DR showdown in Petco would be awesome... this'll be sweet. Any details on how games will be broadcasted?

 

What stadiums? I would imagine warm-weather or dome stadiums. And probably in bigger markets, so that would eliminate Milwaukee.

[Guest]

Some of these projected rosters are just sick.

If some of those rosters are just half as good as BA projects, this is going to be one heck of a blast to watch. I also like the fact that later rounds will be played in MLB stadiums. A US. vs. DR showdown in Petco would be awesome... this'll be sweet. Any details on how games will be broadcasted?

 

What stadiums? I would imagine warm-weather or dome stadiums. And probably in bigger markets, so that would eliminate Milwaukee.

The ones I heard of were mostly in warm-weather climates. (Specifically, I've read Dodger Stadium, Minute Maid, and Petco are strong possibilities.)

[1908]

What is the format? 5 game series? 7? Pool play?

Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China will play March 3-5, probably at Japan's Tokyo Dome. The three other pools will play March 8-11 and consist of: Puerto Rico, Cuba (for now), Panama and likely Italy; the United States, Canada, Mexico and likely South Africa; and the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Australia and the Netherlands. The first pool will play in Puerto Rico, perhaps at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, while the other two would play at Arizona and Florida spring-training sites to be determined.

 

The two teams in each pool with the best records would advance to the second round, another round-robin, on March 13-15 at different major league stadiums. Houston’s Minute Maid Park, Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium and San Diego’s Petco Park have long been considered strong candidates.

 

The four outright winners of those pools would each advance to a single-game semifinal on March 18, again at a major league stadium. The winners of those games will meet for a winner-take-all final March 20--a Monday, presumably to avoid television conflicts with the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

[1908]

Any details on how games will be broadcasted?

No, but the end of the above quote suggests national broadcasts for the later rounds at least.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Games in LA and SD! :cheers:

[erik316wttn]

What is the format? 5 game series? 7? Pool play?

Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China will play March 3-5, probably at Japan's Tokyo Dome. The three other pools will play March 8-11 and consist of: Puerto Rico, Cuba (for now), Panama and likely Italy; the United States, Canada, Mexico and likely South Africa; and the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Australia and the Netherlands. The first pool will play in Puerto Rico, perhaps at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, while the other two would play at Arizona and Florida spring-training sites to be determined.

 

The two teams in each pool with the best records would advance to the second round, another round-robin, on March 13-15 at different major league stadiums. Houston’s Minute Maid Park, Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium and San Diego’s Petco Park have long been considered strong candidates.

 

The four outright winners of those pools would each advance to a single-game semifinal on March 18, again at a major league stadium. The winners of those games will meet for a winner-take-all final March 20--a Monday, presumably to avoid television conflicts with the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

 

I'm gonna miss the semifinals!! I'm getting married that day!! Aarrrggh!!

 

Maybe I can have a TV in the reception hall!!

 

And that 2nd round is going to be brutal. Each team will have to play 7 games in 3 days? Ouch.

[wvcbxl]

I like it. :D

Not sure the MLB teams share that feeling, though. Too much flying around and injury risks for their liking.

 

But it'll be fun to watch. I sure hope Italian and/or Dutch TV stations are going to show this.

[Careless]

If star players are involved then how can countries like Italy, Australia etc have a chance? It doesnt seem like it would be a fair competition to me.

Huh? when are sports competitions ever a fair competition for most of the world? Most countries don't win a gold metal in any given olympics. Indonesia, for example (the 4th most populous nation on earth btw) is still celebrating their badminton 2nd place showing from the 80s... especially ironic because it was chinese players who got the metals (and, like all asians, Indonesian Malays are huge racists and hate teh chinese)

[LoneStarCubFan]

No way that Bonds plays in this thing given the fact international drug testing is more stringent than MLB's.

 

If it's me, my line-up looks like this for the US:

 

Juan Pierre, CF

Lance Berkman, RF*

Scott Rolen, 3B

Albert Pujols, DH*

Derrek Lee, 1B

Cliff Floyd, LF

Alex Rodriguez, SS

Jason Varitek, C

Mark Loretta, 2B

 

*- The way I understand it, Pujols could play for the US or the DR. If he plays for the DR, Todd Helton's my DH and Gary Sheffield's my RF, Loretta hits second, Sheffield hits fourth and Helton hits fifth. Everybody else bumps down one spot.

 

Clemens, Maddux, Mulder, Willis and Beckett is the rotation. Prior and Sheets, among others, come out of the pen. Billy Wagner closes. Torre'd be the manager.

[erik316wttn]

Is there the DH in international play?

 

My lineup (going on simply the players I think are the best American born at each position, and putting all personal wishes and/or biases aside)

 

C- Varitek

1B- Helton

2B- Kent

3B- Arod

SS- Nomar (or Jeter if you need a leadoff hitter)

LF- Manny Ramirez (he said he'd play for the Americans, if not, then Edmonds)

CF- Lance Berkman

RF- Sheffield

 

Bench:

Rolen

Rollins

Huff (for versatility)

Marcus Giles

Crawford

Adam Dunn

And whichever of Nomar/Jeter doesn't start

 

Bullpen:

Joe Nathan

Hoffman

Wagner

Jake Peavy

Beckett

Halladay

 

Rotation:

P-Prior

P-Clemens

P- Sheets

P- Hudson

P-Oswalt

 

I think that's enough. What does everyone think?

[LoneStarCubFan]

Yes there is a DH in international play.

 

Personally I think Rolen is hands down the best 3B in baseball and ARod is the best shortstop.

[erik316wttn]

Yes there is a DH in international play.

 

Personally I think Rolen is hands down the best 3B in baseball and ARod is the best shortstop.

 

That would work too.

[1908]

Finally, a Chance to Find the Real World Champion [free registration required]

Not a whole lot of new informaiton, but an enjoyable read anyway.

[1908]

Japan looks down on Classic[/url]"]Although most of the tournament sponsors are Japanese companies, profits would go into a fund created by MLB and major league players. The Japanese establishment will reportedly receive only 7 percent of the pot, which could make it difficult to cover expenses, including pay to players and staff.

 

"The purpose of the tournament is to make money for MLB," said a source within NPB who declined to be identified.

I hope this is just posturing, and there's plenty of time to get it worked out.

[treebird]

this will be awesome till prior and zambrano get hurt in it

[Laura]

After the Cubs win the world series, they can send players to play for the World Cup.