Going Going...
...Gone. 
That's what Angel's five-tool threat Vlad Guerrero is today. After signing on to play in the World Baseball Classic for his homeland, the Dominican Republic, Guerrero gave up his roster spot today after three of his cousins passed away in car accident. Rants and Cravings extends it simpathies to Vladdy on his loss.
Vlad's departure is a big blow to the Domincan Republic, and comes right on the heals of fickle Manny Rameriez's announcement that he wasn't playing in the classic because he doesn't feel like it, and Aramis Ramirez's announcement that he would not play due to injury. Although the Domincan will certainly miss these three prolific hitters, they still have Albert Pujols, David Ortiz, Miggy Tejada, Willy Mo Pena, and some other stout hitters to fill in the gap. Vlad and Manny's abscence in the outfield may open the door for Sammy Sosa make the final 30-man roster, which may propel Sammy back into the Bigs.
The rant: Manny needs suck it up and play. Hundreds of thousands of people all over the world would be humbled by to have his talent, and most of these would be devoted to the game. But Manny never has shown this devotion. I'm tired of this "That's just Manny being Manny stuff." Baseball has given Manny an awful lot and he constantly does nothing but thumbs his nose back at it (ok, he also hits an awful lot of homers and produces a bunch of RBI's, but mostly he just thumbs his nose).
Vladdy is almost a polar opposite in his approach to the game, and I totally respect him for his attitude and constant hard play. It's too bad that he has lost family, and feels he can't play. Rameriez is a similar type of player.
TEAM USA NEWS
Pitchers Billy Wagoner and CC Sabathia were dropped off of the U.S. roster today and were replaced by Al Leiter and Gary Majewski. Leiter will be slotted as the US' forth starter, and will likely see playing time some time in game two against Canada. Dontrell Willis, a right handed thower, will start against the switch-hit happy Canadians and the southpaw Leiter will come in after Willis' pitch count has expired to give the Maple Leafs a different look.
THE RANT: Why was Billy Wagoner dropped. I heard him give an interview last week and he sounded super pumped about being involved in the tournament. Wagoner is a plain-spoken country boy that has always shown his country love. I wonder if he was pressured into not playing by his new management at the New York Mets, a team that has been less than supportive of the WBC. If that came out, I'd rethink my admiration of the 86 Mets.