WBC: Today's Highlight game
Today is the first day of Western Hemisphere play in the WBC, and there are a lot of good games. At 3:00 pm central standard time, the U.S. will kick off it's tournament play against Mexico. Jake Peavy will match up against Rodrigo Lopez to start the game. Lopez is no slouch of a pitcher; over the last four years he has 51 wins as a starter for the Baltimore O's. Team USA's manager Buck Martinez seems to think that Mexico's strength will be it's pitching, but there is no way their pitching is equal to the U.S., and I'm expecting the U.S. to put some runs on the board. The game will be televised on espn or espn 2, i can't remember which.
USA-Mexico will be an exciting game, but 12:00 noon central standard time meeting of the Domincan Republic and Venezuela has to be the game of the day. This first match up of pool D has the potential to be the best game of the first round. With Bartolo Colon pitching for the Domincan and Johan Santana starting for Venezuela, both teams are starting Cy Young winners. Although the Domincan has lost a couple of powerful bats, they are still one of the favorites to win the tournament. But, team Venezuela is carrying the momentum of winning the Carribean World Series last month into the World Baseball Classic.
Ramon Hernandez may be a key to Venezuela's possible success. Hernadez, who caught last season for the San Diego Padres but is now on the Baltimore roster, was MVP of the Caribbean World Series, leading Venezuela in RBI's and HR's (I think) during that tournament. Last season's Home Run Derby champion Bobby Abreu and Magglio Ordonez are two other bats that will have to produce for Venezuela to have a chance to win.
I'm pumped about seeing the Domincan lineup. Look at this, it's rediculous:
batting order name position
lead-off Alfonso Soriano 2b
2 Miggy Tejada SS
3 Albert Puljos 1b
4 David Ortiz dh
5 Moises Alou LF
6 Adrian Beltre 3b
7 Wily Mo Pena RF
8 Juan Encarnacion CF
9 Alberto Castillo C
Even if your like Mike Koury and you think the WBC is a studip idea, how can you not want to watch that lineup go against Cy Young caliber pitching? It's going to a great game.
Look for both of these teams to move out of Pool D into the second round.
NOTE: New York Yankee's pitcher Al Lieter has said that the WBC will likely be the last time he plays baseball. Lieter was added to the team after CC Sabathia was removed from the roster. Look for Lieter to get some innings in today.
Also, my earlier question about Sammy Sosa getting some playing time for the Dominican since Vlad and Manny aren't playing has been answered: No, Sammy did not make the 30 man roster. Looks like Slammin Sammy is out of the game for good.