2009 World Baseball Classic Preview: Part II

All right, people, time for part two of our preview on the Latin American teams competing in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. On Monday, I profiled the national teams from Venezuela, Panama, and Mexico and now we turn our eyes to the remaining Latin powerhouses (by the way, I bet any amount of money that in ‘09 a team from a Spanish-speaking country takes down the WBC–no disrespect to defending champs Japan, but we’re due).

Dominican Republic
   
Managed By: The Legendary Felipe Alou

Other Teams in Pool D: Panama, Puerto Rico and…wait for it…Kingdom of the Netherlands!

First Game: March 7th, 11:00AM EST vs…wait for it…Kingdom of the Netherlands!

Notables In: Edinson Volquez (P, Cincinnati Reds), Johnny Cueto (P, Cincinnati Reds), Pedro Martinez (P, unsigned aka the Pedro Martinez All-Stars), David Ortiz (IF, Boston Red Sox), Hanley Ramirez (IF, Florida Marlins), Jose Reyes (IF, New York Mets), Miguel Tejeda (IF, Houston Astros), Robinson Cano (IF, New York Yankees), Adrian Beltre (IF, Seattle Mariners), Moises Alou (OF, unsigned), Jose Guillen (OF, Kansas City Royals)

Notables Out: Albert Pujols (IF, St. Louis Cardinals), Manny Ramirez (OF, unsigned aka the Manny Ramirez All-Stars), Vladimir Guerrero (OF, LAA Angels), Ervin Santana (P, LAA Angels), Francisco Liriano (P, Minnesota Twins), Alex Rodriguez (IF, New York Yankees)*

*Not definitely out, but A-Rod flew to Colorado to have his sore hip examined

Breakdown: OK, I’m a little biased here (so pumped to watch these guys play) but I’m not showing any favoritism when I say the Dominicans have a STACKED team. Even if A-Rod bows out, that still puts All-Star (and better defensive player) Adrian Beltre at third base. The Dominicans’ one weakness is pitching, especially the bullpen. For the starting rotation, the losses of Santana and Liriano (originally slated to play) hurt, but young guns Volquez and Cueto, and old gun Martinez should be able to win games. The bullpen, on the other hand, looks shakier than Michelle Rodriguez after happy hour. That being said, the legendary Felipe Alou leads the team to the top of Pool D (yes, even past the dangerous Kingdom of the Netherlands) and onto the next round.

Puerto Rico

Managed By: Jose Oquendo

Other Teams in Pool D: Dominican Republic, Panama, and…Kingdom of Netherlands

First Game: March 7th, 5:00PM EST vs. Panama

Notables In: Bernie Williams (OF, unsigned aka The Guitar Playing Puerto Rock All-Stars), Carlos Beltran (OF, New York Mets), Carlos Delgado (IF, New York Mets), Javier Vazquez (P, Atlanta Braves), J.C. Romero (P, Philadelphia Phillies), Javier Lopez (P, Boston Red Sox), Yadier Molina (IF, St. Louis Cardinals), Pudge Rodriguez (IF, unsigned), Geovany Soto (IF, Chicago Cubs), Alex Rios (OF, Toronto Blue Jays), Felipe Lopez (IF, Arizona Diamondbacks)

Notables Out: Joel Pineiro (P, St. Louis Cardinals), Bengie Molina (IF, San Francisco Giants), Jose Molina (IF, New York Yankees), Mike Lowell (IF, Boston Red Sox)

Breakdown: The third best team in the WBC (behind the U.S. and Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico sports a nice balance of offense, defense, and pitching. Plus, with Carlos Delgado breaking out the number 21 in honor of the great Roberto Clemente, how can you not root for these guys. PR advances to the second round as the runners-up in Pool D. Puerto Rico, ho!

Cuba

Managed By: Higinio Velez

Other Teams in Pool B: Australia, South Africa, and Mexico

First Game: March 8th, 2:00PM EST vs. South Africa

Notables In: ?

Notables Out: ?

Breakdown: A tough team to evaluate because people know literally nothing about the roster. 2006 star Alexei Ramirez left Cuba in ‘07 for the Dominican Republic and now plays shortstop for the Chicago White Sox. What we do know is that two solid performers from the ’06 WBC return in the form of pitcher Pedro Luis Lazo and outfielder Frederich Cepeda. The Cubans traditionally put out a strong national team (Gold medalist in the 2004 Olympics, runners-up in the first WBC), and even with the mystery, expect them to take down Pool B and advance to the second round.

Read Part 1 here.