World Baseball Classic Preview Part I

All right, using the “Reality TV Starlet Scale” the World Baseball Classic might be the Kourtney Kardashian to the World Cup’s Kim Kardashian, but don’t hate until you give the WBC a chance (if you gave it a chance and don’t like it…hate away). In only its second year, the tournament, which pits 16 international teams against each other in a bracket style format, needs to establish more of a history and legacy to matter to fans and players. That being said, the first WBC (held in 2006) featured a number of memorable games and showcased some of the best baseball talent on the planet.  Also, with Caribbean/South American countries often relegated to afterthoughts in bigger competitions like the Olympics, the WBC gives Latino fans the opportunity to display some national pride and cheer for their homelands as favorites (in '06 the DR had me hooked from game one).

With the tournament only days away (starts March 5th), here’s your guide to the Latin American/South American teams competing in the 2009 World Baseball Classic:

Venezuela
   
Managed By: Luis Sojo

Other Teams in Pool C: USA, Italy, and Canada

First Game: March 7th, 8:00 PM EST vs. Italy

Notables In: Magglio Ordonez (OF, Detroit Tigers), Miguel Cabrera (IF, Detroit Tigers), Felix Hernandez (P, Seattle Mariners), Francisco Rodriguez (P, New York Mets), Bobby Abreu (OF, LAA Angels)

Notables Out: Johan Santana (P, New York Mets), Carlos Zambrano (P, Chicago Cubs), Juan Rivera (OF, LAA Angels)

Breakdown: A solid offensive team but with the losses of some key names (Santana and Zambrano) the pitching staff looks to be a weakness. USA wins Pool C but the boys from Venezuela move on to the next round as the runners-up.

Panama

Managed By: Hector Lopez

Other Teams in Pool D: Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Kingdom of the Netherlands

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

Notables In: Carlos Lee (OF, Houston Astros), Carlos Ruiz (IF, Philadelphia Phillies), Ramiro Mendoza (P, Milwaukee Brewers), Manny Acosta (P, Atlanta Braves)

Notables Out: Mariano Rivera (P, New York Yankees)

Breakdown: Too light on both offense and defense. No Pana-mania this time around as the Panamanians fall in the opening group stage.

Side Note: Love that the Netherlands still uses “Kingdom of the.” Also, how did the Kingdom of the Netherlands get stuck in the “We have to fly down to Puerto Rico and play in the bad-ass Latino bracket” scenario?  The King of the Netherlands must be pissed. 

Mexico

Managed By: Vinny Castilla

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

First Game: March 8th, 9:00PM EST vs. Australia

Notables In: Adrian Gonzalez (IF, San Diego Padres), Oliver Perez (P, New York Mets), Jorge Cantu (IF, Florida Marlins), Joakim Soria (P, Kansas City Royals), Rod Barajas (IF, Toronto Blue Jays)

Notables Out: Oscar Villareal (P, Kansas City Royals), Alfredo Aceves (P, New York Yankees)

Breakdown: Home field advantage (games played in Mexico City) and two cupcake squads (sorry Australia and South Africa) gives Mexico a great chance to survive the opening round. They do advance, albeit as runners-up to Pool B winner Cuba.  

Read Part 2 here.