World Baseball Classic: Who will represent Canada? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

cyclone3483 · 12-18-2008, 09:41 AM

TSN announced that Ernie Whitt will again be the manager. But the big news is that Justin Morneau has already agreed to play.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/200...rneau_classic/

While it means nothing (it is merely pre-season ball), seeing the Canadian boys represent is getting to be better each year. Canada have a good number of quality major leaguers, enough to be competitive (especially starting pitching).

Here are the MLB players who could potentially play for Canada:

Starting pitchers - Rich Harden and his 2.07 ERA (Cubbies), Ryan Dempster and his 17 wins (Cubbies), Jeff Francis a former 17 game winner (Rockies), Erik Bedard a former 15 game winner (Mariners), & Shawn Hill (Senators)

Relievers - Eric Gagne Cy Young winner (Brewers), Jesse Crain (Twins), Scott Richmond (Blue Jays), & R.J. Swindle (Phillies)

Catchers - Russ Martin all-star game starter (Dodgers) & George Kottaras (Red Sox)

Infielders - Justin Morneau AL MVP (Twins), Joey Votto and his 24 HRs (Reds), & Pete Orr utility man (Senators)

Outfielders - Jason Bay and his 31HRs/101RBIs (Red Sox), Mark Teahen (Royals), & Matt Stairs (Phillies)

Please let me know if I missed anyone (or if someone is injured...Bedard?)

Looking forward to it.

worth · 12-18-2008, 10:09 AM

There are a lot of good players you just listed there. I'm looking forward to this for sure.

SportsJunky · 12-18-2008, 10:20 AM

Stubby Clapp ftw.

SportsJunky · 12-18-2008, 10:22 AM

Mark Teahen is Canadian?

habernac · 12-18-2008, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Stubby Clapp ftw.

I was in Richmond, VA 5 or so years ago, he was with the Braves AAA team there. He got a double. When he stood up on 2nd after sliding in, I yelled "Stubby for Prime Minister!!". He laughed his ass off. No one in the crowd seemed to get it, tho.

troutman · 12-18-2008, 10:45 AM

Locke was the MVP of our softball team.

cyclone3483 · 12-18-2008, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Stubby Clapp ftw.

ya, I know...I was just listing the ones that played in MLB last season. Stubby is awesome!

Quote:

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Mark Teahen is Canadian?

Teahen is a dual citizen (read it somewhere on the web, so may not be correct). I don't think I've ever seen him listed as a potential candidate now that you mention it, so he may actually be ineligible (not sure of the rules).

Sainters7 · 12-18-2008, 08:11 PM

If they actually nail down that entire roster as posted, colour me impressed. That'd be fun to watch.

nickerjones · 12-29-2008, 12:11 AM

The Canadians first round pool, which also includes the United States, is in Toronto. This might provoke me to make my first Toronto Trip

cyclone3483 · 01-20-2009, 08:09 AM

provisional roster was announced

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/2009/01/19/canada_wbc/

A number of starting pitchers will not be there unfortunately, but the MLB players largely manned up at all the other positions to represent the country. Should still be a competitive team.

MLB players included are:

Starting pitchers - Rich Harden and his 2.07 ERA (Cubbies) (questionable), Jeff Francis a former 17 game winner (Rockies), and Scott Richmond (Blue Jays)

Relievers - Eric Gagne Cy Young winner (Brewers) & Jesse Crain (Twins)

Catchers - Russ Martin all-star game starter (Dodgers) & Luke Carlin (Padres)

Infielders - Justin Morneau AL MVP (Twins), Joey Votto and his 24 HRs (Reds), Pete Orr utility man (Senators), and Mark Teahen (Royals)

Outfielders - Jason Bay and his 31HRs/101RBIs (Red Sox) & Matt Stairs (Phillies)

Sainters7 · 01-20-2009, 11:11 AM

Great line-up, but I'm really, really disappointed that Ryan Dempster said no and Rich Harden is still rehabbing. I dont blame either of them obviously, but its disappointing. What at first appeared to be the team's strength is now its greatest weakness.

Jiggy_12 · 01-21-2009, 04:59 PM

Harden and Francis are both out with shoulder injuries. Brutal, the whole rotation is shot.

Fire · 01-21-2009, 06:47 PM

It's hard to take this tournament seriously when pitchers have to obey pitch counts.

cyclone3483 · 01-21-2009, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire

It's hard to take this tournament seriously when pitchers have to obey pitch counts.

Agreed, but still worth following

StoneCole · 01-21-2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyclone3483

Teahen is a dual citizen (read it somewhere on the web, so may not be correct). I don't think I've ever seen him listed as a potential candidate now that you mention it, so he may actually be ineligible (not sure of the rules).

I think this is correct, at least according to my MLB 2K8 game. I was surprised as well.

StoneCole · 01-21-2009, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickerjones

The Canadians first round pool, which also includes the United States, is in Toronto. This might provoke me to make my first Toronto Trip

I'm gonna' be catching the game on March 11...the way the tournament works It'll probably end up being USA-Venezuela, but with some luck, Canada will be involved.

cyclone3483 · 01-22-2009, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoneCole

I think this is correct, at least according to my MLB 2K8 game. I was surprised as well.

Well, he was named to the team so I guess he has his citizenship.

phiten · 01-22-2009, 09:04 AM

I am not sure if anyone heard Aaron Guiel on the Team 1040, and he just ripped into Ryan Dempster for bowing out...Guiel, is hoping that Dempster will re-consider his decision

cyclone3483 · 01-22-2009, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phiten

I am not sure if anyone heard Aaron Guiel on the Team 1040, and he just ripped into Ryan Dempster for bowing out...Guiel, is hoping that Dempster will re-consider his decision

Really? Well, good for Guiel for stating his opinion. I can see both sides, play for country and support your countrymen vs. play it safe and support your teammates.

With the pitch count restrictions though, I don't see how Dempster would go wrong playing in the tourny unless he has to rehab.

Then again, would Guiel say the same thing if he just signed a huge contract and was being counted on as a key member on a potential championship team? I don't know.

Sainters7 · 01-22-2009, 10:27 AM

^^^
Exactly. Its frustrating, but I dont really blame him. Actually in a way you have to admire his dedication to his team after signing him to a big contract. Remember, Miikka Kiprusoff did the same thing for us in the 2006 Olympics(although part of me thinks he's just lazy and wanted the extended break). He royally p***** off alot of people in Finland for that, but I don't think any of us had a problem with it.

Still though, from a Canadian fan's point of view it is frustrating. If we just had some rinky-dink team headlined by Stubby Clapp then I'd understand, because he'd just be needlessly risking his career. But we've actually got a roster that could make some noise, I'd have loved to see what we could do if we had full access to that pitching rotation. Even from a pitcher's standpoint, I'd love to get the opportunity to work with arguably the game's best(and most athletic) catcher in Russ Martin.