Numerous Major League players to feature in World Baseball Classic
USA will be taking on Mexico in the opening game of World Baseball Classic in 2013.There are going to be a few Major League Baseball stars on show in the 2013 World Baseball Classic to take place in March in Japan and Taiwan. Japan is the two time defending
champions of the event.
The USA team has been placed in Pool D along with Mexico, Italy and Canada. Minnesota Twins’ catcher Joe Mauer and New York Mets’ David Wright will be taking part for the American team which is managed by Joe Torre. The 72-year-old has had extensive managing
experience in the Major League and has managed five teams over a period of nearly three decades.
The other teams in the group will also be utilising the services of MLB players. These include Canada, who will be having Minnesota Twins’ Justin Morneau and Toronto Blue Jays’ Brett Lawrie. Mexico also has a Major Leaguer amongst their ranks in shape of
Adrian Gonzalez of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Torre is confident of putting up a good show, something that the audiences want. "It's just sort of like managing the Yankees for me because everybody for the USA always want to put on their Sunday best to make sure that they see a team that they're going
to be proud of," Torre said Monday in Nashville.
He is also mindful of the fact the other teams will be playing though the winter and are likely going to be in better shape than the US team. "Some of the other countries like Japan and the Latin-American countries have played all winter long. And they're
probably in better shape and that's probably our biggest challenge, is to get our team ready physically. And, of course, following the physical part is the mental part where you dig in," Torre explained.
A total of four groups have been formed and two teams will advance to the next round. The second round will be held in Tokyo and Miami and the semi final and the final will take place in San Francisco from 17-19 of March.
Pool A comprises of co-hosts Japan, China, Cuba and the new comers Brazil will take place in Fukuoka, Japan. Yan Gomes of the Cleveland Indians will be representing the Brazilian team.
Pool B has Korea, Netherlands, Australia and co-hosts Taiwan. The pool will be played in Taichung, Taiwan and will have a number of Major League players. Australia will be fielding Oakland Athletics’ Travis Blackley, Taiwan will make use of services of free
agent pitcher Chien-Ming Wang and Netherlands will have Washington Nationals’ Roger Bernadina and free agent Andruw Jones.
Pool C has Venezuela, Spain, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico and will take place in San Juan. Dominican Republic will be fielding Toronto Blue Jays’ Jose Reyes and New York Yankees’ Robinson Cano. Puerto Rico has two St. Louis Cardinal players in the
form of catcher Yadier Molina and Carlos Beltran. Venezuelan team will be utilising the services of San Francisco Giants’ Pablo Sandoval and Miguel Cabrera. Spain is the only team in the pool without the service of a Major League player.
It will be quite interesting to see if the Japanese team will be able to hold their supremacy and bag the crown for a third successive time or will some other team dethrone them. Come the third week of March, we should have the answer.
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