I was going to do a preview to the WBC here, but this tournament really doesn't warrant me wasting my time to decipher it.
It's a complete joke, no one is playing in this tournament. I guess I can understand it, teams are flat out just not allowing their high priced investments to play in it. So here is what Team USA mustered up for the 16 team tournament that starts this weekend.
Pitchers Catchers Infielders Outfielders
Jeremy Affeldt - SF Joe Mauer - MIN Willie Bloomquist - AZ Ryan Braun - MIL
Heath Bell - AZ JP Arencibia - TOR Brandon Phillips - CIN Giancarlo Stanton - MIA
Mitchell Boggs - STL Jonathan Lucroy - MIL Jimmy Rollins - PHI Adam Jones - BAL
Steve Cishek - MIA Mark Teixeira - NYY Shane Victorino - BOS
Tim Collins - KC David Wright - NYM
Ross Detwiler - WSH Ben Zobrist - TB
R.A Dickey - TOR
Gio Gonzalez - WSH
Luke Gregorson - SD
Derek Holland - TEX
Craig Kimbrel - ATL
Chris Perez - CLE
Glen Perkins - MIN
Vinnie Pestano - CLE
Ryan Vogelsong - SF
The sad thing is that somehow this is still the best team on paper in the tournament and they should finally win this. I do love the bullpen, that I will leave alone, but here is what the rest of the team should've looked like.
Current Starters Should Be Starting Pitchers
1. RA Dickey 1. Justin Verlander - DET
2. Gio Gonzalez 2. David Price - TB
3. Derek Holland 3. Clayton Kershaw - LAD
4. Ross Detwiler 4. Stephen Strasburg - WSH
Probable Starting Lineup Should Be Starting Lineup
C - Joe Mauer C - Buster Posey - SF
1B - Mark Teixiera 1B - Prince Fielder - DET
2B - Brandon Phillips 2B - Dustin Pedroia - BOS
3B - David Wright 3B - Evan Longoria - TB
SS - Jimmy Rollins SS - Troy Tulowitzki - COL
LF - Ryan Braun LF - Mike Trout - LAA
CF - Adam Jones CF - Andrew McCutchen - PIT
RF - Giancarlo Stanton RF - Giancarlo Stanton - MIA
And it's as simple as that. Notice how there is one player on my lineup that is on the current Team USA roster? It's not just Team USA, every team is like this. It's a shame because if all these big time players aren't going to play in this, than why is baseball out of the Olympics. The WBC was the reason why the Olympics were pulled, because everyone thought this was the tournament that truly proved the best in the world.
But nonetheless lets enjoy the fact that we have some meaningful baseball in early March.