Batter's Box Interactive Magazine

On ESPN.com recently, Tim Kurkjian reported the possibility of a baseball World Cup.

The idea is that, in March of 2005, teams representing 12 or 16 countries would meet in the tournament. Kurkjian notes some of the very intriguing potential rosters - United States, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Mexico, Cuba and Japan. No mention of the Canucks.

So, extremely prematurely, what would the Canadian roster look like?

Starting Lineup

C     Pete LaForest     Tampa Bay         Hull, PQ
1B    Justin Morneau    Minnesota         New Westminster, BC
2B    Stubby Clapp      Atlanta (AAA)     Windsor, ON
3B    Corey Koskie      Minnesota         Anola, MB
SS    Danny Klassen     Detroit           Leamington, ON
LF    Matt Stairs       Kansas City       Tay Creek, NB
CF    Jason Bay         Pittsburgh        Trail, BC
RF    Larry Walker      Colorado          Maple Ridge, BC
 
 
Bench
C     Maxim St. Pierre  Detroit (AA)      Pintendre, PQ
IF    Simon Pond        Toronto (AAA)     North Vancouver, BC
IF    Matt Rogelstad    Seattle (R)       Coquitlam, BC
OF    Aaron Guiel       Kansas City       Langley, BC
OF    Jeff Guiel        Anaheim (AAA)     Langley, BC
OF    Jeremy Ware       Montreal (AA)     Orangeville, ON
 
 
Starting Rotation
SP    Rich Harden       Oakland           Victoria, BC
SP    Ryan Dempster     Chicago (NL)      Sechelt, BC
SP    Aaron Myette      Cincinnati        New Westminster, BC
SP    Adam Loewen       Baltimore (SS)    Surrey, BC
 
 
Bullpen
RP    Eric Gagne        Los Angeles       Montreal, PQ
RP    Paul Quantrill    New York (AL)     Port Hope, ON
RP    Rheal Cormier     Philadelphia      Cap Pele, NB
RP    Chris Mears       Detroit           Victoria, BC
RP    Chris Reitsma     Cincinnati        Calgary, AB
RP    Jesse Crain       Minnesota (AA)    Toronto, ON
RP    Vince Perkins     Toronto (A)       Victoria, BC

I like Morneau, Koskie, Walker and Stairs to put together some runs in the middle of the lineup.

Aaron Guiel could get the starts in leftfield vs. lefthanded pitching; a Stairs/Guiel platoon could be in the Royals plan for 2004.

British Columbia accounts for 13 of the 25 players, including the entire starting rotation.

Klassen playing shortstop is a bit of a stretch, but there are so few options out there that I had to go to the rookie level ball in the Mariners' system to find a backup (Rogelstad).

This team could certainly qualify for a 12 or 16 team tournament, and probably finish in the middle of the pack.

Posted by Leigh on Saturday, February 07 2004 @ 12:30 PM EST.

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The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Craig B - Tuesday, February 17 2004 @ 02:48 PM EST (#78739) #

Unfortunately, Leigh's article got lost in the shuffle during a busy stretch here, and was never posted. I think it's an extremely interesting piece and well worth rescuing from down the memory hole!

Gerry - Tuesday, February 17 2004 @ 02:57 PM EST (#78740) #

There was a comment I read a few weeks ago (forgot where) that stated a World Cup would need to have drug testing. The MLBPA was against that so there appeared to be an impediment to the world cup idea. I think the World Cup had to be sanctioned by someone, unless MLB just did it themselves with their own rules.

Coach - Tuesday, February 17 2004 @ 03:32 PM EST (#78741) #

Ryan Dempster is unlikely to be pitching for anybody this year after elbow surgery. If he's not ready, maybe Reitsma could move into the rotation. The bullpen is this team's strength, so the starters don't have to work deep into games.

I'd want to at least invite lefty Jeff Francis to camp, and Todd Betts, now in the Yankees' system at AAA Columbus, is a decent-hitting infielder. Maybe Corey Koskie would take one for the team and move to shortstop, with Betts in the mix at third.

It's hard to believe that Kurkjian left this team off his list and included a six-man Cuban squad. Even if the Cuban national team played, I don't think they could beat Team Canada. We could finish as high as fifth or sixth.

_peteski - Tuesday, February 17 2004 @ 03:56 PM EST (#78742) #

I've been hoping and dreaming of a world baseball tournament with professionals for years now. When I was younger and more naive one of my main life goals was inventing the World Cup of Baseball. I guess I thought that no one had ever considered this wonderful possibility, because it seemed so promising. Given how successful and awesome World class tournaments for soccer and hockey have been, why wouldn't a baseball tournament be just as awesome, especially with the wealth of international talent that exists.

Just a thought about the Canadian team. Given their impressive bullpen (don't forget Zimmerman if he regains his health and effectiveness) would it be possible to use Gagne as a starter. I know you don't want to mess with success, but it seems the best use of his talent would be as a starter. Perhaps there would be objections from the Dodgers. Could we disregard these objections? After all, the Dodgers would probably object to him pitching at all in this tournament. What do you guys think?

Mike D - Tuesday, February 17 2004 @ 04:15 PM EST (#78743) #

I'd definitely disregard the objections if, say, they allowed Hideo Nomo to represent his country. In basketball, Mark Cuban took away Canada's heart and soul...but at least he was consistent in applying his team rule.

_Mick - Tuesday, February 17 2004 @ 04:30 PM EST (#78744) #

Actually, both Zimmermans.

I'm having an e-mail debate with a midwest newspaper sports columnits about Cuban's supposed "lack of patriotism." The goofy thing about that argument is that Dallas could have the most Olympians of any team ... and the least likely team to be represented would be the ol' USA. Michael Finley could get a call, I suppose. But Nowitzki and Bradley (Germany), Nash (Canada), Najera (Mexico) and Abdul-Wahad (France) would all likely make their national teams, if those teams qualified, and that's not to mention Iceland's own Jon Stefansson, as well as very recent former Mavs Wang ZhiZhi (China) and Antoine Rigadeau (France) ... well, I think this is an issue Cuban has spent an awful lot of time thinking about.

_Brian - Tuesday, February 17 2004 @ 05:17 PM EST (#78745) #

What about Kevin Nicholson as the SS or at least as a backup infielder? He is coming off a 294/358/447 line in AA Altoona (Pittsburgh's affiliate) and has played 2B/3B/SS. He's also 27 years old, so not much of a prospect, but he's probably better than Rogelstad right now. Shawn Hill could also get consideration as a pitcher.

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