Thread: Which Twins and Twins Prospects are in the upcoming World Baseball Classic

I was just wondering if anyone here knows who from the Twins organization is playing this year. I know Morneau and Andrew Albers and possibly Scott Diamond will be representing Canada. Who else is playing and for what team?

So far I've read on the other blogs on this site that Joe Mauer and Glen Perkins will be representing the USA team

The rosters are not released yet. I believe that Joe Mauer is on team USA. They mentioned his name when Ryan Braun announced he would play. Team USA keeps announcing names for their roster, and so far, the team is looking pretty damn good.

The official rosters are being announced on Jan 17th.

These are all possibilities...

US - Mauer, Perkins (confirmed)
Canada - Morneau (confirmed), Albers could. Diamond won't be due to his elbow surgery, I believe.
Venezuela - could Arcia be on the team?
Dominican Republic - could they put Sano on the team?
Italy - Chris Colabello is a strong possibility.
Australia - I'm sure Beresford will be on the team.
Netherlands - Stuifbergen will certainly be on the team, and Blyleven will be his pitching coach again. Shairon Martis could be on the team as well.
Puerto Rico - Nelvin Fuentes has been a contributor on many of their international rosters. I even want to say he was on the last WBC team. Could they add Rosario?

Diamond won't play due to his offseason surgery.

Twins | Scott Diamond won't play in WBC - MLB Hot off the Wire

Hendriks is out for the same reason.

I wonder if Puerto Rico will need guys like Berrios and Rosario. I remember they took Gutierrez in 2009.

Drew Butera tweeted that he has been added to the team from Italy.

Also, heard today that Eddie Rosario has made the Puerto Rican team, which is pretty impressive.

Colabello said he won't do World...wants to impress in spring training.

So, when you need lots of catchers (especially those who mainly catch and your main one is on team USA), someone decides to play for another team. Time not to give the guy a major league contract.

Originally Posted by Rosterman

So, when you need lots of catchers (especially those who mainly catch and your main one is on team USA), someone decides to play for another team. Time not to give the guy a major league contract.

Yeah, THIS is the reason they should cut Butera.

Also heard: Along with Eddie Rosario, RHP JO Berrios will be named to the team from Puerto Rico. Quite an honor!

Rosario and Barrios, wow, that is impressive. Rosario has been killing it in winterball. He can flat out hit.

Australia have selected James Beresford and Brendan Wise

So the Twin's are sending two of their injury prone stars, Mauer, Morneau to this Tournament.
Is this worth the risk" Who pays their salaries? This is a useless tournament that proves nothing unless you are Japan and Korea.

Originally Posted by Highabove

So the Twin's are sending two of their injury prone stars, Mauer, Morneau to this Tournament.
Is this worth the risk" Who pays their salaries? This is a useless tournament that proves nothing unless you are Japan and Korea.

The risk...

Jayson Stark just wrote an article about this, basically debunking this sentiment . . .

Here is the link if you'd like to read it: http://espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/...

but here are the interesting parts if not:

•Players who didn't play in the WBC in 2009 were nearly twice as likely to spend time on the disabled list in April that year as players who did take part in the WBC -- 17.8 percent of non-WBC participants versus 9.5 percent (just 11 of 115) of those who did participate.

•There were 73 players on the disabled list when the 2009 season opened. Only two of them were players who were involved in the WBC. Just one (Rick Vandenhurk) was a pitcher. The other wasn't actually "injured." He was out with an ulcer.

• In only two of the last eight seasons has baseball started the season with under 9 percent of active players on the disabled list. It happened to be the two years in which the WBC had just taken place during spring training -- 2006 and 2009.

Originally Posted by ThePuck

The risk...

Jayson Stark just wrote an article about this, basically debunking this sentiment . . .

Here is the link if you'd like to read it: http://espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/...

but here are the interesting parts if not:

•Players who didn't play in the WBC in 2009 were nearly twice as likely to spend time on the disabled list in April that year as players who did take part in the WBC -- 17.8 percent of non-WBC participants versus 9.5 percent (just 11 of 115) of those who did participate.

•There were 73 players on the disabled list when the 2009 season opened. Only two of them were players who were involved in the WBC. Just one (Rick Vandenhurk) was a pitcher. The other wasn't actually "injured." He was out with an ulcer.

• In only two of the last eight seasons has baseball started the season with under 9 percent of active players on the disabled list. It happened to be the two years in which the WBC had just taken place during spring training -- 2006 and 2009.

So, nobody has a problem sending Mauer and Morneau. Most of the time, these two breeze through a season without injury issues.

Originally Posted by Highabove

So, nobody has a problem sending Mauer and Morneau. Most of the time, these two breeze through a season without injury issues.

I have no issues with it at all...quite the contrary.

I wouldn't worry much about Morneau. He can't be playing too many games before the Canadians get bounced. What three round robin games? It's beeen awhile I forget the exact format.

Originally Posted by Highabove

So, nobody has a problem sending Mauer and Morneau. Most of the time, these two breeze through a season without injury issues.

When the evidence presented shows it hasn't impacted the participants' health negatively, then no, what's the problem? If the limited sample size is to be believed, it even reduces their risk of ending up hurt during the season.

Originally Posted by nicksaviking

I wouldn't worry much about Morneau. He can't be playing too many games before the Canadians get bounced. What three round robin games? It's beeen awhile I forget the exact format.

Exactly!.......wait a minute, that was an insult wasn't it?