World Cup Musings

Saturday, February 07 2004 @ 12:30 PM EST

Contributed by: Leigh

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.

7 comments

https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20040207123043999