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US name players for World Baseball Classic
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-02-16 07:46
NEW YORK: Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter are among the
headliners on the 30-man US team roster announced on Tuesday for next month's
inaugural World Baseball Classic.
The 16-nation tournament will feature the world's best players competing for
their home countries staged over three weeks.
Clemens, 43, winner of a record seven Cy Young Awards for major league
pitching excellence, will be joined by fellow-starters Dontrelle Willis, Jake
Peavy and C.C. Sabathia on a pitching staff that will be stacked with 10
relievers.
"I'm excited to be a part of it," Clemens, a free agent after going 13-8 with
a major league-best 1.87 ERA last year with Houston, said in a teleconference
call on Tuesday. "Obviously. this is a good group of guys. We'll be ready to
go."
Third baseman Rodriguez and shortstop Jeter, New York Yankee team-mates, will
man the left side of the infield. Other infielders named include Chipper Jones,
Michael Young, Chase Utley and slugging first basemen Derrek Lee and Mark
Teixeira.
Jason Varitek is one of three catchers and outfielders named who include
Johnny Damon, Vernon Wells and Ken Griffey Jr.
Stoppers Billy Wagner, Joe Nathan and Brad Lidge top the relief corps, which
US manager Buck Martinez said was the key to the pitching staff.
"The strength of the team is in the closing staff, with the power of the
closers," Martinez said about the pre-season competition that will have starting
pitchers limited by strict pitch counts to protect their arms.
"They have a tendency to get ready early. They have the tendency to throw
strikes. I think the relievers will be a little more advanced than the starters.
We have a lot of depth in that bullpen from guys who can give us innings and get
us through this thing."
Wagner said he looked forward to playing for his country.
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