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A-Rod to fulfill mom’s dream during WBC

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OK. OK. I know I said that I wouldn’t harp on A-Rod and the WBC, but I’m sort of touched and sort of amused by the Yanks’ third baseman’s announcement about his decision to play for the Dominican team:

“I am 100 percent sure that I will play for the Dominican Republic team,” he said. “This time, there will be no doubts and it is a dream of my mom’s that I intend to fulfill.”

Rodriguez played for the United States in the 2006 inaugural Classic and was largely criticized by fans in the Dominican Republic and across Latin America. He at first had announced he would play for the Dominican Republic, then said he would not play and ultimately joined the U.S. team.

Rodriguez’s parents are from the Dominican Republic, and although he was born in the U.S., he is allowed to choose for which country he will play. “It will be a very special day for me and my family to see me play again with a Dominican uniform,” he said.

Awww. Mommy Rodriguez must be so proud that her son is playing for the Dominican.

Cynically, I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that the Dominican team finished third in 2006 and has a much better shot at winning with A-Rod around. Remember how well the U.S. team fared?

Hideki to skip WBC again

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Hideki Matsui, projected to be the Yanks’ DH in 2009, will not be participating in the WBC, Ken Davidoff reported over the weekend. While a very big celebrity in Japan, Matsui is rehabbing another knee surgery, and the Yanks are not so keen on his playing during the tournament. As Davidoff notes, Matsui’s decision to opt out of the tournament in 2006 upset his fellow countrymen and baseball officials. This year, however, the 34-year-old will focus on getting and staying healthy.

Open Thread: Putting together the USA WBC team

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Back after a three year hiatus, the World Baseball Classic returns next spring to what seems like less fanfare than the 2006 installment. Implemented essentially to replace Olympic baseball (which was voted off the island by the IOC), the ’09 WBC will start in four countries in early March, and wrap up with a one-game, winner-take-all Championship Game two weeks later at Dodger Stadium.

Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon and then-Yankee Al Leiter suited up for the USA in the inauguaral WBC, while Bernie Williams played for Puerto Rico. You may recall the Yanks forbid Jorge Posada from joining Bernie with Puerto Rico, while Mariano Rivera chose not to play for Panama. King George let it be known that he didn’t like his players taking an unnecessary risk, but when the dust settled the only player to suffer a serious injury was Luis Ayala, who blew out his elbow and needed Tommy John surgery.

Jeter & A-Rod have already expressed their desire to participate in the ’09 WBC, but otherwise the news is mum on the rosters, save for a few pissed off Venezuelans. So that’s where we come in. Who would you like to see suit up for the USA? Teams will work with a 30-man roster, but you don’t have to go that deep (unless, of course, you want to), perhaps just a 9 man starting lineup and some semblence of a pitching staff.

Play Bob Watson for a few minutes and stick your USA WBC team in the comments. Play nice.