The Rays on WBC Provisional Rosters

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 19, 2009 9:30 PM EST

Player	Country
Balfour	AUS
Garza	MEX
Howell	USA
Iwamura	JPN
Kazmir	USA
Longoria	USA
Navarro	VEN
Pena	DOM

This information courtesy of MLB.com's provisional rosters. Team Canada is going to be awesome, just a few names: Phillippe Aumont, Eric Cyr, R.J. Swindle, Pete LaForest, George Kottaras, Stubby Clapp, Pete Orr, Joey Votto, Jason Bay, Matt Stairs, Mark Teahen, and the other Rays connection: Adam Stern.

You'll remember him from the whole Rays/Sox mini-feud in 2006. At the trade deadline, the Rays suspected Boston tampering with Julio Lugo. Naturally, the Rays interfered when the Orioles and Red Sox attempted to swap Stern and Javy Lopez. The Rays claiming of Stern gave Rays fans a reason to say, "Take that!" Stern would naturally be removed from waivers, and instead be sent to Baltimore in October as a player to be named later.

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Coutersy of Rays Index

Garza and Navarro will not be playing. Thank god with Garza, he needed the rest the most.

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Jan 19, 2009 10:15 PM EST reply actions

Is Pujolsplaying?

Pena can’t play over Pujols

"Don't test the cannon"! screamed Matt Garza after b.J. Upton throws another failed attempt of scoring by a tag-up!

by raysbball on Jan 19, 2009 10:19 PM EST reply actions

I'm not all that worried about the position players

And have already said I like it for Kaz.

Balfour and Howell need all the rest they can get, though.

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Jan 19, 2009 10:22 PM EST up reply actions

I don't think Balfour will get that much work

for the (10)Australian team, assuming he’s there as the closer…

Up against (1)Cuba, (8)Mexico and (20)South Africa in Pool B… honestly I only think he’ll be needed against Mexico. I don’t think it’ll be close enough against Cuba to matter and I think we’ll be on the other side of the ledger against South Africa.

(and if anyone’s curious, the rankings come from the IBAF’s site, here and may not be entirely valid since they take into account youth competitions as well)

by AussieGriff on Jan 19, 2009 10:58 PM EST up reply actions

Could work out

We are a 6. 45 man roster will be dropped down to 28, but I only see Aki geting cut.

Pujols on the roster so Pena probably wont play. If we have some luck, that brings us to 4.

Decent number, except for the fact is Longoria, Kazmir, Howell, and Balfour but maybe you will be right and Aussie wont play much.

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Jan 19, 2009 11:05 PM EST up reply actions

Pujols isn't elgible to play.

He had offseason surgery so that DQs him.

I want Baldelli to be healthy enough to play in 150 games, I just hope he sucks. Like Greg Vaughn suck.

by SeanDubbs on Jan 19, 2009 10:43 PM EST up reply actions

Garza had off-season surgery.

Hopefully that DQs him.

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 19, 2009 10:49 PM EST up reply actions

He isn't playing

Neither is Navarro so its 6.

Also, Pujols is on the roster.

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Jan 19, 2009 10:49 PM EST up reply actions

Garza had been pursued by Mexico for the WBC and was under consideration for the U.S. team, but players who have had offseason surgery can’t play in the tournament.

by Tommy Rancel on Jan 20, 2009 8:17 AM EST up reply actions