Evan Longoria To Join Team USA in World Baseball Classic

by Tommy Rancel on Mar 19, 2009 9:18 PM EDT

Word just came across that Evan Longoria has been selected as a injury replacement for Team USA. Longoria had mentioned he was a possible replacement, but it looks like the possibility is now a reality. He'll join the team in Los Angeles for the semi-finals. According to Marc Lancaster, Longoria could play immediately as the other US third basemen, Chipper Jones and David Wright are both nursing injuries.

Longoria had been hoping for a call ever since Chipper Jones went down with an injury last weekend. Longoria could end up playing the field, as the remaining third baseman, David Wright, cracked a toenail when he fouled a ball off his foot last night and played the duration of the game in pain. --TBO

More to come...

Update: From ESPN.com

Friedman said USA Baseball did not ask Longoria to play first base; right now, the Americans are likely happy just to have another body on the bench

Update 9:26: I just spoke to a source close to the situation and was told the Rays do not want Longoria playing first base.

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Didn't he just have "the flu"?

I sure do hope he doesn’t spread it to the rest of the Americans. This is putting his entire country’s well-being at risk. So irresponsible.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 19, 2009 10:05 PM EDT reply actions

'flu' in the bottle?

by Raymondo on Mar 19, 2009 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I believe it was the "Irish Flu"

by TPA08 on Mar 19, 2009 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions

He can give the flu to as many of them as he wants

Especially Youk, Pedroia, and Jeter

"I never threw an illegal pitch. The trouble is, once in a while I toss one that ain't never been seen by this generation." - Satchel Paige

by Steve Slowinski on Mar 20, 2009 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Funny that Davey Johnson seems to feel obligated to play Jeter at short over Rollins

when Rollins is much, much better. I can’t wait for Jeter’s contract to come due to see what they do with him. Last thing they should do is give him a big contract, again and leave him at short. Which is what they’ll probably do.

When you're 90 years old, you don't buy green bananas.

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Mar 20, 2009 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions

there is no fing way he had the flu for just one day

by plasticman on Mar 20, 2009 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions

I wonder if the "he was injured" excuse again if

Longo has to play 1B.

At the moment, I am a big Korea fan, I want a chance of JP and Longo vs Aki championship

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Mar 19, 2009 10:07 PM EDT reply actions

oh and I hope he plays tomorrow

before he leaves for LA

I’m not ready to say goodbye for all of like 3-4 days total

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Mar 19, 2009 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I am not OK with this

This American team has more injuries than a cast of Macbeth.

by plasticman on Mar 20, 2009 12:25 AM EDT reply actions

lineup

1- Rollins SS
2- Roberts 2B
3- Wright DH
4- Dunn 1B
5- Longoria 3B
6- Braun LF
7- McCann C
8- Victorino RF
9- Granderson CF

by Rays4242 on Mar 20, 2009 2:01 AM EDT reply actions

I doubt Johnson Bats Longoria that high up

He has shown a lot of deference to service-time seniority in constructing his lineup. If you ask me, too much deference.

by GomesSweetGomes on Mar 20, 2009 2:08 AM EDT up reply actions

David Wright, heard of him?

by rglass44 on Mar 20, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Looks to me like he's hitting in the 3-hole

Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You'll be an old man before you know it.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 20, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

The best 3rd baseman in baseball not named A-Rod?

by rglass44 on Mar 20, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that's fair

He does everything well, is still young, and is in a very good lineup.

Incidentally, my neighbor played in a league up in Virginia on a team with both Uptons. I guess Justin played illegally age-wise, but on other teams were Wright and Zimmerman. I guess Wright threw a party at his house so my neighbor ended up arguing with him about hitting on David’s gf. Dude ended up throwing the keg in the pool, musta been a hell of a time and a hell of a league.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 20, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Everyone knows someone that played with/against them it seems.

Probably because it was like the greatest assortment of talent on a HS/AAU team ever. My cousin played AAU against the team that had Wright at 3B, Beej at SS, and Zimmerman at 2B. Greatest IF ever on an AAU team? Probably. He also played in a state showcase game where he was the starting SS on the opposite side of Beej and Wright, but he had Zimmerman next to him at third. In the game he said BJ hit a linedrive that he almost jumped to try to catch (he’s like 6’4), but it had so much torque and backspin on it it kept rising all the way outta the park. He played at Mt. St. Mary’s out of HS, needless to say he was the worst ballplayer on the left side of the infield in that game.

by rglass44 on Mar 20, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

musta been a ton of trash talk in those games

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 20, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I seriously love the WBC

Players need to find a way to make their clubs force them to go. It is for your freaking country. Who cares if Longo plays 1B? What are the Rays scared of? Him not catching a ball and breaking his nose? There is a point where you are babying them too much. People can get hurt in all walks of life. Car accident, sneezing, going up or down stairs, etc. What do these teams expect? That the players just teleport from their bed to the clubhouse to their position on the diamond everyday?

Pitchers are a bit different animal and would require a bit more thought, but there is no reason for a noninjured position player to not play. By injury I mean something that would keep him out of a regular season MLB game.

by matthan on Mar 20, 2009 8:30 AM EDT reply actions

Longoria doesn't want to play 1B

Longoria said Team USA GM Bob Watson asked him if he ever played first base, but Longoria quickly dismissed the idea. "I said "Let’s not allude to this;’ I’m a third baseman, and I’m not going to go over there and start experimenting

Heater

by Tommy Rancel on Mar 20, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

I didn't mean to single him out

I’m just saying clubs are way overly cautious about the WBC. I don’t expect players to play out of position…that shouldn’t have to happen in this type of tournament. We should have more than enough capable bodies.

IMHO this tournament should be done during the all star break or right after the world series. I guess I just take it far more seriously than most.

by matthan on Mar 20, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

I love how guys like McCann and Longoria have to play elsewhere, but Derek Jeter costs the team every time he's at short

And yet he doesn’t get asked to play second or first base.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 20, 2009 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Longoria is a downgrade at third.

by rglass44 on Mar 20, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

So is Jeter, what's your point?

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 20, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Not as much as Longo.

He also isn’t the face of the tournament who has done a lot in promoting it.

by rglass44 on Mar 20, 2009 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Is Longoria a downgrade defensively?

And, why not play both if you have a DH?

by GomesSweetGomes on Mar 20, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Jeter’s 3 year WAR- 4.6 (3.7 last year)
Rollins’- 5.6 (5.3 last year)
difference- 1/1.6

Longo- 5.3
Wright- 7.4 (6.9 3 year)
difference- 2.1/2.6

Bigger downgrade.

by rglass44 on Mar 20, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

The difference between Wright and Longoria and Rollins and Jeter is pretty much the same.

Unless you think Longoria isn’t a true talent 5 win player, which is a different debate.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 20, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

I think he is.

I still think he’s a bigger downgrade.

by rglass44 on Mar 20, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Again, shouldn't be as much of an issue if you have a DH

Ideally, you’d play Wright, Longoria, and Rollins

by GomesSweetGomes on Mar 20, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Playing Jeter at DH is the best idea.

That way he never has to play defense, yet nobody can complain that the captain is missing.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 20, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Yes, I'm joking.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 20, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Pretty much every at bat he had in Miami I turned to my friend and said;

‘This at bat will determine one and for all whether or not Jeter is clutch’

Of cousre every time I said that he failed. Very unscientific, yet amusing nonetheless.

by GomesSweetGomes on Mar 20, 2009 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybe

But what about Dunn and Braun?

by rglass44 on Mar 20, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

If you have a flyball pitcher going, use Granderson/Victorino until you don't.

If you have a groundball pitcher, use Braun/Dunn until you don’t.
If you have a split pitcher, use Braun/Granderson.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 20, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions

I doubt the GB/FB split makes that much of a difference.

In a given game, how many balls are put in play by a starter? If they get 18 outs (6 IP) and give up 5 hits (1 HR), and 6 ks, then that is about 16 BIP. Brandon Webb gives 9 GB, and Chris Young gives up 4 GB. Those are the two most extreme cases.

by rglass44 on Mar 20, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

It doesn't.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 20, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

That's the heart of it.

The small differences in the players is not worth burning bridges in an event that is about making money. Derek Jeter makes more money for the event than Jimmy Rollins. I wish it wasn’t the case, but it is. I wish the best players were there being used the best way, but they aren’t. The US team would be amazing with an IF of Tex/Berkman, Utley/Pedroia, Rodriguez/Wright, Rollins/Jeter?/Tulo?/Hardy?. You really could build an absolutely awesome, exciting team. It would be an absolute joy to watch.

by rglass44 on Mar 20, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions