Orioles: Guthrie in WBC mix
Here's a little more Orioles info from Jeff Z:
Orioles ace Jeremy Guthrie will be named next week to the provisional 45-man roster of the American team in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Twenty eight of those players off that roster, including a mandatory 13 pitchers, will be named to the final U.S. roster, which will be set by Feb. 24.
It’s unlikely that Guthrie makes the final roster with right-handed starters Jake Peavy, Roy Oswalt and John Lackey having already committed to the club. But Guthrie acknowledged today that it’s nice to be even considered.
"Certainly it’s an honor," Guthrie said. "It’s great to be considered regardless of what happens."
The rest of the provisional roster will be announced on Monday. Shortstop Cesar Izturis and third baseman Melvin Mora are the only two Orioles who are expected to participate in the World Baseball Classic, which begins on March 5.
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Comments
Considering that Guthrie has yet to prove he can stay healthy for an entire MLB season I hope he doesn't make the team.
Posted by: Jeff V. | January 16, 2009 7:46 PM
I'm probably in the minority here , and not meaning to come across as unpatriotic , but I tend to think of the WBC to be a major disruption to spring training :-( Anyone agree?
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | January 16, 2009 8:39 PM
Pete, I keep asking the same simple question about Millar and I get no answers. Is there some kinda coverup with Kevin?
All I wanted to know is why the Orioles don't consider him. He needs a team and we need a first baseman.
I don't know what's so hard about that. I'm getting bored asking it.
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Pete's reply: I've answered it several times. The team likes Kevin personally, but wants to go in a different direction. His numbers are okay but he's getting up there in age and they either want more potential or they want to give the position to Huff and use a Montanez or Salazar as the DH. That's the best I can do.
Posted by: Bill In Elkton | January 16, 2009 10:11 PM
Am I the only one who thinks this is bad news? What if Guthrie does make the roster? If i were an owner and had one of my investments going to play in a tourney that doesn't mean dirt, with the chances of getting hurt, i would say thanks but no thanks....I am not against the WBC, in fact I think it is rather interesting,but it couldn't come at a worse time in the year.
Posted by: funcrusher78 | January 17, 2009 1:43 AM
Actually it will be a great experience for Guthrie to surround himself with pitchers that have talent. He will learn from that. You never know he could make it. The starters will not go more than two or three innings. He can make some friends with some good players, let them know how well the Orioles treat them then they may come here. Who knows anything can happen.
Posted by: cb coach | January 17, 2009 7:09 AM
Okay Pete I give up. You did answer my question about Kevin Millar and thank you, but there's always a better answer than the "direction" thing. Yes I heard that one. It's a popular answer and easy to say.
The answer I'm searching for is the because one. Is it because he only hit .234 because he also had 20 homers and 72 rbi's.
Is he more horrible in the clubhouse than we think, because he seems like a pretty cool guy.
Is there a better first baseman out there, because I haven't heard one mentioned. At least the O's could make it sound like they are trying to go in a right direction to better the club. All I hear are crickets.
Or is it because he wants too much money than we are willing to spend for him, because I think he's worth more than all of the other names I've heard mentioned at first base except for Teixeira of course.
I'm not buying the "direction" answer. Andy McPhail knows what that real answer is.
Because why?
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Pete's reply: That's the best I've got. Sorry. I don't think there's some shadowy reason we don't know about...and it's not impossible that they end up signing him at the end of the month.
Posted by: Bill In Elkton | January 17, 2009 8:21 AM
Doesn't the fact that you leave your team for a few weeks hurt the team? Shouldn't players use spring training not only to get ready for the season physically but to build that "team chemistry"?
I guess this is the way the O's players can get on a world stage, at least for now - until they go elsewhere or the O's start winning big time again.
r is for a return to once was.
Posted by: Doug | January 17, 2009 10:35 AM
Seriously, why is anybody worried about Millar? Yes, he seems like a good guy to have around the clubhouse, but the last time I looked the O's are in the AL East. There's no time or place for sentimentality if you want to win, especially in that division. Last year the O's opened with Millar as their cleanup hitter. A lot of people knew, right then and there, that the season was hopeless. As the cleanup hitter, Millar had many chances to drive in runs that went wasted (If I'm not mistaken, his average in those situations was in the low .200's). As a fan, it was very frustrating. At best, he is a # 7 or 8 hitter used in a platoon situation. I hope the hell the team can do better than that.
Posted by: Cliff | January 18, 2009 12:28 AM
Considering that Guthrie has yet to prove he can stay healthy for an entire MLB season I hope he doesn't make the team.
Posted by: Jeff V.
DITTO
Posted by: Will A | January 18, 2009 2:23 AM