The United State's WBC Lineup

[Goober]

So I was watching an Intentional Talk rerun on MLB Network this morning (there's never anything good on tv on Thanksgiving), and Tom Verducci was on talking about the potential star power of the United State's starting lineup. Here's his lineup:

CF-Mike Trout
RF-Bryce Harper
LF-Ryan Braun
C-Buster Posey
3B-Evan Longoria
1B-Prince Fielder
2B-Dustin Pedroia
SS-Ian Desmond
DH-Matt Wieters

P-Clayton Kershaw

Verducci's criteria was:
1) Talent level
2) People who had expressed interest in playing
3) Health (i.e. no Tulo at SS)

What does everyone think? Would you change anything? If so what?

[Leftwich]

So I was watching an Intentional Talk rerun on MLB Network this morning (there's never anything good on tv on Thanksgiving), and Tom Verducci was on talking about the potential star power of the United State's starting lineup. Here's his lineup:

CF-Mike Trout
RF-Bryce Harper
LF-Ryan Braun
C-Buster Posey
3B-Evan Longoria
1B-Prince Fielder
2B-Dustin Pedroia
SS-Ian Desmond
DH-Matt Wieters

P-Clayton Kershaw

Verducci's criteria was:
1) Talent level
2) People who had expressed interest in playing
3) Health (i.e. no Tulo at SS)

What does everyone think? Would you change anything? If so what?

You sure he's not playing for Jerusalem?

[Goober]

You sure he's not playing for Jerusalem?

Israel didn't qualify you dork.

[Leftwich]

Israel didn't qualify you dork.

I was making fun of his jewishness.

But anyway have Verlander and Price shown any interest in the WBC?

[Lanteri]

Lineup looks about right. lol @ Wieters DHing over Posey though. Switch that around and it makes more sense. And, I don't know if that's supposed to be the batting order or not, but if it is, I'd change it to:

Trout
Pedroia
Braun
Fielder
Posey
Longoria
Wieters
Harper
Desmond

[Goober]

I was making fun of his jewishness.

But anyway have Verlander and Price shown any interest in the WBC?

Verlander was discussed on the show. Verducci said he didn't want to include him because Verlander has thrown so many innings the last two years (over 500). They didn't talk about Price, but I assume they'll need multiple starters (I have no idea how these games are going to be scheduled). But for one game, I'd take Kershaw over Price.

[WrightStuff]

Id be surprised if lots of these guys play. It doesnt have the same pride factor as the World Cup since this is the only time international baseball teams play, and thus the players don't seem to care as much.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Id be surprised if lots of these guys play. It doesnt have the same pride factor as the World Cup since this is the only time international baseball teams play, and thus the players don't seem to care as much.

I don't know about that. A ton of players have angered their MLB teams by participating. And a lot of guys want to play so badly, they play as ringers for countries that they've never been to in their lives.

[Guest]

LOL at Posey catching over Wieters. Take the second best defensive catcher (some could argue he's right there with Molina) and put him at DH is an asinine move, to say the least.

[Goober]

LOL at Posey catching over Wieters. Take the second best defensive catcher (some could argue he's right there with Molina) and put him at DH is an asinine move, to say the least.

Hell, put one of them at 1B and let Fielder DH. But really I'm more offended by the idea that Wieters is the best available hitter to DH.

[Guest]

Hell, put one of them at 1B and let Fielder DH. But really I'm more offended by the idea that Wieters is the best available hitter to DH.

Well, if you had him catching, you would then have Fielder or Posey at DH. With that lineup as it stands, defense provided by Wieters behind the plate means so much more than another bat.

[NAHSTE]

LOL at Harper over Heyward.

[EmpireWF]

Harper over Heyward.

They proved to be eerily similar this year on paper.

[Villain]

LOL at Heyward or Harper over a healthy Matt Kemp.

[NAHSTE]

LOL at Heyward or Harper over a healthy Matt Kemp.

Well, maybe they want a good defensive outfielder?