World Baseball Classic & The Tribe

[GhostofTedCox]

Any ideas who might play in the World Baseball Classic with Indian (Cleveland) connections? My guess would be that Shin-Soo Choo (KOR) would be a lock. Also, Weglarz (CAN) and Victor Martinez (VEN) could be in it. Maybe Grady and Lee (USA).

[jellis]

I think Victor wont be, with the injury issues last year I would be shocked if he did anything that would have extra wear on him. I would think grady should be not sure on lee though. I agree with Choo and Weglraz being locks

[TonyIBI]

Wegz most certainly will play for Canada. Not sure about any other minor leaguers since unlike the Olympics, the teams here will be loaded with all the best players from MLB so very little presence from the minors. Most certainly a few major league Indians like Cabrera, Peralta, Betancourt, Martinez, Sizemore, Perez, etc could show up on rosters.

[jellis]

if choo is on SK and they win wouldnt that get him out of his mandatory military service

[carnegie44115]

if choo is on SK and they win wouldnt that get him out of his mandatory military service

Well its never been brought up that the WBC win would do it for Choo to get out of his service, but the only thing I know of that would, would be the 2010 Asian Games.

[jellis]

if choo is on SK and they win wouldnt that get him out of his mandatory military service

Well its never been brought up that the WBC win would do it for Choo to get out of his service, but the only thing I know of that would, would be the 2010 Asian Games.

The Olympics would have done it

[TonyIBI]

Thought I recall Choo mentioning something in a story sometime in the last few months he plans to become a US citizen within the next year.

[Hermie13]

In the 2006 WBC, Korea let all their players out after they made the semifinals.


And Choo will definately be on the 2009 team. Isn't he like 1 of only 3 South Koreans playing at the ML leve right now?


And where did you read that about Choo thinking about getting US citizenship? I thought I read the opposite but hope you're right.

[carnegie44115]

I remember reading about Choo going for his US citizenship, I remember something along the lines that he was studying for it. And to Jellis yes the olympics would have done it but because of players on 25 man rosters not being allowed, the Indians couldn't let him go. So maybe the WBC does it for him as Hermie says and it will be all over.

[Hermie13]

I hope it's true that he becomes a US citizen, cause then it doesn't matter what counts and what doesn't.

And I read that just because the 2006 WBC counted, there's no gurantee that the 2009 one will too....not too mention the Koreas have to advance far, which is no gurantee with the Latin American, Japanese, and American teams all in it....