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• Sojo lead the Venezuela

  06Oct
  Categories: Pool D, Venezuela, WBC2006 Comments: 0

  

  New York Yankees third-base coach Luis Sojo has accepted to manage the Venezuela for World Baseball Classic next spring.

  “I’m very happy at the appointment, and now we have to put together a team that puts Venezuela’s name high up there,” Sojo said. “It will be very tough, but I think in Venezuela there are enough quality players to win the title. I hope the best are available.”

  After 13-year of Major League Baseball, Sojo retired in 2003 after played for Toronto Blue Jays, California Angels, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees. Now he is the third-base coach of Yankees.

  Sojo will be part of the Venezuelan technical team with David Concepcion and Omar Malave, based on Humberto Oropeza, Venezuelan Baseball Official. Oropeza mentioned that each team will have an initial list of 60 players that will be reduced to 30, with 13 pitchers, three catchers and 14 players. Venezuela will announce its final roster by March 2, just prior to the opening of the competition.

  Venezuela should be one of the best teams in WBC, with hitters like Miguel Cabrera of Florida Marlins and Bobby Abreu of Philadelphia Phillies, and pitchers including Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins, and their target is very simple, winning the gold.

  Venezuela will play first round at Cracker Jack Stadium of Disney World, at the southeastern of Orlando in Florida, with other Group Four counterpart: Australia, Italy and the Dominican Republic. Top two teams will move up, with another round-robin play at second round. Top two teams of second round will play single elimination Semi-Final and Final Game at PETCO Park to decide who the real world championship is.

  Sojo glad to be chosen Venezuela’s manager

  Venezuela eyes title at first World Baseball Classic

• Grey Worldwide Retained by World Baseball Classic

  05Oct
  Categories: WBC2006 Comments: 0

  NEW YORK, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ — World Baseball Classic, Inc. has awarded Grey Worldwide’s BuzzGrey unit advertising and public relations duties for the launch of the first-ever World Baseball Classic tournament. This unprecedented global event will be held throughout March 2006 and will feature the best baseball players from around the world competing for their home countries and territories.

  “Grey Worldwide’s creative energy and strategic ideas will certainly help us make this international event the start of a new tradition,” said Paul Archey, Senior Vice President, Major League Baseball International Baseball Operations.

  “Grey is expert, everywhere, and innovative. The World Baseball Classic games feature the very best baseball players from around the world in a unique and exciting international format. It’s a perfect fit,” said Gene Orza, chief operating officer of the Major League Baseball Players Association.

  Maureen Maldari, Managing Partner/EVP of BuzzGrey said, “We are extremely excited and honored to be part of an effort that celebrates the growing international flavor of baseball.”

  BuzzGrey headed the fully integrated pitch that included representatives of Grey companies GCI and WingLatino. The World Baseball Classic assignment involves strategic planning, creative, public relations, marketing, research, promotional and advertising components.

  About The World Baseball Classic

  The World Baseball Classic tournament was established by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association in cooperation with professional baseball leagues and baseball federations around the world. The 16-team tournament, sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation, will feature the best players in the world competing for their home countries and territories. The World Baseball Classic tournament is scheduled to take place in March 2006 at venues in the United States, Latin America and Asia.

  About Grey Worldwide

  Grey Worldwide New York is the headquarters and largest office of Grey Worldwide, one of the world’s largest advertising agency networks. Grey Worldwide is a partner company of Grey Global Group, a WPP company (Nasdaq: WPPGY - News). Grey Global Group ranks among the largest global communications companies in the world. It operates branded independent business units in many communications disciplines including general advertising, public relations/public affairs, healthcare marketing, brand development, relationship marketing, sales promotion and interactive marketing, and on-line and off-line media services.

  Grey Worldwide Retained by World Baseball Classic

• Canada hunt for talent

  05Oct
  Categories: Canada, Pool B, WBC2006 Comments: 0

  To prepare the World Baseball Classic next March, Canada full tilt to find as much talent as they can to organize Nation Team.

  Chris Woodward, utility man of Toronto Blue Jays, whose wife is a Toronto native and is trying to become a Canadian for WBC2006. He can play all four infield positions plus the outfield and bats right-handed with some pop, which Canada needs.

  Mark Teahen, left-handed third baseman of Kansas City Royals, obtained Canadian citizenship in 2004 through his father, Mike, who was born in St. Marys, Ont. and played for the national team, is eligible to play.

  Jesse Crain, reliever of Minnesota Twins reliever, was born in Toronto but moved back to USA when he was three months old. He previously pitched for the United States during 2004 Athens Olympics Qualifying Games, but he decided to switch to play for Canada and has received a preliminary OK from USA Baseball, will be an asset for the bullpen.

  Rosters recently increased from 27 to 30, with a minimum of 13 pitchers and three catchers, and Team officials are looking over the eligibility rules and Canada’s immigration laws, try to build the best team with five months to go.

  World Baseball Classic organizers recently sent a memo to every team clarifying those eligibility rules. In order to participate, a player must have been either born in a country, hold citizenship there, be a permanent legal resident, have a parent who is a citizen or hold some other ancestral ties to the land (such as a grandparent).

  Baseball Canada are also in the process of requesting permission to use big named players like Jason Bay, Larry Walker, Justin Morneau and Rich Harden.

  Teams aren’t likely to be officially announced until December or January at the earliest. Canada is tentatively scheduled to open its training camp at Toronto Blue Jays’ facilities in Dunedin, Florida on March 3, giving players a chance to spend about a week and a half at their teams’ spring training camp.

  Canada leaving no stone unturned in hunt for World Baseball Classic talent

• Jason Bay, main force of Canada

  03Oct
  Categories: Canada, Pool B, WBC2006 Comments: 0

  

  2004 NL Rookie of the Year, Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Jason Bay will join the Team Canada in World Baseball Classic next March.

  Born from British Columbia, only two years MLB experience, but Jason Bay has become one of the forefronts of Canadians in the majors. After hitting .282 with 26 homers and 82 RBIs last season to Rookie of the Year, he did not have sophomore jinx, but improve to .306 with 32 homers, 101 RBIs and 110 runs, include upgrade on-base percentage up to .402 and stay healthy for playing all 162 games.

  He will represent Canada in March at the World Baseball Classic, will rest and spend the off-season at his new home in Phoenix until January, when training for the World Baseball Classic will get started and fight for Canada.

  Below are other Canadians who migjt join the World Baseball Classic:
  Outfielder Larry Walker, Right hander Eric Gagne, First baseman Justin Morneau, Right-hander Rich Harden, Left-hander Jeff Francis, Third baseman Corey Koskie, Left-hander Erik Bedard, Right-hander Ryan Dempster, Utility man Peter Orr, Designated Hitter Matt Stairs, Left-hander Rheal Cormier, Reliever Jesse Crain, Reliever Chris Reitsma, Reliever Paul Quantrill, Catcher Pete Laforest, Outfielder Adam Stern.

  Bay is better safe than sorry
  No slump for Bay

• Marketing start, doubts still exist

  02Oct
  Categories: WBC2006 Comments: 0

  MLB already started to market World Baseball Classic before 2005 season end, although doubts still exist.

  Last week at Kauffman Stadium, ushers sent fan a small booklet which read PASSPORT, the logo for the World Baseball Classic and the trademarked slogan, “Baseball spoken here.” Inside of the document were colorful graphics talking about the number of games to be played and the number of players to participate.

  MLB attempt to internationalize baseball through the 16-team tournament next March, although Cuba still did not say yes, and there are players expressing serious doubts about spring training might be influenced.

  “It’s going to be tough,” Padres closer Trevor Hoffman said. “It’s going to shorten the off-season. I don’t know if there’s a good way to do that.”

  However, due to the Olympics cancel baseball in 2012, MLB wanted to use WBC as a force to explore the world. And there is no time to wait.

  Good news is, it did not bother some star players, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols said “I’m pretty excited, and I think the whole thing is going to be great.”

  Doubts about Classic also spoken here

• Manager of Dominican Repubilc?

  01Oct
  Categories: Dominican Republic, Pool D, WBC2006 Comments: 0

  

  New York Mets third-base coach Manny Acta and former Kansas City Royals manager Tony Pena are two possibilities to guide the Dominican Republic next spring.

  Both Acta and Pena are the leading candidates to manage the Dominican Republic, one of the most powerful team in World Baseball Classic next March, Acta will also manage the Dominican Republic next week in a pre-Olympic qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico.

  Cameron sighted
  Tony Pena Player Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com
  Tony Pena Managerial Record - Baseball-Reference.com
  Tony Pena | BaseballLibrary.com
  Baseball Prospectus Q&A: Manny Acta

• Twins support WBC

  01Oct
  Categories: Canada, México, Pool B, Pool D, Venezuela, WBC2006 Comments: 0

  Several members of Minnesota Twins could join the World Baseball Classic in 2006.

  Like other major league teams, Twins has players who came from different countries, could fight each other next March.

  Utility infielder Juan Castro has already committed to playing for Mexico, “It’ll be a good event for people everywhere,” Castro said. “It’s an honor to be invited. I don’t know when I’ll have the chance again to represent Mexico.”

  First baseman Justin Morneau, who has been in Team Canada before, but not include 2004 Olympics, could represent Canada. “If I’m invited, I’d like to play,” Morneau said.

  Reliever Jesse Crain, an American who was born in Toronto, since he’s eligible to play for both nations, he was also willing to play for Canada. “Yeah, if they ask me and Team USA doesn’t,” Crain said. “It sounds like it would be fun. Obviously, I’d like to play for Team USA, but I don’t think they’ll ask me.”

  Reliever Juan Rincon and starting pitcher Carlos Silva weren’t sure if they would be able to play for Venezuela due to injury recovery.

  Because World Baseball Classic will be held in March, means Spring Training next year is not the same as previous one.

  For Manager Ron Gardenhire, he did not have problem with losing some guys, as long as their health is protected. “I think representing your country is a wonderful thing,” Gardenhire said. “But hopefully they’ll understand that they have to get themselves into good shape early. I think baseball will take a part in that to get guys into good shape and they’ll be ready to go and not hurt themselves.”

  Notes: Twins look foward to Classic