NEW YORK -- It is still unknown what major league team -- if any -- Roger Clemens will pitch for in April. But he will be on the mound for the United States in March.

 

Clemens, 42, was one of 42 players named Monday to the provisional U.S. roster for the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

 

All 16 countries must submit a provisional roster with as many as 60 players by Wednesday, with a final 30-man roster in place by March 2 -- one day before the tournament starts.

 

Other notable names on the U.S. roster are seven-time MVP Barry Bonds of San Francisco, shortstop Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees, first baseman Derrek Lee of the Chicago Cubs, Boston catcher Jason Varitek, Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones, starting pitchers Dontrelle Willis of Florida and Roy Halladay of Toronto and closers Billy Wagner of the New York Mets and Oakland's Huston Street, the American League rookie of the year.

 

Among those not on the provisional roster is Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who has not decided whether he will play for the United States, the Domincan Republic or not participate at all.

 

Clemens went 13-8 for the National League champion Houston Astros last season and led the majors with a 1.87 ERA in 211 1/3 innings. However, Clemens is a free agent and has said that he is unsure whether he will retire or play again next season.

 

"I'm excited about it because I never had the opportunity to do the Olympics," said Clemens, who ranks ninth on the all-time list with 341 career wins.

 

The depth of the U.S. staff, which also includes NL strikeout leader Jake Peavy and Washington closer Chad Cordero, will be important since pitchers will be held to an undetermined but strict pitch count in the tournament.

 

Bonds missed virtually all of last season with a knee injury but expects to be healthy for the event and the start of the regular season.

 

"He was very excited," U.S. manager Buck Martinez said. "Anybody that can have his bat in the lineup [will benefit]. He's a game-changer and a good guy to have on your lineup, no doubt about it."

 

Bonds figures to serve as Team USA's designated hitter. Other outfielders on the roster are Toronto's Vernon Wells and Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr.

 

All players will be tested under the Olympic drug policy, although a positive test during the World Baseball Classic will not count under baseball's new substance-abuse policy.

 

The teams in the World Baseball Classic will be divided into four pools and feature round-robin play in each of the first two rounds. From March 3-6, Japan will host the opening round in Pool A, which also includes Korea, China and Chinese Taipei.

 

The top two finishers will travel to the United States for the second round to face the qualifiers from Pool B, which includes Team USA, beginning March 13.

 

Pool B also consists of Canada, Mexico and South Africa and will be held in Arizona.

 

Puerto Rico will host Pool C, which also includes teams from the Netherlands and Panama. Cuba also is scheduled to compete in Pool C, although its status is still up in the air.

 

The U.S. government has banned the Cubans from participating, citing an embargo on the communist nation. However, Major League Baseball and the Players Association have petitioned to include Cuba, which boasts many major league players.

 

Pool D will be occupied by Australia, the Dominican Republic, Italy and Venezuela and play in Florida.

 

The top two teams from each second-round pool advance to the single-elimination semifinals and finals, which will be held at Petco Park in San Diego from March 18-20.

 

The WBC will be held again in 2009 and every four years thereafter.

With notable absences such as Josh Beckett and Mark Prior (and with Al Leither :lol ), the pitching staff doesn't look to be as unstoppable as it possibly could have been. Still the strongest going in most likely, though.

So the US will have Clemens, D-Train, Halladay, and Peavy as starters? That's pretty good.

That team is going to own. The only team that can come close will be the Domican Republic, but I doubt the Domican can match the US in pitching though.

Well, the best overall pitcher is probably on Venezuela's team, and the DR has a very capable ace as well. But as far as full rotations go, I have seen nothing to think the US doesn't get the edge.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't the U.S. also have the best bullpen?

It's only going to be every 4 years? Aww.

 

And it's too bad that the tournament is being played with a DH and D-train won't be able to put on a hitting and base running spectacle.

so i guess A-Rod decided not to play.....

 

what sucks is that its all the best talent the u.s.a. has against the other countries with the talent spread out instead of an all-star hispanic team which would have been more fair....with this system the U.S. team better win it all......

 

still it is going to be very fun to watch.....

so i guess A-Rod decided not to play.....

 

what sucks is that its all the best talent the u.s.a. has against the other countries with the talent spread out instead of an all-star hispanic team which would have been more fair....with this system the U.S. team better win it all......

 

still it is going to be very fun to watch.....

 

 

That's a good point. The Latin countries are so much smaller. The DR, with like 9 million people, easily produces the best baseball talent in the world on a per capita basis. If you had Latin America v. the U.S. I think Latin America would win easily. It might be a good idea to have that be the All-Star game at some point. Or International v. U.S., like the Futures Game.

so i guess A-Rod decided not to play.....

 

what sucks is that its all the best talent the u.s.a. has against the other countries with the talent spread out instead of an all-star hispanic team which would have been more fair....with this system the U.S. team better win it all......

 

still it is going to be very fun to watch.....

 

 

That's a good point. The Latin countries are so much smaller. The DR, with like 9 million people, easily produces the best baseball talent in the world on a per capita basis. If you had Latin America v. the U.S. I think Latin America would win easily. It might be a good idea to have that be the All-Star game at some point. Or International v. U.S., like the Futures Game.

:thumbup that would be awesome, good idea, i hope Bud reads this.......