January 17, 200620 yr SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) Alex Rodriguez was among 60 players on the Dominican Republic's preliminary roster for the World Baseball Classic but it wasn't immediately clear whether he would play. The AL MVP, eligible to play for the United States and the Dominican Republic, said last month that he intended to play for the Dominican team, then said he wouldn't play at all because he didn't want to offend either country. His agent, Scott Boras, said last week that Rodriguez had not made a decision. Gene Orza, the No. 2 official of the players' association, said he would attend to persuade A-Rod to participate. After submitting the roster Monday, Dominican general manager Stan Javier said he was unsure whether the New York Yankees third baseman would play. Final 30-man rosters for the 16-team tournament, scheduled for March 3-20, are due five days before each team's opener. The Dominican roster includes pitcher Pedro Martinez (New York Mets), first baseman Albert Pujols (St. Louis), designated hitter David Ortiz (Boston), left fielder Manny Ramirez (Boston), outfielder Vladimir Guerrero (Los Angeles Angels), shortstop Miguel Tejada (Baltimore), pitcher Bartolo Colon (Angels), second baseman Alfonso Soriano (Washington), third baseman Adrian Beltre (Seattle) and infielder Aramis Ramirez (Chicago Cubs). Free agent outfielder Sammy Sosa is on the Dominican roster but hasn't said whether he intends to play.
January 17, 200620 yr born in the US, lives in the US, plays in the US... A lot of the fans who are in support of this competition were born in the US, live in the US and work in the US, but that won't stop them from rooting for their grandfather or uncle's country.
January 17, 200620 yr I rather have someone who cares about playing for the United States than some prima dona who is bound to screw up a handful of rallies who obviously is full of it.
January 17, 200620 yr the DR doesnt need him, the US could use him let's see... the US has David Wright, Chipper Jones, and Morgan Ensberg at third...the Dominicans? Adrian Beltre and Pedro Feliz yep, the US definitely needs him more than the Dominicans
January 17, 200620 yr I thought this whole tournament idea was to bring together these countries. I would say this about any player be it A-Rod, MIke Piazza or anyone else please give your home country the first shot at you. If there are a surplus of players at a position then feel free to move on. Granted there are a lot of better choices than Piazza out there and A-Rod is one of the best in baseball that you would find it hard to find someone better than him. With the problems that are surrounding this tournament I can see why MLB didn't jump on the band wagon right away.
January 18, 200620 yr whatever...who cares what team he plays for as long as he plays...hes one of the best players in the game PERIOD END
January 18, 200620 yr i knew he wasn't going to play for the U.S.A. team, i hope he joins the D.R. team now
January 18, 200620 yr the DR doesnt need him, the US could use him let's see... the US has David Wright, Chipper Jones, and Morgan Ensberg at third...the Dominicans? Adrian Beltre and Pedro Feliz yep, the US definitely needs him more than the DominicansAramis Ramirez. And my God, you guys really don't know what's going through these people's heads. ARod is a bitch for waiting so long, but only because he's been so indecisive. Just because you feel someone should play for the United States doesn't mean they do.
January 20, 200620 yr i think for the next WBC, they should have a rule stating that the country you were born in has first dibs at you...so someone like A Rod, who was born in the US, should have to play for the US since they would obviously want him to...someone like Piazza or Nomar, who wouldn't make the cut on the US team, would be allowed to represent another country
January 20, 200620 yr Oh, so now you only get to play for whatever country wants you, and then we rank those countries in a hierarchy so the US gets first dibs at everyone? Let's do it!
January 21, 200620 yr Oh, so now you only get to play for whatever country wants you, and then we rank those countries in a hierarchy so the US gets first dibs at everyone? Let's do it! not everyone, just American born and raised players...lets suppose Manny had wanted to play for the US team since he's an American Citizen, he should still be forced to play for the Dominican team
January 21, 200620 yr Oh, so now you only get to play for whatever country wants you, and then we rank those countries in a hierarchy so the US gets first dibs at everyone? Let's do it! not everyone, just American born and raised players...lets suppose Manny had wanted to play for the US team since he's an American Citizen, he should still be forced to play for the Dominican team Forced? Why? He should play for either country.
January 22, 200620 yr Oh, so now you only get to play for whatever country wants you, and then we rank those countries in a hierarchy so the US gets first dibs at everyone? Let's do it! not everyone, just American born and raised players...lets suppose Manny had wanted to play for the US team since he's an American Citizen, he should still be forced to play for the Dominican teamIf he feels closer to the United States, then let him play for the United States. There is much more to your cultural and national identity than where you were born.
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