January 16, 200917 yr Kazmir, Howell added to Team USA ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays will be represented on Team USA's roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic after Scott Kazmir and J.P. Howell were added to the team Thursday. On Friday, USA Baseball announced 23 players who had made commitments to play in the second edition of the tournament, which begins in Tokyo on March 5 and ends at Dodger Stadium on March 23. The additions of Kazmir and Howell on Thursday expanded the USA roster to 26, meaning they will report March 2 with the rest of what could be a 28-man roster under USA manager Davey Johnson in Clearwater, Fla., the spring home of the defending World Series champion Phillies. The Americans' first game in the tournament is March 7 against Canada at Toronto's Rogers Centre. They will play in Pool C along with Venezuela and Italy. Kazmir, 24, went 12-8 with a 3.49 ERA in 27 starts in 2008, while Howell, 25, went 6-1 with a 2.22 ERA in 64 appearances out of the Rays' bullpen. The starters for Team USA are Jake Peavy, John Lackey and Roy Oswalt, and the bullpen boasts Brian Fuentes, Joe Nathan, Scot Shields, Jonathan Broxton, B.J. Ryan, J.J. Putz, Matt Thornton and Matt Lindstrom. Kazmir's and Howell's participation could take them away from the Rays' Spring Training camp for more than three weeks. They would report to Port Charlotte, Fla., with the team on Feb. 14 and then report to the Team USA workouts on March 2. Should Team USA advance to the finals on March 23 at Dodger Stadium, Kazmir and Howell could rejoin the Rays on March 24, in time for the final 10 exhibition games of Spring Training. The provisional rosters for the Classic are due on Friday, with the final roster to be set by USA Baseball on Feb. 24.
January 16, 200917 yr Only 3 starters? They're gonna add more right or do you only need 3? Peavy, Oswalt, Lackey and Kazmir. Sorry to inform u that equals 4 lol :cool
January 16, 200917 yr Only 3 starters? They're gonna add more right or do you only need 3? Peavy, Oswalt, Lackey and Kazmir. Sorry to inform u that equals 4 lol :cool Uh the article only mentions PEavy, Lackey, and oswalt as starters. I guess Kazmir gets in there now.
January 17, 200917 yr http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...sp&c_id=mlb Just scroll down and thats part of the roster just add Hawpe Kazmir and Howell
January 21, 200917 yr Man I know this wont happen but Rollins is better than jeter and should definently start at SS. Johnson would have to have some big balls to sit jeter. I actually think they're gonna be pretty good. I like some of these young guys they got and the pen looks to be pretty good. I still think japan is gonna take it.
January 21, 200917 yr Author I believe they are fielding a much better team than the last classic. Expect them to move further into the tournament than they did last time.
January 21, 200917 yr USA team is going to suck. The USA might not be taking their real team, but that team DOES NOT suck.
January 22, 200917 yr Author USA team is going to suck. How could you say that? I don't understand how this team is going to suck.
January 22, 200917 yr Man I know this wont happen but Rollins is better than jeter and should definently start at SS. Johnson would have to have some big balls to sit jeter. I actually think they're gonna be pretty good. I like some of these young guys they got and the pen looks to be pretty good. I still think japan is gonna take it. I really doubt anyone beats DR or USA. Whichever of those 2 advances will win it all
January 22, 200917 yr Man I know this wont happen but Rollins is better than jeter and should definently start at SS. Johnson would have to have some big balls to sit jeter. I actually think they're gonna be pretty good. I like some of these young guys they got and the pen looks to be pretty good. I still think japan is gonna take it. I really doubt anyone beats DR or USA. Whichever of those 2 advances will win it all Im just kinda unsure about the DR's pitching. If we have learned anything its that a team full of slugggers cant win. Theri INF is nasty and OF is pretty good but their pitching id say is ok. Alwasy gotta watch out for Cuba too.
January 22, 200917 yr Author I agree. From what I remember, pitching is what helped Japan and Cuba make the finals. DR, although I love the talent on the team, seems to be weak in the pitching category. US, IMO, has an edge b/c of that. As for Cuba and Japan, I have no clue what they bring to the table. Cuba has had a number of players defect since the last Classic. Japan should bring a pretty solid team.
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