U.S. World Baseball Classic Dream Would Look Like This

Next March the fourth World Baseball Classic will take place in various sites throughout Asia, Latin America, and the U.S. Through the first three WBC’s, the U.S. has yet to medal.

The United States best finish was fourth in 2009. The 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team was truly the best basketball players in the U.S. getting together to create something special. Nice symmetry could be created for the WBC by having a baseball dream for the Silver Anniversary.

The World Baseball Classic rosters have traditionally consisted of 28 players. There has been talk that number could expand to be able to add two players after the first round and two more for the semifinals. The thinking behind this is that is would allow players to be with their teams’ in spring training more often.

The idea has been floated around with the thinking being that more players would commit to their national teams. If the best Americans committed to playing for their country, the U.S. would be a serious contender.

The U.S. has usually split the roster evenly between pitchers and position players. Flexibility is even more important for the WBC than the baseball postseason and even more so than the 162 game regular season.

The 2009 U.S. roster had versatility from All-Star players. Kevin Youkilis, Adam Dunn (although some might argue Dunn didn’t have a position), Ryan Braun and Mark DeRosa were among the players on the roster who could play more than one position. That was the only Classic the U.S. advanced past the second round.

This roster is as close as possible to what the dream team would be. It doesn’t necessarily project what players the U.S. will decide to add to the roster or who will commit to playing.

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