Post by Fish Troll on Mar 19, 2009 11:36:53 GMT -5
MIAMI -- Advancing to the semifinals was the primary objective of Team USA. It accomplished that goal, but now there are growing concerns as to whether the club will arrive in Los Angeles in one piece.
Injuries have riddled the roster, causing some players to play out of position.
The price of getting through Round 2 in Miami was costly, as the team was hit hard physically. Kevin Youkilis (left ankle), Dustin Pedroia (left oblique), Matt Lindstrom (right rotator cuff) and Chipper Jones (right oblique) were all subtracted from the lineup.
Ryan Braun (right rib cage) missed two games in Miami, and he is hopeful of playing at Dodger Stadium. And the latest to experience some aches and pains is David Wright, who has a cracked big left toenail.
Team USA qualified for the semifinals on Wright's walk-off, two-run single to edge Puerto Rico, 6-5, on Tuesday.
A night later, in a 10-6 loss to Venezuela, Wright fouled a ball off his big toe, cracking the nail and causing discomfort.
Wright insists he will play on Sunday at Dodger Stadium, and Braun is remaining optimistic.
Lindstrom likely won't be replaced, because the maximum amount of games Team USA can play in L.A. is two. So carrying an extra reliever doesn't seem to be a priority.
The only players who can step in are on the provisional roster, and that number is declining.
"In terms of adjustments to our roster, we're in those discussions right now," said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball executive director. "We've got a few guys having medical evaluations as we speak. Until we know the results of those evaluations, we wouldn't be prepared to make any roster adjustments."
Injuries have riddled the roster, causing some players to play out of position.
The price of getting through Round 2 in Miami was costly, as the team was hit hard physically. Kevin Youkilis (left ankle), Dustin Pedroia (left oblique), Matt Lindstrom (right rotator cuff) and Chipper Jones (right oblique) were all subtracted from the lineup.
Ryan Braun (right rib cage) missed two games in Miami, and he is hopeful of playing at Dodger Stadium. And the latest to experience some aches and pains is David Wright, who has a cracked big left toenail.
Team USA qualified for the semifinals on Wright's walk-off, two-run single to edge Puerto Rico, 6-5, on Tuesday.
A night later, in a 10-6 loss to Venezuela, Wright fouled a ball off his big toe, cracking the nail and causing discomfort.
Wright insists he will play on Sunday at Dodger Stadium, and Braun is remaining optimistic.
Lindstrom likely won't be replaced, because the maximum amount of games Team USA can play in L.A. is two. So carrying an extra reliever doesn't seem to be a priority.
The only players who can step in are on the provisional roster, and that number is declining.
"In terms of adjustments to our roster, we're in those discussions right now," said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball executive director. "We've got a few guys having medical evaluations as we speak. Until we know the results of those evaluations, we wouldn't be prepared to make any roster adjustments."
mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090319&content_id=4026634&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
I know this will spice the topic of why the WBC is a bad idea, so I'll go ahead and make my defensive point now: players get injure during Spring Training too.
