Feb. 14, 2006
Former Notre Dame ace pitcher and current Houston Astros all-star closer Brad Lidge (’96-’98) is one of 16 college baseball products who have been named to the United States 30-man roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, a 16-nation tournament that will held from March 3-20 at venues in Japan, Puerto Rico and the United States. Former Notre Dame standout and current Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Craig Counsell (’92) was not named to the team but is one of 22 players who remain on the provisional roster – with the official U.S. 30-man roster not to be submitted to WBC organizers until March 2.
All 10 of the relief pitchers named to the team are former college baseball players, as is Astros starting pitcher Roger Clemens (Texas) and five position players: Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek (Georgia Tech), Rangers first baseman Mark Teixeira (Georgia Tech), Phillies second baseman Chase Utley (UCLA), Rangers shortstop Michael Young (UC Santa Barbara) and Giants outfielder Randy Winn (Santa Clara).
Lidge currently stars for the Houston Astros as one of the top closers in the big leagues, after being selected by the Astros in the first round of the 1998 Major League Draft. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound righthander was just a 42nd-round draft pick after his senior season (’95) at Cherry Creek High School in Englewood, Colo., before opting to join the Notre Dame program. He went on to earn 1998 BIG EAST Conference pitcher-of-the-year honors and was the 17th overall pick in the ’98 draft.
Brad Lidge arrived at Notre Dame as a 42nd-round draft pick out of high school and developed into a 1st-rounder by the end of his junior season (photo by Pete LaFleur).
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The U.S. bullpen is stocked with college baseball alums, led by Lidge and other top righthanded arms such as Chad Cordero of the Nationals (Cal State Fullerton), Scott Shields of the Angels (Lincoln Memorial) and Huston Street of the A’s (Texas). Recent Mets acquisition Billy Wagner (Ferrum) and Brian Fuentes of the Rockies (Merced JC) will serve as the lefthanded relievers while other RHPs in the bullpen include Todd Jones of the Tigers (Jacksonville State), Joe Nathan of the Twins (Stony Brook), Mike Timlin of the Red Sox (Southwest Texas) and Dan Wheeler from the Astros (Central Arizona JC).
Clemens is joined in the probable four-man rotation by fellow righthander Jake Peavey (Padres) and the lefthanded duo of C.C. Sabathia (Indians) and Dontrelle Willis (Marlins).
The versatile Counsell was edged out in the infield by the likes of Utley, Young and perennial all-stars Derek Jeter (Yankees), Alex Rodriguez (Yankees) and Chipper Jones (Braves). Teixeira and Derrek Lee (Cubs) are the team’s likely first basemen while Varitek will be joined behind the plate by Michael Barrett (Cubs) and Brian Schneider (Nationals). Winn is one of six outfielders on the team, joined by Johnny Damon (Yankees), Jeff Francoeur (Braves), Ken Griffey, Jr. (Reds), Matt Holliday (Rockies) and Vernon Wells (Blue Jays).
Brad Lidge (right) and Houston Astros teammate Roger Clemens (left) – pictured at the 2005 Notre Dame Baseball Opening Night Dinner – are set to be teammates on the biggest stage, at the 2006 WBC (photo by Pete LaFleur).
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Team USA will hold its first workout on March 3 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz., beginning at 9:00 am. – before opening play in the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday, March 7, at 2:00 p.m. local time vs. Mexico (at Chase Field).
The World Baseball Classic will feature many of the best players in the world competing for their home countries and territories.The 16 teams invited to participate in the event have been divided into four pools of four teams for the first round of play. The four Round-1 pools will be played at venues in Japan (Tokyo Dome – Tokyo), Puerto Rico (Hiram Bithorn Stadium – San Juan) and the United States (Chase Field – Phoenix, Ariz.; Scottsdale Stadium – Scottsdale, Ariz.; Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex – Orlando, Fla.).
Round-2 will feature two pools of four teams each and will be played in Puerto Rico (Hiram Bithorn Stadium) and the U.S. (Angel Stadium – Anaheim, Calif.). The semi-finals and final game will be played at PETCO Park in San Diego, Calif.
Brad Lidge’s high-90s fastball and devastating slider have made him the most-feared closer in the Major Leagues.
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The WBC will feature a bracket-style format with the 16 teams competing in four groups: Pool A – China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea; Pool B – Canada, Mexico, South Africa, United States; Pool C – Cuba, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico; and Pool D – Australia, Dominican Republic, Italy, Venezuela.
Former Toronto Blue Jays manager Buck Martinez – who spent 17 seasons as a catcher in the Major Leagues – will serve as the U.S. field manager. USA Baseball also has announced that John McLaren (Devil Rays) will be the team’s third-base Coach while Rick Eckstein (Nationals) will serve as bullpen coach.