The Dream Team(?)

Team USA was announced today for the World Baseball Classic, and I am not sure that it makes our team the favorites or not. Some thoughts:

• The team seems short on big-game players, particularly pitchers. Roger Clemens and, to a lesser extent from 2003, Dontrelle Willis are the only pitchers who have significant big game, postseason style exeperience. This is especially noticeable when you consider that Andy Pettite was left off of the roster.
  
• The bullpen is mighty impressive, the presence of Mike Timlin notwithstanding.
• How did both Jeff Francoeur and Matt Holliday make the team over Luis Gonzalez?
• Paul LoDuca should have made the squad as one of the three catchers, if only for the way he plays the game and his ability to motivate his teammates.

With this team, however, the starting lineup could yield some interesting possibilities. Consider this;

SS Jeter
2B Young
1B Teixeira
3B Rodriguez
RF Griffey
DH Lee
C Varitek
CF Damon
LF Winn

All in all, however, one has to consider the Dominican team and not the American team as the favorites come March 2nd.