Eight (maybe 9) Tigers make final Classic rosters

02/24/09 6:50 PM EST
Eight Tigers make final Classic rosters
Entire Detroit outfield will be playing in tournament

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Tigers will have seven players represented in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Four of them will be training right across the street.

While Curtis Granderson ended up being the lone Tiger to make the final roster for Team USA, four Detroit players made the 28-man roster for Team Venezuela, which will train in Lakeland and play against the Tigers in an exhibition next week before heading to Toronto for the opening round.

That includes Armando Galarraga, who becomes a critical starter for the Venezuelans after neither Johan Santana nor Carlos Zambrano were available for the opening round.

"I'm proud of it," Galarraga said earlier. "Every player, they want to represent their country. When they give you an opportunity, you feel proud of yourself. It's a good feeling. I'm excited."

Galarraga had told Venezuelan baseball officials that he did not want to take part if he would have to pitch in relief. The pitching losses ensured that would not be a question. Instead, Galarraga is expected to join Felix Hernandez and Carlos Silva as part of the Venezuelan rotation.

Galarraga will have as many as three Tigers in the starting lineup trying to provide him with offensive support. Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen all survived the final roster cuts, as expected.

Guillen was of particular interest because of the Venezuelan outfield picture. He told reporters last week that he would play in the Classic only if he were to play in left field, allowing him to concentrate on getting acclimated there in time for the Tigers' regular season.

Guillen and Ordonez are among the Venezuelan outfielders on the roster, along with Endy Chavez and Bobby Abreu.

By contrast, Granderson is one of two natural center fielders on the USA roster, along with Cleveland's Grady Sizemore. They're expected to form some sort of outfield rotation with Colorado's Brad Hawpe and Milwaukee's Ryan Braun.

"It's the first time I'll be representing my country," Granderson said. "I'm looking forward to it."

The roster makeup means Detroit's entire starting outfield will be away from the club starting next week. Tigers manager Jim Leyland plans to take advantage of the opportunity to give the added playing time to reserves and prospects such as Jeff Larish, Brent Clevlen, Casper Wells and Wilkin Ramirez alongside Marcus Thames and Ryan Raburn.

Right-hander Justin Verlander was not on the final American roster among a deep group of American starters that includes Jake Peavy, Roy Oswalt and Jeremy Guthrie. Verlander will stick around with the Tigers for the entirety of Spring Training, preparing for the regular season.

So will Tigers setup man Fernando Rodney, who was not on the final Dominican roster after serving as a late-inning reliever for his native country in 2006.

Meanwhile, left-hander Fu-Te Ni was among the final members of the team for Chinese Taipei. The non-roster invitee to Tigers camp will leave Spring Training Thursday to join his national team for workouts.

Tigers Minor League catcher Andrew Graham and Minor league reliever
Brendan Wise were among the final members of Australia's roster.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

The Tiger 8 (or 9) are:

Curtis Granderson ended up being the lone Tiger to make the final roster for Team USA

Armando Galarraga, who becomes a critical starter for the Venezuelans

Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen all survived the final roster cuts for the Venezuelans

left-hander Fu-Te Ni was among the final members of the team for Chinese Taipei

Tigers Minor League catcher Andrew Graham and Minor league reliever
Brendan Wise were among the final members of Australia's roster.

As a note...

According to the Netherlands roster... , Yurendell de Caster is with the Tigers, signing a Minor League contract in Feb, 2009. That would make 9 players. Yurendell de Caster is now listed as a 3rd baseman for the Mud Hens.

Let's hope no one gets injured


GO TIGERS

Go USA...sorry non-Granderson Tigers.