2009 World Baseball Classic

Today, is the start of the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

This year's World Baseball Classic Tournament will have teams from the countries of United States of America, Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico, South Africa, and Venezuela.

This tournament is being played for the second time. It was created after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to remove the sports of Baseball and Softball from the Summer Olympic program starting with the London games of 2012. No reason has ever been given to why the committee desided to remove these sports. Baseball and Softball were always a big draw to the olympic program.

The World Baseball Classic is run by Major League Baseball, under International Rules. Most players are a members of a MLB team, or within their farm systems.

My team, the Boston Red Sox will have players on a many different World Baseball Classic teams. David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Daisuke Matsuzka, Jason Bay, and 10 other players within there farm system with be on the rosters.

I will be cheering for my home country of the United States of America, and the following is there Roster:

Bell, Heath - San Diego Padres, Pitcher
Broxton, Jonathan - Los Angeles Dodgers, Pitcher
Grabow, John - Pittsburgh Pirates, Pitcher
Guthrie, Jeremy - Baltimore Orioles, Pitcher
Hanrahan, Joel - Washington Nationals, Pitcher
Hawkins, LaTroy - Houston Astros, Pitcher
Howell, J.P. - Tampa Bay Rays, Pitcher
Lilly, Ted - Chicago Cubs, Pitcher
Lindstrom, Matt - Florida Marlins, Pitcher
Oswalt, Roy - Houston Astros, Pitcher
Peavy, Jake - San Diego Padres, Pitcher
Putz, J.J. - New York Mets, Pitcher
Shields, Scot - Los Angeles Angels, Pitcher
Thornton, Matt - Chicago White Sox, Pitcher
Ziegler, Brad - Oakland Athletics, Pitcher
Iannetta, Chris - Colorado Rockies, Catcher
McCann, Brian - Atlanta Braves, Catcher
DeRosa, Mark - Cleveland Indians, Utility
Jeter, Derek - New York Yankees, Infielder
Jones, Chipper - Atlanta Braves, Infielder
Pedroia, Dustin - Boston Red Sox, Infielder
Rollins, Jimmy - Philadelphia Phillies, Infielder
Wright, David - New York Mets, Infielder
Youkilis, Kevin - Boston Red Sox, Infielder
Braun, Ryan - Milwaukee Brewers, Outfielder
Dunn, Adam - Washington Nationals, Outfielder
Granderson, Curtis -Detroit Tigers, Outfielder
Victorino, Shane - Philadelphia Phillies, Outfielder

The opening game will be played in Tokyo, Japan. As the Defending Champions from the nation of Japan vs China

The United States of America will start their World Baseball Classic Tournament in Toronto, Canada on Saturday. They will be playing Canada.

The Championship Game of this tournament will be played on March 23 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, here in America.

Red Sox Start Spring Training Games In Grapefruit League

Today, one of the best signs that spring is here showed up. The Red Sox played the first spring training game within Florida's Grapefruit League.

Fort Myers is the home to the spring training and player development for the Red Sox. They play at City of Palms Park (pictured) for their "home" games during spring training. The Park holds 7,800 people, many who are the core of Red Sox Nation.

It was at this park that Josh Beckett and the Red Sox beat the team from Boston College, 7-1. Playing Boston College in first game of spring training is long standing tradition.

In the second game, Tim Wakefield didn't do as well; as he recorded a loss vs Minnesota Twins. The twins beat the Red Sox 5-2.

Thanks to the new MLB Network, who tag line is; America's past time, all the time. I was able to watch this first game of spring.

I was alerted to the fact that the Red Sox were on MLB Network by an e-mail from a member of the Las Vegas chapter of Red Sox Nation, and meetup.com group.

I hope that that I'll have a chance to watch a game or two with them during this up coming season. As a practicing Witch, I have been given the joke title of VP of cursing the Yankees.

This year, early spring games are very important. Six regular everyday players, and 14 players over all from the organization will be leaving spring training to represent their countries in the World Baseball Classic.

Baseball is a family thing. My children love to watch, and have their favorite players. My Aunt Wendy loves the Red Sox, and we often talk during the games on the cell phone. I also talk about the Red Sox with my parents, as well as other family, and friends.

The Red Sox will host the Pirates on Thursday in a 1:05 p.m. ET start. Left-hander Jon Lester will start for Boston against the Pirates' Ian Snell.