Preview Venezuela vs USA
A quick look at an enticing opening round match up between USA and Venezuela.
-photos copyright: Walter Keller, www.catchthefever.de
Regensburg, Sept. 10: After the successful opener for host Germany against China on Wednesday, the other two teams in preliminary Pool E of the 38th IBAF Baseball World Cup will take the field for the first time on Thursday at 7pm CET. Two baseball giants will face each other, as USA and Venezuela will battle for their first victory. Team USA is the defending champion in the tournament, having beaten record champion Cuba in Chinese Taipei in 2007. Fellow three-time title holder Venezuela finished in twelfth place.
Team USA is sending its best-ever Baseball World Cup roster to Europe. Only players from Triple- and Double-A are on the team. Nearly half of the players can look back at Major League experience. The squad is led by highly touted prospect Pedro Alvarez (3B), who signed a $9 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates last year, coming out of college. Also in the focus of the people in the stands should be first baseman Justin Smoak of the Texas Rangers, catcher Jason Castro of the Houston Astros and outfielder Terry Tiffee of the Philadelphia Phillies. Tiffee and reliever Nate Field have a combined of 181 big leagues games under his belt. Brad Lincoln, who replaced Pirates teammate Daniel McCutchen on the roster, is expected to start on the mound for Team USA. He was recovering from elbow injury the past two years, but is back in top-notch shape to lead his squad to the win.
Venezuela held training camp in Italy and finished fourth in a tournament with Cuba, Chinese Taipei and Italy. Their roster is filled with former and current professional players. The most-known is former Major League Rene Reyes, who played 81 games in the MLB for the Colorado Rockies between 2003 and 2004. He is going to bat cleanup for the south-American team. Right at the top of the batting order are two “European guys”. Leading off is shortstop Dirimo Chavez, who is playing for the Spanish club San Inazio Bilbao. Right behind will be Lino Connell of the Italian club Godo. In 2007 and 2008 he was on the roster of European Champions Cup winner Danesi Nettuno. Starting pitcher for Venezuela will be 28-year-old Jacobo Seqeura. He beat Italy last week and hopes to keep the bats of the Americans silent.
Story contributed by Tobias Diehl
