The WBC is going to be fun...I have seen the rosters for the US and we have a very strong team...however, the south american teams will destroy us. Playing college baseball myself...it amazes me at how much higher a level the dominicans and puerto ricans play on.

I bet you mean central american . . . Argentina sucks.

Even then, with the strict pitch counts, only the Dominican might have any edge over the US - check the online books, but I'd prob take the US at the current odds to win the whole thing.

So since Manny supposedly withdrew, do you think he'll actually show up at spring training?

He is supposed to report March 3.......the Red Sox claim he is doing a strength and conditoning camp in florida

He's actually supposed to report March 1st. But with Manny, what he's supposed to do and what he actually does aren't always the same thing!

Stop being such a Masshole.

He'll be there, he'll do what he does every year (.300/.400/.550, 40, 140), blah blah blah, you sound like that fuck shaughnessey.

When was the last time Manny just didn't show up? Seriously. He's asked to be traded, he's been weird, he's flown by himself, and he's jogged out grounders - but he's NEVER not shown up, and NEVER not performed. Masshole, dude - don't do it.

I guess if that means hitting .320 with 40 HR and 135 RBI isn't what you are supposed to do.

Which is what makes him so entertaining to watch and read about. He was the only person on the sox besides Ortiz (or is it Mo Vaughn) that had me worried last year in the first round.

Plus its a good time to use the term vorp

After being very involved with the World Jrs this year & spending time with the players (media relations), my vote is for the Olympic teams revert back to having the best junior players ... let the NHL players focus on their careers & give the juniors the chance to step up.

My $.02.

I, for one, want the Olympics to be about the true amateurs, to the greatest extent possible ... call me an idealist, whatever ... I believe in the vision that de Coubertin had back in 1896.

I love you, Rob.

He'll be there eventually, and he'll end up with his usual MVP season. At this point, with him, I don't think it matters.