Over the next seven months I’m going to compile a roster that I think should be the United States entry into the World Baseball Classic.

I’m not Korean and I’m not saying the Korean method of fielding a team for an international baseball competition is the best or most proven method. In fact, one could argue the Japanese or Cuban method is better since those countries have been more successful over the past decade than the Korean team. But when I say a Korean approach to baseball, what I mostly mean is strict. I think the United States needs to take a strict approach to the next WBC. For better or for worse Olympic baseball has been destroyed and now the World Baseball Classic must seize the chance to become the world’s premiere international baseball event.

It’s time to put up or shut up. American baseball fans should expect nothing less. I’m no chest-thumping patriot, but I do believe the the talent level in the U.S. is still the highest in the world. I watch the Korean national team win on a consistent basis from over here and wonder why the U.S. can’t do the same. Realistically, America should still win, or at least finish in the Top 3,  in  any international baseball competition that it seriously participates in. The Olympics did not qualify as serious participation. The 2006 WBC team was taken seriously, but with an asterisk. It wasn’t the best team the U.S. could have fielded.

The Korean Approach

When Korean manager Kim Kyun-mun cut last year’s KBO rookie of the year in Lim Tae-hoon (a player from his own team no less) just a week before the Olympics started due to “bad conditioning” the message was clear. When top closer Han Ki-joo faltered in the first two games he wasn’t turned to again. In essence, the Korean approach to baseball is a military-style, cut and dry mentality. I’m not arguing the United States team should adopt that exactly…after all, Korean coaches are still known to occasionally hit their players. I  wouldn’t want to advocate that. Although surely there are a probably a  few that could use — as my Korean wife puts it —  ”some beating time.”

Many argue that players in the U.S. have long been bigger than the game itself. In Korea, where players are underpaid and the society itself put an emphasis on fitting into the group, this isn’t really a problem. Egos will always be a problem for the U.S. in international baseball competitions, but so will the egos of those who choose and manage them. Look at the 2006 roster and you’ll find some shocking names — Gary Majewski. Brian Schneider. Randy Winn. Really, there are only 10-15 players that played on the 2006 that warrant vague consideration for 2009. That tells me the team selected in 2006 wasn’t very good. Ideally, the core should be the same year to year, as is the case with the Korean team. With that in mind I’ll probably gravitate toward a young team, as you’ll see with my first selection below.

What went wrong in 2006

It’s obvious where the powers that be were going with the 2006 team — cagey veterans, experience, leadership. That’s all fine and good and sounds good in the broadcast booth, but the WBC is no longer an exhibition. Jason Varitek’s name might remind us of championship rosters, but he’s going nowhere near this 2009 team. Trevor Hoffman has had a lovely career and, yes, a WBC championship would be a wonderful way for him to begin his farewell season, but do I seriously want to hand him the ball in the 9th with the heart of Cuba’s order coming up? No thanks.

I’m going to make harsh decisions in assembling this roster and attempt to cut through the nostalgia. I’m even going to avoid players who were disgraces to the 2006 team. Yes, disgrace is a harsh word, but it needs to be introduced. The 2006 team was a seventh-place disgrace, and therefore must have had several contributing disgraces. I simply can’t risk bringing a player that isn’t going to produce. I’ll take this into consideration when measuring Mark Teixeira (0-for-15 in WBC 2006) against Lance Berkman at first. Obviously Dontrelle Willis  and his hefty 12.71 WBC ERA wouldn’t have warranted any consideration at this point, but I might bring him up  in a pre-tournament lockeroom speech anyway.

On the other hand I’ll have to give some special consideration to players that excelled in 2006. I don’t really want the 2009 version of Ken Griffey Jr. on this team, and he sure as heck won’t be patrolling center as he did in 2006, but his fantastic WBC 2006 line of .524/.583/1.048, plus 22 total bases, 3HRs, and 10 RBI might warrant a spot as a veteran lefty bat off the bench. Ditto Derek Jeter, who talent-wise no longer deserves to be selected, but he did have a very good WBC at the plate. Of course he also led the team in errors (2)  and won’t be setting foot on any WBC infield I’m in charge of.

How this works

When it comes to player evaluation we have to turn to the best tools we have. Statistically, for my money (free) Justin Inaz’s Total Player Value Estimates are the best available. I especially like his method of measuring defense, which is a distillation of other good fielding metrics.

Of course stats can’t tell us everything about a player, and anyone who watches international baseball knows that. Emotion and will are  nearly impossible for anyone to measure, unless you happen to watch every MLB game and hang out in every locker afterwards. But I’ll work with what I have.

Where this is going

The 2006 roster carried 30 players, so that’s what I’m going to pick. There were 14 pitchers, three catchers, seven infielders, and six outfielders. I’ll adjust that based on what I see as the needs of international play. I don’t know that we need three catchers. The 2006 team went with a three man rotation and loaded up the bullpen with grizzled vets with facial hair like Jones, Majewski (who  wasn’t old but looks old), Mike Timlin, Dan Wheeler (who is having a great 2008), and for cripes sake, Al Leiter. The starting rotation was Willis, Roger Clemens and Jake Peavy. Ridiculous. That team had one good, dependable starting pitcher! Clemens, who was fighting injuries anyway, was wasted in the last game of the first round against South Africa (a game the U.S. won 17-0), which left Willis to face (and get drilled by) Korea after Peavy beat Japan.

This team will honor consistency and longevity, but not blindingly so, as the 2006 team did.  Managers and coaches are the role models. If your recent play suggested you might not contribute, you won’t be on the team. Even if baseball writers and broadcasters swear up and down that you’re a future Hall of Famer. Incidentally, lets not forget the manager of the 2006 team was broadcaster.

The first selection

The first player selected for our team is Grady Sizemore. This doesn’t mean Sizemore is the captain, or even the best player in baseball, but for me he’s the must starter in center. He’s the best overall player in the AL during 2008 and he’s gotten better during each of his five years in the league. I won’t commit to batting him leadoff yet, but this team is going to be solid up the middle and it’s beginning with Sizemore.

A .266/.378/.510 line out of your centerfielder? Sold. Curtis Granderson  actually compares well to Sizemore with a 284/.380/.503 (look here  for  a good analysis of the two  on Frangraphs), and he’ll likely make the team as  a backup,  but the thing that pushes Sizemore over the top is his ability to hit lefties. If you watched the Olympics you know international play is southpaw intensive, (a big reason Canada did as poorly as it did). Granderson’s career line of .224/.285/.383 vs. southpaws isn’t what I’m looking for in a starter.

Also selected

Chase Utley  also has to be on the team. Like Sizemore he’s a delectable combination of great hitting and fielding. His offense rates as a .932 OPS, good for a 48.6 runs above average. Realize Brian Roberts’s offensive production is second amongst secondbasemen with a 43.6 for 2008. Ian Kinsler is a 44.9. Obviously Dustin Pedroia  has been the best offensive secondbasemen over the past couple months.

But none of those three can touch Utley with the glove. Kinsler is fairly bad at -7 and the other two stand at about 4. Utley is up at 17.5. The only secondbasemen even close is Mark Ellis, who doesn’t hit nearly as well. I could bring any of the other four I’ve mentioned as a backup and be happy. Toss in Brandon Phillips into that mix as well if his finger is healed. With some hesitation let me mention Dan Uggla just to be nice.

Utley started four games at second for the 2006 team and hit a respectable .385. You know who started the other two games at second? Michael Young, who also led off both games he started at 2B. See why I’m taking the reins of this team?

I’m also going to take Chipper Jones  at 3B. Jones had a very solid 2006 classic (.353/.476/.765) and plays a nice third base. Total Value has him at 10.6 runs saved during 2008 at third and his Out Of Zone rating, from The Hardball Times, is a very un-Mid-30s like 50, which is tops in the NL at his position. Sure, his health will always be a concern. He’ll need a solid backup.

Backup? What about A-Rod, the best American offensive player in the game? He’s not on the team yet. I’m going to publicly say that I have yet to decide if I think he’ll be too much of a distraction. Yes, in Korea a player going through a very public divorce while moonlighting with a has been singer is considered a distraction.  I also might want someone with a better glove and frankly, a lower salary. In reality I’ll probably make him the DH. But initially, he needs to feel that my tolerance for any shenanigans  is low.