Crack of the Bat

By David Rawnsley

Momentum for the first World Baseball Classic is starting to build among baseball fans and the sports media.  If there is any doubt who is driving this momentum, click on www.worldbaseballclassic.com.  You are redirected to a MLB.com/Major League Advanced Media web site, complete with top of the screen opportunities to buy tickets and the official hat of your favorite country.

The long discussed and awaited 16 nation tournament is scheduled to play out in conjunction with Spring Training during February and March.  Canada just announced their team, while Nomar Garciaparra has said that he will be playing for Mexico.  International baseball rules enable players to play for any country that they hold citizenship in, or that their parents held/hold citizenship in.  Thus Dominican native Alex Rodriguez is eligible to play for both the Dominican Republic or the USA.  It also explains Mike Piazza playing for Italy, along with some other interesting rostering moves.

The rosters and the intrigue got me to thinking about high school age level "State Baseball Classic."  What would it look like if you lined up different states against each other in a similar competition?

You'd have to have a little stricter guidelines than international baseball on who was eligible to play for what state.  Cody Johnson goes to high school in Panama City, Florida, but plays in the summer and fall for the East Cobb Astros of Marietta, Georgia.  Ohio can't claim all the players who compete for the Ohio Warhawks and Midland Redskins at various times of the elite travel team season.  Home town address determines the state.

And, of course, most states simply don't have the depth of talent to be able to compete with the behemoths of the state baseball world (i.e. California, Texas, Florida).  You might say that South Africa, The Netherlands, Italy and Panama fall into the same category internationally, too.  And you'd probably be correct.  So we'll limit it to seven states plus one "Rest of the Country" squad for an eight team event.

Each state roster for the State Baseball Classic will consist of a regular nine player batting order with a DH, a four pitcher "staff" that must include at least one left hander and two bench players for 15 players total.  Note that all classes (Sr, Jr, etc.) are eligible.

So who are the seven states that make the cut?  We'll keep you in suspense a bit longer for that one.  Part One of the State Baseball Classic preview will feature four obvious states' rosters.  Part Two will look at three other states, plus the "USA" team.

(First nine players are the batting order)

CALIFORNIA

Nick Akins (3B)

Jeff Rapaport (CF)

Devin Shepherd (LF)

Chris Parmalee (RF)

Hank Conger (DH)

Austin Rauch (1B)

Grant Green (2B)

Robbie Alcombrack (C)

Nathan Bridges (SS)

Chris Tillman (RHP)

Jason Stoffel (RHP)

Robert Stock (RHP/OF)

Robert Fish (LHP)

Toby Gerhart (Res/OF)

Michael Morrison (Res/RHP/1B)

The biggest challenge for the California team is fitting all the catchers into the lineup.  The solution is to put Conger at the DH spot (where he'll provide excellent protection for the very patient and often pitched around Parmalee) and Rauch at first base, leaving the defensively polished Alcombrack to handle the catching chores.  Apologies to Travis Tartamella, who would be starting for five of the other State Teams but can't crack the California roster.

Another strength of the California team will be their infield defense.  Nick Akins, Grant Green and Nathan Bridges are all slick fielding shortstops and could be interchangeable around the infield. 

Every state will have impressive pitching, but California will trot out a quartet of pitchers throwing in the mid-90's, including top 2007 prospect Robert Stock.  Reserve Michael Morrison and Parmalee give the team pitching depth.

TEXAS

Diego Seastrunk (2B)

Donte Bean (CF)

Preston Claiborne (3B)

Dustin Dickerson (DH)

Aaron Miller (1B)

Jonathan Edwards (RF)

George Rose (LF)

Ross Hubbard (C)

Raynor Campbell (SS)

Jordan Walden (RHP)

Kyle Drabek (RHP/IF)

Shawn Tolleson (P)

Taylor Hammock (LHP/1B)

Nathan Karns (Res/RHP)

Brandon Belt (LHP/1B)

The Texas squad is surprisingly short of offensive firepower.  Even some of their middle of the order hitters, Claiborne and Miller, are often considered primary pitchers despite their skills with the bat.  They would have to scrape out runs to score much against the quality pitching they'd face.  Drabek, Belt and Hammock will contribute as hitters with this roster when they aren't pitching.

Of course, no state is going to match up with Texas as far as pitching goes.  Walden and Drabek are the two top ranked pitchers in the 2006 class, Tolleson isn't far behind and Karns is being thought of as a potential first rounder as well.  The two left handers, Hammock and Belt, offer contrasting styles but powerful stuff.  If the game is 0-0 after 15 innings, Claiborne, Miller and Seastrunk will keep in moving along with 90 mph stuff.

It's worth noting that Texas is the only state roster aside from the "USA" team that doesn't feature a 2007 or 2008 prospect.

FLORIDA

Derrick Robinson (CF)

Mark Sobolewski (2B)

Cody Johnson (1B)

Max Sapp (C)

Chris Marrero (3B)

Michael Burgess (RF)

Danny Rams (DH)

Riley Cooper (LF)

Ryan Jackson (SS)

Matt Latos (RHP)

Colten Willems (RHP)

Carmine Giardina (LHP)

Bryan Morgado (LHP)

Michael Main (Res/RHP/CF)

John Tolisano (Res/IF)

Pre-Tournament favorites?  You be the judge.  It's hard to imagine this line up not scoring runs against just about anyone.  Maybe not the Chicago White Sox, or conceivably the Texas team (not the Rangers) but wait a few years.  It has power, speed, flexability, just about everything.

It's interesting to note that there are four 2007 prospects on the Florida team; Burgess, Rams, Tolisano and Main.  Burgess and his 94 mph fastball gives the team pitching depth, while Main provides speed and defense along with big time heat out of the bullpen.  Rams and Tolisano just rake and it doesn't matter what age of pitcher they are facing.

If big game pitchers are needed, Latos, Willems and Morgado have all been named Most or Co-Most Valuable Pitchers at WWBA National events.

Apologies to many fine players, and especially Marcus Lemon and David Christensen, for the misfortune of living in Florida during this especially talented phase.

GEORGIA

Mike Demperio (2B)

Cedric Hunter (CF)

Brent Brewer (LF)

Jason Heyward (RF)

Mike Meschke (1B)

Mark Fluery (DH)

Brandon May (3B)

Torre Langley (C)

Michael Langley (SS)

Josh Smoker (LHP)

Nick Fuller (RHP)

Jeff Lorick (LHP)

Mike Palazzone (RHP)

David Cunningham (Res/IF)

Mark Fluery (Res/C)

If you think the Georgia roster bears a striking resemblance to the East Cobb Astros, then you are correct.  There are many fine elite teams in Georgia aside from those in the East Cobb program, including the Georgia Stars, Atlanta Blue Jays, Homeplate Chilidawgs, Savannah Chain and STAF Athletics to name a few, but East Cobb is the magnet for the best of the best.

Interestingly, none of the Georgia position players have spent any real time pitching, which would leave the squad short in a real tournament.  The flip side is true, also; all the pitchers are most likely to contribute only on the mound.  Palazzone is the only 2008

player listed on any of the State Baseball Classic rosters, but his performance in numerous national events makes him worthy of the slot.

One thing is for sure, this team will take the field expecting to win, regardless of the talent they are facing.