O Canada! How Team Canada Could Win the World Baseball Classic

Unfortunately for Team Canada, it landed in Pool C of the 2009 WBC. Also in Pool C are baseball powerhouses USA and Venezuela, along with that-one-country-shaped-like-a-boot-who-tried-playing-baseball-a-few-times-and-claimed-that-Mike-Piazza-guy (Italy). On a very serious side note: Anyone who wants to support Piazza should check this out this hair/mustache combo—you’ll change your mind.

Canada has been universally projected to finish third in Pool C, behind Venezuela and the United States’ MLB All-Star Parade. USA’s starting lineup boasts former MVPs 3B Chipper Jones (1993), SS Jimmy Rollins (2007), and 2B Dustin Pedroia (2008) along with former Cy Young winner Jake Peavy (2007).

Venezuela also boasts an All-Star caliber roster, featuring players like 3B Miguel Cabrera and OF Magglio Ordonez. While Canada features less big-name players than its competition, it produced an outstanding performance in Saturday’s near-upset of the United States.

Every 2009 WBC Preview/Prediction that I saw picked the United States and Venezuela to advance from Pool C. Upon further review, however, Team Canada features enough talent and experience to play this year’s Cinderella.

Check out Canada’s starting lineup from Saturday.

C - Russell Martin - 2x MLB All-Star
1B - Justin Morneau - 2006 AL MVP
2B - Pete Orr - Washington Nationals
3B - Mark Teahen - Kansas City Royals
SS - Chris Barnwell - Houston Astros
LF - Nick Weglarz - Cleveland Indians
CF - Jason Bay - 2x MLB All-Star
RF - Matt Stairs - 17yr MLB Veteran
DH - Joey Votto - Cincinnati Reds