Top 7 Obscure Players in the World Baseball Classic

World Baseball Classic rosters were announced this past week, which can only mean that there are some completely random people on there. 

This week’s Top 7 is on the case.  With one entry’s exception, I didn’t bother including people that no one has ever heard of.

Instead, the process involved picking guys who you would have trouble believing were good enough to represent an entire country in a baseball tournament.  2006’s WBC was quite entertaining–it was nice to see games that some people cared about being played in March. 

Actually, at this point, it’s hard to not watch Spring Training games, anything to have some baseball on to watch.  Sidenote: the MLB Network is outstanding.  There is nothing like being able to flip through and randomly check out a Cards/Cubs game from 1984. 

Or not having to wait for ESPN to get through the Division II men’s volleyball coaching changes on the bottom line waiting for the baseball scores to show up.  It’s a good, good thing.

7. Henry Blanco, Venezuela

If you took an outstanding American Legion hitter who wasn’t good enough to play in Division I, could he have a better year than Blanco in 2007?  He was 9-for-54 (.167) with three doubles. 

He actually wasn’t that bad last year, hitting .292, but I’m pretty sure that every one of his hits came against the Cardinals, and all of them were with the bases loaded. 

Is there anything more pointless than when they give a player’s stats with the bases loaded, and include RBIs?  OF COURSE he’ll have a lot of RBIs when the bases are loaded…the bases are freaking loaded!

6. Stubby Clapp, Canada

Cardinal fans had high hopes that he could join the ranks of other short, scrappy, white players for whom they can cheer their hearts out. 

He would have joined Joe McEwing (who even had ‘Lil Mac Land at Busch Stadium for awhile during the McGwire years), Rex Hudler, David Eckstein, and other even lesser-knowns like Keith McDonald. 

Instead, Clapp went 5-for-25 with two doubles in his only appearance in the majors in 2001.  Still, he was able to manage getting a “Stubby Clapp Day” in Memphis before AAA Redbirds game.

5. The Entire South African Roster

If you were to pick your sleeper, it would have to be the team that includes guys like Matthew Dancer, Gavin Jeffries (no relation to Gregg or his 1988 Fleer card), Dylan Lindsey, Kyle Botha, Gift Ngoepe, and Ashley Scott. 

If they would play the Dominican Republic (who is absolutely stacked), what would be the over/under on runs allowed?  17½?

4. Elmer Dessens, Mexico

Dessens was a consistent fantasy waiver back-and-forth guy for a couple of years.  He would have a few decent, Kent Bottenfield-in-1999 type starts that made you give him a shot, and he would reward you with a 1 2/3 inning, 9-run outing for your generosity.

Amazingly, he has been around since 1996, and even played last year, when he pitched four innings for the Braves and gave up ten runs, good for a cool 22.50 ERA and 3.50 WHIP.

3. Sidney Ponson, Netherlands

After reading the previous entry, I’m pretty sure that Sidney Ponson and Elmer Dessens are the same person.

Ponson had some legendary stinkers as a starter for the Cardinals, so bad that they released him even though they were considering digging up corpses to pitch for them that season (which amazingly is the year that they won the World Series).

2. Billy Ripken, Team USA

Coach Billy Ripken!  It is impossible to pass up a chance to talk about Billy Ripken.  I’m not going to discuss the 1989 Fleer card for two reasons: first, entry No. 5 already covered the mentioning of the Fleer baseball card company, and secondly, it will be the first time in 20 years that Billy Ripken has been discussed without mentioning 1989 Fleer.

Did you know he also has a show on XM Radio?  Their MLB station is also quite underrated. (Editor’s note: anyone who comments that Billy Ripken isn’t really a player need be taken out back and stabbed a few times.)

1. Randall Simon, Netherlands

You learn a lot checking out World Baseball Classic rosters.  Russell Martin is Canadian, for instance.  There are other surprises about nationalities of players along the way, but nothing is more surprising than to know that Randall Simon can represent the Dutch!

Simon last appeared in the majors in 2006 for the Phillies and went 5-for-23.  He is also forever known for beating one of the Brewer mascots to death during the sausage race in 2003.

The Top 7 is written by Jason Major. He’s the most obscure Top 7 writer on Team USA. Email him at [e-mail].