Canada has payback on their minds after the 2009 WBC loss to Italy

Canada’s national team has recently had a string of successes in international play, finishing 3rd at the 2011 IBAF World Championship, 1st at the 2011 Pan-American Games and most recently winning the 2012 WBC qualification tournament in Germany, a victory that was needed in order to qualify for this years tournament due to a loss to Italy back in the 2009 WBC first round at the SkyDome.

The team’s long time manager Ernie Whitt will be a little bit short  handed when it comes to Big League stars that took part in the 09 WBC,  as they will be without the likes of Jason Bay and Russell Martin…  supper star Joey Votto is also on the bubble as he’s not sure to  participate in this years tournament. With this said Whitt will not be empty  handed. On his roster he’s going to be able to count on the well know  names of Justin Mourneau (Minnesota Twins) and Brett Lawrie (Toronto  Blue Jays) to go along with the other 26 players who are all under  contract with Big League organizations. The country as a whole currently  has 147 ball players in affiliated ball, of which 17 are currently on Big  League  rosters.

In 2009 the Canadian pitching rotation may have been the weak point of the group, however this should not be the case this year in Phoenix. On the mound the Canadians can count on the services of Jesse Crain (Chicago White Sox), Shawn Hill (Detroit Tigers), youngster – Phillippe Aumont (Philadelphia Phillies). The team also has a couple of players out of the Japanese league, Scott Mathieson (Yomiuri Giants) and Dustin Moleken (Nippon Ham Fighters).

One interesting fact about the roster that the Canadians have presented for this tournament is that the pitching staff has very few left handed arms and lineup almost no right handed bats… This is where the absence of Martin’s right-handed power is going to be felt the most.

Canada at Italy (Chase Field, Phoenix AZ) on Friday, March 8th at 20:30 Italian time.