01-20-2009, 12:38 AM
<!--quoteo(post=12473:date=Jan 19 2009, 09:35 PM:name=Destined)-->QUOTE (Destined @ Jan 19 2009, 09:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Don't know why Demp isn't on there...that's really odd.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I assume he chose to not play in it. This is from the Canadian Press:
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Pitching was always going to be Canada's soft spot at the World Baseball Classic and things are looking worse now that Ryan Dempster has bowed out and Rich Harden is questionable.
The 45-man provisional rosters for all 16 teams at the tournament were unveiled Monday by Major League Baseball, with Dempster's stunning omission the only major surprise from the national team's entry.
Harden's name did make Canada's list but health concerns are putting his participation into serious doubt. The Chicago Sun-Times reported over the weekend that the Cubs right-hander from Victoria has a slight tear in his shoulder, and with US$7 million committed to him in 2009, the NL Central champions aren't likely to be pleased if he pulls on the Maple Leaf jersey.
His absence from the final 28-man roster that's due Feb. 24 would be understandable under those circumstances, but Dempster's is a little tougher to explain.
The Cubs right-hander signed a US$52-million, four-year contract extension in November and sources suggest he pulled out because of a sense of responsibility to the team after getting the big contract. That's why he also missed the 2006 event, as he had just agreed to a $15.5-million, three-year deal at the time.
In an interview last summer, Dempster explained that decision by saying, "I love where I'm from and I love the opportunity my country has provided me with, but at the same time I had to do the right thing for our team."
He was coming off Tommy John surgery then but is healthy now.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I assume he chose to not play in it. This is from the Canadian Press:
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Pitching was always going to be Canada's soft spot at the World Baseball Classic and things are looking worse now that Ryan Dempster has bowed out and Rich Harden is questionable.
The 45-man provisional rosters for all 16 teams at the tournament were unveiled Monday by Major League Baseball, with Dempster's stunning omission the only major surprise from the national team's entry.
Harden's name did make Canada's list but health concerns are putting his participation into serious doubt. The Chicago Sun-Times reported over the weekend that the Cubs right-hander from Victoria has a slight tear in his shoulder, and with US$7 million committed to him in 2009, the NL Central champions aren't likely to be pleased if he pulls on the Maple Leaf jersey.
His absence from the final 28-man roster that's due Feb. 24 would be understandable under those circumstances, but Dempster's is a little tougher to explain.
The Cubs right-hander signed a US$52-million, four-year contract extension in November and sources suggest he pulled out because of a sense of responsibility to the team after getting the big contract. That's why he also missed the 2006 event, as he had just agreed to a $15.5-million, three-year deal at the time.
In an interview last summer, Dempster explained that decision by saying, "I love where I'm from and I love the opportunity my country has provided me with, but at the same time I had to do the right thing for our team."
He was coming off Tommy John surgery then but is healthy now.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
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