NewsWhore
05-21-2008, 05:30 PM
Legendary 72-year old Dominican ballplayer and manager Felipe Alou aspires at least to make it to the finals in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. During his official presentation as head of the Dominican team, he told the press: "We are going to do all we can to win the Classic." He said that the DR has all the players to make an "invincible" team. The DR came in a disappointing third in the inaugural 2006 championship, behind Japan and Cuba.
Alou feels that the most important thing is for the players to be in shape for the event. "We are going to encourage the players to be in good physical shape in time for the Classic. We are going to encourage them to play winter baseball in the DR to prepare", said Alou. Sixteen countries will compete in the event that opens on 5 March 2009 at the Tokyo Dome in the Japanese capital. The 16-team field is the same as '06, although an expansion of the field to 24 countries and territories with qualifying rounds as a preface to reach the main competition is under consideration for 2013.
For 2009 the teams will play a first round divided up as:
Pool A - China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea will begin play on March 5 in Tokyo.
Pool B - Australia, Cuba, Mexico and South Africa, from March 8-12 in Mexico City.
Pool C - Canada, Italy, the US and Venezuela, from March 8-12 in Toronto.
Pool D - Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, Panama and Puerto Rico, from March 7-11 in Puerto Rico.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#13)
Alou feels that the most important thing is for the players to be in shape for the event. "We are going to encourage the players to be in good physical shape in time for the Classic. We are going to encourage them to play winter baseball in the DR to prepare", said Alou. Sixteen countries will compete in the event that opens on 5 March 2009 at the Tokyo Dome in the Japanese capital. The 16-team field is the same as '06, although an expansion of the field to 24 countries and territories with qualifying rounds as a preface to reach the main competition is under consideration for 2013.
For 2009 the teams will play a first round divided up as:
Pool A - China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea will begin play on March 5 in Tokyo.
Pool B - Australia, Cuba, Mexico and South Africa, from March 8-12 in Mexico City.
Pool C - Canada, Italy, the US and Venezuela, from March 8-12 in Toronto.
Pool D - Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, Panama and Puerto Rico, from March 7-11 in Puerto Rico.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#13)