Sports

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Friday, January 9, 2009 Sizemore among players being considered for World Baseball Classic Associated Press Cascade High School graduate Grady Sizemore, World Series champion shortstop Jimmy Rollins of the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego ace Jake Peavy, the 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner, are among the U.S. players eager to take part in the second World Baseball Classic this spring. Sizemore plays for the Cleveland Indians. USA Baseball released a list of 22 potential players Friday who have expressed interest and are being considered for the American roster to be managed by Davey Johnson. During the winter meetings last month, it was announced New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter will play for the U.S. team -- and USA Baseball executive director Paul Seiler didn't hesitate in naming Jeter the starter. Others announced Friday included Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun; Cleveland infielder/outfielder Mark DeRosa; Detroit outfielder Curtis Granderson; Atlanta infielder Chipper Jones and catcher Brian McCann; Twins right-hander Joe Nathan; Houston right-hander Roy Oswalt; Boston infielders Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis; and Mets third baseman David Wright and pitcher J.J. Putz. Also picked were Dodgers right-hander Jonathan Broxton; Angels pitchers Brian Fuentes, John Lackey and Scot Shields; Florida right-hander Matt Lindstrom; Toronto left-hander B.J. Ryan; and Chicago White Sox left-hander Matt Thornton. Provisional 45-man rosters will be announced Jan. 19, with final rosters of 28 players set by Feb. 24. First-round games will be played in Tokyo, Mexico City, Toronto and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Defending champion Japan faces China on March 5 in the opener. Second-round action moves to San Diego and Miami, while the semifinals and finals will be played at Dodger Stadium. In the inaugural Classic in 2006, the U.S. team loaded with All-Stars failed to reach the semifinals, and Japan beat Cuba for the title. The 2006 WBC drew 486 players, about 235 from the majors. Cuba's preliminary roster included 36-year-old right-hander Pedro Luis Lazo and second baseman Yulieski Gourriel. Eighteen of the 45 players were on the 2006 WBC roster and 21 played at last year's Beijing Olympics, where Cuba finished second.

1. Girl's death in car crash stuns Granite Falls 2. 787 starts ‘final gantlet' of tests before first flight 3. Inmates to help families of police 4. Lewd baristas face stricter rules 5. Swine flu shots to be available to all in county 6. Woman who died in fire named 7. Roe picked as interim prosecutor 8. Gregoire's budget offers no easy way out of deficit 9. Payout of $44.7 million to clean up Asarco contamination in Everett 10. Roche Harbor's second derby a big hit 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Zambian woman thanks students for their help • Food banks see rise in use • ‘Making Spirits Bright’ in Edmonds • Wolfpack takes aim at state • Seahawks help students smile • 95 and still volunteering • Sno-King joined by local TV king • Veterans back for Wildcats • Lynnwood seeks to plug $2 million budget gap • Snohomish County offers the best and most affordable venues for conferen ... • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed