Shairon Martis led the Netherlands to its only win in the '06 Classic by tossing a no-hitter. The team's hopes for better results in '09 will depend upon what could be a solid rotation.
World Baseball Classic schedule by venue
Most were not sure what to expect at the outset of the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, but at the end of the tournament, even the most hardcore skeptics had to admit its overwhelming success.
Changes are being made to the 2009 World Baseball Classic from its '06 debut. One of the biggest is the format of the first round, which will feature a double-elimination format, as opposed to a round robin. The semifinals and finals will be held at Dodger Stadium.
Now is your chance to buy some gear that includes the familiar logo of the World Baseball Classic before the tournament begins in March.
The Netherlands might not have an All-Star at every position like some of the other teams that will compete in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, but it does have a centerpiece in Andruw Jones, who happens to be one of the best all-around baseball players in the world.
Netherlands manager Robert Eenhoorn decided that it would be best to have his squad leave the frigid Holland winter behind and pack its bags for a two-week pre-tournament camp in Florida.
A's right-hander Danny Haren says his father is "100 percent Irish" and his mother is "100 percent Mexican," so it was quite a shock for him to find his name on the Netherlands team's provisional roster for the World Baseball Classic.
As a Minor Leaguer with the Yankees, Robert Eenhoorn remembers beating the big-league team on several occassions. Now, Eenhoorn, The Netherlands' manager in the World Baseball Classic, finds himself as the leader of another underdog squad.
