Reading through the WBC rosters is interesting. Dan Haren (USA, Holland) and Marco Scutaro (Italy, Venezuela) are listed on two rosters.

Haren and Mark Mulder, once traded for each other, could be teammates on Holland’s roster. I think the WBC may be confused about Holland…it’s supposed to mean Holland the country, not Holland, Michigan. I wonder if Mark Mulder even knew he was Dutch. MLB probably hired some geneologists to research every player’s heritage. Guess what, Mark? Your great-great-great-grandpa was from Haarlem. (Side note: If you ever lived in NYC’s Harlem, are you eligible for the Dutch team? Or even anywhere in NYC? After all, even old New York was once New Amsterdam…)

Kirk Saarloos is on the Dutch team, too. At least his name has requisite Double-Dutch vowels. Perhaps we should change the spelling of his teammates’ names, to make them appear more authentic. Dan van Haaren, meet Mark Muuldijr.

Barry Zito is off the USA roster, for some reason. Did he just not feel like it? Did he have an A-Rod like moment where he could decide if he was American or Italian, and decided he was neither? Certainly, I’d rather have Zito on my roster than Haren, especially if Haren is going to be a double-agent for those sneaky Dutchmen. But maybe someone discovered Zito was going to be a double agent, too? Or a triple agent? Is this all part of an international conspiracy?

It’s too complex for me. I’m not ready for this national pride stuff. Let me warm up with some intense curling action from Turino first, and then I’ll get back to you…