PHL to bank on bullpen to clinch spot in 2013 World Baseball Classic

The Philippines will be banking on a strong pitching staff when it takes on Thailand at the start of the qualifying round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic (WBC) today at the Xinzhuang Stadium in New Taipei City, Taiwan.

The 28-member Philippine team will be reinforced by Filipino-American players from US-based Major League Baseball when they vie for the coveted spot against host Taiwan, Southeast Asian neighbor Thailand and New Zealand in the qualifiers from November 15 to 18 at the Xinzhuang Baseball Stadium in New Taipei.

Taiwan ranked third in Asia, will be the Philippines’ toughest opponent since they are ranked fifth behind two-time WBC champion Japan, South Korea, and China.

Leading the Philippine squad’s bullpen are lefty pitchers Eugene Espineli of seven-time World Series champions San Francisco Giants and Ryuya Ogawa of the Chunichi Dragons in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.

Head of delegation Tom Navasero said that overall the Philippine team is strong in batting, defense (outfield and infield), and pitching, strengthened by players from various MLB ballclubs.

“We have strong hitters and good pitching staff. Our outfield will be composed of a few Major and Minor league players who were allowed by their mother ballclubs to play,” said Navasero.

“We have the height, we have built and a strong arm. It all starts with one pitch. All we need to do is get base hits and get strikeouts hopefully we can survive this round and advance.”

Most of the Filipino-American players are from the Giants, Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres, Cleveland Indians, and New York Yankees organizations.

Jim Ramos will be the Philippine team’s manager and will be assisted by Billy Champion, Wilfredo Hidalgo Jr., and Billy Thomas.

Thailand will be reinforced by former Boston Red Sox slugger Johnny Damon, whose mother is of Thai descent, while unranked New Zealand is composed mostly of a young but still dangerous team.