Live coverage of Team USA @ the 2013 World Baseball Classic

I will be covering the first round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic, LIVE from Phoenix, Arizona next week. Look for my blog posts here, as well as on my Facebook page (Miracle on Grass) and Twitter (@miracleongrass). I will also be a guest on several MLB team pre-game radio shows, discussing my book "Miracle on Grass", and will let everyone know when those will be, and where to find them on the web.

Here is the Team USA roster:

USA Baseball's 2013 World Baseball Classic final roster

Jeremy Affeldt - San Francisco Giants - LHP
J.P. Arencibia - Toronto Blue Jays - C
Heath Bell - Arizona Diamondbacks - RHP
Willie Bloomquist - Arizona Diamondbacks - UTL
Mitchell Boggs - St. Louis Cardinals - RHP
Ryan Braun - Milwaukee Brewers - OF
Steve Cishek - Miami Marlins - RHP
Tim Collins - Kansas City Royals - LHP
Ross Detwiler - Washington Nationals - LHP
R.A. Dickey - Toronto Blue Jays - RHP
Gio Gonzalez - Washington Nationals - LHP
Luke Gregerson - San Diego Padres - RHP
Derek Holland - Texas Rangers - LHP
Adam Jones - Baltimore Orioles - OF
Craig Kimbrel - Atlanta Braves - RHP
Jonathan Lucroy - Milwaukee Brewers - C
Joe Mauer - Minnesota Twins - C
Chris Perez - Cleveland Indians - RHP
Glen Perkins - Minnesota Twins - LHP
Vinnie Pestano - Cleveland Indians - RHP
Brandon Phillips - Cincinnati Reds - IF
Jimmy Rollins - Philadelphia Phillies - IF
Giancarlo Stanton - Miami Marlins - OF
Mark Teixeira - New York Yankees - IF
Shane Victorino - Boston Red Sox - OF
Ryan Vogelsong - San Francisco Giants - RHP
David Wright - New York Mets - IF
Ben Zobrist - Tampa Bay Rays - UTL

USA Baseball's final roster features 14 of the organization's alumni -- J.P. Arencibia, Heath Bell, Willie Bloomquist, Ryan Braun, Tim Collins, Ross Detwiler, R.A. Dickey, Joe Mauer, Chris Perez, Jimmy Rollins, Mark Teixeira, Shane Victorino, David Wright and Ben Zobrist -- including six players with past World Baseball Classic experience: Bell ('09), Braun ('09), Rollins ('09), Teixeira ('06), Victorino ('09) and Wright ('09).

"With 14 USA Baseball alumni on the roster, we look forward to seeing many familiar faces in training camp and also welcoming a new group of players to Team USA," said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball executive director/CEO. "With today's announcement of the final roster, we will now turn our attention to the first round of games and, in particular, opening night, on March 8 in Phoenix."

Sixteen Major League All-Stars, three Most Valuable Players and one Cy Young Award winner are among the players on Team USA's final roster. The All-Stars are Heath Bell, Ryan Braun, R.A. Dickey, Gio Gonzalez, Adam Jones, Craig Kimbrel, Joe Mauer, Chris Perez, Brandon Phillips, Jimmy Rollins, Giancarlo Stanton, Mark Teixeira, Shane Victorino, David Wright, Ryan Vogelsong and Ben Zobrist. The MVPs are Ryan Braun (2011 NL), Joe Mauer (2009 AL) and Jimmy Rollins (2007 NL). The Cy Young winner is reigning recipient R.A. Dickey (2012 NL).

Team USA will be led by field manager Joe Torre. Torre's coaching staff for the World Baseball Classic includes Larry Bowa (bench coach), Marcel Lachemann (bullpen/pitching coach), Greg Maddux (pitching coach), Dale Murphy (first base coach), Gerald Perry (hitting coach) and Willie Randolph (third base coach). Lachemann and Maddux will oversee Team USA's pitching staff.