Looks like Stanford is goin to Panama

From Oct 28th Baseball America........


Team USA's roster for the Olympic qualifying tournament in Panama won't be set officially until tomorrow. But Baseball America has learned that 21 of the 24 roster spots are set for the event, which begins for Team USA on Friday with a game against Colombia.

Two nations in the 12-team event will earn spots in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. Manager Frank Robinson and his coaching staff have settled on nine pitchers and 12 position players for the club, according to sources.

The pitchers who have made the team include four starters--lefthanders Horacio Ramirez (Braves) and JASON STANFORD(Indians) and righties Justin Duchscherer (Athletics) and Ryan Madson (Phillies). All four have pitched in the big leagues, ranging from Ramirez' 12-4, 4.00 season with Atlanta this year to Madson's two innings of experience in September.

 

TAKE THAT, Panama !!!!!!!!!

Team USA bashed three home runs--a pair by third baseman Justin Leone (Mariners) and another from first baseman Graham Koonce (Athletics)--and got a combined three-hitter in a 7-0 shutout of Nicaragua.

The first of four pool-play games in Group B leaves Team USA 1-0. The Americans need only finish in the top four out of five teams in the group to qualify for the single-elimination medal round. Team USA must reach the gold-medal game to qualify for the 2004 Olympics.

Team USA came out ready to play in its opener, getting seven shutout innings from starter JASON STANFORD (Indians) and getting its offense in gear early. The Americans scored single runs in each of the first two innings and two in the fourth to take command early against Nicaraguan righthander Omar Rostran.

"It took us a few innings to get the rust off our bats and get things going, but once we did we played a pretty solid ballgame," manager Frank Robinson (Expos) said. "Jason pitched very well, and it was a good way to start the tournament. Now we'll begin focusing on our next game tomorrow."

Mike Rouse (Athletics) got the start at shortstop and led off the game with a walk, and he scored after a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Chris Burke (Astros) and a pair of errors by Nicaragua. Leone led off the second with the first of his two solo home runs, and Koonce extended the lead to 4-0 with a two-run shot in the third inning, scoring Grady Sizemore (Indians). In the sixth, Leone connected again off Rostran, this one a long blast to make it 5-0.

While Rostran gave up five walks, four hits and five runs in six innings, lefthander Jason Stanford (Indians) cruised. He pitched seven strong innings, giving up two hits and one walk while striking out two. Stanford, who pitched for Team USA in the World Cup in 2001, got 11 groundball outs.

"Nicaragua beat us in Taiwan (in 2001) and I didn't want it to happen again," Stanford said. "I went out there pretty aggressive and had them swing at my pitches. I basically used fastball and changeup and a pair of sliders. The early lead and our defense helped me relax."