Italy Reports to Florida to Prepare for the WBC
http://www.mister-baseball.com/italian-world-baseball-classic-team-opens-camp-fort-pierce-florida/ reports on the Italian team reporting to florida to train for the WBC. Italy will be playing in Toronto for the first round against teams from Canada, Venezuela and the United States. With both Canada and Venezuela devasted by a reduced starting rotation, with some luck Italy could advance to the second round. You get a sense of what players will be available to play in the tournament by seeing who is training in Florida. Reporting today to practice in Florida are:
pitchers Tiago Da Silva (San Marino), B.J. La Mura (free agent), Marc La Macchia (free agent), Kasey Olenberger (free agent), Clifford Flagello (AA Orioles), Cody Cillo (Fortitudo Bologna), Chris Cooper (Grosseto), Anthony Fiore (free agent), Carlos Richetti (Nettuno), Philip Barzilla (AAA Mariners), catchers Luis Serafin Camargo (Rimini), Riccardo Bertagnon (Parma), Robert Fick (free agent) and infielder Mike Costanzo (AAA Orioles).
At the begining of next week the following playres will join:
infielder Jack Santora (Rimini), Joseph Mazzuca (Bologna) and pitcher Dan Serafini (free agent).
And then on Thursday these group of players will join:
Alex Maestri (AA Cubs), Luca Panerati, Matteo Pizziconi (A Reds), Roberto Corradini (Parma), Marco Costantini (Nettuno), Alessandro Ularetti (Fortitudo Bologna), infielders Davide Dallospedale (Parma), Alex Liddi (A Mariners), Giuseppe Mazzanti (Nettuno), outfielder Mario Chiarini (Rimini), Leonardo Zileri (Parma), Andrea De Santis (Grosseto), Mike Spidale (AA Phillies), Jeff Fiorentino (AAA A’s).
They have three games on their schedule - 1) on February 24th in Fort Lauderdale to play a collection of Orioles. The team is composed of two Orioles and one ex-Oriole. 2) February 27 in Port St Lucie to play the New York Mets and 3) February 28th in Vierra to play the Washington Nationals.
So if you want to go out and support the Italian team, those are three opportunities to do so.