Although it’s hard to deny such talented players like Rollins, Pedroia, Youkilis, Oswalt and so on, you’re right, I would almost rather see our college players and farm system talent participate. With so many players only starting to practice again a few weeks before the tournament, we’re at a huge disadvantage (see Jake Peavy’s ’09 WBC). It’s hard to blame them with such a long MLB season ahead of them, but why not have the younger talent of the MLB and college ranks start practicing a lot earlier in order to be better prepared come tournament time?

Although I’d disagree that we’re embarassing ourselves, it’s hard to argue what seems to be your point in that team USA is immensly underachieving.

But on the other hand, if we don’t put out the roster we have now, we wouldn’t have at least a close resemblance of the best players in America representing the country, which essentially defeats the purpose of the tournament.