Interesting.

Knowing Bobby V appears to be ... he's exaggerating a bit.

Possiblly the biggest threat to winning a "World Series" is a very small country. Put together a Dominican Republican all-star team ... and you may have a championship caliber team WITH a very low payroll.

Just for fun, the DR All-Star team

Catcher -- Nobody Special.

1st base -- Albert Pujols (STL), Carlos Pena (DET), Julio Franco (ATL),

2nd Base --Alfonso Soriano (TEX), Placido Poloanco (PHIL), Luis castillo (FLA),

3rd Base -- Wilson Betemit, Daniel Cabrera , Abraham Nunez (STL),

Shortstop -- Angel Berrora (KC), Juan Uribe (ChiSox), Miguel Tejada (BAL), Neifi Perez (CHC), Christian Guzman (WAS), Rafael Furcal (ATL)

OF -- Willy Taverez (HOU), Sammy Sosa (BAL), Manny Ramirez (BOS), Timo Perez (ChiSox), Wily Mo Pena (CIN), Jose Guillen (WAS), Vladamir Guerrero (LAA), Juan Encarnacion (FLA),

DH -- David Ortiz (BOS),

SP --Pedro Astacio (124-119 4.61), Jorge Sosa (ATL), Ervin Santana (LAA), Wandy Rodriguez (HOU), Odalis Perez (LAD), Pedro martinez (NYM), Jose Lima,

RP -- Antonio Alfonseca (3.95 121 sv), Miguel Batista (57-71 4.44), Armando Benitez (2.92 263 sv), Julian Taverez (STL), Jose Mesa (PIT), Damaso marte (ChiSox), Felix Heredia (NYM), Juan Cruz,

What is interesting ...

[1] You could take the DR players just from current playoff teams and have a very good starting lineup.

[2] The big 3 in MVP voting are all from the DR ... Ortiz, Ramirez, Pujol. That's a scary 3-4-5. [And that's not even considering possibly the best talent in baseball ... Guerrero]

[3] 2nd Base, Shortstop, and (especially) outfield are just loaded.

[4] Look at how many guys are already significant players on world series champ or contending teams.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players?country=19

The DR has a pop of 8.7 million people. 3 million fewer than Ohio. 1/4th of America's baseball hotbed (California).

Combine the DR and Puerto Rico and watch out.

Add carlos Beltran, Jose Cruz, Jr, carlos Delgado, Juan Gonzales, Javy Lopez, Joel Pineiro, Ivan Rodriguez, JC Romero, Ruben Sierra, Bernie Williams, and Jose Vidro ... and those are just the stars.

Puerto Rico could have their own respectable team.

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-- Every morning brings opportunity;
Each evening offers judgement. --