World-class

Tom Verducci ranks the title contenders in the inaugural World Baseball Classic, based on expected rosters.

1. UNITED STATES A well-balanced team with John Smoltz, Roger Clemens, Dontrelle Willis and Billy Wagner on the mound. The lineup will be formidable if Barry Bonds (above) is healthy enough to join Alex Rodriguez (who could play for the Dominican Republic), Todd Helton, Jim Edmonds, Lance Berkman and maybe even old friend Jeff Kent.

2. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC It needs pitchers Bartolo Colon and Pedro Martinez to be healthy, but the lineup, featuring Manny Ramirez, Albert Pujols, David Ortiz, Alfonso Soriano, Miguel Tejada and Aramis Ramirez, is ferocious.

3. VENEZUELA Less power than the Dominicans, even with Miguel Cabrera, Bobby Abreu and Magglio Ordo�ez, but deeper pitching ( Johan Santana, Carlos Zambrano, Freddy Garcia and Frankie Rodriguez).

4. PUERTO RICO Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran provide thunder, and there is a glut of catchers ( Ivan Rodriguez, Javy Lopez, Jorge Posada, Bengie Molina), but Javier Vazquez is the best of the pitchers.

5. JAPAN The biggest threat on the U.S. side of the draw, though Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui have not yet confirmed their participation.