A new tournament has turned baseball's time tested preseason rituals on its side this spring. The inaugural World Baseball Classic, which is set to open March 3rd, will feature 16 teams from 16 countries paired off into four, four-team groups. The preliminary rounds will be played in Phoenix, Orlando, Puerto Rico and Tokyo. The 16 teams' rosters are stocked with hundreds of baseball players from the major leagues and their minor league affiliates.

Of course, you can't have a World Baseball Classic without including the Chicago Cubs. Pin-stripers Derrick Lee, Michael Barrett, Carlos Zambrano, Henry Blanco, Aramis Ramirez, Neifi Perez, right handed pitcher David Aardsma, and AAA catcher Geovany Soto will all be playing in the event.

Perez and Ramirez will represent the Dominican team, while Blanco and Zambrano will fly the Venezuelan flag together. Aardsma, a right hander with limited major league experience, is representing the Netherlands, and catching prospect Soto will be playing for the Puerto Rican squad.

Michael Barrett and Derrick Lee will be lacing ‘em up for head coach Uncle Sam on the United States squad (Uncle Sam will actually be getting help on the field from manager Buck Martinez). Barrett should see some playing time while backing up All-Stars Paul LoDuca and Jason Varitek, but the U.S. team is currently carrying 5 catchers into the tournament and consistent playing time may be hard to come by for the Cubs' backstop. The opportunity for at-bats seems a little stronger for Derrick Lee, last year's NL batting champion. The only other natural first basemen listed on the U.S. squad is the Rangers' switch hitting slugger Mark Teixeira, so Lee ought to see his fair share of playing time for the Stars and Stripes.

The World Baseball Classic has been met with mixed feelings in the baseball community. Cubs' closer Ryan Dempster had to reluctantly decline an offer to anchor the Canadian team's bullpen, due to the fact that the tournament overlaps with spring training. Dempster loves the idea of the global baseball tournament, but questions the event's timing. Dempster hates to hose his fellow Canucks, but feels that his loyalties reside first and foremost with the Chicago Cubs.

'To play for your country would be a unique opportunity," said Dempster. 'Unfortunately, it comes at just a terrible time of the year. It's a great concept. I just don't feel there was a lot of thought [that went into the timing] part of it."

Dempster's biggest reason for not participating is the strength of his recently repaired throwing shoulder.

"Since my surgery, I feel there are only a limited number of pitches left in my arm," Dempster declared, "and I want to treasure each one. We pitchers are a bit like Pavlov's dog. We're so set in our routines. For me, at this time of the year, I'm still throwing long toss and not much more than 78-80 mph."

Though the WBC promises to command interest and promote the game around the globe, Cubs' fans have to be happy that Dempster has his priorities in order right here at home.

Dempster is not alone in his position; Barry Bonds, Tim Hudson, Lance Berkman, Eric Gagne, Nomar Garciaparra, Joe Mauer, Mariano Rivera, Brett Myers, Jimmy Rollins, and Carl Crawford have all also declined invitations to play for their respective countries.