U.S. COULD BE IN A WORLD OF TROUBLE.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

ANAHEIM - Baseball's best will gather in Detroit this week, coming together for its annual All-Star affair. Bud Selig even promises to let them play until the end, because as we were told repeatedly last year, this time it counts.

Only this time, it will not be baseball's biggest all-star event.

This time something grander waits, something special and heretofore only imagined.

Next spring, baseball will finally have its first true world championship. All-Star teams from nations around the globe that, much to the IOC's apparent surprise, actually play baseball, will meet in the first World Baseball Classic.

Now for all those in America smoldering since the U.S. failed to qualify for baseball in last year's Athens Olympics, who think because our major-leaguers will be there this time that this baseball World Cup will finally offer a proving ground for supremacy of our national pastime ... it's time for a little reality check.

The U.S. is no lock to win this inaugural World Cup, even if played on home soil. It may not even be the favorite.

The world has been catching up to the United States in baseball for decades, and the World Cup - details of the format are scheduled to be announced Monday - only figures to offer verification.

A look at Tuesday's All-Star rosters only confirms how closely the World Cup figures to be. Of the 41 position players named to the game, only 23 were born in the United States.

The Dominican Republic and Venezuela will send teams filled with players who have risen to superstar status playing Major League Baseball.

The Dominican, which claims only half a Caribbean island and with a population about half the greater Los Angeles area, could field the most explosive lineup in the tournament.

How do you think Roger Clemens will relish facing a lineup of Albert Pujols, Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Miguel Tejada, Vladimir Guerrero, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez - each a current All-Star, each Dominican? A team that could start Pedro Martinez and Bartolo Colon, and call on Francisco Cordero and Jose Mesa in the bullpen?

Felipe Alou could manage (but sorry, son Moises Alou was born in Atlanta).

Imagine the party in Santo Domingo should the Dominicans beat the mighty U.S. in the final game.

Alfredo Griffin, the Angels coach and former major-leaguer born and raised in the Dominican, said the significance of such a victory for the small country would be difficult to describe.

``It would be just unbelievable,'' he said. ``You look at the population of the Dominican (8.9 million) compared to the U.S. (297 million) and it's not even close. To win would just be amazing.

``They partied when Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz won the World Series. To have a whole team win the World Cup, it would be unbelievable.''

Current All-Stars who could fill out the U.S. World Cup roster are also impressive, though it could lack the overall superstar quality of the Dominican's team:

Derrek Lee, Brian Roberts, Alex Rodriguez, Michael Young, Jason Varitek, Jim Edmonds, Gary Sheffield and Garret Anderson would be plenty formidable.

And the U.S. figures to have a significant edge in starting pitching depth, able to pick from Clemens, Dontrelle Willis, Mark Buehrle, Jake Peavy, Roy Halladay and several others.

Closers could include Brad Lidge, Billy Wagner, Chad Cordero and Joe Nathan.

And then there are guys who did not make this year's All-Star team but could be on the U.S. squad in March - Derek Jeter, Randy Johnson and even Barry ``Puffy'' Bonds.

But there are several countries capable of pulling off World Cup upsets.

How about a Venezuela lineup with Melvin Mora, Bobby Abreu, Miguel Cabrera, Richard Hidalgo, Magglio Ordonez, Victor Martinez and Cesar Iztruis? A team that could start current A.L. Cy Young winner Johan Santana, and still have Freddy Garcia and Carlos Zambrano? That would have Francisco Rodriguez to close?

And then there's Cuba, the power that won every Olympics but in 2000 when the U.S. surprised with a team of minor leaguers.

Let's hope Cuba comes, which is no lock. It would add instant intrigue to the tournament.

Bill Bavasi, general manager of the Seattle Mariners, said baseball can benefit from this world stage, particularly with the Olympics dropping the sport after the 2008 Games.

``Is the World Cup going to be an issue of national pride or great international theater?'' he asked. ``It's something we've never seen before - ever. I see it as something absolutely amazing.''

Japan can mix players from its own professional leagues with stars that have flourished in the major leagues - Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Matsui and Kaz Matsui.

Panama can build around Carlos Lee, Bruce Chen and Mariano Rivera. South Korea can start with Byung-Hyun Kim, Chan Ho Park and Hee-Seop Choi.

It should be great sport, something that builds over the years, that gives baseball the world stage the Olympics never did, and now, never will.

``Let's hope the World Cup prospers and over time becomes as big as soccer's World Cup,'' former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley said.

Let's just hope U.S. fans don't suffer from the delusion the World Cup will offer some automatic confirmation of our baseball superiority.

The Dominican Republic will be stoked and ready.

``The Dominican will have a helluva team,'' Griffin said. ``It's going to be a battle.''

Yes, indeed, this time it really will count.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Boston's David Ortiz would be part of a formidable Dominican team in the World Cup.

Stephen Green/Getty Images

(2) Roger Clemens might be the ace of a U.S. team in the World Cup, the format for which will be announced Monday.

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

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