Loving the WBC and watching all these guys I have never heard of before (Japan especially) but this is the only thing I disagree with as well. I don't know why they do it exactly (competitive balance perhaps) but it really sits wrong with me that a player who is born and raised in the U.S. would want to play for the Dominican, as A-Rod wanted to do in 2009 IIRC. I think changing it to having been a native or a dual citizen of both countries may be a remedy. I am German and would root for Germany if the U.S. didn't win, but would never choose to play for Germany over the U.S. under any circumstances. When the circumstances were "you wouldn't make the US roster," you wouldn't have a change of heart? Nope, but that is just my point of view. I just couldn't see myself going against the United States (sports, politics, whatever). I may disagree with methods or means, but never against. Would seem off to me. That is just me though. I agree with you completely WTP. Under the current rules I am eligible to play for Team Italy but could never imagine going against the US in a competition. Even the dual citizen thing gets a bit convoluted as guys who are three generation Americans are still eligible for Italian citizenship even having never even been to the country (as an example.) You are correct about ARod by the way, he played for the US in the first WBC and was going to play for the DR in the second until an injury.