Mark Feinsand reports that A.J. Burnett pitched the idea of a "WBC Ryder Cup" to Joe Girardi and Girardi approved. Basically, using bats and balls, pitchers putted along the base paths, teaming up based upon the number of countries represented by the available players. They came up with 8, including "Native America," led by Joba Chamberlain.

The countries were Chinese Taipei (Chien-Ming Wang), Cuba (Christian Garcia), Japan (Kei Igawa), Dominican Republic (Jose Veras), Puerto Rico (Jonathan Albaladejo), United States (A.J. Burnett), Mexico (Sergio Mitre) and “Native America” (Joba).

The Chinese Taipei team of Chien-Ming Wang, Phil Hughes and Triple-A pitching coach Scott Aldred brought home the victory, earning themselves the right to do half the running that the rest of the pitchers did. Of course, Aldred's a coach and Wang's coming off an injury, so Feinsand notes that Hughes was the primary beneficiary.

Via Peter Abraham.