Astros' Tejada to skip World Baseball Classic

[February 26, 2009]  KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) -- Miguel Tejada will not play for the Dominican Republic in next month's World Baseball Classic.

Astros manager Cecil Cooper said the Dominican team's request that the shortstop play first base during the tournament was a major factor in his turning down the invitation.

"Here's a guy who has never done it before," Cooper said. "It's tough to work out for three or four days with a team then go and jump in playing first base. It's not easy. Everybody thinks it's easy to go over there. It's a tough position. You're involved in every single play. You have all these different moves. It's a lot different than shortstop."

Earlier this month, Tejada became the first prominent major leaguer to be convicted of a crime related to the use of performance-enhancing drugs when he admitted lying to congressional investigators about steroid use. Tejada is facing prison time and deportation but is expected to avoid both. He is to be sentenced March 26.

Cooper knows Tejada's Dominican fans will be disappointed with the decision not to play in the WBC, but is happy to have him with the team for all of spring training.

"He'll get a chance to do his regular routine for working on his defense," Cooper said. "And that's something he does every day with (coach Ed) Romero. He said he brought it from Oakland way back in the day and he's always used this routine. He felt like going there and not being able to do his stuff and not being able to play his position, he'd lose that."

[Associated Press]

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