Ortiz a leader of his nation

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Without one very sore big toe, it would be different.

But with Pedro Martínez unable to pitch in the World Baseball Classic, David Ortiz, born in Santo Domingo and with a home in Haina, is the face of a nation, wrapped in the red, white, and blue of the Dominican Republic.

''Why not?" said Manny Acta, the manager of the Dominican team that will take the field against Venezuela this afternoon amid a sea of flags in Orlando, where the Braves' facility in Disney World has been transformed into the first testing ground of two countries determined to prove they can play hardball better than anybody.

And front and center is Ortiz, who hit a home run in the Dominicans' exhibition win Sunday over a split squad of Astros and is prominently featured, along with Derek Jeter, Ichiro Suzuki, Roger Clemens, and Pudge Rodriguez, in TV spots promoting this tournament.

''He's become the face of a big part of the United States, a big part of the New England fan base and he deserves it," Acta said. ''He's a pro on and off the field, a very likeable guy, and he's true. He's legit. He's not faking anything for a long time now, and he deserves everything he's got right now."

The American audience has been slow to warm up to an event that should be at least as entertaining -- and infinitely more familiar -- than the halfpipe, snowboardcross, and compulsory figures.

But they are having no such problems elsewhere in the world, particularly Latin America, where there finally exists the possibility of a real Caribbean series that includes Cuba, and if you saw the way the Koreans tumbled out of their dugout after beating Japan over the weekend, you should have immediately deduced this isn't the NBA All-Star Game we're talking about.

Call the event contrived and a marketing tool if you must, but there is something real at stake. Or maybe you missed Ichiro saying he was ''ashamed" of his performance against the upstart Koreans, who with former Sox pitchers Byung Hyun Kim and Sunny Kim doing their part, went undefeated in the Asian pool and advanced, along with Japan, to the second round.

''Our job is trying to get ready for the season, but we want to win this tournament and represent our country well," said Albert Pujols, the National League MVP who will bat third, in front of cleanup man Ortiz, in a lineup of stars that begins with Alfonso Soriano and former American League MVP Miguel Tejada at the top of the order and also features veteran Moises Alou and slugging third baseman Adrian Beltre hitting behind Big Papi.

Bartolo Colón, the American League Cy Young Award winner who would fit into David Wells's pants only with a forklift, will start for the Dominicans against Johan Santana, the '04 AL Cy Young Award winner from the Twins.

''What do you think?" Ortiz said yesterday as he was leaving the team's final workout here, dressed in a vintage Ronnie Lott Raiders jersey and signing copies of USA Today for countrymen more accustomed to reading Listo Diario. ''Everybody's an All-Star in there."

Pujols went a step further. ''We have so much talent coming out of our country," he said, ''we could put three teams together and they would do just as good a job as we can do. That's why it's great, and I'm happy to be a part of it."

Martínez would have been here, the greatest among equals, if he were not bothered by a big right toe that kept him off the mound this winter and behind in training camp.

''Petey, he's hurting right now in his heart," said Acta, who as Mets third base coach has first-hand knowledge of Martínez's condition. ''Everyone knows his patriotism. He's just way too far behind in his throwing."

Vladimir Guerrero's heart is aching for another reason. The Angels right fielder and the third MVP on the Dominican roster (2004) is on a seven-day bereavement list after three of his cousins -- he said they were like brothers -- were killed in an automobile accident last week on the island.

''A few guys have been in touch with him," said Alou. ''It's been hard on him. Very hard."

Guerrero's jersey hangs in the Dominican clubhouse, and he possibly could return. As a fallback, the Dominicans have resurrected 42-year-old Luis Polonia, who is as much a throwback as Ortiz's football jersey, having made three tours with the Yankees in the course of his 12-year career but missing in big-league action since 2000, though he remains a fixture in winter ball.

Neither Manny Ramírez nor his jersey is anywhere in sight, Ramírez having announced upon his arrival in Sox camp last week that he would not be playing for Team Dominicana.

''He was one of the first guys to sign on at the end of the season," Acta said. ''It's disappointing he's not here, obviously. But we never had any kind of legit confirmation. I'm disappointed, because we'd love to have him. Everybody would love to have him."

Alou, who will be 39 on Opening Day but said he is playing because he's never had a chance to represent his country and will be long retired before the WBC rolls around three years from now, not only was understanding of Ramírez's decision, he practically called it a patriotic act.

''You have to understand, some guys felt they couldn't get ready in just a couple of weeks," Alou said. ''Manny showed up in camp late, so it was tougher for him. I really admire the position he took. He was very responsible, not playing because he felt he wouldn't be able to help right away."

In truth, Acta said, he is more concerned about the absence of Martínez and especially Rangers closer Francisco Cordero than Ramírez.

''Our team was built around Pedro and Francisco Cordero," he said. ''Losing Cordero, we lost our only legit bona fide closer. We do have a few guys that have closed in the big leagues, but not with the track record Cordero has."

One of those guys is Julian Tavarez, the other Sox representative on the Dominican team. Jason Varitek is catching for Team USA, Mike Timlin is in the bullpen. Lenny DiNardo is pitching for Italy. Adam Stern is playing the outfield for Canada. Trent Durrington, a nonroster invitee to Sox camp, is playing wherever Australia asks him to.

But for one afternoon, the vortex of the baseball universe will be here.

''It's going to be wild," Alou said.

And Ortiz? He smiled. ''I'll see you," Big Papi said, ''tomorrow."