JUPITER, Fla. — St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Joel Pineiro says he is "heartbroken" and feels "disrespected" after being left off Puerto Rico's World Baseball Classic team by manager Jose Oquendo — who is also a Cardinals coach.

Pineiro was a starter for the Puerto Rico team in 2006, when Oquendo also managed the squad. This time, Oquendo chose Atlanta's Javier Vazquez, Pittsburgh's Ian Snell and San Francisco's Jonathan Sanchez.

"To hear that from him, it was such a setback and I'm very disappointed," Pineiro said. "I was very disappointed, very heartbroken. I felt disrespected."

Oquendo hoped the decision wouldn't cause a rift.

"He's a proud guy," Oquendo said. "He wants to represent Puerto Rico. I understand how disappointed he is. I hope we can move on."

Pineiro had already purchased tickets for his family for second-round games in Miami, where Puerto Rico will play if the team advances past the first round in San Juan. But since he won't be a starter, Pineiro said he will remain in spring training and skip the World Baseball Classic entirely.

"I feel bad for my country, for the team we have had over there," he said. "I talked to most of those guys and they know I'm doing the right decision. If I wasn't going to start, why would I be there?"

Pineiro was 7-7 with a 5.15 earned run average last season. He is expected to be the Cardinals' fifth starter, assuming Chris Carpenter is healthy after two years of elbow problems. In nine seasons, Pineiro is 72-67 with a 4.55 ERA.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said he had no input in Oquendo's decision, but understood how difficult it was.

"That comes with the territory," La Russa said about being a manager. "I didn't pry into what went into the decision. I just know you got a player who wanted to pitch. You got a manager who made a decision.

"I respect (Pineiro) for wanting to pitch for his country."

Puerto Rick came within a game of reaching the four-team final round in 2006, losing 4-3 to Cuba in the second round. Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina will be part of the Puerto Rican team.

Pineiro is the second Cardinals player to remove himself from the WBC. National Leauge MVP Albert Pujols is not playing for the Dominican Republic after undergoing elbow surgery during the offseason. His decision was based on the fact that underwriters were not willing to insure Pujols for his participation in the WBC.