What are your thoughts on the World Baseball Classic?

[GaryMrMets]

http://www.readingphillies.com/index.shtml
What are your thoughts on the World Baseball Classic?
1) Great idea. I can't wait to see the best of the best compete for years to come.
2) I could care less.
3) The USA is not as fired up as the other countires and will not win.
4) The USA will not be beaten at their own pastime.
5) The intentions of the tournament are good but it won't last five years.
6) This would be much better if held right after the World Series

[Chisox73]

I'm not too crazy about the WBC.

In an interview with WSCR in Chicago last week,White Sox catcher AJ Pierzynski brought up some points against the whole thing,saying that there's really no good time to put this on,whether it's during March or after the season,there's that chance that someone will get hurt.

He also brought up a hypothetical situation where if you have let's say Frankie Rodriguez pitching to Vlad Guerrero in a tightballgame,and in the heat of a battle,an inside pitch gets away,and seriously beans Vlad,not only could it cause the obvious pain,it would have a trickle down effect into the clubhouse once the WBC is over.

That's one scenario I hope never comes out of the WBC.

[rockin500]

i am dead set against the whole concept since time is not on its side and when they are holding it. just another dumb idea out there.

but i think i have made my point on that sufficiently clear over the past months. :D

[Chisox73]

i am dead set against the whole concept since time is not on its side and when they are holding it. just another dumb idea out there.

but i think i have made my point on that sufficiently clear over the past months. :D

This is basically another feather in Commissioner BS's cap

[Tigers#1]

I'll have to wait and see. So far i don't like a lot of the ways they've handled it, and i really don't like the timing, especially right before a 162 game season, plus playoffs. If there are multiple/big injuries in this, the commish will deffinatly hear about it.

[Timberwolf]

This is nothing more than MLB wanting to make money out of it. I doubt fans care. I know I won't. I doubt most Americans even care either. I know the people that live in foreign countries do particularly in Latin America and Venzeula. I won't be watching one minute of the tournament. I will be busy watching March Madness like most sports fans by the time it happens. The timing itself stinks. They should do this tournament after the season. After all, MLB had a tour of their players play in Japan few weeks after the World Series was over. Someone at Rube Chat had the right idea about using minor league players particularly prospects to play in this tournament. It makes much sense.

[Baseball Guru]

I doubt fans care. I know I won't. I doubt most Americans even care either. .


Speak for yourself:nope:

They are expecting 900,000-1,000,000 fans to attend these games...

As far as I know all games are sold out at every venue..... I know all the games here are...

I can't wait to see these games and I sure as hell hope the US team wins..

[Thedatch]

this whole "getting injured" thing is complete bullshit in my opinion. You know what? getting injured is a fact of life. People get injured doing their jobs a lot. Sometimes people get injured while not doing their jobs. Do you ever hear their companies complain? The WBC is very important for baseball, because it brings in fans from all over the world to one big event. Finally the US can ligitimately claim (if they win) that they are the best.

If a player gets injured playing baseball, then that's just plain too bad. It's the organization's fault for forking over insane amounts of money that they care so much.

Now, I'm gonna throw something out here, which may or may not be true, so please correct me if I'm wrong. But it seems to me that only the US players are complaining about getting injured. Everyone else is always talking about how much of an honor it is to represent their home country in this event. Why is that?

And Timber, it would be an insult to every other country playing if we were to use minor leagers and prospects. give me a break, thats the biggest pile of [insert male cow fecal matter] i've heard in a long time.

[Baseball Guru]

Now, I'm gonna throw something out here, which may or may not be true, so please correct me if I'm wrong. But it seems to me that only the US players are complaining about getting injured. Everyone else is always talking about how much of an honor it is to represent their home country in this event.

Which US players are complaining?
The only complaints I have heard are mostly from media, coaches and a few owners and that is on the Classic itself, not necessarily just the US...

[rockin500]

how is it important? its hyped up spring training. thats about it. As for players concerned about getting injured, its not just americans. Aramis doesnt really want to do it (which is why he is pulling out), Pedro is concerned, a number of Latino players are concerned.

Im not really worried about position players all that much, but i AM worried about pitchers. you are adding extra strain at the beginning which will affect a player in the latter half of the season. an arm only has so much strength in it. ;)

[Baseball Guru]

Who said it was important?

Sure its hyped but it is a little important as far as representing your country...

Some players are really into it and look at it that way and some are not...

As for Pedro, he is concerned because he has a legit injury and he hasnt even ruled out playing in the semi's or finals....

[>TC<]

Hunter doesn't hide his dislike of the WBC
Joe Christensen, Star Tribune

FORT MYERS, FLA. - Hey, Torii Hunter, how do you really feel?

The Twins center fielder didn't mince words Wednesday when asked for his thoughts about the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

"I don't like it," Hunter said. "I don't see anything positive coming from that."

Surrounded by reporters on his first day in spring camp, Hunter gave his reasons.

"Spring training is for getting in shape and getting to know your teammates and forming that chemistry," he said. "Now you're talking about three weeks of spring training they're going to miss.

"What if one of those guys pull a hamstring and gets hurt? They come back and they can't perform for two months."

Hunter knows several teammates will be leaving March 2 for the WBC. The list includes starting pitchers Johan Santana and Carlos Silva (for Venezuela), first baseman Justin Morneau (Canada) and closer Joe Nathan (Team USA).

Hunter was surprised to learn Francisco Liriano, a candidate for the fifth starter's spot, will also be leaving to pitch for the Dominican Republic.

"That'd be stupid," Hunter said. "I'd tell Liriano that."

Hunter said he was relieved Joe Mauer opted not to play.

"What's the use of saying we're better at baseball than this country?" Hunter said. "We all play together. I'm playing with Venezuelans and Dominicans right now. We all play together, so what's up with saying our country is better than your country? It's stupid. I don't like it."

Hunter, 30, said he would support the tournament if it came in November. In 2002, he toured Japan that month with other major league all-stars and was named the event's most valuable player.

This time, Hunter said he wasn't asked to play for Team USA. Coming back from a season-ending ankle injury, he said he wouldn't have played anyway.

Several stars have pulled out of the inaugural WBC, but Major League Baseball has implored players to at least support the event publicly.

That didn't stop Hunter.

"I bet you can go to the owners, and they'd say, 'I don't want my guys playing,' " Hunter said. "But politically correct, they've gotta say, 'Oh, it'll be great for the game, for the players, for the country.' If I was an owner, I wouldn't let any of my players play."


TC

[Eva]

Seem like everyone treating WBC as if it was exhibition, a glorified exhibition. If players are not allowed to go all out and play as if this was the WBC, then it's just a mere exhibition. Call what you want, but when there's restriction how long a player can play, then this just a glorified exhibition or all-star game.

You can't have it one way either. You either have all players going all out or don't bother calling this a serious competition. If pitchers are on a pitch count, then just throw the towel and call it an exhibition. In a serious competition, there's no such thing as pitch count. You take a pitcher out when he's struggling, not because he reached a certain number of pitches, that's ridiculous.

While I like the concept of WBC, there's no good time to play. Plain in simple. You can play it after WS, but that's a horrible time to play it, too. Playing it during Spring Training is already getting smashed by many people, including MLB players themselves.

I like to have real WBC, but there's just no good time to play it.

[Timberwolf]

this whole "getting injured" thing is complete bullshit in my opinion. You know what? getting injured is a fact of life. People get injured doing their jobs a lot. Sometimes people get injured while not doing their jobs. Do you ever hear their companies complain? The WBC is very important for baseball, because it brings in fans from all over the world to one big event. Finally the US can ligitimately claim (if they win) that they are the best.

If a player gets injured playing baseball, then that's just plain too bad. It's the organization's fault for forking over insane amounts of money that they care so much.

Now, I'm gonna throw something out here, which may or may not be true, so please correct me if I'm wrong. But it seems to me that only the US players are complaining about getting injured. Everyone else is always talking about how much of an honor it is to represent their home country in this event. Why is that?

And Timber, it would be an insult to every other country playing if we were to use minor leagers and prospects. give me a break, thats the biggest pile of [insert male cow fecal matter] i've heard in a long time.

You are exactly right about players getting hurt at anytime. I just don't want guys on my team getting hurt for a meaningless event like the WBC. They can get hurt in spring training, workouts, practice, or whatever not WBC. For a small-market team like the Twins, it does not help em.

I am all for having players play in the WBC. I just don't want guys on my team playing. You can always use prospects that are from other countries play for another team.

[rockin500]

Who said it was important?

Sure its hyped but it is a little important as far as representing your country...

Some players are really into it and look at it that way and some are not...

As for Pedro, he is concerned because he has a legit injury and he hasnt even ruled out playing in the semi's or finals....

well, datch did say it was very important.

i guess my biggest problem is the timing of it. I'd rather have it after the WS where people would have 3 months (at the minimum) to recover and regain their strength for a great campaign. If they held it from Mid November-Early December, I'd be satisfied. :)

[oriolesmagic]

I don't like it when it is. I am afreid so many players are going to get hurt prir to the season.

[PopTop]

Hate to agree with a certain someone on this, but if it wasn't for my new job requiring me to pay attention to this silly, over-marketed series of exhibitions, I wouldn't pay it any mind. Don't mean to pooh-pooh on the excitement that James and a lot of others have for the event. But I simply don't have any desire to see 'countries' competing against one another in the name of the almighty dollar. That a million or so people will attend this does not mean it's accepted and popular. If you hyped it right and sold liquor at the events, you could draw a million people to a cricket f***. What it does mean is that, with ticket prices ranging from $70 to $1300 on-line this morning, a whole lotta' Benjamin's are changing hands for an even that is, no matter how you spin it, a controlled scrimmage.

[>TC<]

Torii Hunter was reprimanded by MLB for his comments about the WBC. Yesterday when asked some followup questions he said he couldn't talk about it any further, and when asked if MLB had ordered him to keep quiet, he responded with a short, "No comment".


TC

[>TC<]

New York Mets closer Billy Wagner and Cleveland pitcher C.C. Sabathia withdrew Wednesday from the U.S. roster for the World Baseball Classic and were replaced by Washington right-hander Gary Majewski and Yankees left-hander Al Leiter.

Wagner, who signed a $43 million, four-year contract with the Mets during the offseason, said he needed more time to get his arm in shape.

"I just didn't feel like I was ready yet," the left-hander said in Port St. Lucie, Fla. "I want to do what's right for me and my country, and I'm not a very good pitcher in March. I didn't want to hurt the (WBC) team."

Sabathia's withdrawal leaves the United States with only three starters on its 14-man pitching staff: Jake Peavy, Dontrelle Willis and Roger Clemens.

"Although I would love to pitch in the inaugural World Baseball Classic and am proud to represent my country, I will not be ready to pitch in a competitive-game environment when play begins on March 7," Sabathia said in a statement released by the Indians.


Luis Castillo of the Twins has told manager Ron Gardenhire that he is seriously considering withdrawing from the WBC.


TC

[Baseball Guru]

Wagner, who signed a $43 million, four-year contract with the Mets during the offseason, said he needed more time to get his arm in shape.

"I just didn't feel like I was ready yet," the left-hander said in Port St. Lucie, Fla. "I want to do what's right for me and my country, and I'm not a very good pitcher in March. I didn't want to hurt the (WBC) team."



TC

Obviously since he is a Met, I really like Wagner, but he is very, very contadictive here:nope:

2 weeks ago on "The Morning Show: with Mark Patrick and team USA coach, Buck Martinez, he said that he was working hard in the offseason and he was in great shape and ready to play! Now all of a sudden, 2 weeks later he's not?:notme:
Honestly, he comes off as an ass here:Pissed:

[Rockin Robin]

This event should be held in November. Let the players rest up a bit after the long season, then have it. Not start the new season with an international event.


There's a certain point that's been bothering me. I understand the W concept of the WBC. The best players from all over the world representing their countries.

- B U T -


Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't virtually all the players participating in the event currently under contract of Major League Baseball of the United States of America??? If all the WBC players are MLB players, can it really be considered a truly international event??? Since everybody works for the same employer, this barely is more than a company softball game.....( ;) ) (And the boss is Bud, and the boss wants to make more money.)

[Trots]

I love the WBC concept, but hate the timing. Although, with all the rules they have set-up to avoid injuries, it does seem like a Spring Training game. Maybe the timing isn't so bad.

Look at it this way, we could be talking about MLB shutting down the regular season to have players participate in the Olympics. I'll take the WBC over the Olympics every time.

We really just aren't accustom to international baseball. If we accept such tournaments in hockey, basketball, soccer and just about every other sport, why not baseball?

[Eva]

This event should be held in November. Let the players rest up a bit after the long season, then have it. Not start the new season with an international event.
That's not much of a rest at all. Depending how far your team goes in the playoff or if you team either goes to playoff. A lot of players will have extra days rest compare to those playing deep into the post season.

No matter if it's November, middle of the season or during Spring Training. The fact is there's no real good time since each of those times have a certain flaw to them.

Although, with all the rules they have set-up to avoid injuries, it does seem like a Spring Training game.
It's exhibition. If this was a serious competition you wouldn't see games that could end in ties or pitches on pitch counts. I would like to state I like the idea, but with all these rules, it's just an exhibition.

[Baseball Guru]

Robin, there are a ton of players not under contract in MLB...

You see a lot of MLB players in this tourney, especially from USA, D.R., P.R. and Venezuela but there are 16 teams in this tourney so you have a lot of players not on teams... Cuba doesnt have 1 player from a MLB team....

Its just new and a lot of baseball people are not receptive to change... The Wild Card was blasted when it was 1st announced but now it is extrememly popular.... This is the innuagural WBC and I think it will only gain in popularity... Maybe the timing will change, maybe it wont, but its the first one and there's plenty of room for improvement and changes...

[Baseball Guru]

well, datch did say it was very important.

i guess my biggest problem is the timing of it. I'd rather have it after the WS where people would have 3 months (at the minimum) to recover and regain their strength for a great campaign. If they held it from Mid November-Early December, I'd be satisfied. :)


Yeah, but how many players are going to want to play after playing a 162 game schedule? Add more games for those that are in the playoffs...

Also, keep in mind the FA's.. How many unsigned FA's are going to take a chance and play without a contract?? None!

I dont really think after the season is all that great.... If you are going to worry about injuries and all, there is no good time to play...

[Eva]

Its just new and a lot of baseball people are not receptive to change.
Isn't the WBC, because players of fans' team could get hurt and people are trying to sell WBC as a serious competition when you have pitch counts and games can end in ties? But, mostly, people are against this change since we know people tend to worry about themselves, meaning their team, so they're against the idea that a player from their team could get hurt playing this WBC.