American players still don't care about the WBC

by SC on Dec 22, 2008 11:53 PM EST Comment 37 comments

Just look at the players who already have declared themselves unwilling to join Team USA at the second incarnation of the tournament in March.
Josh Hamilton? No. Ryan Howard? Sorry. Alex Rodriguez? Nope, he defected to the Dominican team. CC Sabathia, Brandon Webb, Cole Hamels, Josh Beckett, A.J. Burnett and Brad Lidge? Nein, non, lo, nyet, nei and na. Respectively.

And the exodus won’t end there. Before the Jan. 19 preliminary roster deadline, Tim Lincecum, Roy Halladay, Jake Peavy and Ben Sheets are expected to turn down invitations, too, in spite of the personal pleas of manager Davey Johnson.

Kind of lame that our national pastime again won't be represented by anything close to the best team we could theoretically field. Expect another lame showing out of the U.S. club, just like 2006. Everyone find a rooting option. Go China!

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there is no reason they can't have an israeli team

that is just made up of Jews. There are more Jewish ballplayers in the MLB than there are players from the Netherlands or Panama. And besides, the Italian team was just made up of Italian-Americans. Plus, Bud Selig’s Jewish.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Dec 23, 2008 12:07 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

'Course, even if theres no Israeli team,

I’ll still be obsessively following it.

by jobe on Dec 23, 2008 12:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Americans don't need the WBC

Because they already have the MLB. It’s not like the Korean team who has something to prove.

[Guthrie's] president of my heart. ~PhilR8

by Stacey on Dec 23, 2008 12:18 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

You don't honestly think that?

How could you not want to prove yourself in international competition.

by jobe on Dec 23, 2008 12:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I dont want my

pitchers racking up extra innings. I have a little less concern with postional players but still every game is an injury risk. Teams certainly have to hold their breath with the salaries most of these players are guaranteed.

Still it will come down to pitching…heard that before havent we?

by sanders833 on Dec 23, 2008 12:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The MLB is the toughest competition around

What’s to prove if you’ve made it there? Not to mention it takes away from their preparation from their actual job. I think the WBC is fun but I don’t blame the players for not wanting to play.

[Guthrie's] president of my heart. ~PhilR8

by Stacey on Dec 23, 2008 7:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think this is a very close-minded statement

because this assumes that the rest of the world follows MLB. Some do, but most don’t. Actually most countries I go to don’t give a shit about baseball, including some that have teams in the WBC.

Sure, some of these players don’t want to risk an injury, and that’s all well and good, but the assumption that Americans don’t need to prove anything because the MLB is the best is exactly what is wrong with American exceptionalism.

The MLB might be the best league, but where are most of the players from that make it the best league? The US? Yeah, some are, but I think a higher percentage are from Latin America, which is why the WBC, at its root, is a good concept.

Just like with the EPL, are most of the stars from England? No. It’s the best league, but the stars hail from all over the world — Spain, Brazil, Togo, France, Nigeria, Mexico, etc…..

"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"

by exitfare on Dec 23, 2008 10:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think you read a bit much into Stacey's statement

She didn’t say that American baseball is the best, you put those words into her mouth. MLB — which happens to be played almost entirely in America — is the best professional baseball league in the world in terms of skill. That’s an undisputed fact. And it’s exactly WHY players from other countries fight so hard to play here. Your argument actually enforces Stacey’s, in an odd way.

by punkrawka on Dec 23, 2008 12:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Right

I didn’t say Americans are the best at baseball, and I didn’t say that everyone around the world follows and cares about the MLB. But the MLB is where the greatest players play, and the MLB is in America. Other WBC teams have players from their respective leagues, fighting to prove their country has the best league, probably most of them hoping they’re good enough to come to the MLB one day. Americans don’t need to prove it. It’s a fact. The league American pros play in is so good that non-Americans want to play there too. I don’t think Dustin Pedroia and Roy Halladay need to prove their worth by playing in the WBC because they’ve already proven themselves capable of playing in the highest league in the world.

Of course you could say the same about the Latin American major leaguers who seem to want to play in the WBC more than others. I think that comes from a different cultural perspective.

I don’t often get called closed-minded.

[Guthrie's] president of my heart. ~PhilR8

by Stacey on Dec 23, 2008 12:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Same thing with hockey

The NHL is the top league in the world. Now, most of its players aren’t American. But if you ask a player which would they rather win – a gold medal or a Stanley Cup – I’d venture to guess most would say a Stanley Cup. Because it’s the prize the best league in the world gives out. Same thing with the World Series – that’s the prize baseball players care about.

Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.

by duck on Dec 23, 2008 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe I did read a bit too much into the statement

and I apologize for that, but my thought is this: I don’t think the WBC is about proving your worth necessarily, but it’s moreso for respective countries to honor their baseball talent and showcase that on a quasi-world stage, and the fact that so many Americans choose not to play is selfish.

I am sure they may be doing it for injury reasons, but if not, I don’t think there is a valid reason not to play.

And the statement that MLB is the apex of professional baseball is true (because it obviously is), but that doesn’t mean players should write off the WBC and view it is as “stepping down.” It needs to be viewed as something else entirely, perhaps as a showcase of the talent that each country has to offer.

"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"

by exitfare on Dec 23, 2008 1:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

but I think a higher percentage are from Latin America

Nope — http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060405&content_id=1385118&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

by Awesome Mike Awesome on Dec 23, 2008 12:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That's

kind of cool to read over. A little outdated but a lot of those guys are still around.

Always trust your cape. -Guy Clark

by BPinOK on Dec 23, 2008 12:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought I read somewhere that Guthrie wanted to play in the WBC

They could certainly do worse.

by zknower on Dec 23, 2008 12:53 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

This is like USA Basketball

Except worse. Whereas the basketball players eventually signed up for the Olympics so as to avoid embarrassment on an international level, the baseball players can completely blow off this stupid little tournament.

My best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like 'C'mon Boog,' 'Get ahold of one, Frank,' or 'Let's go, Brooks.' -Earl Weaver

by Baltimo on Dec 23, 2008 1:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think eventually

they may do away with the WBC. I don’t think that it holds the importance that the creators once invisioned, as evidenced by the players who choose not to give a damn. I can’t blame the players for not wanting to risk injury for this stuff…the rewards don’t outweigh the possible negatives of what could be. Imagine if Matt Wieters decided to play in this crap and suffered a serious injury. We would be beyond furious. Nuff said.

WHAT ain't no country I ever heard of. Do they speak english in WHAT?

by sickuvitall on Dec 23, 2008 4:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't want my team's players getting hurt

I agree about the injury factor. I’m a Mets fan and I saw yesterday that David Wright is playing. And I wonder 1) About risking injury and 2) Wright always seems to fade in September and that’s because he plays every game. So I am concerned now that adding a month onto his season, does that mean now he’ll fade in August?

by kerelcooper on Dec 23, 2008 7:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Great Pedroia

heeded his nation’s call!

by Awesome Mike Awesome on Dec 23, 2008 7:18 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Great, so we have a bat boy...

Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.

by duck on Dec 23, 2008 9:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And

it’s one with an MVP and a World Series ring!

by Awesome Mike Awesome on Dec 23, 2008 9:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So what DID you do

before 2004? Seriously?

Get over yourself.

Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.

by duck on Dec 23, 2008 10:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

avoided Fenway Park

like the rest of Boston

"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"

by exitfare on Dec 23, 2008 10:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That one's not really going to hold up to scrutiny

Par for the course.

by Awesome Mike Awesome on Dec 23, 2008 11:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

At least

Pedroia didn’t think he was “too good” to play in the WBC

I still think you need to get over yourself, AMA.

"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"

by exitfare on Dec 23, 2008 1:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm

Kind of uncalled for my friend. Where is birdman to regulate the rudeness quotient? Or are you just on edge from the stress of seeing if the Orioles can come up with enough money to convince Teixeira he wants to, well, be an Oriole?

by Awesome Mike Awesome on Dec 23, 2008 11:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Telling you to get ver yourself

is uncalled for? Really? I’ve called you a lot worse than that before.

Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.

by duck on Dec 23, 2008 1:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.

by duck on Dec 23, 2008 10:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll Play

Who’s comin’ with me?

by blawk359 on Dec 23, 2008 11:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I bet Nick Markakis would

if they’d bother to ask.

Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.

by duck on Dec 23, 2008 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

OK, maybe not....

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-markakis1223,0,5846597.story

At least he’s got a good reason…

Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis said today that he has turned down an offer to play for the United States in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

Markakis, who hit .306 last season with 20 homers and 87 RBIs, said he got a call this week from Billy Ripken, who is on the staff of the American team, which is managed by Davey Johnson. But he had to decline the invitation due to family concerns. Markakis was married earlier this offseason and he and his wife, Christina, are expecting their first child during the tournament.

“My first child is due on March 12 and that’s right in the middle of it,” Markakis said. “It was an easy decision. It’s definitely a big honor and something I’d like to do. But with my first kid being born, I have other responsibilities to take care of. It was a hard decision, but an easy decision. They said I could have a couple of days leave, but you don’t want to neglect a team like that.”

Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.

by duck on Dec 23, 2008 1:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And the women of Birdland

sob and cry as they discover they will not play the Mrs. to Mr. Markakis. Oh well, look on the bright side ladies, you still have Adam Jones to work with…if you like the Jamie Foxx looking fellows.

WHAT ain't no country I ever heard of. Do they speak english in WHAT?

by sickuvitall on Dec 23, 2008 1:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs