AP RedWBC: What's up with all the hatin?
March 18th 2009 17:49
Everytime I turn on the television here in the U.S. I see a commentary on how the World Baseball Classic is bad for the game. Russ Salzberg says it is too intense a tournament for the players to be playing. The panelists from ESPN's First Take say its a meaningless injury risk and that spring training games are more interesting. And various print locals jeer it for one reason or another, probably doing it more to protect their spot than anything else.
Now, intensity and meaningless are very disimilar words and completely contradict each other in their respective context of use. It is "too intense" because the players feel like they are playing for something. If the players are playing with intensity and feel like it is special, how can it be meaningless?
If spring training was so important and interesting, why are players whose roster spots are in flux playing in the WBC? Gregor Blanco whould be in a fight for Atlanta's center field job in a non WBC year. Lindstrom and Marmol should be fighting to lock down their closer spots. Pudge, Pedro and various other unsigned talents (I know Pudge signed with Houston) should be flying around everywhere trying out with teams to get spots. And when was the last time Pro Player Stadium had actual people inside paying to watch a baseball game?
As for injuries, do players not get hurt in spring training? The intensity of the tournament makes injuries more likely? So guys fighting for roster slots aren't intense. Guys trying to hold onto the MLB dream aren't intense. Guys that don't want to bag groceries or super size meals aren't intense?
I don't buy the arguments. I loved the Netherlands and how players had to get time off from their factory jobs and the like to pursue their WBC and pro dreams. Like the intense rivalries between the Caribbean series guys and between Korea and Japan. Got to finally see Yu Darvish and know why Bobby Valentine was all hyped up about the guy. And that bottom of the ninth come back by the US actually made me jump out of my seat.
When was the last time you jumped out of your seat at home watching a spring training game?
Now, intensity and meaningless are very disimilar words and completely contradict each other in their respective context of use. It is "too intense" because the players feel like they are playing for something. If the players are playing with intensity and feel like it is special, how can it be meaningless?
If spring training was so important and interesting, why are players whose roster spots are in flux playing in the WBC? Gregor Blanco whould be in a fight for Atlanta's center field job in a non WBC year. Lindstrom and Marmol should be fighting to lock down their closer spots. Pudge, Pedro and various other unsigned talents (I know Pudge signed with Houston) should be flying around everywhere trying out with teams to get spots. And when was the last time Pro Player Stadium had actual people inside paying to watch a baseball game?
As for injuries, do players not get hurt in spring training? The intensity of the tournament makes injuries more likely? So guys fighting for roster slots aren't intense. Guys trying to hold onto the MLB dream aren't intense. Guys that don't want to bag groceries or super size meals aren't intense?
I don't buy the arguments. I loved the Netherlands and how players had to get time off from their factory jobs and the like to pursue their WBC and pro dreams. Like the intense rivalries between the Caribbean series guys and between Korea and Japan. Got to finally see Yu Darvish and know why Bobby Valentine was all hyped up about the guy. And that bottom of the ninth come back by the US actually made me jump out of my seat.
When was the last time you jumped out of your seat at home watching a spring training game?
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