Ramirez more focused on the regular season than WBC

[soccer10k]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060221&content_id=1317559&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

I definately like this news. It would be devastating to have either Ramirez, Lee, or Zambrano get injured in the WBC before the season even starts. I hope he sits out to prepare for the regular season.

 

On another note, I just can't seem to get excited about the WBC. It just doesn't interest me. Any feelings on this?

[erik316wttn]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060221&content_id=1317559&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

I definately like this news. It would be devastating to have either Ramirez, Lee, or Zambrano get injured in the WBC before the season even starts. I hope he sits out to prepare for the regular season.

 

On another note, I just can't seem to get excited about the WBC. It just doesn't interest me. Any feelings on this?

 

The timing is bad. If it was in November or something, there would be a lot more interest. Right now the main concern is injuries.

[soccer10k]

I agree. I think fans are more worried about what sort of playing condition their favorite players will be in when the season starts.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

Why wouldn't his main concern be on the team that is paying him millions of dollars a year?

[cl smooth]

Why wouldn't his main concern be on the team that is paying him millions of dollars a year?

 

money...the pride he has for his country...it's a toss-up for some people. he probably doesn't want to lose face if the dominican republic is defeated in the WBC.

[TheDude]

I'm not taking shots at anyone in particular here, but the injury talk/concern about the WBC amongst fans and the media is so overblown that it's become kind of absurd.

 

The NHL is on a break so that all the best in the world can play in the Olympics. Hockey fans and the media want to see these players play, and there isn't nearly half the injury concern sentiment in the media or amongst the fans. And it's hockey, where injuries are significantly more probable than baseball.

 

Even on the teams that get to the finals, these guys are playing what, 8 games?

[mul21]

I'm not taking shots at anyone in particular here, but the injury talk/concern about the WBC amongst fans and the media is so overblown that it's become kind of absurd.

 

The NHL is on a break so that all the best in the world can play in the Olympics. Hockey fans and the media want to see these players play, and there isn't nearly half the injury concern sentiment in the media or amongst the fans. And it's hockey, where injuries are significantly more probable than baseball.

 

Even on the teams that get to the finals, these guys are playing what, 8 games?

 

The difference being the hockey players are already in shape as it's the middle of the season. The pitchers especially are nowhere near where they need to be. I think that's why more people would be in favor of doing this at the end of the year when guys may be tired but are at least accustomed to the workload.

[TheDude]

I'm not taking shots at anyone in particular here, but the injury talk/concern about the WBC amongst fans and the media is so overblown that it's become kind of absurd.

 

The NHL is on a break so that all the best in the world can play in the Olympics. Hockey fans and the media want to see these players play, and there isn't nearly half the injury concern sentiment in the media or amongst the fans. And it's hockey, where injuries are significantly more probable than baseball.

 

Even on the teams that get to the finals, these guys are playing what, 8 games?

 

The difference being the hockey players are already in shape as it's the middle of the season. The pitchers especially are nowhere near where they need to be. I think that's why more people would be in favor of doing this at the end of the year when guys may be tired but are at least accustomed to the workload.

 

I don't know. If I am a professional athlete preparing for an event such as the WBC, I certainly wouldn't show up out of shape and unprepared to represent my country.

[goonys evil twin]

I'm not taking shots at anyone in particular here, but the injury talk/concern about the WBC amongst fans and the media is so overblown that it's become kind of absurd.

 

The NHL is on a break so that all the best in the world can play in the Olympics. Hockey fans and the media want to see these players play, and there isn't nearly half the injury concern sentiment in the media or amongst the fans. And it's hockey, where injuries are significantly more probable than baseball.

 

Even on the teams that get to the finals, these guys are playing what, 8 games?

 

The difference being the hockey players are already in shape as it's the middle of the season. The pitchers especially are nowhere near where they need to be. I think that's why more people would be in favor of doing this at the end of the year when guys may be tired but are at least accustomed to the workload.

 

I don't know. If I am a professional athlete preparing for an event such as the WBC, I certainly wouldn't show up out of shape and unprepared to represent my country.

 

But if you have gone several years with the same routine getting prepared for the season. You use February and March as a warm-up for April, and all of a sudden you have to be ready for do or die games in early March, you might not be able to prepare. The offseason is helpful in the healing process. You need time off. The only way to be ready in early March for the same type of intensity you usually don't see until August and September is to start getting ready further in advance. It's not a matter of being a fat slob from 4 months of sitting on the couch. Game shape and spring training shape are two different things.

[biittner77]

I'm not taking shots at anyone in particular here, but the injury talk/concern about the WBC amongst fans and the media is so overblown that it's become kind of absurd.

 

The NHL is on a break so that all the best in the world can play in the Olympics. Hockey fans and the media want to see these players play, and there isn't nearly half the injury concern sentiment in the media or amongst the fans. And it's hockey, where injuries are significantly more probable than baseball.

 

Even on the teams that get to the finals, these guys are playing what, 8 games?

 

Because they're hockey players and if they can walk they'll play. :D

 

Actually, isn't olympic hockey a lot cleaner than NHL action? I haven't had a chance to see any games this olympics but it seems to me that they don't hit as hard, they don't get into fights and there aren't any dirty players there. In a sense, these guys are actually less likely to get hurt than they would during the NHL season.

[TheDude]

I'm not taking shots at anyone in particular here, but the injury talk/concern about the WBC amongst fans and the media is so overblown that it's become kind of absurd.

 

The NHL is on a break so that all the best in the world can play in the Olympics. Hockey fans and the media want to see these players play, and there isn't nearly half the injury concern sentiment in the media or amongst the fans. And it's hockey, where injuries are significantly more probable than baseball.

 

Even on the teams that get to the finals, these guys are playing what, 8 games?

 

Because they're hockey players and if they can walk they'll play. :D

 

Actually, isn't olympic hockey a lot cleaner than NHL action? I haven't had a chance to see any games this olympics but it seems to me that they don't hit as hard, they don't get into fights and there aren't any dirty players there. In a sense, these guys are actually less likely to get hurt than they would during the NHL season.

 

It's a little cleaner. Big hits that are clean in the NHL may draw a penalty in the Olympics. I saw Tkachuk (normally a big hitter) pull off several hits in the Olympics for fear of a light whistle.

 

But regardless, the WBC is, at worst 6 games, and at best 8 games. Players likely started preparing a month earlier for these few games. I'm just not buying the injury line.