Aramis NOT playing in WBC

[JWCUB]

Per ESPN, he has withdrawn from the Clasic. IMO very good news.

[DiamondMind]

Am I the only one that's excited about the WBC? I know aRam is a Cub, and of the injury risk (repeat ad naseum), but I'm somewhat dissapointed that the talent level of the tournament has declined so much.

 

America is the only country that doesn't seem to care about international sporting events. Olympics, World Cup, WBC, etc...

[Bote McBoteface]

I'm not excited about it at all. I couldn't be happier that Aramis isn't playing. Now if only Zambrano would back out.

[Uber]

Good news, makes my day.

 

Am I the only one that's excited about the WBC? I know aRam is a Cub, and of the injury risk (repeat ad naseum), but I'm somewhat dissapointed that the talent level of the tournament has declined so much.

 

America is the only country that doesn't seem to care about international sporting events. Olympics, World Cup, WBC, etc...

 

I'm going to watch it, but Ramirez playing wasn't worth the risk. The DR already decided they'd rather have a 250-hitting underachiever as the starter anyways.

[ltb]

great news

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'll watch the games as well. I'm glad Lee and Barrett are playing, but I'm equally glad that Ramirez isn't.

[Vinestal]

Honestly I dont think that players are anymore at risk playing WBC games then they are while playing spring training games, just my own opinion. I think the more WBC's take place the more players will want to take part in them. Since its never been done before there is a slight lack of interest from some players. I think in later years there is going to be less of people backing out. I think you'll see players seeing the bragging rights from it in years to come. I think when Lee faces Zambrano for instance its something they will both talk about for the rest of the season. If Venezula beats the US for instance, the US players will never hear the end of it from the Venezuelans on the team. The more they play this tournament the bigger its going to get.

 

Its deffinantly something Im looking forward to and something I think is good for the game as a whole.

 

Just my opinion.

[Soul]

I think as more and more top players decide to play in the WBC, more and more of them will suffer injury that will affect their MLB teams.

 

This will result in one of two things: the WBC will become a forum for washouts, minor-leaguers, and college players, or it will become little more than a substitute Spring Training for a few players who will be there in name, but will play at around 50% just to "represent" their country and little else.

 

Going full speed right after an offseason is a terrible idea physically. Anyone can see that.

[Vinestal]

I think as more and more top players decide to play in the WBC, more and more of them will suffer injury that will affect their MLB teams.

 

This will result in one of two things: the WBC will become a forum for washouts, minor-leaguers, and college players, or it will become little more than a substitute Spring Training for a few players who will be there in name, but will play at around 50% just to "represent" their country and little else.

 

Going full speed right after an offseason is a terrible idea physically. Anyone can see that.

 

*sigh* thats pretty ridiculous but your entitled you your opinion. Most of the people participating have been getting ready for quite a while they didnt just show up to spring training and expect to go all out early. Besides pitchers are the only ones that I think would experience anything different than a regular sping training game would be and they are on similar pitch counts to what they would be on during thier spring game rotations.

 

What I think is sad is that there will be some players that will get hurt (happens every spring anyway) and when that happens there will be media and fans that will blame the tournament when the player would/could have suffered the same injury on a spring training game field.

 

Its baseball, and these are baseball players, its what they do. I think they are quite capable of preparing early and knowing what they need to do to get ready to play competitively.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

That's good news. Hopefully Z will pull out too, I am just as concerned about him.

[Soul]

I think as more and more top players decide to play in the WBC, more and more of them will suffer injury that will affect their MLB teams.

 

This will result in one of two things: the WBC will become a forum for washouts, minor-leaguers, and college players, or it will become little more than a substitute Spring Training for a few players who will be there in name, but will play at around 50% just to "represent" their country and little else.

 

Going full speed right after an offseason is a terrible idea physically. Anyone can see that.

 

*sigh* thats pretty ridiculous but your entitled you your opinion. Most of the people participating have been getting ready for quite a while they didnt just show up to spring training and expect to go all out early. Besides pitchers are the only ones that I think would experience anything different than a regular sping training game would be and they are on similar pitch counts to what they would be on during thier spring game rotations.

 

What I think is sad is that there will be some players that will get hurt (happens every spring anyway) and when that happens there will be media and fans that will blame the tournament when the player would/could have suffered the same injury on a spring training game field.

 

Its baseball, and these are baseball players, its what they do. I think they are quite capable of preparing early and knowing what they need to do to get ready to play competitively.

 

You're entitled to think it's ridiculous if you want. It's all about opinions.

 

I happen to think many baseball players *DON'T* know how to prepare, even for Spring Training, which is why players are so often held back during March, and why many others wind up hurting themselves in meaningless ST games.

 

Some are total pros, true. I don't think anyone ever worried about Clemens, for example, because he could be counted on to be ready and to keep his arm in pitching shape year after year. Others? Not quite as professional. A tad more prone to letting themselves go.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Honestly I dont think that players are anymore at risk playing WBC games then they are while playing spring training games, just my own opinion. I think the more WBC's take place the more players will want to take part in them. Since its never been done before there is a slight lack of interest from some players. I think in later years there is going to be less of people backing out. I think you'll see players seeing the bragging rights from it in years to come. I think when Lee faces Zambrano for instance its something they will both talk about for the rest of the season. If Venezula beats the US for instance, the US players will never hear the end of it from the Venezuelans on the team. The more they play this tournament the bigger its going to get.

 

Its deffinantly something Im looking forward to and something I think is good for the game as a whole.

 

The only way the WBC becomes a "intense competition" is when MLB decides to make the WBC a credible source of international baseball. When you got players like Piazza (born in Penn) playing for Italy, or Aardsma (born in Col) could have pitched for Netherlands, or etc, etc...the WBC takes a HIT when it comes to credibility.

 

MLB needs to lock in those "eligibility" rules, ie having Italty only get players who are BORN in Italy to play for them, instead of having American born Italian. In other words...until MLB takes the WBC seriously, why should the fans of baseball?

[Balsa]

Cubs righthander David Aardsma was originally listed on the Netherlands provisional roster and was eager to play for the country of his great-grandparents, but it turned out he did not meet the eligibility requirements.

 

Italian Baseball Federation president Riccardo Fraccari decided his country’s team would respect Olympic guidelines requiring citizenship, recognizing that Italy has complicated citizenship laws that nonetheless would widen the pool of players for Italy significantly. Players such as former big league catcher Mike DiFelice, whose parents were both born in Italy, have no problem obtaining Italian citizenship as long as they file the proper paperwork.

 

Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez was born in San Diego and is an American citizen; however, his parents are both Mexican, and he spent most of the first 12 years of his life living in Tijuana. While the No. 1 pick in the 2000 draft maintains dual citizenship, he does not hesitate to say which country he would play for if given the choice.

 

“I think I would play for Mexico—all my family is in Mexico,” he said. “Everything has always revolved around Mexico for us. That is our bloodlines and everything we do about food, the way we party, the way we celebrate birthdays and weddings, everything is Mexican and Mexican-style. We are very proud to be Mexican.”

 

Gonzalez’ Mexican teammate, Cubs righthander Sergio Mitre, is in a similar boat. Like Gonzalez, Mitre was born in California but he spent a large portion of his childhood south of the border.

 

“We grew up in Mexico, we grew up playing in the little leagues of Mexico,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t think we are outsiders because we learned the game of baseball in Mexico. Since we were 4 years old we played in the little league in Mexico.”

 

If anything, Gonzalez’ situation is a reminder that national pride can often go far beyond where you were born, and how national pride should provide fuel for a spirited competition in the World Baseball Classic.

 

“I am Mexican,” Gonzalez said. “I just happen to be born here in San Diego.”

 

Source

[TrueBlueCubFan]

My guess is Aramis is preparing himself physically & will ask for a restructuring of his contract after he has a career year in 06'. Lee/Ramirez will be a very potent 3/4 combo for the Cubs this year.

[wvcbxl]

A smart move by Aramis, IMHO, considering the injury problems he had last year.

 

Aramis on Cubs.com:

"If you go down there [to the World Baseball Classic], you have to play 100 percent because everybody is going to play to win. It's a different game than here. To play here, it's just to try to get ready for the season."

A correct perspective on ST games from an established starter.

[wastra]

I am VERY excited about the classic.

 

Folks, I love the Cubs, and I love MLB but I just LOVE baseball.

 

And I have never seen ANY competition in a sport that is international, where teams play for national pride, where it wasn't among the most exciting games those sports play all year. The olympics, Ryder cup, world cup, etc- they're all so passionately played, and all mean so much to those playing that I can't help but share in their excitement.

 

Now- that being said, I understand the risk it entails and why that is not a good thing. I think the WBC should be only an every-other year type thing, or every 4 years like the olympics. That's one reason those other events are so special- they're rarer than a regular season event.

 

 

With all of that in mind, Ramirez is a good example of a player who probably SHOULDN'T play in this thing, and I'm relatively glad he isn't. he's always worn down in the season, and his injuries tend to be less freakish (ala Nomar's) and more "wear and tear" type of problems that only rest and excercise cures. So in HIS case, I'm glad he's sitting this one out.