WBC Set-up

[Laura]

I wasn't thrilled with the WBC concept, but the games have definitely won me over. I think they need to work out some issues ... and I expect they will given the reception it has received.

[neely crenshaw]

the only problem with injuries is that instead of a laid back spring training game, players are playing meaningful games where they may push it more so than st.

 

i really like it though. my thought is that if we are going to do this can we at least send our best? we have a nice lineup which i have no real problem with but the pitching is horrid! well horrid is too strong but we can't we put out better starters than peavy and willis? and then the relievers! we have no one better than leiter and the long haired dude that is a thumber?

i like peavy(he has actually been a stud) and willis had a great year but where are zito, hudson, smoltz, johnson, burnett, sheets, mussina,millwood etc..

some get a pass like buerhle who pitched a whole lot last year but do we really need to have middle relivers?

if we are going to do this, let's put the best we can out there. chances are we lose to mexico and go home embarrassed!

[1908]

the only problem with injuries is that instead of a laid back spring training game, players are playing meaningful games where they may push it more so than st.

Players get hurt in spring training games. Do players get hurt more frequently in regular season games than spring training games? I don't know for certain, but the rate seems about the same to me, which is as valid a theory as the belief that players are more likely to get hurt in the WBC than spring training without any evidence to support it.

[MembersOnlyJacket]

I've had a pretty cynical view of this Tournament since it's beginnings, however I have been able to see this from a unique viewpoint in the last few days. I'm traveling in Korea for work right now and saw part of the Korea-US game yesterday afternoon. Koreans are extremely hard-working, work-a-holic from some American perspective and particularly from a European perspective. However, yesterday, you saw many people taking 2+ hr lunches so they could see part of the game. I think we only left our lunch because there was a meeting scheduled with the customer at 2 pm.

 

This tournament is a success overseas --- which I believe was the goal all along. It is not about the US, rather, it is a marketing tool for baseball around the world. And, I think it is working better than expected. Asian baseball is thriving.

 

A lot of work needs to be done to truly make this a world-wide success. The timing of the Tournament is tough, but, it's tough for everyone. You've seen it in the US pitchers who aren't throwing much above 90 and aren't throwing much breaking stuff. The exception is Clemens, but he has little to lose. The Asian Leagues start +/- 2 weeks of MLB so their pitchers are at the same disadvantage.

 

I'm glad I've seen this perspective of the Tournament and I think holding it on a 2 or 4 year basis could really help make it a great success.