12/21/24
February 04, 2006
This is getting ridiculous: Now Nomah's out. Cano and Pettitte have bowed out -- Cano because he knows he'll be on the bench. And anyone who shows up this year and is slighted by their playing time will certainly have second thoughts the next time around. How can this tournament be saved? Someone (Curt Schilling?) suggested having it every four years at the All-Star break. But is breaking up the season for 2-3 weeks reasonable? What about holding it in October, when everyone out of the playoffs is in shape and ready to go?
posted by BullpenPro to baseball at 01:11 AM - 31 comments
The WBC should be played in November! The World Series will be over and should a player injury occur, spring training would still be nearly four months away which would give most players plenty of time to recover from an injury, with the obvious exception of a major injury like a torn ACL. Playing this tournament in March is a bad idea, guys should be getting ready for the regular season with their teams and should anyone get injured it will have a direct impact on the their teams chances during the regular season. The only obstacle I can see to playing in November would be the weather, but games could be scheduled in warm weather climates like Arizona, Florida, or Southern California or inside domes in other locales. Players have been playing in exhibition tournaments in Japan in November for years, why not just move the WBC to November AFTER the season and not interfere with the regular season, which obviously is more important than an exhibition tournament!
posted by mjoven1975 at 02:45 AM on February 04, 2006
i appreciate nomar's bowing out as a dodgers fan, but that's too bad for the wbc. not sure he would have made much of a difference anyway
posted by ninjavshippo at 04:03 AM on February 04, 2006
Hopefully all the "name" guys that are stepping aside will make room for some younger chaps to get a turn. Especially for the smaller countries.
posted by GoBirds at 04:31 AM on February 04, 2006
The MLB has to adapt or their precious world exhibition classic is going straight down the toilet before it can even start. They need to look at about two weeks, if that, after the World Series. Hey Bud, look when the NFL plays the Pro Bowl. Have teams use the WBC as an incentive around contract time -- something like the All Star game or the Pro Bowl.
posted by roberts at 04:47 AM on February 04, 2006
The Classic couldn't be played in November simply because many players would be done with the season, they wouldn't want to play any longer. I think the WBC is a great idea, but one that has been poorly executed and doomed to be in the sport of baseball, making it so there is never a good time to play it.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 05:57 AM on February 04, 2006
Bag the whole stupid thing. All I care about is the major league season, not some glorified all-star tour. I've been trying to get jazzed up about it, but it's impossible. Keep these guys in their regular spring training routines, and as for having it later in the year, the season's too long as it is. Make it a tournament for amateur players instead, even though that will draw about as much interest as watching the second hand go around on a clock.
posted by dyams at 07:03 AM on February 04, 2006
Boy, this WBC has been butchered from the get go. I agree that it now appears clear that holding the damn thing two weeks before Spring Training is a good way to encourage injuries, or at least some very uninspired ball as players try to avoid injuries (specifically thinking pitchers, here). This is going to have all the spark and competitivenes of a exhibition tournament, or a trip to Japan with a bunch of All-Stars. I'm not against the idea of holding it in late October - but I'm pretty sure no one wants to compete against the World Series, so November seems like the next logical time. Players will still be in shape from the season with a long break ahead of them - and those that didn't get to play playoff ball (or those that did but lost) will have some emotion left to use in the games.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 07:52 AM on February 04, 2006
Why is this tournament drawing so much attention anyways? There aren't that many quality players in it, and everyones dropping out. Why bother even watching it? I know I wont.
posted by redsoxrgay at 08:32 AM on February 04, 2006
Yeah, going head-to-head against the World Series won't do much for anybody. Just ask the IIHF about its springtime World Championships. That said, having it after the World Series would seem a little anticlimactic. Kind of like the Pro Bowl. Maybe they should only hold the WBC in years with labour disputes.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 08:36 AM on February 04, 2006
Red's Ox, it's drawing attention for the same reason hockey's Canada Cup used to (before NHL players were allowed to play in the Olympics): it's the only time you'll see the top talent from each country compete against each other. But with pitch counts and other restrictions, yeah, things do seem a little watered down. But they have to start somewhere. Heck, I even bought a Baseball Canada cap this week.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 08:40 AM on February 04, 2006
The whole thing doesn't work for me. Let's play the regular season, which is plenty of baseball, that is where the bread is buttered for these guys and where the fans will be day in and day out rooting on their favorite team and players. So let's play ball......from April til October
posted by brothersgrim at 09:20 AM on February 04, 2006
I think the WBC should go on, but without Pros. If they play their cards rights, it could turn into a showcase for the top amuater talent. Sort of like the compound for the NFL. I'm sure the scouts and teams would like it. Instead of having to travel all the time looking for talent, they could spend a few days at the WBC scouting players. This will also increase the quality of play. If I was a good player who hasn't been noticed by pro teams, I know I would be giving it my best if I was in a tournament with all the pro teams there checking out the talent.
posted by dropzone at 09:44 AM on February 04, 2006
Bring Baseball back, when men played for the love of the game. Nothing but useless ego manics who love money more than the game itself.
posted by getawaysticks at 09:53 AM on February 04, 2006
Yes, the days when men played for the love of the game and other men who loved money more than the game held them in virtual bondage, The Good Ol' Days!
posted by yerfatma at 10:44 AM on February 04, 2006
Well, you know how important a proper pecking order is in sports.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:07 AM on February 04, 2006
Bring Baseball back, when men played for the love of the game. Bring computer programming back, when men coded for the love of the job. Nothing but useless ego maniacs who love money more than the job itself.
posted by grum@work at 12:03 PM on February 04, 2006
And anyone who shows up this year and is slighted by their playing time will certainly have second thoughts the next time around. i'm not quite sure if that was a jab at Cano. it's not so much as him being slighted by lack of potential playing time but rather the boy needs to get his at bats and fielding work in. and thankfully he's aware of that.
posted by goddam at 01:28 PM on February 04, 2006
baseball now is from mid february till late october,enough is enough,you have football, then hockey, then basketball, and you are back in baseballthe pro athletes make more than enough dineeros.Stop this idiocracy already
posted by arturo at 01:36 PM on February 04, 2006
i'm not quite sure if that was a jab at Cano Not at all. I totally agree with you, goddam, and with his decision. There is no point at all to his sitting on the bench. My suggestion was that Major Leaguers -- who are, I think it's safe to say, the biggest drawing cards in this tournament -- certainly are not going to go if they think they're going to be riding the bench the whole time when they could be working out in S.T. If Soriano and Castillo both go to the WBC, at least one of them and perhaps both are likely to be disappointed in their playing time and probably will take a pass the next time the invite comes. That's going to remove a lot of MLers from the WBC in the future, in my opinion.
posted by BullpenPro at 03:06 PM on February 04, 2006
WBC - Yawn... I'd rather watch a spring training game with all the regulars on the bench.
posted by STLCardinalfan at 03:10 PM on February 04, 2006
There are still more stars than we usually see on a team. I didn't know Nomah was Mexican.
posted by autzenrocker123 at 03:15 PM on February 04, 2006
gotcha Bullpen. sorry for the assumption. it's just the reactionary yankee fan in me:-)
posted by goddam at 03:20 PM on February 04, 2006
goddam, I am the very last member of Spo-Fi who should be accepting any apologies for jumping to assumptions. If you feel REALLY bad about it, though, you can buy me a dog at the Stadium this summer. Or at least make one of the monthly payments on one.
posted by BullpenPro at 04:19 PM on February 04, 2006
There wont be much of a "classic". The DR and US are gonna dominate and Venzuela is gonna be up there. It isnt a very even tournament.
posted by Clevelander32 at 04:54 PM on February 04, 2006
All these baseball players bowing out of the WBC reminds me of all the American NBA stars who wanted no part of the Olympics in 2004. Shame on all of them. I like the idea of holding the WBC in November. I love baseball, but if a WBC game coincides with March Madness, I will opt for the college hoopsters.
posted by rexlex at 04:57 PM on February 04, 2006
Bullpen, if you ever make it out to the bleachers i would be happy to oblige.
posted by goddam at 05:18 PM on February 04, 2006
I gotta agree with stlcardinalfan...a spring training game between the cubs and cardinals would have be more exciting for cards fans. I cant stand the thought of watching scott rolen, jim edmonds or albert pujols (i dont know for sure if edmonds or rolen will play, but you can substitute any other star player for any other team in thier place) tear up a shoulder or knee in a stupid exhibition game that has nothing to do with anything but money for the selig legacy of major league baseball. You know that these guys are all super competitive and wont hold back at all, making the possibility of a major injury almost a certainty. The other countries are playing just for the chance to beat the USA at a game that is supposed to be the american pastime...we are only playing to make a little bit of a profit. I hate to see the career of a superstar player end for such a stupid reason. It will happen...i just hope the baseball gods are smiling on St. Louis this year. Lord knows after the blues and rams we need some good times here.
posted by BLAKE320 at 07:52 PM on February 04, 2006
I'm a long time baseball fan but I won't bother with this.Ilove a good pool game on a nice table but I don't watch an hour of trick shots Football is on every Sunday in my home on 60'' hdtv but Ive never watched the Pro Bowl.I enjoy hockey and get totally involved in the play offs.Never got into basketball since the Hawks left St Louis for Atlanta.Good luck selling this 'extra' baseball game.In my little world it's just another event I don't get.
posted by rich at 08:14 PM on February 04, 2006
Wow, "a stupid exhibition game that has nothing to do with anything but money for the selig legacy of major league baseball." True it was necessary that MLB backed the idea, but there has been an international effort for some time to have a tournament that invites teams that represent their countries. The Olympics has always been during the MLB season, and the US team of amatuers has not drawn much interest. This is a global event & the Asian & South American Leagues have championship series to work around, too. Any player that is considering playing in the Tourney should be in good health & good shape. No matter the sport I think the players have a big desire to play for their Country & bring honor to their homeland. But maybe it just for the big $$$$. Any idea how big or who profits? I'd be more interested in a discussion of if a single game proves much in baseball when for the MLB World Series we do best of 7 games.
posted by knuckleballer at 01:24 AM on February 06, 2006
Two suggestions: 1. SHORTEN the MLB regular season so that the last game of the year is on Labor Day. You can start the season the first week of April like usual, and then give each team 2 days off before the playoffs start. Play the three rounds out (the World Series ends just as October hits). 2. Put the WBC in October. The players who are eliminated can work out with their respective teams, and maybe play against some exibition games against other teams in their country during the last week or two of September. Start the WBC about 10 days after the last game of the World Series, giving those winning players a little time to acclimate to their respective WBC team. This is only an idea. I'm NOT Bud Selig so I have no power as to do anything. I do say though that this could be an interesting idea though...have a 145 game season and then the WBC for those who choose to participate.
posted by chemwizBsquared at 01:00 PM on February 07, 2006
How can holding it in October benefit when playoffs & world series is on. The players involved in the post season would not have a chance to participate. The point may be mute anyway for next year due to the fact that in Anaheim at least you have to purchase tix for three days. You cannot purchase for tix for single days.