Players injured or diminished by World Baseball Classic

• 1. Mike Timlin goes on DL, Francona attributes to WBC, 5/06

• 2. Bruce Chen out of game v D-Rays, 5/06

• 3. Rodrigo Lopez would not do WBC again 5/06 Wash. Post ref.

• 4. Bobby Valentine's 4 pitchers from his Japanese team who went to WBC blew out their arms half way through the season. 11/06 on WFAN.

• 5. Brad Lidge, Tim Purpura, Lidge blamed WBC, 5/07, AP

• 6. David Ortiz said it was a waste of his time, he didn't get the workouts he needed, and facilities were sub-par. (Boston.com 3/21/06).

• 7. Oliver Perez, it might have delayed "my development"

• 8. Eric Chavez. ("No US players can be ready")

• 9. Omar Vizquel-3/16/06 says he's "almost" at full speed now.

• 10. Jerry Crasnick sees at least 1 player "holding back" his play for fear of overuse and injury.

• 11. 4 others injured: Damon, Beltre, Damaso Marte, Derrek Lee, link referencing Lee's WBC injury while diving for a ball; link referencing Marte injuring shoulder; Beltre plays with strained hip.

• 12. Al Leiter says he went to Yankee camp just to get in shape for the WBC.

• 13. Francisco Cordero replaces Damaso Marte even though he'd recently opted out with an injury.

• 14. Nationals' Luis Ayala lost for the season after injury in last Mexico game.

• 15. Vernon Wells says USA players are on spring training timing (as opposed to teams from some other countries). In spite of "multi-millionaire all-stars" put-down by the author.

• 16 .Esteban Loiza velocity down due to WBC but would do it again. (4/27/06).

• 17. LaRussa links loss of Ricardo Rincon to WBC. 5/06

• 18. Frank Robinson cites WBC as cause of Chad Cordero's demise.

• 19.*Jim Kaat, a pitcher, says it's not a good idea for any US pitcher.

The media says to ignore injuries and the conditions that led to them:

• 1. ESPN: Jayson Stark says owners must sacrifice their players.

• 2. Not a pitcher, but Newsday's Ken Davidoff says injury risks were justified.

• 3. Team Cuba's experience. Team Cuba was surrounded by armed guards so they couldn't escape.

• *THE ONLY LOGICAL WAY TO CONDUCT THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC:*

• 1. As this will either add or subtract about a month from the regular MLB season with practice, travel, etc.,
• all players involved must take a pay cut from their employers (whose monies are received from the fans).
• 2. The regular MLB season must be shortened to about 154 games.

*(I heard this idea suggested by someone in March 2006 and posted it at that time).

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