Another article from Selig's steno-pool

About the WBC and the thesis 'Americans don't care' completely avoiding the actual problems with this event. Which have nothing to do with not caring or not having 'pride,' etc.

• First, the major league season would need to be shortened and salaries adjusted. Second, it's a bad idea for many players, especially pitchers (as Jim Kaat even said, link following). This article mentions a bunch of pitchers of course which is unconscionable to begin with:

Players injured or diminished by World Baseball Classic in 2006"

• 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. 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 it will add or subtract about a month from the regular MLB season with practice, travel, etc.,
• 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).

• THESE ISSUES SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WELL BEFORE ITEMS LIKE
• 'CIVIC PRIDE,' etc.

(posted on this blog previously) Ringolsby article via BTF

• P.S. How about taking half the summer off--MLB closing down baseball in the US in July--to do the WBC? Buck Martinez suggested it, so no reason to assume it hasn't been discussed. MLB considers players nothing but their personal property. Please refer to the 1994 cancellation of World Series and what MLB said and did during that time.

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