AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > February > 15 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWBC should be DOA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
The closer we get to the new World Baseball Classic, the worse it sounds. That is, if you want your favorite team to have its best chance to do something this season.
In other words, there still is hope that the Braves can win their first world championship in 11 years. Pitchers John Smoltz and Tim Hudson had the good sense to decline this thing.
Seven other Braves players didn’t, and they include the two Jones (Chipper and Andruw), Chris Reitsma and Jeff Francoeur. That means they’ll be among those involved in this craziness during spring training of practicing with their teams on occasion and with Team USA, Team Canada or Team Whatever on many other occasions.
In addition to Anaheim, Phoenix and San Diego, WBC games are scheduled for Tokyo and San Juan, both sort of a long way from the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues.
Then you have that matter of somebody likely getting hurt.
Crazy. Just crazy.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Categories: Quick Hit, Terence Moore
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By John
February 15, 2006 04:52 PM | Link to this
With all due respect to Mr. Moore’s article, anyone can get hurt just walking down the street (remember the Colorado rookie who tore up his shoulder last season carrying deer meet up a flight of stairs?) however, I do see where he’s coming from. While I am excited to see the WBC, I do question the timing of it all. For starters, this should have been scheduled for the latter half of February instead of March. It will allow more players to spend time with their regular ball clubs, especially for players who are moving from the AL to the NL (for example, Francoeur has been the topic of concern because Cox would like him to play more with the home team).
In theory the WBC is a good thing as it helps to promote the game globally, it needs to be tweaked in order to prevent messing with the preparation needed in spring training.
By WaCoJacket
February 15, 2006 04:57 PM | Link to this
It should be the week after the World Series. Not in the middle of preseason. I could even see this thing replacing Allstar game with a 1week break. It’s crazy to interrupt spring training though.
Why is Chris pitching in this thing. Didn’t he wear down last year?
By DavidU
February 15, 2006 05:21 PM | Link to this
I bet all teams called their players, once they saw Hasek go down with a groin injury in the Olympic games (Yes I’m talking Hockey here, bear with me). And that was the Olympics, not some made up tournament that MLB decided to put on. You think Ottawa (the team the goalie plays for) woke up this morning ok? Their Stanley Cup hopes could have just died in Turin, Italy. I agree it should have been the week after the World Series, dumb scheduling by MLB.
By Dennis
February 15, 2006 09:52 PM | Link to this
It is terrible scheduling. Why is it the same year as the World Cup or Olympics? Too many world competitions to compete with. I think it would be great as a fall classic right after the World Series every four years and have a host country instead of different country venues. It is tough for MLB. They are doing a great thing with creating the baseball classic, but one thing we don’t discuss is the other leagues and their schedules. Maybe it was best for the world of baseball to have it in the spring for the Japan league or any other league. But not the same year as the World Cup or Olympics.
By Scott
February 15, 2006 10:19 PM | Link to this
You are the most annoying sports writer in the country. If anything the WBC will help players come into the regular season sharper than other players. They will face the best from every pitcher, unlike the joke that is spring training games when they play two innings and then go play golf the rest of the day.
By harold
February 16, 2006 02:15 PM | Link to this
The problem I have with the WBC is this….Why now and why at all… If there is a bonafide need to promote baseball, worldwide, and a WBC champ is crowned, why are we sending an all-star USA team instead of the true champs…. The Chicago White Sox. It is that team who should be representing the USA, not a collection of all-stars who wish to skip the day-to-day, sometimes boring rituals of Spring Training to the detriment of their respective teams. Again, if this is to be a true world classic, then send the champs of the American baseball… The Chicago White Sox.