My Take on the WBC
I thought it was appropriate to write this week about one of the most electric tournaments I have ever watched. By the time this goes out, there will be a winner.
The good:
There are many reasons the World Baseball Classic is good, but I am going to just name a few.
The WBC is an avenue for spreading baseball around the world. There are record numbers in both attendance and viewership every night it seems. The goal should always be to grow the game. The WBC has done that. Ranging from Israel to Venezuela to Canada there was excitement everywhere. Even Great Britain had their moments. It is undeniable it helps to grow the game.
Exposure for young players Is huge. Take 21-year-old Duque Hebbert from Nicaragua impressing the Tigers in the tournament. After his shut down 9th inning where he struck out Soto, Jrod, and Devers in order a Tigers scout offered him a contract. That is what the WBC is all about. The WBC is giving kids around the world hope that they can get there if they work hard enough. The exposure for stars is valuable as well. Have you ever seen Mike Trout more excited than the US against Venezuela? I sure haven’t. David Wright got the nickname, Captain America from this tournament.
The players play for their country. Wearing your name across your chest must be one of the best feelings ever. To represent your country in a worldwide tournament featuring some of the best baseball players on the planet. That is a dream. I cannot understand what is feels like from the perspective of any country other than the US. I have seen the passion of PR, DR, Cuba, and many others during the tournament. They care about this more than any other sporting event. Even many players admitted they would rather win a WBC trophy than a WS. Patriotism runs deep.
The bad:
The injuries. We all know about the Edwin Diaz situation. Jose Altuve broke his thumb last night. Altuve won’t play until at least mid-June. Diaz won’t play at all this year. The Astros and Mets are going to miss those guys. Diaz being out is a massive blow to the Mets bullpen especially after signing that contract. Altuve is one of the better players in the league and he will be missed. No denying injuries happen in this tournament.
Players are not paid to play in this tournament (directly). An argument could be made that they should not play in the tournament if they are from MLB. MLB owners pay their salary, and they are not playing for them in the WBC.
The timing. Doing the tournament right before the MLB season is a big problem for those against the WBC. I get it. Making players get ramped up early and faster than they are used to is tough on the players and the organizations that have poured money into them. I do not think there is any other time to do this tournament. Even fewer players would play in November. There could be more injuries due to fatigue from the season. Doing it during the all star break would be a hell of a break. 2+ weeks.
My thoughts:
I love the WBC. For all the “good” reasons it is worth it in my mind. I have been captivated watching these games. This is the most packed I’ve ever seen LoanDepot Park. I am absolutely upset about Diaz, but it was a freak accident. Not like he doesn’t jump while working out for the Mets. For the game to grow and create opportunities for young players around the world, everything is worth it.
Leave your thoughts below!
I understand I have missed some good baseball.
ReplyDeleteI simply have no interest in it. That's just me. No other reason.
Harump.
Mine Thought
ReplyDeleteLike I said the other day, I think that the WBC should reconsider their player inclusion only to be played by college players and MiLB players earlier on in their MLB pursuits. Namely players 20 years old and younger. And that is it.
These "freak accident injuries" to MLB players already established will continue. One day, if allowed to continue on as is, a career ending injury could happen to a veteran established MLB player.
Then what?
It isn't worth the risk and quite frankly here, I never watched a single WBC game and do not care to either.
ZERO interest and hated the timing of it, and that major league
ReplyDeleteplayers were bound to get injured at the worst possible time...AND DID.
I feel the same way about college sports, where a handful of players
headed for the pros are running rings around everybody else. All the
RAH! RAH! BOOLA BOOLA! is silly. NOT INTERESTED IN ANYTHING BUT PRO SPORTS.
That's why I follow the drafts closely in every sport. That's my first
look at college or high school who are actually worth paying attention to,
that will be in professional sports.
As long as I'm on a rant, I'd also like to point out that Americans play
real Football, while the rest of the world plays Footsie-ball.
The timing of the WBC is poor. I understand that they have to work around the professional baseball seasons, but doing it this early in the spring was the wrong call. Players have to gradually work up to the level of physicality required for maximum effort to avoid injury. That is why the veteran players are only in for a half game in early spring and are probably not running at 100% speed. When you are playing for national pride, it is like the World Series - everything is at max effort. There would have been less risk of injury and a higher participation level of star pitching if this tournament were held in the fall.
ReplyDeletePaul if held I. The fall, they’d have almost no off-season. So I can understand the timing. I am like Mack…the Mets season, and success, are my focal points.
ReplyDeleteThat last out, though? Ohtani wasting Trout on some high speed cheddar? Wow.