Feb 24
I have never been a fan of the World Baseball Classic. To me, this event is an injury waiting to happen. Now David ” I just signed a monster contract with the Mets and could possibly be named Captain” Wright is supposed to leave the Mets and participate in this event very soon.
Today’s question: Do you think David Wright, or any Met for that matter, should participate in the World Baseball Classic?
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54 comments
SaltyGary
2/24/2013-9:15am at 9:15 am (UTC -4)
He absolutely should be on the team. He can get just as hurt in spring training as in this.
I like the WBC I just wish they moved it to after the WS.
Mr North Jersey
2/24/2013-10:26am at 10:26 am (UTC -4)
“He absolutely should be on the team. He can get just as hurt in spring training as in this. ”
This
kingman 26
2/24/2013-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
Not really.
He certainly is going to play harder and slide and dive more quickly than he would in a meaningless spring game.
Mr North Jersey
2/24/2013-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
I think I can trust him enough to know what he can and can’t do in the WBC. I guess if it turns out that he is diving head 1st over railings or crashing into players for example I can see what you mean.
kingman 26
2/24/2013-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, I mean injuries are probably not going to happen, but I think most guys will definitely be a lot more amped in the WBC than they are in spring training.
HobokenMetsFan
2/24/2013-6:55pm at 6:55 pm (UTC -4)
I wish it was a few weeks *after* the WS, actually, like in December/January. Give some guys time to rest, but give the fans some actual baseball to watch in the offseason. Guys play in the AFL, the DWL, etc etc., so it wouldn’t be too different then it is now for most players, plus it could give time between the WBC and players won’t have to miss ST.
HobokenMetsFan
2/24/2013-7:27pm at 7:27 pm (UTC -4)
…time between the WBC and ST…..that is
Stick
2/24/2013-8:20pm at 8:20 pm (UTC -4)
it makes sense, but would never work because of the pitchers that have hit there limit for the year, and would have to ramp it back up while they were in the middle of their rest and rehab period.
HobokenMetsFan
2/25/2013-9:23am at 9:23 am (UTC -4)
Ahh didn’t even think of that. So basically it seems there really ISNT any ideal time to have the WBC and maybe thats why its in ST?
Stick
2/25/2013-11:01am at 11:01 am (UTC -4)
yeah, logisitically it really is the only time that pitchers should be ready to pitch, and it is not taking away from what they can give their teams during the season, since the WBC just replaces ST games.
how about this. Just pick a few days during ST, and get everyone together in AZ and just play round-robin for a few days? Just a new twist on ST pick-up games!
srt
2/24/2013-9:18am at 9:18 am (UTC -4)
It’s a case by case basis for me.
I don’t really care for any of our pitchers going, especially the starters.
In Wright’s case particularly, I don’t have much of a problem with it. He comes to ST early, he’s probably kept himself in good shape over the winter and it’s not like he’s a new member of the team trying to acclimate and get to know everyone.
The only reason I have any reservations is, the 162 game season is long enough. Playing in these WBC games, especially if you go all the way, adds to the work load.
The reality though is an injury could happen in ST same as in the WBC. I’m just crossing my fingers that doesn’t happen.
gategem
2/24/2013-4:30pm at 4:30 pm (UTC -4)
To illustrate your point Curtis Granderson was bit by a pitched ball in his first at bat in today’s ST game resulting in a fractured forearm and he will miss 10 weeks.
BTW I understand that Wilmer and Wilma are spelled differently but I still wanted to show my support for Wilmer Flores and hence the avatar.
gategem
2/24/2013-4:31pm at 4:31 pm (UTC -4)
He was hit not bit by the pitched ball.
srt
2/25/2013-9:56am at 9:56 am (UTC -4)
Saw that on Granderson and his fractured forearm. Yup, injuries happen in ST just as easy as real games.
greggofboken
2/24/2013-4:40pm at 4:40 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t know if they’ve made any changes, but I certainly remember grumbling after the last WBC about the training/conditioning during the tournament not being up to snuff. The complaints were specifically surrounding Ollie’s prep (or lack of it) I believe. It’s been a while, so perhaps things have changed…..
kingman 26
2/24/2013-9:38am at 9:38 am (UTC -4)
I agree with SRT. I would have more of an issue with a pitcher going.
The fact that Johan even considered it is revolting.
srt
2/24/2013-10:03am at 10:03 am (UTC -4)
What really surprises me is Johan thought he was in shape enough to even participate.
He throws about 20 pitches off the mound and a BP session and they immediately notice his arm strength is way down.
I can only assume since Johan had no pain, he thought it would be a normal ST for him. I, for one, was glad the Mets didn’t even much consider his request to go. Anyone who ended the last season on the DL should be an automatic no.
kingman 26
2/24/2013-10:13am at 10:13 am (UTC -4)
At this point I have become ultra-cynical regarding Johan.
My guess is that since the Mets clearly vehemently opposed his participating in the WBC he may have suddenly come down with low arm strength.
My guess is that 2013 for him will be 100% geared towards his next contract.
No WBC? Fine, I will take my sweet time getting ready to pitch this year.
And I predict he takes a couple of months off mid-season and then finishes strong in Sept.
srt
2/24/2013-10:29am at 10:29 am (UTC -4)
Well, you could be right.
I was hoping he’d start strong, then we could trade him at the trade deadline, even if we had to send money.
gategem
2/24/2013-4:37pm at 4:37 pm (UTC -4)
Perhaps you’re being a little harsh. Its possible Johan wanted to pitch one more time for his country before Hugo kicks the proverbial bucket.
LGNYM
2/24/2013-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
He might have felt fine and thought the WBC was doable until he started amping it up in throwing session.
Or maybe him pushing for the WBC was just done for appearance sake (some countries take the WBC very seriously) and he wanted to make it look like he really wanted to go, knowing all along the Mets would not permit it. That way the Mets could be the bad guy and it wasn’t just him turning his country down
Stickguy
2/24/2013-10:56am at 10:56 am (UTC -4)
I thought all along that he was making a big deal out of it, to get national pride points, knowing there was no way in hell he would be allowed to go.
sort of a “hold me back” situation!
kingman 26
2/24/2013-11:06am at 11:06 am (UTC -4)
Excellent point on Johan and the WBC.
Paul Festa
2/24/2013-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
Great point. I’ll bet it was all about PR.
As for Santana, I can’t help but draw comparisons between him and Pedro Martinez at the end of his career. Once Pedro’s body started breaking down, it didn’t stop. I hope that’s not the case with Johan.
TRS86
2/24/2013-6:01pm at 6:01 pm (UTC -4)
Whoops, I should have read yours. I agree.
TRS86
2/24/2013-6:00pm at 6:00 pm (UTC -4)
I think it’s pretty clear that he knew he couldn’t pitch in the WBC and also knew the Mets wouldn’t let him. So to save face with the homeland, say I was going to but….
Stickguy
2/24/2013-10:59am at 10:59 am (UTC -4)
First, I think it is silly, and at a really ridiculous time of the year.
but, I don’t have any particular concern with Wright going, or most position plays. But I would never want to see any of my teams pitchers going.
I know it would impact the schedule, but it seems to me the logical time to do it would be when the Olympics are going on. Since BB is no longer a sport in that silliness, just take the hiatus every 4 years. Use the ASB to make up some of the down time.
gategem
2/24/2013-4:44pm at 4:44 pm (UTC -4)
Unfortunately you would have to shorten the season or play the WS in a warm weather neutral site or risk having to play in a foot of snow should a cold weather team appear in the WS. After the WS would be my preference.
TX
2/24/2013-5:40pm at 5:40 pm (UTC -4)
Betty was the good looking one. Lucky Barney.
LGNYM
2/24/2013-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
The thing i don’t like about the WBC is that players are away from their teams. Injury wise (and hopefully I am not jinxing DW) I don’t think the WBC is much of an added risk for players (especially position players). They are still swinging, running, throwing – things they’d be doing in regular ST games. Yeah they may play harder and run/slide a little harder than they do in ST, but just look at what happened last year in ST – seemingly half the team got hurt in drills and/or intrasquad games – so you don’t have to be playing hard to get hurt. I think where some added risk might come in is if a player does tweak something and tries to play through it in the WBC whereas if it were in regular ST the player might take a few days off.
TX
2/24/2013-11:39am at 11:39 am (UTC -4)
Not a fan of the WBC at all. And especially at this time of year.
srt
2/24/2013-1:00pm at 1:00 pm (UTC -4)
OT:
Yes, it could always be worse:
Marlins’ owner Loria reaches out with letter to fans
‘For those of you who don’t receive a print version of any South Florida newspapers, here’s a copy of the letter Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria penned to fans. The letter appeared in full-page advertisements in the Sun Sentinel, Miami Herald, Palm Beach Post and El Nuevo Herald.’
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-marlins/marlins-blog/sfl-miami-marlins-loria-letter-blog-20130224,0,3821041.story
greggofboken
2/24/2013-3:47pm at 3:47 pm (UTC -4)
Well….THAT was ill-conceived. He managed to just pour gasoline all over this mess. I love the communication bullet point. How does the gag order play into that, please? And the comments about the roster are just ridiculous. Like Fred/Jeff…..better he should just say nothing.
Stick
2/24/2013-3:50pm at 3:50 pm (UTC -4)
I wonder if his end game is to cash out and run from the mess?
darknova306
2/24/2013-1:43pm at 1:43 pm (UTC -4)
Wright can do whatever he wants, in my opinion. I don’t worry about position players. My only hangup about Wright going is that he’s currently the team’s biggest veteran presence, and the de facto Captain. He should be with the Mets during ST to help guide the younger players.
The WBC is a neat idea that I don’t think is being executed properly. If you want a real legit baseball tournament that involves a large amount of Major League players, wouldn’t you want all the players to be fully stretched out and in mid-season form? You want to see pitchers that have stretched their arms out so they don’t need strict pitch limits, and position players that aren’t rusty and have gotten back into the groove of hitting real pitching. Extend the All Star Break by a week (or however long you need to) and incorporate the WBC into a time of year where baseball is the only major North American sport to pay attention to. You’ll have a better tournament and more people will actually care.
Up yours, Selig!
Mr North Jersey
2/24/2013-2:00pm at 2:00 pm (UTC -4)
Off Topic: Adam Rubin just tweeted that fans can follow a game cast of Mets vs Univ. of Michigan.
http://www.mgoblue.com/gametracker/launch/gt_mbasebl.html?event=1224373&school=mich&sport=mbasebl&camefrom=&startschool=&
@AdamRubinESPN
Univ. of Michigan web site has a gamecast of the split-squad game vs. #Mets: http://www.mgoblue.com Amazin’s lead 3-2 in 5th.
twitter.com/AdamRubinESPN/statuses/305751517019926528
srt
2/24/2013-2:52pm at 2:52 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks.
Been following both games.
Duda’s got 3 strikeouts as DH in that game against Houston.
Yikes.
Stick
2/24/2013-2:59pm at 2:59 pm (UTC -4)
that boy is really letting me down. Maybe he really is a headcase.
srt
2/24/2013-4:15pm at 4:15 pm (UTC -4)
I read they’re tinkering with his stance and he’s not quite comfortable with it…yet.
I’ll say….4 Ks on the afternoon for Lucas.
gategem
2/24/2013-5:07pm at 5:07 pm (UTC -4)
Perhaps he just sucks.
kingman 26
2/24/2013-5:42pm at 5:42 pm (UTC -4)
Bing-f**ing-o.
darknova306
2/24/2013-6:42pm at 6:42 pm (UTC -4)
Seconded. He’s trash, as I’ve been saying for a while now.
Stick
2/24/2013-3:02pm at 3:02 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t care that it is only the 2nd game of ST, how the hell can a ML team be out hit and out fielded by a college team?
srt
2/24/2013-3:17pm at 3:17 pm (UTC -4)
Well, from what I saw, half the at bats were from lower level prospects and some I’ve never heard of:
J. Clark
C. Frenzel
B. Harrison
K. Plawecki
B. Harrison
S. Sabol
C. Thurber
Stick
2/24/2013-3:25pm at 3:25 pm (UTC -4)
still, look at the level.
pretty much every college guy was a HS star. And only the cream of the college guys even get to try the pros.
so, even the MiL scrubbinies we like to make fun of were probably college studs, and conversely, maybe a couple of the guys on that Michigan squad even make the minors.
Hazmet
2/24/2013-2:08pm at 2:08 pm (UTC -4)
I really think the WBC is a waste of time. What’s the point? Hold a tourney every few years so Japan or Cuba can win a meaningless international baseball title held at an indifferent time of the year.
I’m less concerned about David playing now that I checked that at least team USA is not playing any games on astroturf – yes I do still worry about things like catching a seam and tearing a knee apart on our $138M man. Now I just need to worry about him standing in a batters box against AAAA pitching at best most nights.
I’m old school when it comes to “who’s issuing your paycheck that’s who’s interest you place above other ventures”. Total fiction but if David had a contract that would be void if he got injured in this lark do you think he’d be going? Obviously, of course not – thereby it’s a crummy idea. I’d rather he’d be in camp talking with d’Arnaud and some other prospects than going on a field trip. Team USA should build there team around college players and retiring players as a curtain call as they’d have far less on the line. I’d much rather see Chipper taking a curtain call at 3B for Team USA then David.
gategem
2/24/2013-5:10pm at 5:10 pm (UTC -4)
You worry too much.
Hazmet
2/24/2013-6:02pm at 6:02 pm (UTC -4)
lol, I know – it borders on patheological….
I talk in my sleep on occassion and I’ve been known to hold business meetings in my sleep. I’m quite crazed but typically good spirited most of the time.
gategem
2/24/2013-9:06pm at 9:06 pm (UTC -4)
Early in my career I was assigned to group that reviewed other peoples work. There are two items I remember from that group.
1. The idiot in charge of the group would place pen and paper by his bed in case he dreamt of the equation unifying all things in and beyond the universe, and
2. One reviewer when handed a paper or results by a colleague to review would immediately stamp it bull-sh*t and then exclaim now let’s find out why. Once he was given a paper by a PhD that had come from the Ukraine where he was a wrestling champion. He stamped it and was immediately body slammed to the ground.
BTW talking in your sleep can end up in divorce.
Hazmet
2/24/2013-11:01pm at 11:01 pm (UTC -4)
Classic. I think I also worked with the guy in #1. Seems to be one of those wherever you go. #2 is classic. I had an Engineer who’s nickname was Sasquatch. The dude was huge and would slather on Ben Gay at his cube and was quite gross at times. He was also brilliant. He showed up at a Design Review with the Air Force, NASA, Northrop & ITT with a ripped t-shirt that said “Bite Me” on it. They looked at him like wtf and then he blew them out of the water. I’ve always said Aerospace/Space is like the island of misfit toys – probably why I fit.
Mr North Jersey
2/24/2013-3:38pm at 3:38 pm (UTC -4)
HA! You have to check out this video of a New York Mets Spring Training game.
Back in 1986.
Stick
2/24/2013-3:46pm at 3:46 pm (UTC -4)
amazing to see how much smaller guys were back then. Slim and athletic ,as opposed to now when they are all bulked up.
greggofboken
2/24/2013-3:55pm at 3:55 pm (UTC -4)
They could do away with the World Baseball Classic and I wouldn’t care one bit. I’m sure they can’t do it, but if they want to promote the game use the minor leaguers or the recent retirees (perfect for Chipper and Jorge).
And I do think players are more apt to do reckless, boneheaded things that they wouldn’t do in Sprng Training when the catnip of national pride is tossed into the litter box.
If there must be one, Wright is the path of least resistance. He’ll take care of himself and this oughtn’t take away from his orderly prep for the season.
Matt Mosher
2/25/2013-12:07am at 12:07 am (UTC -4)
Im not a fan of the WBC and I will not watch. Baseball is not soccer.a