Captain America pulled up lame last night with a rib cage injury. An injury that he has been playing with for the past 10 days 10 DAYS.
So am I the only one who is going to question why Wright would play for Team USA when he know that he is already nursing an injury?
Am I the only one who is going to question the purpose of the WBC?
And why, why is David Wright, fresh off of a big contract signing, playing these games nursing a rib cage injury? What did he think? It was going to vanish with some Ben Gay and gauze pads? Didn’t he learn anything from the injury to the multi-million first baseman of the Yankees? I’m a long distance runner. Why am I the only athlete that needs at least three days to recover from a sore muscle? Honestly, what is Wright thinking?
As I stated last week, I don’t believe in playing in the World Baseball Classic. I think the players are not ready play at an intense level. Would Wright have gotten hurt playing for the Mets in St. Lucie? Well apparently he tweaked something but instead of caution and rest, he decided to play the games and now he may wind up on the DL.
Nice job.
42 comments
Prismo
3/15/2013-1:45pm at 1:45 pm (UTC -4)
“Am I the only one who is going to question the purpose of the WBC?”
This is like asking what the purpose of the World Cup is, because…hey…we have the English Premier League!
Soccer is way bigger than baseball on a global scale, but that’s exactly the purpose of the WBC. Baseball minds want to expand the game on a global scale. I would imagine we’re not far off from some pool games being played in Europe (frankly, I’m surprised it hasn’t happened yet).
I’ve questioned the WBC in the past too, but if you just watch the games…and see how excited the players are…you’ll recognize the importance. If players are that excited, it spreads to the fans in a hurry.
In summation, I think the amount of potential good the WBC can do for the sport of baseball far outweighs David Wright sustaining a minor injury.
Stick
3/15/2013-1:59pm at 1:59 pm (UTC -4)
I think there will be a problem if they try to move off shore. And it is that teams will pull players. as long as they have this mess in the middle of ST, you are going to have a diluted talent pool.
post season, or even (my wish) an extended ASB mid-year, you might have better luck.
Prismo
3/15/2013-2:03pm at 2:03 pm (UTC -4)
Why do you think that? What’s the difference between Boston sending players to California several times a year, and them sending a couple players to London for less than a week?
We’re talking about one or two first-round series being played in European cities. I don’t think it’s a big deal seeing as there are already games in Asia and North America.
Stick
3/15/2013-2:07pm at 2:07 pm (UTC -4)
I thought it was mostly the obscure “local” countries playing overseas? If you are talking about the “real” games going on now, it does make a difference. Guys will be out of reach of their clubs, gone longer, etc.
I just think that teams on the fence about saying yes will say no to sending them to Europe vs. Miami.
SaltyGary
3/15/2013-2:08pm at 2:08 pm (UTC -4)
I’m with Prismo. If you can’t get it after watching last nights game you never will.
Stick
3/15/2013-2:10pm at 2:10 pm (UTC -4)
you can like the concept, but hate the execution.
SaltyGary
3/15/2013-2:24pm at 2:24 pm (UTC -4)
I question the execution, definitely.
TX
3/15/2013-2:25pm at 2:25 pm (UTC -4)
Any time you sprinkle Nationalism into something, of course it gets more intense. People cheering their buns off for Apollo Ono to win the gold and that’s the one and only time they’ll know who Apollo Ono is or that skating is even considered a sport.
As for the actual play on the field, it was ok, but it’s like watching St. Louis play Cincinnati. If it ain’t the Mets, it is just another baseball game and it’ll lose out to many other distractions. Don’t mind watching the baseball, don’t get me wrong, but I’m not glued to the couch by any means.
Stick
3/15/2013-1:56pm at 1:56 pm (UTC -4)
Symbolic of the country as a whole? Used to be a powerhouse, now springing leaks and living off its reputation?
kingman 26
3/15/2013-2:00pm at 2:00 pm (UTC -4)
To me, it is crystal clear that what must be done is to take a 2-week break at the All Star break. Shorten things a little and make it a 10–14 day tourney.
Start the season 5–7 days earlier and end it 5–7 days later; have the Sunday before the All-Star game be a travel day, have the All Star Game on Monday instead of Tuesday, then have the WBC over the next 12–13 days.
Every player is in tip top game shape, there is NOTHING major or even minor happening in the US sports world, baseball is commanding everyone’s attention, SO many more people would watch, etc.
Hmmm, this could be a post…
Boomer
3/15/2013-2:06pm at 2:06 pm (UTC -4)
So what happens if a player from a contending team has a player go down at the All-Star break right before heading into the stretch run? People would lose their mud worse than if it happened during ST.
There really is no opportune time to play this game. No way are the best of the best gonna want to play after a grueling 162 MLB season, and that goes for all teams not just the US.
I’m one of those minority types that likes the WBC and think it does help promote baseball on an international level and I really don’t think moving it is going to work. And yes, players do get hurt in ST every bit as much as they do in the WBC so I don’t really see the harm.
But thats just me.
Boomer
3/15/2013-2:10pm at 2:10 pm (UTC -4)
Man my writing is getting worse. I may have a tumor.
Or maybe I shouldn’t comment when I’m supposed to be paying attention to this waste of time conference call.
Nah.
Stick
3/15/2013-2:10pm at 2:10 pm (UTC -4)
Knog, see above, but we are on the same page on this idea. it is the only time that makes sense from MLB standpoint.
does ignore, of course, that there are other countries that play in the winter, so this would be off season, but hell, I’m a ‘Murican, so screw them!
and in WBC years, just scrap the ASG. give them a WBC final game instead.
TX
3/15/2013-2:18pm at 2:18 pm (UTC -4)
Nah, can’t be mid season. It’s bad enough with the break and pitching rotations and such, but to then start to think about adding 20+ innings on a SP? no thank you. Or, for the guys that aren’t playing in the WBC, you are asking them to sit around and play scrimmages and stuff?
Do it after the WS. Heck, do it mid winter if you want. Just not right before or during the baseball season.
Stick
3/15/2013-2:25pm at 2:25 pm (UTC -4)
or, just don’t do it at all.
could also be an amateur event? national teams?
Or just don’t have it at all.
TX
3/15/2013-2:28pm at 2:28 pm (UTC -4)
Have college players go. Perfect solution. Oh, and send the scouts too. need to check out what Netherlands amateurs are going to be breaking in on the scene.
TRS86
3/15/2013-2:29pm at 2:29 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, we did that with the Olympics and now they don’t even HAVE baseball.
Boomer
3/15/2013-2:27pm at 2:27 pm (UTC -4)
I have no way of knowing this but I think the reason they do it when they do is because it does give the MLB players an opportunity to get to their team camp and do a couple weeks of work before going off to the WBC.
If it was done in the middle of the winter teams are going have to rely on guys to show up to the WBC in some sort of baseball ready shape and hope the WBC team preps them in a way that not only gets them ready for the WBC but keeps them healthy for the start of ST.
Scary.
TX
3/15/2013-2:29pm at 2:29 pm (UTC -4)
Well, we all know Johan would be ready, best shape of his life and all that stuff….
Boomer
3/15/2013-2:32pm at 2:32 pm (UTC -4)
Exactly. Imagine if he showed up to play for Team Venezuela and they put him on an aggressive schedule is say December with zero input from the Mets.
I don’t see that ending well.
lgnym
3/15/2013-2:33pm at 2:33 pm (UTC -4)
I think that’s the worst time for it. At least when its in ST you often have some time to play with if a guy does get hurt without it necessarily impacting the season. And then you might be really giving an extra benefit to the guys who don’t play and get a 2 week break (though I suppose you could also be messing those guys up if they aren’t used to the break)
Stick
3/15/2013-2:04pm at 2:04 pm (UTC -4)
gonzo, this is the same point I made last night when this came up.
of course he could get an “ouchy” in ST too. But, if he did, he would have seen the trainer and probably been given the 3 days off. But no, in the WBC, you treat it like the regular season (or post season) and play with it, risking making it worse.
no way in hell he continues to push the envelope in ST like he did in the WBC. And that, to me, is a huge problem with it.
TX
3/15/2013-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
and bingo was his name-o.
TX
3/15/2013-2:37pm at 2:37 pm (UTC -4)
WBC… Good in theory. And that’s about it.
lgnym
3/15/2013-2:41pm at 2:41 pm (UTC -4)
Wright was probably thinking he felt fine to play (he certainly didn’t look like he was having major problems the way he was playing). He probably didn’t think it was a big issue (and hopefully it isn’t)
I think I actually brought up this issue in the previous discussion about the WBC and injuries.. That I didn’t really think the WBC added risk for guys getting hurt (and I still don’t), but one area where there might be added risk is if a guy does tweak something and tries to play thru it in the WBC, when he wouldn’t have in ordinary ST. OF COURSE it had to be Wright testing out that theory, OF COURSE. Hopefully he didn’t aggravate anything further by playing and its not any big injury
darknova306
3/15/2013-2:41pm at 2:41 pm (UTC -4)
Meh. Well done, Kaptain Payday.
TX
3/15/2013-2:43pm at 2:43 pm (UTC -4)
You every try Stone Dayman Coffee IPA?
darknova306
3/15/2013-2:51pm at 2:51 pm (UTC -4)
Don’t think I’ve ever seen it. Do hops and coffee actually meld together well? Is it basically Sublimely Self-Righteous with coffee added?
TX
3/15/2013-2:59pm at 2:59 pm (UTC -4)
My buddy told me about it. Waiting to get the tasting details. talk about a true breakfast beer.
darknova306
3/15/2013-3:03pm at 3:03 pm (UTC -4)
Founders Breakfast Stout, man! The ultimate breakfast beer.
gategem
3/15/2013-3:10pm at 3:10 pm (UTC -4)
Tx if you integrate the chemicals for the morning after pill into the brewing process you may have a beverage for all the single, young women that voted for the President.
Hops with coffee sounds like it should be a jailable offense.
TX
3/15/2013-3:15pm at 3:15 pm (UTC -4)
The Breakfast After Drink?
gategem
3/15/2013-3:02pm at 3:02 pm (UTC -4)
The Yankees tried it and failed so perhaps it’s the Mets turn to induce Derrek Lee, Chipper Jones or Mike Schmidt out of retirement.
srt
3/15/2013-4:16pm at 4:16 pm (UTC -4)
There is no way to know if Wright would have had the same problem in ST this month, had the WBC not taken place.
He had the very same problem last year during ST and he sat about a month.
I don’t know what the answer is concerning the WBC. I like this tournament but I’m willing to concede the timing might not be right. But when would the timing be right?
Bottom line is these players participating in the WBC can get hurt no matter when it’s played. And it may or may not cause them to miss opening day, miss the second half of the season, miss the entire season. Inherited risk of the tournament as a whole.
Hazmet
3/15/2013-7:31pm at 7:31 pm (UTC -4)
Yes, but you know for sure if he was feeling something for as long as 10 days he certainly would not have been playing if he was in Mets camp and therein lies the problem.
Imagine division rival skipper Davey Johnson to Wright, “Oh, David you’re feeling a little sore? Oh you want to play? Go ahead, knock yourself out kid….”.
The entire premise of the WBC is just ridiculous to me. Oh yea I get to see if Cano, Reyes or Ramirez can beat that all world US star Scott Gregerson. Who???? Just a waste of time. Really, has baseball really taken off worldwide from this? No, it’s not even in the Olympics anymore. It’s just ridiculous to me.
Hazmet
3/15/2013-7:32pm at 7:32 pm (UTC -4)
oops forgot Torre was the Manager, oh well there goes that theory….
srt
3/15/2013-7:58pm at 7:58 pm (UTC -4)
‘Yes, but you know for sure if he was feeling something for as long as 10 days he certainly would not have been playing if he was in Mets camp and therein lies the problem.’
Agree, Haz.
greggofboken
3/15/2013-4:20pm at 4:20 pm (UTC -4)
Mild intercostal strain for Wright. Out 3-5 days minimum, though opening the season on the DL is a possibility.
A DL stint for Wright would make John Buck the highest-paid guy on the opening day active roster (assuming Johan and Frankie Frank are both also DL’ed.)
srt
3/15/2013-4:47pm at 4:47 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t know if Buck as potentially the highest paid player for opening day is a good thing or not.
Stick
3/15/2013-6:09pm at 6:09 pm (UTC -4)
Fred and Sandy would be happy as clams, if it wasn’t for the 60mill or so on the DL or playing for Seattle.
Stick
3/15/2013-6:10pm at 6:10 pm (UTC -4)
well, even if it is 7-10, he should still be ready. At least he was in mid-season form, so just a matter of getting dialed back in.
but DL stint, sure, why not.
darknova306
3/16/2013-11:34pm at 11:34 pm (UTC -4)
Mid-season form? You mean, ready to fall apart for the second half?