DeAza To WBC...

[Lip Man 1]

Joining Dominican team after a Milwaukee player said 'no...'

He and Rios are going to be away from the big club.

Lip

[lizard6king6]

Carlos Gomez dropped out. I personally don't like them playing but in the end it's their personal choice if they want to represent their country. Just praying they come back healthy.

[amsteel]

Good for him.

[Domeshot17]

I don't mind offensive players playing. I prefer pitchers don't as I think many don't have their arms in that kind of shape yet.

[doublem23]

Originally Posted by Domeshot17

I don't mind offensive players playing. I prefer pitchers don't as I think many don't have their arms in that kind of shape yet.

Kind of mirrors my feeling, as well, but a guy like De Aza, whose career was nearly derailed by injuries and still has yet to play a full season healthy, does kind of scare me. Especially because the guy behind him on the depth chart is Dewayne Wise.

*shudder*

On an unrelated note, uh, I thought the Domincican Republic was supposed to be good at baseball?

[DSpivack]

Originally Posted by doublem23

Kind of mirrors my feeling, as well, but a guy like De Aza, whose career was nearly derailed by injuries and still has yet to play a full season healthy, does kind of scare me. Especially because the guy behind him on the depth chart is Dewayne Wise.

*shudder*

On an unrelated note, uh, I thought the Domincican Republic was supposed to be good at baseball?

I don't have a big problem with it, I see it as a more competitive spring training.

[DumpJerry]

Originally Posted by lizard6king6

Carlos Gomez dropped out.

I told him it would be great to see him around during Spring Training.

[TomBradley72]

I'm a big WBC fan- its a very unique version of baseball that draws out the distinct styles of each country- the teams from Cuba, Japan, Korea- are very entertaining and interesting to watch. From the first few WBCs- the USA teams have been some of the more boring teams in the tournament (just my opinion)

I love baseball, and the WBC is the 2nd highest quality level of play in the world (after MLB, but ahead of all other professional/amateur organizations/leagues).

With that said- I'd prefer De Aza not play- he has enough endurance issues over a long season as it is- and I think they are playing at a notch more intensity then they typically are in March-

[Lip Man 1]

Amsteel:

The difference in Olympic basketball is that if someone gets hurt it's generally in the summer. The NBA isn't playing there is time to heal plus by and large since the Olympics allowed the top NBA players to participate the U.S. has fielded very, very good teams. Not guys out of the D-League.

Olympic hockey there is a risk yes but the top nations are sending their best teams so I accept that.

Have no opinion on the World Cup since I don't follow or care about soccer.

The WBC has no tradition, no history and was a forced idea by Proud to be Your Bud Selig. It's also played at a time when the individual players need to be in camp playing for what really matters, the 162 game regular season in MLB.

That is exactly why owners would never allow the season to close down to allow the top players to play in the Olympics when they still had baseball. What matters is the regular season---not worth getting a guy hurt for a staged exhibition. Owners wouldn't forgo the money from lost games and didn't want to risk injury. They compromised with Bud on this but I know from speaking with some folks in the front office that they don't particularly like the idea.

I won't go so far as to say they discourage players from participating but it's close.

Lip

[amsteel]

How did the NHL and other top leagues swing it to agree participate in the Olympics? That's played during the regular season and has only included pro players since 1998, right? Fans are wholly on board with that.

Lip, are you saying that if someone not named Bud Selig came up with the exact same idea 50 years ago you'd be more on board with it? I understand the opposition to injury argument, but I don't get the need for 'tradition' (or at least the perception of tradition) in order to enjoy the WBC.