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.

[VeeckAsInWreck]

People act like playing in the WBC is career threatening. These guys are pro athletes, they condition themselves for this kind of thing. Let's not act like they're fragile.

[Nellie_Fox]

Originally Posted by VeeckAsInWreck

People act like playing in the WBC is career threatening. These guys are pro athletes, they condition themselves for this kind of thing. Let's not act like they're fragile.

The point is that if they get injured, they get injured playing for someone who is not on the hook for the guaranteed contract. They'll be playing in games where they actually care who wins, instead of games where players are working on things to get ready for the season. Why should the Chicago White Sox (or any other team) have to pay the salary of a player who's unable to play as a result of an injury sustained in an activity outside of their White Sox job?

[Chez]

Originally Posted by Nellie_Fox

The point is that if they get injured, they get injured playing for someone who is not on the hook for the guaranteed contract. They'll be playing in games where they actually care who wins, instead of games where players are working on things to get ready for the season. Why should the Chicago White Sox (or any other team) have to pay the salary of a player who's unable to play as a result of an injury sustained in an activity outside of their White Sox job?

Fair point. But has this ever happened? I know it could happen, but I don't know if it ever has. I just can't remember a player sustaining a serious injury during the WBC.

[Lip Man 1]

I want to say that a pitcher was hurt a few years ago. Sorry I can't remember his name but he missed time during the regular season because of it.

UPDATE: I think his last name was Ayala.

Lip

[Chez]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/s...ic-injury-myth

This article suggests that playing in the WBC does not increase the liklihood of injury.

[thomas35forever]

Eh, the competition still sucks.

[doublem23]

Originally Posted by VeeckAsInWreck

People act like playing in the WBC is career threatening. These guys are pro athletes, they condition themselves for this kind of thing. Let's not act like they're fragile.

I think that's overstating it a bit, but the fact of the matter is that Alejandro's career has been hampered by injuries, he lost a job in Miami twice, I believe, and broke down in his first full MLB season last year. The guy's going to be 29 years old in April and he's not proven to be a durable player yet. And to heighten the anxiety, the backup plan appears to be Wise. Maybe it'd be one thing if Thompson or Mitchell or Danks looked poised to become the Sox's long-term solution in CF, but right now that doesn't exist. I think a healthy Alejandro is extremely important to this team, when he was playing well they played good ball and it's not a coincidence (IMO) that when he started to miss time down the stretch run, they fell apart.

[The Immigrant]

Originally Posted by Nellie_Fox

Why should the Chicago White Sox (or any other team) have to pay the salary of a player who's unable to play as a result of an injury sustained in an activity outside of their White Sox job?

Because the WBC was conjured up by MLB (with the support of the MLBPA) as a means to increase the sport's popularity and, ultimately, profitability.

I would argue that playing in it is part of the job of an MLB player.

[amsteel]

Originally Posted by Lip Man 1

I want to say that a pitcher was hurt a few years ago. Sorry I can't remember his name but he missed time during the regular season because of it.

UPDATE: I think his last name was Ayala.

Lip

One guy got hurt? SHUT IT DOWN

ESPN article regarding the WBC injury myth:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/s...ic-injury-myth

Every other sport has an international competition in which professional athletes compete and the majority of people find it hugely entertaining and celebrate the athletes that choose to represent their countries. Baseball fans need to get over themselves.