DeAza To WBC...

[DSpivack]

Andre Rienzo will also be playing in the WBC.

[Lip Man 1]

Amsteel:

You are entitled to your opinion and I am to mine. It's a publicity stunt. Baseball is already very popular in places like Australia, China, Japan, South America and so forth.

Guess they simply want to increase the popularity in Greenland.

It's not worth the risk of one player especially if he plays for the Sox to me.

Even Phil Rogers, as big a proponent of this farce as anybody who recently wrote that U.S. fans simply aren't going to embrace this and why should they? It's not like it's anything meaningful.

Tell you what, if this is such a big deal, so important then why doesn't "Proud to be Your" Bud ORDER every player to participate if asked? If you are going to have this tournament, then you have the best possible teams, not 3rd rate bench warmers.

Lip

[amsteel]

Originally Posted by Lip Man 1

Amsteel:

You are entitled to your opinion and I am to mine. It's a publicity stunt. Baseball is already very popular in places like Australia, China, Japan, South America and so forth.

Guess they simply want to increase the popularity in Greenland.

It's not worth the risk of one player especially if he plays for the Sox to me.

Even Phil Rogers, as big a proponent of this farce as anybody who recently wrote that U.S. fans simply aren't going to embrace this and why should they? It's not like it's anything meaningful.

Tell you what, if this is such a big deal, so important then why doesn't "Proud to be Your" Bud ORDER every player to participate if asked? If you are going to have this tournament, then you have the best possible teams, not 3rd rate bench warmers.

Lip

In your opinion whats the difference between the WBC and the World Cup, and Olympic hockey and basketball?

[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

[Mr. Jinx]

Originally Posted by Lip Man 1

Amsteel:

You are entitled to your opinion and I am to mine. It's a publicity stunt. Baseball is already very popular in places like Australia, China, Japan, South America and so forth.

Guess they simply want to increase the popularity in Greenland.

It's not worth the risk of one player especially if he plays for the Sox to me.

Even Phil Rogers, as big a proponent of this farce as anybody who recently wrote that U.S. fans simply aren't going to embrace this and why should they? It's not like it's anything meaningful.

Tell you what, if this is such a big deal, so important then why doesn't "Proud to be Your" Bud ORDER every player to participate if asked? If you are going to have this tournament, then you have the best possible teams, not 3rd rate bench warmers.

Lip

So many of these players play winter ball anyway, what's the difference? Also, no sports league has forced all their stars to play. Come on, we all get that you hate Selig but you're reaching with that.

[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.

[DumpJerry]

Originally Posted by Mr. Jinx

So many of these players play winter ball anyway, what's the difference?

Very true.

[Lip Man 1]

In winter ball if a player gets hurt the MLB team isn't obligated to pay his salary are they? Seriously I don't know if this is the case or not since there are times when a MLB team will ask a player to go.

Another factor in the NHL / Olympics is the fact that the larger ice surface and the fact that they do not permit the nonsense that goes on in NHL games reduces the injury risk factor.

Bottom line, I want all White Sox players on the 40 man roster in camp under the eyes of their manager and coaches getting ready for what matters, the regular season with a possible shot in the playoffs.

I don't care if the US wins the World Baseball Classic...I do care about how the Sox do in the regular season and possibly the postseason. That's not so hard to undertsnad is it?

No one is stopping you from enjoying the thrilling China - Australia game, if that tickles your fancy, go for it. I won't waste my time (and as Phil Rogers wrote most Americans aren't either...)

Lip

[DSpivack]

Originally Posted by Lip Man 1

In winter ball if a player gets hurt the MLB team isn't obligated to pay his salary are they? Seriously I don't know if this is the case or not since there are times when a MLB team will ask a player to go.

Another factor in the NHL / Olympics is the fact that the larger ice surface and the fact that they do not permit the nonsense that goes on in NHL games reduces the injury risk factor.

Bottom line, I want all White Sox players on the 40 man roster in camp under the eyes of their manager and coaches getting ready for what matters, the regular season with a possible shot in the playoffs.

I don't care if the US wins the World Baseball Classic...I do care about how the Sox do in the regular season and possibly the postseason. That's not so hard to undertsnad is it?

No one is stopping you from enjoying the thrilling China - Australia game, if that tickles your fancy, go for it. I won't waste my time (and as Phil Rogers wrote most Americans aren't either...)

Lip

I don't give a **** what that hack Phil Rogers thinks. That said, I do respect your opinion and always wish to hear it.

I guess I'm a real hypocrite when it comes to the WBC. I enjoy watching it, but I'd rather not see Sox players compete in it, either.

[TomBradley72]

Originally Posted by DSpivack

I don't give a **** what that hack Phil Rogers thinks. That said, I do respect your opinion and always wish to hear it.

I guess I'm a real hypocrite when it comes to the WBC. I enjoy watching it, but I'd rather not see Sox players compete in it, either.

Any argument based on Phil Rogers and the fact that "most Americans" aren't interested is a weak argument.

If I believed in Phil Rogers and "popularity"- I'd be a Cubs fan.

China-Australia will be at least as interesting as a midweek Astros-Twins game or other match ups from MLB over the course of a season. The WBC games are a nice way to get a baseball fix while waiting for Opening Day.