world baseball classic?

[tazziedevil]

Anyone watching this?

ANyone care?

[tadams17]

I think there doing this at the wrong time...I watched a little of the first game but turned it pretty quick...

[tazziedevil]

Originally Posted by tadams17

I think there doing this at the wrong time...I watched a little of the first game but turned it pretty quick...

I think its a great idea, considering how multinational the sport has become. America invented and perfected it...but im excited to see how other countries stack up.

I seem to be one of the only people(that i know anyway) who like the idea and am even a little excited about it.

But I don't care...I'll watch every game they show on international ESPN here and be excited

[Stogiefanatic182]

I dont like it, think its the wrong time also. Its so hard taking guys out of spring training and making them game ready in under a week. Doesnt happen. Guys need time, especially pitchers to get their arms in shape which means throwing long toss, small bullpens, gradually working up their pitch count, and then facing live hitters. I think if they were going to do the WBC it should be during the all star break or dont have it at all, because if they have it at the end of the year the guys are worn out and wont want to participate.

[cameroncouch02]

Right time and place for international play. Players train year round, they might not throw the ball and hit as much but they are constantly working to improve their ability to play the game.

[rjose]

IMO it's all about trying to market the MLB to other countries. It’s about business not baseball.

[tadams17]

No I like the idea, The timing is just wrong.. Lets say Albert Pulls a Hamstring or hurts himself while doing this and has to sit out for half the season, If your a Cards fan your pi$$ed...Then I say it's not worth it. But as far as the competition, our guys wont be in mid-season form. I would think the All Star break would be great too, or just have a break like the NHL did while the olympics was being played....Like the idea, just so much that could go wrong...

[Stogiefanatic182]

I dont get why they are using the WBC to market baseball around the world. Baseball is already very popular in Latin America and Japan and I dont see any reason to market it further. It already has enough exposure. Im going to be livid if one of the Red Sox players gets hurt dicking around in the WBC for something that doesnt mean jack.

[UP IN SMOKE]

I will be there this weekend sunday for the 1:00 game in Anahiem or is it LA? Should be fun.

[cameroncouch02]

Originally Posted by rjose

IMO it's all about trying to market the MLB to other countries. It’s about business not baseball.

Any pro sport is about business I hate to tell ya. Beer doesnt cost more at the ballpark because its a different kind. It's always been about the money and always will be. College is a little more pure than the pro's. Good family fun in baseball should be found at your local minor league farm system ballpark.

[cameroncouch02]

Originally Posted by Stogiefanatic182

I dont get why they are using the WBC to market baseball around the world. Baseball is already very popular in Latin America and Japan and I dont see any reason to market it further. It already has enough exposure. Im going to be livid if one of the Red Sox players gets hurt dicking around in the WBC for something that doesnt mean jack.

Pride for your country obviously means more to these players then it does you. Getting hurt is a stupid excuse that I don't care to hear. You can get hurt whenever and wherever, and when you start trying to alter the way you play so you don't get and you start thinking about getting hurt is usually when you do get hurt.You just have to go out and play and let whatever happens happen.

[cameroncouch02]

Originally Posted by tadams17

No I like the idea, The timing is just wrong.. Lets say Albert Pulls a Hamstring or hurts himself while doing this and has to sit out for half the season, If your a Cards fan your pi$$ed...Then I say it's not worth it. But as far as the competition, our guys wont be in mid-season form. I would think the All Star break would be great too, or just have a break like the NHL did while the olympics was being played....Like the idea, just so much that could go wrong...

So, if Pujols got hurt playing the preseason or in spring training you wouldn't be as pissed as if it happened in the WBC? The players know that they can't go out there and think with that mentality.

[rjose]

Originally Posted by cameroncouch02

Any pro sport is about business I hate to tell ya. Beer doesnt cost more at the ballpark because its a different kind. It's always been about the money and always will be. College is a little more pure than the pro's. Good family fun in baseball should be found at your local minor league farm system ballpark.

Yeah, but a baseball game is a baseball game, this a marketing poly masquerading as a baseball tournament.

[Stogiefanatic182]

Originally Posted by cameroncouch02

Pride for your country obviously means more to these players then it does you. Getting hurt is a stupid excuse that I don't care to hear. You can get hurt whenever and wherever, and when you start trying to alter the way you play so you don't get and you start thinking about getting hurt is usually when you do get hurt.You just have to go out and play and let whatever happens happen.

I understand where your coming from but for god sakes man their respective teams are paying these guys millions of dollars to play for them not the WBC. Their focus should be getting ready for the upcoming season with their teammates to win a world series, the WBC only gets in the way of this. You see guys all the time having pride in their country such as Pedro Martinez who has the Dominican flag stiched on his glove, also Manny Ramirez does too. I have no problems with having it I just feel its the wrong time to do so. And to have this tournament just to market baseball is a load of crap. Baseball is already played all over the world and I dont think its necessary to market this to gain exposure. There are 10 million kids just in this country alone who play baseball. You gotta figure there are millions of kids in Latin American countries as well, and now in Japan and China with the success that Ichiro has had more and more kids are picking up the game there. And I dont like the fact that you questioned my patriotism because that has nothing to do with this.

[cameroncouch02]

Yeah if they come out looking like the USA Hockey's Team you're telling me that you won't feel like we weren't well represented. If you didn't get upset about how the USA Men's Team performed in Turin then I definately question your love for how your country is represented.