Baseball Musings: Rave Reviews

March 20, 2006

Rave Reviews

The Astros returning from the World Baseball Classic are ecstatic about the event.

What impressed the players was the depth of talent on the international teams. They knew about the Dominicans and Venezuelans and even the Cubans but were stunned by the skills they saw among the Japanese, Koreans and even the Italians.
"It's going to be great for the long-range future of baseball to have that kind of talent in those countries," Wheeler said. "To think that it's spreading around the world makes me more excited."

Lidge said he was shocked at some of the things he saw.

"Yeah, seeing just how well those other areas have developed," Lidge said. "Shoot, Japan and Korea were exceptional teams. We knew they would be mechanically sound, but we didn't realize the talent they would have."

And they want everyone who can play to play:

Lidge said major leaguers should be excited about the tournament.
"Obviously, if you're hurt, not able to do it, that's one thing. But if you're just not sure, and you think, 'I might not be ready for the season if I do this,' I don't think that's a good excuse," Lidge said. "I think you need to do it. Who knows? If one or more people wanted to do that, maybe we would have gotten to the final round."

One of the really nice things about this tournament is that sportsmanship appears to be alive and well. I can't say I've seen many instances of sour grapes from any particular team or players. There's some trash talking, but all the contestants project a genuine respect for their opponents, and there's been a minimum of whining about losing. That's a pleasant change.

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Posted by David Pinto at 08:22 AM | World Cup | TrackBack (0)

Comments

There are players on record who disagree. It's stupid & selfish & probably a violation of a player's contract to play if you're not going to be ready for the season, & it shouldn't be allowed. One manager is asking
for a rule that any player who's had surgery within a
certain time be disallowed. There was pressure on players from the powers that be which to me is criminal.

Posted by: susan mullen at March 20, 2006 10:21 AM

i actually agree with susan mullen.

for once.

at this time, both of our top relievers have thrown exactly 4 innings over the entire ST time. at LEAST they weren't injured...

Posted by: lisa gray at March 20, 2006 11:44 AM

On the other hand, many players who clearly wanted to participate faced strong pressure from team management not to play. For instance the Dodgers made public statements to Seo that he would lose the fifth spot in the rotation if he wasn't there in camp the whole time, and that Brazoban might lose his space on the roster given that the Dodgers had new relievers. Seo went, Brazoban didn't.

Nothing short of criminal.

There was some pressure on players from MLB to play, and from countrymen. There was stronger pressure on others (almost every Yankee) not to. Any player who chose to play fro his country instead deserves accolades.

Ther players will be ready. The amount of game time isn't a big issue. Players are in shape these days far more than when the used to work in department stores in the off-season, and even if they lose a week or tow, the season is long, and games relatively few the first two weeks.

Of course some players didn't go and didn't want to. Reports from those who did have been almost universally very enthusiastic. I think in the long and short run, international baseball will be helped, and that will help baseball here tremendously.

Lisa Gray may not agree with Susan Mullen much, but it can't be less often than I agree with Bud Selig. But this one is a feather in his cap.

Posted by: Capybara at March 20, 2006 12:36 PM