posted on Sunday, January 08, 2006 10:10 PM
by
Jim
WBC fails to answer "Y?"
Mark Buehrle and Tadahito Iguchi
have taken themselves out of the World
Baseball Classic, both stating that they’d rather use Spring Training
to focus on their season with the Sox.
As a fan of both the White Sox and international competition, I’m
conflicted. But then again, both Iguchi’s and Buehrle’s
immediately loyalties are not to guys like me, but to their personal
health/wealth and the organization for which they play. Though I
do like to think I’m third.
Using the time-tested decision aid known as pros and cons, let’s see how they arrived to this decision.
Pro: Get to represent their native land in a competition against other countries.
Con: The competition introduces major-league caliber play far earlier than usual, throwing off training regimens.
Pro: Get to represent their native land in a competition against other countries.
Con: By throwing more innings at the start of the season, it increases the chance of breaking down at some point later on.
Pro: Get to represent their native land in a competition against other countries.
Con: The extensive travel also hurts endurance some.
Pro: Get to represent their native land in a competition against other countries.
Con: No significant amount of money involved.
Pro: Get to represent their native land in a competition against other countries.
Con: Unlike a gold medal at the Olympics, this competition doesn’t have the cachet that would in any way add to a legacy.
Pro: Get to represent their native land in a competition against other countries.
Con: Who knows if the WBC will even get off the ground?
Pro: Get to represent their native land in a competition against other countries.
Con: They’re working with a training staff that doesn’t know them all too well.
Pro: Get to represent their native land in a competition against other countries.
Con: You got me there.
In all seriousness, that one “pro” would be enough for a large portion
of Latin American players. As Ozzie Guillen illustrated during
the playoffs, national pride trumps team pride every way you slice it.
It’s not the same in America, where the best baseball players already
play day-in and day-out, so there’s no need to prove one’s worth.
I think the idea of injury risk is overblown myself – they’re still
going to be throwing hard in Spring Training, and you still face the
risk of somebody sliding into your knees or hitting a comebacker right
into your face. And let’s not forget that trainers thought Mark
Buehrle broke his foot shagging flies last year.
But the perception of danger won’t be shed easily because there’s no
way to soften baseball up -- unless you soften the actual baseball. Hockey is a rough sport, but NHL
players jump at the chance to play for their countries in the Olympics
because it’s a safer game. The wider ice gives them more space,
and the game is virtually goon-free (except for Todd Bertuzzi, playing
for Team Canada). The only ones still at risk are the goalies,
but they’re slightly crazy to begin with.
When the risks of the sport can’t be de-fanged at all, it’s problematic
for any professional sport. Now that the Dream Team has lost its
stature, it’s tough to get the best of the best to play in games that
aren’t on the NBA schedule. And just ask Tiger Woods about the
Ryder Cup.
It’s probably a good idea that Buehrle and Iguchi have decided to step
down for this year. Probably the best approach for MLB players is
of the wait-and-see variety. First, we’ll see if Bud Selig &
Co. actually pull this off. With the government continuing its
decades-old grudge with Cuba, the WBC may not get off the ground.
If it is a success; if nobody gets hurt; if Americans feel a surge of
national pride competing against other countries; if they’re able to
handle a dozen more games during the year, then we may see players
scramble over each other to play for their countries. But there’s
no harm in waiting, something Buehrle and Iguchi seemed to have
realized.
For the time being, I’ll be glad to have the opportunity seeing them train with the rest of the Sox in Tucson.