Hindsight:Do you think the WBC hurt players for the MLB year?

[bsfins]

Bob Brenly mentioned this early in the year,with Gio Soto (where he failed a drug test,hitting the green goddess),about the first few weeks of the regular season was the first time he started getting regular at bats (on a regular schedule) So the first few weeks of the season was alot like spring training for him...Marmol,has sucked most of the year,he missed most,almost all of training camp playing in the WBC (where he got blown up) Dice K isn't the same this year....

I think we've now played two WBC's....I know it's an honor to play for your country,but do you think it screws alot of the players for the upcoming MLB season?

I expected a drop off from Gio,but he's been injured,totally out of sync. Marmol,is normally erratic,but this year no one where the ball is going after it leaves his hand.....

I feel like the WBC sucks....your thoughts?

[Phishfan]

I have to admit I don't know a lot of background on this. My question is if the players are in training for the WBC why wouldn't it just be like Spring Training? Do they take it less seriously? If so the tournament should be disbanded anyway.

In other sports I know the national teams train at the highest level. I son;t see why this tournament should take away from training.

[bsfins]

In the WBC they play one game,sit for 2-3 days play again....In spring training you're playing everyday....

[BingeBag]

I have to admit I don't know a lot of background on this. My question is if the players are in training for the WBC why wouldn't it just be like Spring Training?

I would say the biggest problem is the guys that get irregular at-bats and pitchers going out there and throwing there arm off in the first week of (what would be) training camp.


But when it comes down to it, a lot of the latin players in mlb play winter leagues. We never had a problem with this kind of thing before?


*Edit*: B beat me to my first point.

[Phishfan]

I took a look at the Japan's schedule during the period and they only played 9 games over the span of the tournament while the Phillies (I just looked the the tournament chams and WS champs for the hell of it) played 18 spring training games during the same period. Seems acceptable to me that this may be a factor then.

The one thing that could negate this argument though is how many reps would these players be getting in Spring Training though. Just because the team played twice as many games, would the players see that much more action? Don't they have extended rosters in spring training? How many reps do the starters miss for the backups, guys eventually gong to the minors, split squad games, etc?

[bsfins]

I think with like starting pitchers,in Spring training you're on that I'm gonna pitch every 5 days rotation (if healthy) somewhere,split squad games whatever....

Winterball-Spring training games are played at a regular interval,and alot of guy's in the WBC don't play winterball....

I was curious...Because for me the Guy's on the Cubs that did play seem to be off....more than usual...and I know Dice K played,and isn't the same....A lot of people here have lots of different favorite teams....is why I asked....

Sorry Binge 

[MaineDolFan]

The more I think about this the more I think it has a slim alteration, if any, on players.  Most pitchers that pitched in the WBC are doing fine this season.  Positional players would have been playing spring training games anyway.  Younger players now have more "real game" experience. 

I don't know how wild I am about the WBC...but I don't think it's greatly altered anyone's performance this season.  I think there are many folds of reasons behind Dice-K's performance this year, the WBC isn't one of them.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Peavy and Daisuke are two pitchers who come to mind who have suffered. I think position players are fine, but pitchers are at great risk.

Peavy's last bad season? 2006, the first WBC.

[Phishfan]

I think it all depends on what you consider a bad season. Peavy had a losing record last year.