The provisional rosters for this year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) were announced last night, with baseball fans counting down the days until the tournament begins. Sixteen teams will compete during March to win what is arguably the most prestigious international baseball event now that the sport’s Olympic future remains in the balance
The rosters show not only who will be taking part, but also the players who have decided not to.Â
Each provisional roster contains forty-five players, from which a final group of up to twenty-eight will be selected at the end of February.Â
For all of the top names that are involved, critics of the WBC have been more concerned about the players who opted out and what this means for the credibility of the event. The U.S. alone will be without the Yankees’ three big free-agent signings (Sabathia, Burnett and Teixeira) and three of the Phillies’ World Series winning roster (Hamels,  Lidge and Howard) to name just a few. This weakens their talent pool, but America’s roster is still an impressive collection of Major Leaguers.Â
Opposing batters won’t be breathing a sigh of relief that they might only have to face a Roy Oswalt, Jake Peavy, John Lackey or Scott Kazmir instead.
The rosters are a great indication as to why so many fans are looking forward to the tournament. Just a quick glimpse at the Dominican Republic’s roster should bring a smile to your face and that’s a big part of what the WBC is about, although it’s not a feeling shared by all.Â
Many people in the States took a negative stance towards the WBC prior to its inaugural staging in 2006. That position softened as the tournament progressed, but opposition remains and is unlikely to go away. The age-old ‘club versus country’ debate is a large part of the problem and it’s one that we know will never be solved to everyone’s satisfaction. Ask a fan if they want to see their team or their country win a trophy and the former will win out most of the time.Â
A Red Sox fan will naturally worry about Daisuke Matsuzaka playing competitive games for Japan when he would otherwise be gently coasting through Spring Training. ‘If only he would follow Josh Beckett’s example and opt out’, will be the understandable cry from fans in Boston.
But what about the millions of baseball fans in Japan?
They had to look on with envy as their fierce rivals Korea won the Olympic baseball tournament last year. Japan are desperate to restore some national baseball pride by retaining their WBC trophy and there is nothing they want more than for Matsuzaka to lead the way.
Both sides are driven by self-interest as to whether a player takes part in the WBC or not and, whichever way the decision goes, one side will be left unhappy. Every player will make their own decision based on many factors and you just have to respect it.
Maybe some Red Sox fans (or of any other MLB team) would say ‘we didn’t have this problem before the WBC, so the WBC is a bad idea’, and again that’s understandable, but that’s why it is up to other people to make decisions for the greater good of the global game.   Â
There are millions of fans around the world who are greatly excited by the prospect of the WBC. If a few MLB teams are disrupted by an international competition once every four years, then so be it. Yes it’s a compromise, but it’s one that most other sports live with, not least because a strong international scene helps to promote the domestic competitions (and vice versa).
MLB is a very successful competition already; however the Classic is a great way to showcase the sport to newcomers and in the long term this should be to MLB’s benefit. There are undoubtedly aspects of the WBC that could be improved upon (is Spring Training the best time for it? Does more need to be done to protect pitchers and if so what? etc), but solutions can be found if everyone buys into the idea.
The World Baseball Classic is worth the effort. The passion and excitement produced by the games in this year’s event will be proof of that.
4 comments
I think the WBC is a great idea! I’m sure that many MLB players would take great pride in playing for their country, despite the number who are ruling themselves out. Also, as mentioned, this type of tournament is necessary to get more domestic coverage, even more so if Baseball doesn’t make it back into the Olympics.
Granted, the timing may be an issue but think about it, when else could they do it? Straight after the season? First thing in the New Year? Just before Christmas? All of these obviusly have problems.
Straight after the season – Possible burnout from the teams who have played in October, players need rest
First thing in New Year – Players need to try to get back into shape after Christmas and preparing before Christmas really cuts down the off season
Just before Christmas – I can’t see this being popular with players, the majority have families and would want to be with them over the holiday season and in the run up
The above just goes to show that during Spring Training is really the most logical idea, even though it does have obvious drawbacks.
With regard to the club vs. country debate, this is something that is always a thorny issue (just look at the professional football leagues in the UK). It’s an arguement where it is easy to see both sides but personally I think that there is no greater honour than representing your country doing something that you love. Obviously injuries could be a problem but players can pick up injuries in Spring Training as well. They are all big boys and you can’t wrap them in cotton wool all the time.
In all, I can’t wait for the WBC and hope that it continues and grows in the future!
First of all, another great piece of writing Matt! Being around the game my whole life (my dad put baseballs in my crib!) as a player and as a coach, I absolutely love the idea of the WBC and hope it continues to grow in popularity and scope. I am disappointed that a lot of the U.S. players are opting out in favor of their own Spring Training. I was in Arizona for Spring Training and a few WBC games in ’06 and absolutely felt great about the concept. I have looked forward to this year’s Classic with great anticipation. Not all American baseball fans share my enthusiasm, but more are coming around to the idea. Many would disagree, but I can’t imagine why any player from their own country would not participate in such an opportunity! Because I have British roots and ancestory, I hope and pray GB someday will be on the world stage in baseball and be a part of the WBC concept. I “root every day” for my brothers in GB. Anyway, here’s hoping the Classic will be better and more exciting than ’06. My own coaching duties will keep me away from seeing any game live, I’ll be be watching all the games I can on TV.
Thanks Clive and Chico for your comments.
I would agree that Spring Training is really the only time you can hold it, outside of stopping the season half-way through (which is clearly not going to happen). While we all look forward to Spring Training as it approaches, the succession of ‘friendly’ games soon becomes a bit boring and most of the players say that it lasts too long. Adding in the WBC is a great way to change things up every four years.
Just as importantly, anyone who gets interested in baseball because of the WBC can then head straight into the MLB season full of enthusiasm.
MLB.com’s prospects expert Jonathan Mayo has written an article noting some of the potential future stars that will be involved in the WBC, a list that includes two players representing the Netherlands (Greg Halman and Shairon Martis) and one from Italy (Alessandro Maestri).