It’s a moot point for me, as my team is the Seattle Mariners and they’ll stink pretty no matter what next year. Their star player, Ichiro, will play for Japan.
Yes, yes I do. The chance of getting hurt is part of the game. I hate the idea that our best players get held back because owners are too worried about protecting their investments. Yes, I can understand it to an extent, but I still don’t like it. If we’re going to field a team to represent the United States (or whichever country), I think it should be the best team possible.
Jonathan Broxton, who is now our closer, is going to play in the WBC. Frankly, I like the idea that he’s going to be in truly competitive situations before the MLB regular season starts; I feel like it increases the odds of him being mid-season sharp on Opening Day, and the chances of him getting hurt aren’t greatly increased over him hurting himself in Spring Training. If he DOES get hurt, well, maybe it would have happened anyway – there would be almost no way to say for certain.
I think the WBC has the potential to be truly great if it progresses to the point where we really are putting the best of the best out on the field. But it may also fail spectacularly if we don’t.
I’d rather not see it. I don’t have much interest in the WBC. They don’t play enough games to make the results meaningful. I’d rather avoid any chance of injury or fatigue.
Yes. It’s nice to see players get meaningful experience when they would otherwise play 1-3 innings per game in what is essentially an extended batting practice.
Baseball players are not delicate China dolls. Let em play, and let em play hard, as long as the pitchers are on a reasonable pitch count so as to not burn out any arms, I say let 'em play.
As for the WBC itself, it is pretty worthless. Baseball fans know that anything can happen in a short series, which is all the WBC is.
I’d prefer they didn’t. Spring training let’s players slowly gear up for the regular season, while the WBC has them going from 0-100% effort. I won’t hold it against a player though. I understand if they want to support their country.
Baseball players are usually ready to play by the time spring training starts. The days when they’d show up out of shape are long gone.
I like the WBC, plan to attend some games this year, and fully expect my team’s best players to represent their countries. I imagine Roy Halladay will be on the U.S. squad. He could get hurt, but then he could get hurt driving his car. I think the WBC is worth investing effort into.
I have no problem with it if they do and no complaints if they don’t. Overall I guess I would prefer if they don’t. As a Yankee fan I know we have several planning to participate. I do hope the injured and injury prone skip it though.
Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez are and Posada wanted to but is being encouraged not to. Matsui has begged out of it as he is still recovering. CC, AJ & Wang are all not playing to the best of my knowledge. I understand Johnny Damon and Joba Chamberlain might play.
Yes, very much so.
It would be nice, but it’s not 100% necessary.
I went to the semi-final and final games last time, and while there were a few big names, there were also a bunch of unknowns (Cuba, anyone?). Being in the stands, one of the biggest upsides of those games besides the actual playing of baseball is to see how fans from other countries act. Those Korean fans are crazy fun!
I do enjoy seeing players I recognize, but if it’s a bunch of young unknowns, well, we can always say we saw 'em when, right?
[sub]I’ll be at Dodger Stadium this time around too, yay![/sub]
Where? Which games? I’ll be there for all three. 
Section 4TD, Row E, Seats 3 - 4
All three games? I will likely be very near you. I bought tickets as a result of my season package, and I’m normally in 1TD Row F. I don’t think I get my exact same seats for the WBC, but I’m sure they’ll be similar.
Sorry for the hijack.
I don’t see how Burnett would make the U.S. team, unless a pretty large number of guys bowed out.
I’m more concerned about the Boston starting pitchers than anything else so as long as the pitchers don’t go, I’m good. Positional players can play to their hearts content.
Good point and I think it would be a really bad idea for A.J. to try it with his injury record even if asked.
Nope, and Cliff Lee already declined an invite.
I wouldn’t mind if any position players participated. The only players I wouldn’t want to play would be a pitcher who is the ace of the rotations. I don’t believe Brandon Webb is going from the D-backs.