Matsuzaka to pitch in the WBC

[TheKilo]

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1133975&srvc=rss

 

Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka is ready to help Japan defend its title at the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

 

Matsuzaka, the MVP of the 2006 tournament, said Thursday he will start preparing for the WBC in December.

 

"I’ll accept the offer if I’m asked to play," Matsuzaka said. "I’ll pick up the pace of my training in December so that I won’t have to scramble at the last minute."

 

The right-hander went 3-0 in the 2006 WBC with a 1.38 ERA. One of his wins came in the final against Cuba.

[Dojji]

Crap.

 

I believe the evidence points to Matsuzaka having pitched through shoulder problems all this year. Besides the fact that he actually spent time on the DL this year for that shoulder, lost velocity, stuff and command would all be explained by either a shoulder injury or shoulder fatigue. This will not help, if that is indeed the issue.

[BoSox21]

that shoulder better be 100% healthy

[BSN07]

Ugggh, I cringe reading this.

 

This better not be a pride thing. Dojji has creadence where he thinks Matsuzaka might have had shoulder issues last season.

[rician blast]

Stupid/acary move, from a fan's point of view.

 

I wonder to what extent he's a product of the culture of his nation...as you may recall, he's from the same country as a certain Yankee who once apologized to the fans for breaking his wrist while making an unbelievable effort to catch a line drive.

 

Too bad his contract, apparently, doesn't preclude him for playing.

[ORS]

Why would it? This WBC thing is a Selig creation. The league would never approve a deal keeping players out of this competition.

[a700hitter]

I hate this. Many of the guys that participated the last time had arm problems during the season.

[BoSox21]

I hate this. Many of the guys that participated the last time had arm problems during the season.

 

it destroyed Timlin for awhile

[a700hitter]

it destroyed Timlin for awhile

Carlos Zambrano too

[rician blast]

Why would it? This WBC thing is a Selig creation. The league would never approve a deal keeping players out of this competition.

 

It wouldn't, for the reason you mentioned, but not because it wouldn't be a good idea.

 

Despite the absence of a team's ability to contract against participation, it's still potentially damaging to a player, catastrophic to an organization and something we may see become an issue in contracts in the future.

 

Let's say DiceK blows out his arm in this competition and never pitches again. I'd expect repercussions via teams pushing to include language strictly against it in contracts or citing that injuries stemming from participation allow a team to void the contract, etc. Too much at risk for teams to just say "oh well".

[Cocos Disciples]

Yeah, not too excited about this.

[Dipre]

Letting him pitch in the WBC equals recipe for disaster to me.

[Paradisecity]

f*** the homeland.

[msubulldogs21]

Maybe we'll get lucky and Japan will get put out early on.

[Dipre]

Doubt it, Japan seems to have gathered a pretty nice team again according to a couple reports i have read, not to mention they take this waaaaaaaay more seriously than anyone in America not named Cuba.

[rician blast]

f*** the homeland.

 

 

If I'm an owner and one of my players wants to pitch in the WBC (Worthless Baseball Circus)? Yeah, f*** the homeland works for me.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

This baseball classic garbage won't last too long. I'm sure a few injuries will occur this year, and during the next one and soon owners will be raising hell about it, and Selig will have to cancel it. It's pointless.

[naptownsoxfan]

DiceK no don't do it!

 

They always include in contracts all these things guys can't do, they are going to have to include this crap as well before too long.

 

The whole thing is pointless a pitcher only has so many pitches in his arm before the end.

 

I don't know maybe if the US had shown up in the last one I would feel diferent.

[YAZMAN]

This baseball classic garbage won't last too long. I'm sure a few injuries will occur this year' date=' and during the next one and soon owners will be raising hell about it, and Selig will have to cancel it. It's pointless.[/quote']

 

The baseball classic was the end of Timlin's career. He pitched the playoffs, then the classic, and by June his arm was dead.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

The baseball classic was the end of Timlin's career. He pitched the playoffs' date=' then the classic, and by June his arm was dead.[/quote']

 

 

Yeah. That's going to keep happening to other players too. This really won't last much longer. It wasn't even really interesting to begin with. If i wanted to wait every few years to watch countries play baseball against each other, i'd watch the olympics.

[26 to 6]

Yeah. That's going to keep happening to other players too. This really won't last much longer. It wasn't even really interesting to begin with. If i wanted to wait every few years to watch countries play baseball against each other' date=' i'd watch the olympics.[/quote']

Can't do that...thats partly why the Classic was created to begin with, because Baseball and Softball got removed from the games (although they're up for consideration for the 2016 games). And besides, they never televise Olympic Baseball. Quite frustrating trying to keep up with it.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Can't do that...thats partly why the Classic was created to begin with' date=' because Baseball and Softball got removed from the games (although they're up for consideration for the 2016 games). And besides, they never televise Olympic Baseball. Quite frustrating trying to keep up with it.[/quote']

 

 

 

What? WHen did they get removed? I just watched a bunch of games on NBC this past summer. Besides, the classic is still useless. Just another way for selig to make money

[26 to 6]

I hate this. Many of the guys that participated the last time had arm problems during the season.

it destroyed Timlin for awhile

 

Carlos Zambrano too

Exactly why I think the WBC should be played in November following the World Series. IF injuries or fatigue occur in the WBC the players have a whole offseason to get back to strength, and also like I've said in the past I think it would have a more meaningful, championship feel. Right before Spring Training makes it seem like an exhibition tourney, not an International competition.

[26 to 6]

What? WHen did they get removed? I just watched a bunch of games on NBC this past summer. Besides' date=' the classic is still useless. Just another way for selig to make money[/quote']

They were voted out of the Olympics a few years ago effective after the 2008 games.

 

get out from under that rock buddy

[BigPapiEnFuego]

They were voted out of the Olympics a few years ago effective after the 2008 games.

 

get out from under that rock buddy

 

 

 

oh. That's f***ing stupid they voted it out, but s*** like table tennis is played?(unless thats been voted out too)

[Cocos Disciples]

Well wasn't it only college and independent league players who played Olympic Baseball?

[BigPapiEnFuego]

some minor leaugers too if i am correct.

[Dojji]

I hope that from an MLB perspective, the WBC becomes another part of Winter Ball, a place you send MLB-ready prospects and struggling younger players to get a bit of extra work, rather than something that established and vitally-needed major veterans go to play and wear them down. (like we might clear George Kottaras and Hunter Jones to play to see what we have, but not anyone we have signed for multiple years at 8 figures a year)

 

If it becomes that, then bring on WBC.

[example1]

Matsuzaka pitched 13 innings in 3 starts in the 06 WBC. Aside from the poor condition of players that early in the season, I actually enjoyed it and wish there was some way that the best players could represent their countries without jeopardizing their MLB seasons (which are obviously more important).

[a700hitter]

Matsuzaka pitched 13 innings in 3 starts in the 06 WBC. Aside from the poor condition of players that early in the season' date=' I actually enjoyed it and wish there was some way that the best players could represent their countries without jeopardizing their MLB seasons (which are obviously more important).[/quote']If any of the players in the WBC are worth watching, they should be signed by MLB. I couldn't care less about this stupid tournament. What's it supposed to be? It's not the Olympics or anything, so what does the tournament mean? Contractually, I would prohibit all of my teams players from participating.