More bad news: Youk ready for WBC

[Paradisecity]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3793685

 

With the exception of last year, Youk's numbers have always tanked in the second half due to what some people cite as exhaustion from concentrating and working so hard. I can't see this helping:

 

Add Kevin Youkilis' name to the list of players reportedly set to play in the World Baseball Classic this March.

 

The Boston Red Sox infielder will accept an invitation to play on Team USA, the Boston Globe reported on Friday.

 

Dustin Pedroia, the reigning American League Most Valuable Player from the Red Sox, told WEEI.com last week that he would be on the U.S. team.

 

Others who have reportedly committed to playing for Team USA include Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees, David Wright of the New York Mets, Brian McCann and Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves, Grady Sizemore of the Cleveland Guardians and John Lackey of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

 

The U.S. team will begin play March 7 against Canada in Toronto. The semifinals and finals are set for Dodger Stadium March 21-13.

 

Rosters will be officially set early next year.

 

Davey Johnson is the team's manager.

[Dojji]

I actually like this. Unlike pitchers, hitters might benefit from an extra time getting ready to start the season. Get him some reps at 3B as well.

[Paradisecity]

IF you look at Youk's numbers Dojji, with the exception of last year he hits very well out the gate and drops significantly after the all star break. He is THE candidate for wearing down. I can see how some hitters could benefit from this, but I don't see Youk being helped at all. To the contrary, I see quite the opposite.

[diony]

While Tex rest at home, good.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

This tournament is the biggest f***ing joke. Thanks a lot Selig.

[BoSox21]

While Tex rest at home' date=' good.[/quote']

 

well, he'll be at ST but I see your point

 

I dont like the idea of Pedroia and Youk, guys who give their all in every game, playing in this thing

[26 to 6]

While Tex rest at home' date=' good.[/quote']

No, in Spring Training.

 

This tournament is the biggest f***ing joke. Thanks a lot Selig.

I think it's great for baseball and further internationalizing the game to the rest of the world (Latin America and Asia certainly don't apply). I think a few changes need to be made, as they will over time, for this thing to be a hit and success. First and foremost I think it needs to be moved to November, Sure, the players will be more worn out, but they'll all be in game-shape still and possibly injuries that occur in the classic won't affect the player's parent-club as the players would have the offseason to heal up. Pitchers wouldn't need the special attention that's required after not throwing a ball for months, and it would have a more meaningful feel; because right now it just feels like an exhibition tournament. Perhaps increasing the rosters to 30-35 or something with a minimum of 15 pitchers. There's a lot of things that can be done to improve the classic, and hopefully they can get it done right at some point. Luckily, next time it's played will be 4 years from now and not the 3 years that separated the inaugural '06 classic and the upcoming '09 tourney, so they have some time to address changes.

 

I think the biggest thing should be to move it to November though, to me it makes absolutely no sense playing it during Spring Training when the clubs are trying to prepare for the professional season. while it's nice that players want to represent their countries, and understandably so, they should be with their teams getting ready for the season.

[ydeologi]

Worse news, I think, is that Youk seems resigned to do year to year arbitration and leave the Sox. I wonder how much he resents how they held his development years back to control his MLB service time at a later age...

 

If Youk has another year threatening 30HRs/120RBIs, it'll be tough for the Sox to let this hometown favorite walk.

[ydeologi]

...I forgot to add: I wonder how much he's asking for? Any guesses? I haven't seen a single rumor article about it.

[example1]

I saw that Scott Kazmir will be joining Team USA. Excellent.

[a700hitter]

I hate the WBC. As a US Baseball fan, it is meaningless to me. For fans from other countries, they get to see the great players for MLB. Players from other countries that are not already playing for MLB who are worth watching will eventually end up in the MLB anyway, so I don't need to see them playing some stupid exhibition. Plus, it ruins Spring Training!

[26 to 6]

Agreed, which is why it should be played in November

[example1]

I like the WBC, all things consideed. I like opportnities to see players outside of their usal settings and really don't worry too much about the injury concerns. I'm psyched to see Dice-K and Yu Darvish pitch against other good hitters in (fairly) high pressre situations.

[WhiskeyBreath]

I'd rather see a position player in the tourney over a pitcher.

[Keeper]

I hate the WBC. As a US Baseball fan' date=' it is meaningless to me. For fans from other countries, they get to see the great players for MLB. Players from other countries that are not already playing for MLB who are worth watching will eventually end up in the MLB anyway, so I don't need to see them playing some stupid exhibition. Plus, it ruins Spring Training![/quote']

 

Took the words right out of my mouth.

[BSN07]

I'm not big on the WBC either. I mean I like the idea and all. The timing of it is horrible.

 

I agree playing in November in a dome would be better. Alot of players go play winterball anyways. This be a way of keeping things in a normal offseason flow.

 

As far as pitchers go, most top pitchers are smart enough not to get involved in this thing because they understand the consequences. Dice-K is obviously not one of those. He still pitches for pride in his country, instead of doing what the people who sign his checks want. Given his style and the fact he had the lowest inning totals for an 18 game winner ever, I wouldn't cry if he was part of some deal that brought back a top tier player. But that's my opinion.

[26 to 6]

I like the WBC' date=' all things consideed. I like opportnities to see players outside of their usal settings and really don't worry too much about the injury concerns. I'm psyched to see Dice-K and Yu Darvish pitch against other good hitters in (fairly) high pressre situations.[/quote']

I can't wait to see Yu Darvish pitch against Major League caliber hitters. ABSOLUTELY CANNOT WAIT!

 

The only times I've seen him pitch were poor-quality videos online. I'm really looking forward to it. If the Fighters post him before he's eligible for free agency I would bet Cashman would do whatever it took to win that bid. If he didn't, I'd kill him

 

just kidding...sort of

[Dojji]

Just remember, the posting process is such that unless you absolutely overwhelm the market a lot of other very rich teams can beat you -- and now that Daisuke, Kurida, Oki and others have entered the league with some success a lot of teams are going to be into Darvish -- hard.

[BSN07]

The economy is going to limit Yu's market. I don't see anyone posting 50M+ this time around. I think the Yanks could easily win the bidding.

[rician blast]

I can't wait to see Yu Darvish pitch against Major League caliber hitters. ABSOLUTELY CANNOT WAIT!

 

The only times I've seen him pitch were poor-quality videos online. I'm really looking forward to it. If the Fighters post him before he's eligible for free agency I would bet Cashman would do whatever it took to win that bid. If he didn't, I'd kill him

 

just kidding...sort of

 

Whatever it takes? It takes one thing...money. If he wants him he gets him, period.

[italstallianion]

In that case I hope that Yu Darvish becomes Kei Igawa part 2.

[Dojji]

The economy is going to limit Yu's market. I don't see anyone posting 50M+ this time around. I think the Yanks could easily win the bidding.

 

Dude -- you are seriously underestimating baseball owners. If it's a onetime expense that would put someone over the top I very much COULD see specifically the Sox go toe to toe with the Yankees again and any other team -- ANY other team -- whose owner was sufficiently reckless at the right time could do the same..

 

Possible that this is one (of many) reasons that the Sox are "preserving their financial flexibility" by not going all-out for the big FA's they want?

[BSN07]

Dude -- you are seriously underestimating baseball owners. If it's a onetime expense that would put someone over the top I very much COULD see specifically the Sox go toe to toe with the Yankees again and any other team -- ANY other team -- whose owner was sufficiently reckless at the right time could do the same..

 

Possible that this is one (of many) reasons that the Sox are "preserving their financial flexibility" by not going all-out for the big FA's they want?

 

This could very well be true.

 

I don't see that many owners willing to throw 50M+ for a posting fee, then another 50M+ on a contract. Just about every team has cut payroll, or maintaind it. And if the posting goes that high, very few teams will be involved.

 

Besides from what i've read, Yu has upside, but he's not Dice-K. If maybe it was closer to what the posting was for Igawa, 25M(somewhere around there), then a contract, I could see more teams being involved.

[26 to 6]

Besides from what i've read, Yu has upside, but he's not Dice-K. If maybe it was closer to what the posting was for Igawa, 25M(somewhere around there), then a contract, I could see more teams being involved.

Yu is projecting to be BETTER than Dice-K.

 

In that case I hope that Yu Darvish becomes Kei Igawa part 2.

No chance

 

Just remember, the posting process is such that unless you absolutely overwhelm the market a lot of other very rich teams can beat you -- and now that Daisuke, Kurida, Oki and others have entered the league with some success a lot of teams are going to be into Darvish -- hard.

Absolutely. The Yankees thought they had done that with Matsuzaka, making a bid higher than any other in the history of the NPB-MLB posting system. Turns out their bid was third best. They're really going to have to shell out a TONNNN of cash to get Darvish's rights. I think after losing out on Dice-K though, Cashman will be hard-pressed to let Yu slip by. Even if it means offering $60-75 million.

[BSN07]

Yu is projecting to be BETTER than Dice-K.

 

 

No chance

 

 

Absolutely. The Yankees thought they had done that with Matsuzaka, making a bid higher than any other in the history of the NPB-MLB posting system. Turns out their bid was third best. They're really going to have to shell out a TONNNN of cash to get Darvish's rights. I think after losing out on Dice-K though, Cashman will be hard-pressed to let Yu slip by. Even if it means offering $60-75 million.

 

My apologies, I crossed up the scouting reports of Yu and the guy ATL just signed. Yu does look to have the goods. Has his team put him up for posting yet, or decided if there going to?

[26 to 6]

No, he claims that he wants top win 200 games in Japan before coming over. Right now he has 48. Whether or not he changes his mind is still yet to be seen. While he has expressed some desire to play in the Majors at some point, he seems committed to NPB and the Fighters for the time being.

 

And Kawakami, although he's no Dice-K, he was pretty damn good over there. But then again so was Igawa. We'll just have to wait and see though, hopefully he can be a quality pitcher with Atlanta.

[Dojji]

And not only were Igawa and Kawamaki good, bot Saito and Oki were much better in the States, so go figure I guess. Buyer beware and hope the scouts did their jobs.

[BSN07]

And not only were Igawa and Kawamaki good' date=' bot Saito and Oki were much better in the States, so go figure I guess. [b']Buyer beware and hope the scouts did their jobs[/b].

 

That's really what it's all about when considering foreign players coming to MLB.

[jacksonianmarch]

Yu is projecting to be BETTER than Dice-K.

 

 

No chance

 

 

Absolutely. The Yankees thought they had done that with Matsuzaka, making a bid higher than any other in the history of the NPB-MLB posting system. Turns out their bid was third best. They're really going to have to shell out a TONNNN of cash to get Darvish's rights. I think after losing out on Dice-K though, Cashman will be hard-pressed to let Yu slip by. Even if it means offering $60-75 million.

 

If things break right, we might not even put a massive bid in on Darvish. The expectation is that he'll be posted by the end of 2010 or sooner. Lets say he gets posted at the end of this yr, we'd have CC, Burnett, and Wang under contract for big bucks. If Joba turns out to be able to handle the load in the rotation and Hughes dominates AAA like I expect him to, Darvish may not be necessary. Obviously if Burnett takes his sabbatical to the DL and Joba can't handle the workload then a ton of NY dollars will be getting converted to yen for this guy

[Dojji]

That's been a huge recent Yankee falacy -- lining up 5 major league starting pitching contracts and assuming you're done.

 

What you just said is tantamount to declaring that you have enough pitching.