Pedroia strained Oblique

[Quinny]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090314&content_id=3987684&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[BoSox21]

f***ING WBC

 

this better not be serious

[a700hitter]

This is why I hate the WBC. Nobody cares. The stadiums are empty. Star players get injured for a completely meaningless tournament. With Lugo down, if Pedroia goes down, what does the opening day IF look like?

[ORS]

Jesus Christ people, read the article to at least see if it fits into a rational argument against the tournament.

 

He felt a pinch in his side while swinging the bat in warmups on Saturday before Team USA faced Puerto Rico in second-round action in the World Baseball Classic.

 

Do pinches in your side only occur in warmups if it's an international tournament?

[example1]

"I think it's more precautionary than anything," Pedroia said. "Obviously, I'm upset. If it's really nothing, and it's a couple of days, I'll definitely be back tomorrow after I get checked out, and [i'll] continue playing. But it's up to the Red Sox. I don't really have a say in that matter."

[a700hitter]

Jesus Christ people, read the article to at least see if it fits into a rational argument against the tournament.

 

 

 

Do pinches in your side only occur in warmups if it's an international tournament?

No, but I think this tournament is a huge zero. It screws up ST which I look forward to every year. I just wish they would end it. The biggest reason to end it is that nooooo one cares about the stupid tournament. It is meaningless.

 

When the Sox played the Puerto Rican national team at Ft. Myers, it was the thinnest crowd that I have seen in 6 years. The Sox must have held back a lot of tickets only for sale to fans of the Puerto Rican national team and they went unsold. I can't think of any other explanation, because the following day against the Marlins the park was packed.

[TheKilo]

This is because Pedroia is five foot nothing and plays 100 miles an hour and his playing style leads to injuries like this.

 

 

Guess the poster, lulz

[BoSox21]

Jesus Christ people, read the article to at least see if it fits into a rational argument against the tournament.

 

Do pinches in your side only occur in warmups if it's an international tournament?

 

In preparation for the Classic, Pedroia did some extra training in the offseason. From the first game of the Classic in Toronto, he played all nine innings.

 

Pedroia said he has never had an oblique issue.

 

"No. Nothing like that. I've never really had anything like this," Pedroia said. "It's frustrating. Obviously I trained really hard in the offseason to prevent something like this from happening. Maybe I pushed it a little too hard, too fast to get this going. I'll get this checked out Sunday."

 

Sounds like he thinks the injury could be because of the extra training he did in preparation for this f***ing tournament

[ORS]

Oh please, he hurt it in warmups. This could have happened anywhere. And, FWIW, Pedroia's opinion and guesstimate are of little worth to me.

 

I agree with a700, this tournament doesn't draw much interest, at least not from me, and I think it's destined to ultimate failure. This has no bearing on assigning blame for this injury to the tournament.

[BSN07]

No' date=' but I think this tournament is a huge zero. [b'] It screws up ST which I look forward to every year.[/b] I just wish they would end it. The biggest reason to end it is that nooooo one cares about the stupid tournament. It is meaningless.

 

So what your saying is it screws up your personal agenda?

 

 

Do a little research a700, the WBC may be drawing dick, and getting low ratings in the States, but in other Countries is is getting big numbers. And since the point of the tourny is to try and get the whole world involved in baseball, I'd say it's doing a fair job.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090313/sp_nm/us_baseball_worldclassic_1

 

While the 2006 tournament was played entirely in the United States, this year's first-round games were played in Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Japan. Attendance rose 38 percent

.

 

Just because no one cares about it in your fishbowl, doesn't mean the rest of the world feels the same.

[BSN07]

Guys I know where your coming from. But there is a bigger picture here. The first WBC(living in the States) I don't recall watching a single game. Your right, to you and most everyone you know, the WBC is pointless injury risk to our teams players. But outside the US, this tournament is a huge advertisement for the game of Baseball. Europe and most other countries are Futbol(soccer) 1st. Which means more of the money and a lot of the top athletes play that instead of Baseball.

 

This tournament showcases Baseball. And that's what it's really all about. It's about getting more people involved in the game world wide. Which in the long run will help turn out more quality players, which in turn increases the quality of the game. And with all that in the end, the game at the Major League Level will benefit.

 

 

Listen I know this seems like walking into a Starbucks with a Coffe you got from across the street at another Starbucks and saying " Look how great this coffee is everyone". But around the World, a lot of people don't know what Starbucks is(not literally but you catch my drift).

 

Another thing to consider is especially here in Europe, Countries are very competitive with each other. There Century old rivalries that get played out of the pitch. The best way to promote a new game here and a lot of other places is to make it Country vs Country.

 

 

Just thought I'd share my perspective being an American living outside the Fish Bowl the is the good Ol US:D:

[jacksonianmarch]

From a global baseball perspective, the WBC is big. But a lot of us dont care about the globalization of baseball, most of us care about our own team. I, for one, do care about the game bettering itself, but not at the expense of our best players. Think about it. Lets say Pedroia has an oblique tear, needs surgery and is shelved for 3 months. Thats the MVP being out for 3 months because he pushed it too early in this tourney. As a Sox fan, I'd be more upset that my team took a hit during a tournament that is meant to help globalize the game. Unless a kid from China all of a sudden shows up and plays MVP caliber 2b, I wont care.

[a700hitter]

From a global baseball perspective' date=' the WBC is big. But a lot of us dont care about the globalization of baseball, most of us care about our own team. I, for one, do care about the game bettering itself, but not at the expense of our best players. Think about it. Lets say Pedroia has an oblique tear, needs surgery and is shelved for 3 months. Thats the MVP being out for 3 months because he pushed it too early in this tourney. As a Sox fan, I'd be more upset that my team took a hit during a tournament that is meant to help globalize the game. Unless a kid from China all of a sudden shows up and plays MVP caliber 2b, I wont care.[/quote']Agreed. The best players in the world are in MLB, which is dangling them out there as some sort of advertisement to the rest of the world. How this benefits MLB is beyond me? Are the people in these countries going to buy ton of MLB licensed products. If more people play baseball in Venezuela or some other country as a result, will that be a sufficient return for having this tournament? I just don't get what is in this for MLB. The GM's don't seem to care for it very much, so that should tell you something. If they thought that there was a profit to be made, they'd be willing to put there players out on Time Square in Manhattan dressed like hookers. Yet, I get the impression that most GMs don't like the Tournament.

[BSN07]

Agreed. The best players in the world are in MLB' date=' which is dangling them out there as some sort of advertisement to the rest of the world. How this benefits MLB is beyond me? Are the people in these countries going to buy ton of MLB licensed products. If more people play baseball in Venezuela or some other country as a result, will that be a sufficient return for having this tournament? I just don't get what is in this for MLB. The GM's don't seem to care for it very much, so that should tell you something. If they thought that there was a profit to be made, they'd be willing to put there players out on Time Square in Manhattan dressed like hookers. Yet, I get the impression that most GMs don't like the Tournament.[/quote']

 

Wow....

 

This is not about money... Way to totally miss the concept of what they are trying to accomplish.

 

They have to use ML players. Why would they use scrubs while trying to promote their game. Do car dealerships put the lemons in front? No they put their best product in the front to entice their potential customers.

 

 

You don't think by getting more countries and more players involved in baseball, that it might lead to better players coming from other countries to the MLB? You do realize how many ML players come from outside the US don't you? The fact you can't see this is beyond me.

 

I guess bringing the game to the Dominican, Latin America, Japan, and China has done nothing to benefit MLB<_>

 

Please feel free to continue to walk through life with your horse blinds on.<_>

 

 

 

 

And no of course GM's aren't going to 100% for it. There is risk involved. but there is also risk running your best players out against Boston College as well. Where was you bitching and moaning then? There is risk every game of ST, but I don't hear you pleading for the discontinuation of every game before the season opens in April.

 

Get over your own personal agenda, and try and stretch your mind to see the larger picture here.

[a700hitter]

Wow....

 

This is not about money... Way to totally miss the concept of what they are trying to accomplish.

It's not about money... short term or long term? Then I really don't understand. It is a business... right?:dunno:

[BSN07]

It's not about money... short term or long term? Then I really don't understand. It is a business... right?:dunno:

 

It's about the quality and globalization of the game of "Baseball".

 

 

From a business standpoint,

 

Global Marketing(WBC)=more people playing= more quality players= better on field product= $

 

So yes in the end, the game is better, and MLB will undoubtedly benefit financially at some point.

[a700hitter]

It's about the quality and globalization of the game of "Baseball".

 

 

From a business standpoint,

 

Global Marketing(WBC)=more people playing= more quality players= better on field product= $

So, it is about $?

[BSN07]

So' date=' it is about $?[/quote']

 

Yes of course part of it's about money. But it's not the be all end all.

 

MLB is trying to expand there audience. Just like the Sox giving up 50M to talk to Dice-K, they got the player they wanted, but they also got their foot in the door in Japan. And now players are taking 1/2 the $ to come to the Sox(Tazawa took 3M from the Sox, while declining 7M from Texas) because the Sox expanded their product into a fairly untapped region.

 

 

You see now, they have on field benefits, while get off the field financial benefits as well.

 

 

If you can't grasp this at some level I'm not sure what I can do for you.

 

I guess an "old dog, new tricks" paraphrase is in order?

[ORS]

It is the be all / end all. It always was, is, and will continue to be.

 

You say it's about more, it's about expanding the audience and then compare it to the posting fee. That posting fee is, if it is what you say it was for, an investment made to improve their relations with future cheaper talent. Cheaper means money. That is the core motivation. What is the core motivation to expanding the audience? Here's a hint, it starts with an "M" and sounds like "honey". There is only so much that can be made in the American market. I think they are close to tapping that out in terms of $$/audience member.

 

EDIT: On another note, do you realize how quickly you contradicted yourself there, BSN07?

 

You said it's not all about money, and in your example of other sources of motivation you explain how the benefit of doing something has resulted in, well, better money results. Use that internal filter.

[a700hitter]

Yes of course part of it's about money. But it's not the be all end all.

 

MLB is trying to expand there audience. Just like the Sox giving up 50M to talk to Dice-K, they got the player they wanted, but they also got their foot in the door in Japan. And now players are taking 1/2 the $ to come to the Sox(Tazawa took 3M from the Sox, while declining 7M from Texas) because the Sox expanded their product into a fairly untapped region.

 

 

You see now, they have on field benefits, while get off the field financial benefits as well.

When $100 million is invested in getting a player, $ is the be all and end all. They were willing to overpay for Dice K's onfield performance, because they had hoped to open marketing opportunities in Japan. The signing of Tazawa hurt the Red Sox relations with Japanese baseball. Japan is a matured baseball market. It is already very popular. There has been professional baseball there since before WWII. They don't need the WBC to popularize the game there. If anything MLB is in many ways a threat to professional baseball in Japan as it continues to poach Japan's best players.

[a700hitter]

You see now, they have on field benefits, while get off the field financial benefits as well.

 

 

If you can't grasp this at some level I'm not sure what I can do for you.

 

I guess an "old dog, new tricks" paraphrase is in order?

In business, I make a pretty good living at eating the lunch of the young and inexperienced.

[jacksonianmarch]

It is a MASSIVE money deal in the long term. If China develops a MLB superstar, think about all the endorsements you can get from the 1 billion plus Chinese.

[a700hitter]

It is a MASSIVE money deal in the long term. If China develops a MLB superstar' date=' think about all the endorsements you can get from the 1 billion plus Chinese.[/quote']Sadaharu Oh is Chinese.

[BSN07]

It is the be all / end all. It always was, is, and will continue to be.

 

You say it's about more, it's about expanding the audience and then compare it to the posting fee. That posting fee is, if it is what you say it was for, an investment made to improve their relations with future cheaper talent. Cheaper means money. That is the core motivation. What is the core motivation to expanding the audience? Here's a hint, it starts with an "M" and sounds like "honey". There is only so much that can be made in the American market. I think they are close to tapping that out in terms of $$/audience member.

 

Yes I agree, part of the motivation is $.There's no reason it wouldn't be. But it's not the only reason.

 

Part of the motivation is to expand the game itself. And by doing this the talent pool will increase. Which will lead to a better on field product. And who is not for that? And of course when your product is great and you have widened your audience, the $ will increase as well. That's just smart business.

 

 

I guess you need to be separated from it. I'm sure there all they talk about is the financial aspect of things. Not shocking considering it's America. But here and other places it's about the game itself. You guys can't understand the impact of what the Netherlands team did for the Sport of baseball here. Funding has gone up for the clubs, clubs are seeing a hefty rise in participation from younger kids. People are starting to take notice of the sport. And this is because of the WBC.

[jacksonianmarch]

Sadaharu Oh is Chinese.

 

I meant MLB. Not Japanese league. Think about the amount of money the US has been able to get from their overseas marketing of Ichiro, Matsui and DiceK. Then consider a much bigger audience in a country that has already shown its merchandising might in the NBA with Yao. It is a massive moneymaker. And now, India is getting into the mix too with the 2 guys the Pirates signed. It is coming. Thats why I am so pumped that the yankees opened an academy over there 2 yrs ago. They'll get the first bang for their buck and it will grow the brand.

[jacksonianmarch]

Yes I agree, part of the motivation is $.There's no reason it wouldn't be. But it's not the only reason.

 

Part of the motivation is to expand the game itself. And by doing this the talent pool will increase. Which will lead to a better on field product. And who is not for that? And of course when your product is great and you have widened your audience, the $ will increase as well. That's just smart business.

 

 

I guess you need to be separated from it. I'm sure there all they talk about is the financial aspect of things. Not shocking considering it's America. But here and other places it's about the game itself. You guys can't understand the impact of what the Netherlands team did for the Sport of baseball here. Funding has gone up for the clubs, clubs are seeing a hefty rise in participation from younger kids. People are starting to take notice of the sport. And this is because of the WBC.

 

 

Expanding the game itself has a massive monetary motivation.

[BSN07]

In business' date=' I make a pretty good living at eating the lunch of the young and inexperienced.[/quote']

 

Well then this is all just about personal agenda's. You don't like this because it could hinder your favorite teams on field performance.

 

If you are as savvy in business as you say, then you must understand the larger your clientele(audience), the more opportunity for $. The better your product is, the more opportunity for $.

[BSN07]

Expanding the game itself has a massive monetary motivation.

 

Yes we have established the financial benefits.

 

 

Can anyone see past the $?

 

 

 

Man I hate it when the stereo types about my fellow Americans are right:D

 

 

Where are the guys from the Dominican, England and Canada when you need them:lol:

[ORS]

Yes I agree, part of the motivation is $.There's no reason it wouldn't be. But it's not the only reason.

 

Part of the motivation is to expand the game itself. And by doing this the talent pool will increase. Which will lead to a better on field product. And who is not for that? And of course when your product is great and you have widened your audience, the $ will increase as well. That's just smart business.

 

 

I guess you need to be separated from it. I'm sure there all they talk about is the financial aspect of things. Not shocking considering it's America. But here and other places it's about the game itself. You guys can't understand the impact of what the Netherlands team did for the Sport of baseball here. Funding has gone up for the clubs, clubs are seeing a hefty rise in participation from younger kids. People are starting to take notice of the sport. And this is because of the WBC.

It's got nothing to do with being in America vs. being in some other place. It's got everything to do with being realistic about this and recognizing how each of the motivations you list also has a significant financial benefit as well.

 

For example, why do you think they want the talent pool increased? The DR used to be a cheap source of very talented baseball players, but the market has become established there and players who turn out to be mediocre minor league talents are signing for what some of the best prospects from Taiwan and Australia are signing for. Increasing the talent pool is about finding those gems in unestablished markets for pennies on the dollar compared to the established markets. Furthermore, suppose these other places become established markets in the future. There is still the benefit of increased talent supply vs. a fixed demand (30 teams).

[ORS]

Can anyone see past the $?

The better question is why do you keep treating it like the proverbial pink elephant? It's right there in front of you, but you continue to ignore it.