Yeah I can go either way on this. I personally think the WBC is a great event and clearly the players do as well. The atmosphere at some of the games has been absolutely electric. Players get injured in spring training all the time. Obviously I think there is a bigger risk for the pitchers in this event but still think it’s worth having it.
I thought so… and I do wonder if they have any influence on certain players being “required” to play to ensure the event is a success.
I don't know when leagues around the world play, but from an MLB perspective, I'm not sure why this thing doesn't just happen immediately after the World Series. All the players are fully warmed up so it lowers the injurty risk, the vast majority of MLB players get a couple of weeks off in October or to train with their national teams (maybe WS players skip it, like Superbowl players skip the Probowl), injured players would have extended time to recover before spring training. It's played all around the Caribbean and southern US so the temperatures should be fine. Maybe the Japan games need to move - not sure where in Japan it is or what the temperatures are like.
I don't think anyone is required to play. People want to play - similar to the Olympics, World Cup, etc. We don't prioritize it much in the US, but everywhere else has a huge amount of pride in playing for their national teams.
They're staying out of football's lane... which is dumb because they do go head to head with football for the WS... but I could also see less viewers at that time for exhibition baseball (whereas now, without football, plenty of cravings). You could also make the case that at years end, players are either fatigued or not needing to throw more innings/overstretch themselves than they've already done. In the past they thought this would serve as a glorified ramp up to supplement ST (which is also a glorified ramp-up).
Sure... but the olympics and WC are not directly run by the US professional sports organization. They haven't really had much issues getting the best players to play. If there are more marquee players being held back by their teams (or if insurance companies are struggling to agree to policies due to all the financial uncertainties in the world), MLB may step in to protect this investment. Also in world football, there are set national teams that have multiple tournaments throughout the year and its already a set obligation/separate entity.... rather than this exhibition which seems even more random (especially when you see some US born players opting to play for Italy, Isreal, Netherlands, etc. based on family connections).
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/47792100/miguel-rojas-unhappy-denial-wbc-due-insurance-rule Insurance company NFP has insured multiple iterations of the WBC, as agreed upon by MLB and the MLB Players Association. The WBC pays the insurance policy. Players whose injuries are classified as "chronic" by the company have a harder time getting insured, as Clayton Kershaw experienced three years ago. (Kershaw is playing in this year's tournament, but he is no longer with a major league team and thus doesn't have a contract to insure.) Players are classified as having "chronic" injuries if they meet one of five criteria, according to sources familiar with the situation: if they were on the injured list for an aggregate of at least 60 days in the prior season; were injured and unable to participate in two of their teams' last three games of the prior season; underwent surgery following that season; underwent more than one surgery throughout their career; or were placed on the IL in the last day of August of the prior season.
I bet it was easy for Ohtani to get insured for his *checks notes* 2 million dollar salary for 2026. Another aspect of the deferrals
Deferring only shifts when the money is paid out, but he still earns the full amount based on this year so they'd have to insure whatever his earnings actually are. I'm not sure if it's insurance related, but Ohtani will only DH in the WBC this year - he won't pitch apparently.
These seem like awful criteria for "chronic injuries". A broken bone that cost someone 2 months would be chronic? A stubbed toe that caused someone to get shutdown for the last 2 games of the season is chronic?
Yeah, I get that part. I think it made sense when it was an experiment to use it as glorified ST. But now that people apparently take it seriously, I think moving to Oct/Nov could make sense. It shouldn't tax anyone more than it would if they were in the MLB playoffs. And you could start the early rounds on off-days during the WS and then the rest on weekdays in football season on the few days there was no football (Tues/Wed at least). Much of the audience for this is international anyway, so football isn't their top concern. If it ultimately lets more people play and not wreck their MLB seasons, it seems like a potential net benefit for the players and the tournament.
I'm with you. I don't see the comparison to the Olympics that people are making. It's not even remotely similar. It's a money grab. Nothing more
Lmao did you actually watch the last WBC? I agree with Major it should be moved to Oct/Nov but I find it weird as **** all of y'all don't get any enjoyment from these games as a baseball fan. I went to a game in Miami the last WBC and the atsmophere was electric. The players certainly care. Getting to see an electrician from the Czech Republic strike out Ohtani, the Ohtani vs. Trout, etc. were all incredible moments.
I didn't. I mean that's an opinion. I don't care about the atmosphere or if it's cool for the players. I care about what happens for the Astros and the WBC isn't it for most. Send guys who aren't playing in the pros. I don't care about All Atar games and share the same opinion. Bullshit to me
