Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Interesting. Also have to wonder about guys like Jeff Francoeur who started the season with a bad batting slump. He didn't get nearly the number of at-bats as he would have in spring training. He claimed it wouldn't have any effect but it sure took him a long time to start hitting.
By his opening paragraph, this was not writtten by a fan of the WBC! Me, I've always blamed Dusty Baker for pitcher injuries 
.
Also wasn't written by a stathead. He says it's an "inordinate" number of injuries, without reference to any historical expectations of injuries early in the season. He points out average ERAs. Well, if your ERA is 1. and mine is 9., our "average" ERA is 5. (boy, did I make you look bad!)
So they suggest the teams get together two weeks earlier --- just as a number of the other national teams did. I would have thought that professional pitchers knew enough about their bodies to know how much time they needed to be ready.
And I'm also willing to bet that had the US done better, the writer wouldn't be looking for an excuse to slam the WBC ("hey, do over --- we weren't ready")!
.Also wasn't written by a stathead. He says it's an "inordinate" number of injuries, without reference to any historical expectations of injuries early in the season. He points out average ERAs. Well, if your ERA is 1. and mine is 9., our "average" ERA is 5. (boy, did I make you look bad!)
So they suggest the teams get together two weeks earlier --- just as a number of the other national teams did. I would have thought that professional pitchers knew enough about their bodies to know how much time they needed to be ready.
And I'm also willing to bet that had the US done better, the writer wouldn't be looking for an excuse to slam the WBC ("hey, do over --- we weren't ready")!
The bottom line is that we no longer have a corner on the market for the best baseball.
Japan has played us evenly for 2 decades, no matter whether it's an All-Star team or our "World Champions".
The # of super star Dominican's and Latino's in general speaks volumes as did the great success of a country no one over here gave any chance at all, Korea!
The author is biased and should listen a little longer to Scott Shield's and less to Leo Mazzone. The WBC was nothing short of spectacular. The US simply needs to take it more seriously and play much better!
In any case many nations are obviously capable of playing even-up with the US.
Japan has played us evenly for 2 decades, no matter whether it's an All-Star team or our "World Champions".
The # of super star Dominican's and Latino's in general speaks volumes as did the great success of a country no one over here gave any chance at all, Korea!
The author is biased and should listen a little longer to Scott Shield's and less to Leo Mazzone. The WBC was nothing short of spectacular. The US simply needs to take it more seriously and play much better!
In any case many nations are obviously capable of playing even-up with the US.
Japan is big on fundamentals and doing the little things necessary to win. The US team was one-dimensional, and looked pathetic trying to sacrifice runners into scoring position.
Just like the NBA, more Europeans that are fundamentally sound are making inroads because the American players can't play defense or fundamental basketball, they can only play the fast break slam dunk.
Just like the NBA, more Europeans that are fundamentally sound are making inroads because the American players can't play defense or fundamental basketball, they can only play the fast break slam dunk.