Post baseball writer Michael Morrissey and columnist Kevin Kernan slug it out over the merits of the upcoming World Baseball Classic:
Michael Morrissey: Kevin, there are certain ideas that have been welcomed worldwide with open arms and, truth be told, were overdue. Indoor plumbing. The Super Bowl. Even liquid dishwasher detergent. The World Baseball Classic is not one of them. On March 18, when the WBC semifinals begin, most rational sports fans will be tuned into … the NCAA Tournament. Yeah, that alone tells you that this was an unwanted idea that is being executed badly. Sure, the (few) benefits are apparent. MLB has awoken from its marketing hibernation to chase down every last advertising dollar in Venezuela and Japan. But if Hideki Matsui – one of the figureheads of a global baseball community – isn’t even playing, what does that tell you? And God forbid anybody gets injured.
Kevin Kernan: Good thing you weren’t Christopher Columbus’ king, Michael, he never would have set sail. There is a great, big world out there and plenty of countries would be thrilled to watch their teams play in the semis at Petco Park, instead of watching first-round basketball blowouts. I love the NCAA tournament, but there is nothing wrong with a little sunshine and a little baseball that weekend. No matter what happens in the WBC, it’s going to be better than what you usually get that time of year, meaningless spring training games between the Mets and Marlins or Yankees and Tigers. Sure this tournament has flaws, but don’t be an Ugly American. Expand your horizons a bit. The world is not flat.
Morrissey: No, but this idea is sure to fall flat. How can you have a real “world championship” where pitchers are on pitch counts? In your vernacular, that’s like sending Columbus off to the New World in a rowboat.
It’s laughable, and that still won’t protect someone like Dontrelle Willis from blowing out his arm. Players are used to spending spring training as a time to get themselves ready, not to rush so they can bear down against a 95 mph Brad Lidge fastball or gear up to face Manny Ramirez. This thing is bound to resemble the Edmund Fitzgerald, not the Nina.
Kernan: David Wright told me recently he can’t wait to play. It will be fun to see Wright alongside Derek Jeter. Or how about the Murderer’s Row of Miguel Tejada, Vlad Guerrero, David Ortiz and Ramirez? What’s wrong with Lidge throwing gas followed up by Billy Wagner. I’m even curious to see who lines up with Italy and Mike Piazza. That injury excuse is so lame. David Weathers got hurt playing catch at home a few days ago. It comes with the territory.
Morrissey: Another problem is, Wright might not get to play – if the U.S. carries A-Rod, Morgan Ensberg and Eric Chavez at third base. And that’s just crazy, as players like Wright are pushed aside while many stars are getting their arms twisted by Bud Selig and Gene Orza. My final gripe is this: Fans who make spring training an annual trek won’t be seeing the real Mets or Yankees this spring in those “meaningless” Grapefruit League games, as you call them. They’ll be paying the same (exorbitant) prices as last year to see more 40-man roster scrubs and non-roster invites than ever. That’s good for baseball?
Kernan: What in the name of Wally Whitehurst are you talking about? If Derek Jeter is the only reason you’re going to Tampa, make sure you get there before March 2 or book a flight to Arizona and see Jeter, A-Rod, Johnny Damon and all the stars on one team. That’s the beauty of this event. And there’s still baseball, pinstripes and sunshine in Tampa. Is it good for baseball we’ve become so Yankee-centric that for three tiny weeks we can’t put a team together to play for the United States? My advice to you Mike, is relax, sit back and see who has the best baseball team in the world.
