Sanity Reigns Supreme. Pedroia Skips World Baseball Classic.

For once the insanity that pervades Major League Baseball’s greedy and wrong-headed promotion of the World Baseball Classic takes a back seat. Dustin Pedroia told WEEI today that he’ll be skipping participation in the WBC tournament after the Red Sox requested of team USA that he bow out to allow him to continue to heal from his broken finger and torn ligament from 2012. Ya think? Pedroia’s absence leaves only Shane Victorino as the lone Red Sox WBC participant from team USA.

July 5, 2012; St. Louis, MO. USA; Grass is removed from St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Allen Craig (21) broken bat during a game against the Colorado Rockies at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals won 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

How can I put this delicately? The World Baseball Classic is the worst thing to happen to Major League Baseball since the Black Sox and steroids cheating scandals combined. The WBC does to MLB what the owner of a prized triple crown horse would do if she were to have it run races in other countries with no prize at stake and no clear benefit to horse racing. The horse runs three races, pulls up lame and then can’t realistically compete in The Derby, The Belmont Stakes or The Preakness. If that were to happen the owner would sooner be shot than the horse.

"So why does Major League Baseball persist in this risky business other than to promote the sport worldwide and, in the process, line it’s own pockets? Honestly, clue me in. Respond to the post. I need to know the rationale. The players don’t benefit. In actuality a situation is created in which a 162 games season is at risk while turning spring training team unity on its head."

The BSI staff can cover it if they like. The WBC will not get a word from me after this post unless it relates to it’s downward spiral or players whose seasons and/or careers and have been jeopardized as a result of their participation. Think about it from a business perspective. What business person in their right mind would want to take any performance based product and deliver it to marketplace scratched and nicked up? I thought so.

The WBC is wrong and Major League Baseball is a pimp for promoting it. The WBC creates a climate for injury. It distracts players from focusing on what they are richly paid to do; win championships in Major League Baseball with their teams.

There. I feel better. Well, almost.

Click here for a list of team USA’s participants.

Dirty deeds and they’re done dirt cheap
Dirty deeds and they’re done dirt cheap
– Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, AC/DC