Mar 12, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; United States third baseman David Wright (5) hits a 3 run double against Puerto Rico at Marlins Park. United States defeated Puerto Rico 7-1. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Yesterday a rib injury that started in Port St. Lucie, Florida when he was preparing for the WBC, sidelined New York Mets third baseman David Wright.

Wright obviously had no problems playing. His beastly performance in the tournament – 7 for 16, 1 homer, 10 RBI and 4 runs scored – made him team USA most important player by far. It was the off hours of relaxing and sleeping in certain positions – or lack thereof – that became increasingly uncomfortable for Wright. How many times do I have to rail against the dark sky of the WBC, “This is bad for Major League Baseball!”

Now, an injury that he sustained a week ago now has him back in Port. St. Lucie, where he’ll be examined by the Mets’ medical staff and the Mets will close ranks to protect their franchise player.

““Once I get heated up, I feel pretty good,” Wright told The Sporting News. “I wouldn’’t do anything to jeopardize (being ready for the start of the season). I owe it to the Mets to listen to them and be ready for opening day. That’’s extremely important to me. That’’s something I don’t want to jeopardize.” Why go the tournament in the first place if you know you have an injury? I don’t get it. I never will.

I last reported that fewer players statistically get injured when they complete in the WBC so what’s the big deal? The big deal is if it’s your guy on the cusp of your Major League Baseball season and he goes down, it’s frankly a total buzz kill. Long after the World Baseball Classic is over, baseball in the US will be played through the summer and, for the lucky ones, into the fall. Pennant fever will grip major cities and fans will go nuts as their teams attempt to be the last one standing. To have your team attempt this 162 game marathon without their best players is a crime. A Major League Baseball season is tough enough without courting disaster. Ask any New Yorker.

In a New York minute…
Everything can change
In a New York minute…
Things can get a little strange
- In a New York Minute, Don Henley

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Mar. 9, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Mexico outfielder Karim Garcia (right) collides with Canada catcher Chris Robinson in the fourth inning during the World Baseball Classic at Chase Field. Garcia was out on the play. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

In a game that included a number of hard slides and a collision at the plate, both teams appeared to have had enough of one another by the end of the game. And so the stage was set.

One of baseball’s unwritten rules is that you don’t disrespect your opponent by bunting to get aboard with a big lead. That’s exactly what happened when Canada’s Chris Robinson led off the ninth inning with a bunt with Canada ahead 9-3. Mexico pitcher Arnold Leon responded by throwing at but missing Canada’s Rene Tosoni. After both teams were warned by the umpire Leon drilled Tosoni in the back and the brawl was on.

Aceves, who was involved in a WWF-style wrestling match with Tyson Gillies, was reportedly either punched in the face or hit in the head.

I’d be worried about Aceves’ condition if I thought the blow actually could make his psycho-physiological condition any worse.

Aceves was ejected from the game and most likely will face further discipline. This fan video gives you a taste of the non-baseball related action. This multi-shot video vignette depicts a more complete picture of the fracas.

Mar. 9, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Mexico players fight with Canada players in the ninth inning of the World Baseball Classic at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Yes, if you follow me, you know that this report breaks my long-standing boycott of World Baseball Classic reporting. I’m reporting it for two reasons. 1. It further underscores how this event endangers Major League Baseball players in an essentially meaningless competition, one of my primary caveats that would trigger a report. This qualifies in a big way. By they way, Puerto Rico and Venezuela are currently embroiled in a chippy game on the MLB Network; 2. It highlights what a head case Aceves is and how badly the Red Sox need to get rid of him.

Bud Selig, I hope you’re happy.

You gotta fight for your right to party
- You Gotta Fight For Your Right to Party, Beastie Boys 

March 2, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees batting coach Kevin Long (left) talks with first baseman Mark Teixeira (25) prior to the game against the Detroit Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Cherington went first. While diplomatically sidestepping any direct criticism of the event, he was nonetheless steadfast in his support for the dog and pony show as “good for the promotion of baseball” but equally candid about his concern for players Shane Victorino and Alfredo Aceves, both of whom had chosen to participate. When asked the same question an inning later Cashman said, “What did Ben say?” When O’Brien summarized Cherington’s remarks Cashman said almost verbatim the same thing. Well if I didn’t know better you’d think all GMs, including these two, had been coached by Bud Selig’s goons?

In a continuation of my personal running feud with MLB over the World Baseball Classic this just in. Mark Teixeira injured himself at the World Baseball Classic.

When I first heard the news a creamy froth appeared on my lips, my pupils dilated and I could sense a kill.

Upon further research I learned that Teixeira was diagnosed with a strained wrist after some swings in the batting cage. He’s expected to be sidelined a week to 10 days and will be out of the tournament.

The silver lining for the Yankees and I believe MLB in general is that because of the injury New York exercised their right to yank their injured first baseman from the tournament and get his butt back to New York where he’ll be evaluated on Wednesday by Yankees’ team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad and Dr. Melvin Rosenwasser. I want Teixeira healthy. I want him in the Yankee’s lineup on April 1 so I can love it if he does ever so poorly against my Red Sox. That’s what baseball is about, not the manufactured contrivance that is the World Baseball Classic.

When you come down to it there’s nothing classic about it. By dictionary definition classic is “judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind.” World Baseball Classic? Phhfftttt!!!!

I said in an earlier piece on the tournament, “..compelling evidence that those who participate in the WBC and indeed all of Major League Baseball as a whole are statistically less prone to being injured in years when there is a WBC tournament. That is unless that one big injury that’s lurking out there is your franchise guy on your team.”

Like a moth into a flame,
I’m hypnotized,
And like a stone,
I’m paralyzed cause I can’t look away,
- Break The Spell, Daughtry 

Feb. 12, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA: Detailed view of a baseball in the dirt during Los Angeles Angels spring training at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

I’ve covered this ground before but I feel I wouldn’t be true to my values if I didn’t give the World Baseball Classic another sound shellacking. Allow me to reiterate my premise: the World Baseball Classic is bad for Major League Baseball. Period. End of story. It’s good for Bud Selig and his cronies who think the rest of the world actually gives much of a rip about baseball. It’s good for MLB revenues and merchandising. It’s good for baseball junkies starved for something approaching real baseball before April 1. Don’t get me wrong. I like a powerful hit of baseball out of the blue as much as the next addict. One, however, has to draw the line somewhere. I’m very certain that the MLB brand will be tarnished long-term by the hype and by event timing so bad it would make the NFL promoters of the Pro Bowl blush.

Sure Japan, Mexico and a few other countries have some righteous passion for the game. Baseball being played anywhere anytime is essentially a good thing. I take issue with the timing and the possibility of injury that an exhibition tournament inflicts on American baseball fans.

July 11, 2012; Reading, PA USA; Member of the Ground Crew dances during the 7th inning during AA Eastern League All-Star game at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Eastern Division defeated the Western Division, 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Now before the cries of racism rise to a shriek so shrill that only a dog can hear them, you’ve got to admit that – at it’s core – baseball is an American game. Baseball was invented in America. It’s where the money is made.

Baseball’s long, storied history from Cy Young to the Black Sox to Babe Ruth on through Williams, DiMaggio, The Curse of the Bambino, The Curse of the Billy Goat, the Bloody Sock and Mike Trout is a uniquely American story.

America is the cradle of the sport and will always be the foundation of its success. So why would Major League Baseball put so much on the line so close the start of the MLB season?

In a recent ESPN article, Busting The WBC Myth, Jason Stark cogently lays out the facts: The health risks of participating in the World Baseball Classic are more myth than reality. Stark’s piece is excellent. He presents some compelling evidence that those who participate in the WBC and indeed all of Major League Baseball as a whole are statistically less prone to being injured in years when there is a WBC tournament. That is unless that one big injury that’s lurking out there is your franchise guy on your team. Nevertheless, as Mark Twain said, “Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.” So to Stark’s well-researched facts I say pffffftttttt!

During the 2009 WBC both Dustin Pedroia (strained abdomen) and Kevin Youkilis (ankle) got a little nicked up during the WBC. You know what happened? They both had very good seasons. They were durable and hit at or above their career average. OK, OK, OK but my point is…well I don’t quite know what my point is except that the specter of a catastrophic injury is causing many stars to skip the event. This year the WBC will go on with the show without the likes of Trout, Justin Verlander, Bryce Harper or Clayton Kershaw to name a few. You know why? They don’t want to get injured and mess things up for their employer who by the way will pay them a combined $34 million to put butts in seats this summer. There. After writing enough it appears I have finally made my point. Phew, close call on the writer’s edge.

That would be like me entering a writing tournament and getting so burnt out that when I returned to Bosox Injection I had tunnel carpal syndrome and writer’s block and couldn’t produce anymore. Yeah, the scale is slightly different but you get my point.

The second bone to pick is the timing of the event. How can I put this delicately? It sucks. Staging an international tournament during spring training when teams are supposed to be coming together as a unit to face the upcoming 162 game war of attrition is just plain thick-headed. The tournament is a greed-filled marketing machine for Major League Baseball that doesn’t take into account the intimacy baseball fans enjoy with their team and it’s players before the regular season starts.

February 21, 2013; Maryvale, AZ, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun (8) signs autographs for fans during spring training at Maryvale Baseball Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

If the promoters of the WBC really cared about the game of baseball they’d close up their tent, put the snake oil away and let the showmen get back to the main event under the big tops in Florida and Arizona. Spring training is a time when fans can actually get up close and personal with big leaguers in a way unmatched by any sport. Football and basketball have no spring training equivalent. Fans from Fort Myers to Scottsdale will get unprecedented access to ballplayers over the next two months and it binds them to their team. They can kibbutz across the fence during warm up and after a session. They can actually talk with professional baseball players. That’s some special sauce the MLB should not mess with.

Some Major League ball clubs are pushing back. Just the other day the Cincinnati Reds drew a line in the sand by blocking ace Johnny Cueto from pitching for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Sure they did it on a technicality –  Cueto strained his right oblique during last October’s division series against San Francisco and finished the year with an injury – giving the Reds the right to block him from playing.

With some of the game’s biggest stars opting out and with Major League Baseball franchises protecting their on the field product by blocking players when they can, MLB management needs to take off the blinders, dig the dollar bills out of their ears and start dancing with who brought them to the dance in the first place.

Money, it’s a gas 
Grab that cash with both hands 
And make a stash 

New car, caviar, four star daydream 
Think I’ll buy me a football team
- Money, Pink Floyd 

Dear Allan Huber ‘Bud’ Selig,

Let me start off by saying I respect what you have done for the game of baseball for the past 2 decades. You have played an integral role in adding Wild Card spots in both leagues in 1995 and pushing for steroid reform in the MLB over the last handful of years. Both of those pushes have had a significant impact on the game and, in my humble opinion, have improved the sport in many ways. Over the years you have also experimented with some things that haven’t worked, such as making the All-Star Game determine home field advantage in the World Series and instituting the World Baseball Classic during Spring Training, but in both cases, the intent was good and positive. All that aside, your recent judgement is questionable and I have a few issues with the direction you are (or not) taking baseball. (more…)

MEMEBERS OF THE 2009 TEAM USA CLUB:

CATCHERS:

Chris Iannetta  – Colorado Rockies, Brian McCann – Atlanta Braves

OUTFIELDERS:

Ryan Braun – Milwaukee Brewers, Curtis Granderson – Detroit Tigers, Brad Hawpe – Colorado Rockies, Grady Sizemore – Cleveland Indians

INFIELDERS:

Mark DeRosa – Cleveland Indians, Derek Jeter – N.Y. Yankees, Chipper Jones – Atlanta Braves, Jimmy Rollins – Philadelphia Phillies, David Wright – N.Y. Mets, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis – Boston Red Sox (more…)

It all starts at the TOKYO DOME, in Tokyo, Japan when China squares off against host country Japan, at 4:30 am EST.  Team USA, who’s roster is filled entirely by Major League Baseball (MLB) players will be competing in Pool C, which includes Canada, Italy and Venezuela.  All the opening round games for teams from Pool C, will be  played at the ROGERS CENTRE, in Toronto, Canada.  Some good news for the USA club is they have two extra days of preparation time before they open up with Canada, on the 7th of March at 2:00 EST.

Those two days could mean a lot for the USA players since it allows them more time to practice and gel as a unit with one another.  It doesn’t matter that they’re all from the majors, without some form of unity any team can and could be eliminated quickly.  As the competition in this tournament style series is fierce and stocked full of talented players on all sides.  Just remember it was only three ago that Japan came in and shocked the entire world in winning the inaugural WBC.

Can team USA get redemption from their poor showing  in 2006?  Do they have enough talent to win it all?  Can they even compete with these teams?  All of these questions plus more will be answered shortly.  Until then just sit back and relax and enjoy the ride.  GO USA!

Here’s just a few of them listed below:

• Who’s going to be the opening day shortstop?
• The teams fifth starter opening the season will be?
• Will the World Baseball Classic (WBC) affect the Sox players participating in it?
• Can the club win it all without Manny Ramirez?

First off in regards to shortstop I’d have to give the edge to the young and upcoming Jed Lowrie.  Now that doesn’t mean that Julio Lugo is out either.  Lugo who still has two years and $18 million left on his contract could very well win the job during the spring.  But we have to evaluate and decide who’s better fit to take it during the spring. 

I believe if the Sox can afford to keep on the roster, they’ll do it.  Having a backup insurance policy is always a great thing.  But that answer will depend on the health and depth of the pitching staff at camp’s end.

Concerning the teams fifth starter I’d give it to Brad Penny for the moment over Clay Buchholz.  Of course once newly acquired John Smoltz is ready to go, this could all change.  Buchholz did not impress me or others that much last season.  Maybe more time in the minors will be the secret to his success this year and in the future.  Smoltz can be a very valuable commodity in either the bullpen or the starting rotation. (more…)