Buehrle on US Team

[SoxFan1]

Maybe XFL is a bad example.  But what if Jordan or a Dream Teamer got hurt in the Olympics.  Even that example is a stretch because the Olympics matter.

So your saying that it doesn't matter to the Cubans and the Dominicans and the Venezuelans and the Japanese to represent their country??? GMAFB. The sport of baseball doesnt have a Olympic team so this is all they get. I'm sorry to say but Americans are some of the least patriotic people on the Earth. As an athlete, the greatest thing you can achieve is to represent your country in your sport, no matter what the occasion. Not being an American myself, I know what it means to have pride in your countries sports teams. In 2002, when Yugoslavia won the FIBA Basketball World Championships and I was there to witness it live, it was one of the greatest moments I ever have and ever will experience. It was by far the proudest I have ever been as a Serbian. Americans are spoiled....I am sorry but this is just my perspective. To argue that representing your country doesn't matter is absurd.

[Greg The Bull Luzinski]

So your saying that it doesn't matter to the Cubans and the Dominicans and the Venezuelans and the Japanese to represent their country??? GMAFB. The sport of baseball doesnt have a Olympic team so this is all they get. I'm sorry to say but Americans are some of the least patriotic people on the Earth. As an athlete, the greatest thing you can achieve is to represent your country in your sport, no matter what the occasion. Not being an American myself, I know what it means to have pride in  your countries sports teams. In 2002, when Yugoslavia won the FIBA Basketball World Championships and I was there to witness it live, it was one of the greatest moments I ever have and ever will experience. It was by far the proudest I have ever been as a Serbian. Americans are spoiled....I am sorry but this is just my perspective. To argue that representing your country doesn't matter is absurd.

 

 

So when other countries start shooting guns in the air and rioting after their soccer team loses, are tey more patroitic? I would like to think that there are better ways than sports to represent your country. If not, should I only pull for Americans on the White Sox?

[SoxFan1]

So when other countries start shooting guns in the air and rioting after their soccer team loses, are tey more patroitic?  I would like to think that there are better ways than sports to represent your country.  If not, should I only pull for Americans on the White Sox?

Not necessarily, but they sure as hell put more effort into it. Either way, this is baseball not soccer so what's your point. Oh and by the way, soccer is the most popular sport in the world...period.

Edited December 5, 2005 by SoxFan1

[Greg The Bull Luzinski]

Not necessarily, but they sure as hell put more effort into it. Either way, this is baseball not soccer so what's your point. Oh and by the way, soccer is the most popular sport in the world...period.

 

 

SoxFan, I think we going to have to agree to disagree on this one. Baseball fans are pretty split on this, though I suspect after one year most people (in AMerica at least) wont much care. After about three years, it will not even be the elite players on the team.

[SoxFan1]

SoxFan, I think we going to have to agree to disagree on this one.  Baseball fans are pretty split on this, though I suspect after one year most people (in AMerica at least) wont much care.  After about three years, it will not even be the elite players on the team.

Fine with me. Like I said, there is no right or wrong, it's just up to the players. I do agree with the bold statement though.

[NorthSideSox72]

Dude, they are representing their country in a tournament. This is the greatest honor an athlete can achieve.

 

Bingo.

 

I think it's great that our country is willing to at least give a little bit of meaning to the phrase "World Champion" in this or any other sport.

 

I will feel no worse about a WBC injury than a ST injury. In fact, I'll feel better about something happening in WBC, since it was for a worthy cause.

 

I love the Sox, but I also love baseball, THE SPORT. Therefore, anything that brings more of the world to the table... so much the better.

 

[nitetrain8601]

If it happens in Spring Training, at least it happened on their watch.  These guys are paid a s*** load of money by their organizations, and if one of them gets hurt performing an activity which they are not paid to do, the organization has the right to be pissed about it.

 

Thats why you'll hear about clauses in contracts that give teams the ability to void contracts if they get hurt during extra-curricular activities (see Jay Williams and Kellen Winslow Jr.).  Playing in these games is a definite risk for these players.  And if one player who is an integral part of a major league roster gets hurt, expect a major backlash.

 

How is it anymore of a risk than ST games? IIRC, Buehrle was hurt last ST shagging balls.

[DonkeyKongerko]

Dave Nilsson and Joe Vitiello will make this tournament worth watching. Each roster drums up memories of late 90's video gaming with Ken Griffey Jr.'s Major League Baseball.

[SoCalSouthSider59]

when/if someone gets injured, u wont like it

 

To all of the Sox players : Be careful out there!

 

 

[Rowand44]

I really don't like this thing. Might be entertaining but it's really meaningless to me. That said, for players especially from different countries this is going to be huge, meaning they're going to put more strain on their arms by how competitive they're going to be and that's what scares me. Well...nothing I can do about it so I wish Freddy, Mark, and Tad the best of luck in this.

[CWSGuy406]

Aww -- King Felix isn't pitching for Venezuela? That would've been the best starting rotation there, if Felix was there... Garcia - Santana - Hernandez - Silva - Zambrano. I'd say that's the best five man there. Ah, well...

 

I'm interested in seeing, mainly, some of the Japanese pitchers. There's speculation about Daisuke Matsuzaka pitching in there, and I want to see how he does against a lineup like the DR.

 

If this is anything like the World Cup in hockey, we're all in for a treat. The WC was awesome, this should be fun as well.

[hotlanta13]

It's just good to see that they're not half-assing it like the basketball olympic team and the best players really do compete.

[KevHead0881]

How is it anymore of a risk than ST games? IIRC, Buehrle was hurt last ST shagging balls.

 

Never said it was any more of a risk than Spring Training. Find where I actually said so in my previous post and I will edit it.

 

I was only saying that these guys are being paid a lot of money by their teams to not only perform, but to do what is best for the organization (hence the charity work, PR events, etc). And I doubt that performing in these games is in the best interest of these teams.

 

In this case, if they get hurt playing in Spring Training, its while doing what they are paid to do. Thats not the case with this tournament. And I'm sure if you asked most GM's what they think about their players participating in this, my guess is that they prefer they didn't.

 

For the record, I could really care less what these players do and what happens in this tourney. As I stated earlier, I'd rather watch the White Sox in Spring Training. I might tune in from time to time cause its baseball, but it all seems kind of irrelevent. Call me unpatriotic or whatever you want. It just doesn't seem interesting. But thats just one mans opinion and I'm sure many disagree.

 

Alls I'm sayin is that as soon as an MLB player gets hurt during this thing, there is going to be some unhappy people.

Edited December 6, 2005 by KevHead0881

[kevin57]

It's just good to see that they're not half-assing it like the basketball olympic team and the best players really do compete.

 

If this were the Olympics--and since they've cut baseball this is a moot point--I wouldn't mind as much. The Olympics have a revered place in world athletics. But this thing is a largely contrived event that doesn't have 10% of the weight the Olympics do.

[KevHead0881]

Make that at least 2 GM's who aren't exactly thrilled about this:

 

GMs uneasy over Classic

 

I'm sure they're not alone.

[kevin57]

Make that at least 2 GM's who aren't exactly thrilled about this:

 

GMs uneasy over Classic

 

I'm sure they're not alone.

 

What's curious is that MLB created this series. Why, how did they do that if there's this much concern being raised? Another MLB decision where everything was clearly thought through.

[NorthSideSox72]

What's curious is that MLB created this series.  Why, how did they do that if there's this much concern being raised?  Another MLB decision where everything was clearly thought through.

 

I don't see this as being not-thought-through. I think that for this to succeed, players and teams need to be pushed towards it. Otherwise, it would never happen. I have no doubt that MLB knew full well that some baseball execs would have objections.

 

As I stated earlier, I think this is a great thing. If you want the phrase "World Champions" to mean something, then you have to try to head that direction. This is obviously only a small step, but it's going the right way.

[nitetrain8601]

I don't see this as being not-thought-through.  I think that for this to succeed, players and teams need to be pushed towards it.  Otherwise, it would never happen.  I have no doubt that MLB knew full well that some baseball execs would have objections.

 

As I stated earlier, I think this is a great thing.  If you want the phrase "World Champions" to mean something, then you have to try to head that direction.  This is obviously only a small step, but it's going the right way.

 

I don't know about that. Other countries are hyped up about this. I heard the Cubans wish they would field a team as well. Every other country is hyped up about this. In fact, everyone is hyped up on this minus American fans.

 

Again, IMO, it's no different than playing Winter League or ST except it means more to the players. If you don't believe that, then there's something wrong with you.

[NorthSideSox72]

I don't know about that. Other countries are hyped up about this. I heard the Cubans wish they would field a team as well. Every other country is hyped up about this. In fact, everyone is hyped up on this minus American fans.

 

Again, IMO, it's no different than playing Winter League or ST except it means more to the players. If you don't believe that, then there's something wrong with you.

 

OK, let me re-phrase. The AMERICANS need to be pushed a bit to put something at stake.

[DABearSoX]

As long as he doesn't feel another random "Pop" coming from his foot....

 

 

you could even put that in green......i feel that little miracle was foreshadowing of what was to come......

 

not saying i want it to happen again though...