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Will the WBC ever be 'Patriot Games'?
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What would you give up for a chance to play for your country? Maybe that depends on what professional sport you play.
Last summer, we saw exactly what it meant to professional golfers and a group of NBA superstars. A lot. A whole lot. The emotions on display at the Ryder Cup and in the Summer Olympics were spine-tingling. The passion of playing for the Red, White and Blue overcame the love of the green, and it showed in the results.
America is riding the wave that started with the USA Olympic “Redeem Team” basketball squad taking back our rightful gold medal in Beijing in dominating fashion. It continued with the improbable, underdog USA golfers' (minus Tiger Woods) Ryder Cup win over Europe, highlighted by the “Ugly American” performance of Boo Weekley, who seemed to be channeling Happy Gilmore in leading the USA to the upset.
“It ain't about me," Weekley told ESPN after the victory. "There ain't no 'I' on this team. We're playing for that flag."
So there you have it. Also ask Dwyane Wade, Paul Azinger, Kobe Bryant, Phil Mickelson, LeBron James and the rest what it meant to them to win for their country.
Now it’s time for the Major League Baseball stars to step up and commit to playing for their country in the 2009 World Baseball Classic in March. Kudos to Colorado Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta and outfielder Brad Hawpe, who will both proudly represent Team USA in the WBC. A big thumbs-down to former Rockie Matt Holliday, who rejected an offer to play for his country, presumably because he doesn’t want to risk getting injured during what will be his ‘free agent’ season with the Oakland A’s. It’s all about the green, it would seem.
Holliday is not the only big name who opted out of the WBC, which is a shame. Certainly the timing and format of the tournament is not favorable for American players. It’s played just a couple weeks after the start of spring training. Players are not yet truly in game competition shape, and injuries happen when you push yourself too fast. I get that.
Still, if you think about it, in early March, these guys are getting one, maybe two at bats in an exhibition game in Arizona or Florida. They work out pretty hard in the morning (and presumably have been during the months leading up to camp) play a few innings after lunch, and try to sneak in nine holes before dinner. Gradually over the course of six weeks, they work up to playing a full nine innings. Been that way for decades, and it’s a tried and true formula.
So what are they going to be asked to do for Team USA? Since the rosters feature a full compliment of MLB stars, a player like Holliday would be asked to play about half the game, get a couple of at bats, and call it a day (minus the golf). His replacement, another MLB standout like, say, Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun, would do the same.
How is this a lot different from a player’s normal spring training routine?
The answer is it’s not, and that’s why it’s a shame that players like Holliday won’t represent America. The NBA and NHL don’t buy into the idea of saving yourself for the regular season. Their players go all out in international competition. Some baseball players are copping out.
Yes, it’s different with pitchers. It’s obvious why Jeff Francis doesn’t want to pitch for Team Canada. He’s coming off an injury and needs a normal spring training. But Cleveland’s Cliff Lee, the reigning American League Cy Young winner, has no such excuse. He’s worried about the workload. I don’t buy it. The USA coaching staff would not push him any harder than the Indians coaches will during the Cactus League season.
The San Diego Padres are trying to talk ace pitcher Jake Peavy into skipping the WBC, even though Peavy has committed to playing. They’re worried that the emotion of pitching for his country again (Peavy was the starting pitcher for Team USA’s first WBC game in 2006) might lead him to push himself a little too fast, which led to a sore arm under the same circumstances three years ago. In a case like his, it will be up to Peavy to follow his training regime and not overdo it. Team USA has plenty of good bullpen help. Wouldn’t you like to see Peavy pitch a few innings for the Red, White and Blue this March, instead of throwing those same innings in a meaningless spring game against the Mariners?
Remember, this summer we saw baseball played in the Olympics for the final time. Team USA, made up of minor leaguers, took bronze. We’re better than that. During my playing days, I would have sacrificed a non-essential body part to be a part of Team USA (which did not exist in baseball back then, so there was never a chance.) I think most of us can totally relate to what Iannetta, Hawpe, Peavy and others are feeling.
Maybe it’s time for Boo Weekley to give Holliday a call.
(Photo of Chris Iannetta courtesy of Wikipedia)
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