02/06: WBC Notes
Posted by: James
Here's a quick recap of some of the Yankee-related World Baseball Classic news over the last couple of days.
Out:
Robbie Cano won't be participating and I for one think his reasons are very valid:
Mariano Rivera also will not be participating.
Changes:
A-Rod has been added to Team USA and will be playing SS along with Derek Jeter. That's a nice luxury to have, huh? Two Hall-of-Fame bound shortstops on one team? Oh wait...that's everyday life as a Yankee fan...thanks George.
As an aside, I have to admit that I am pleasantly surprised at the excitement that I sense building for this event. I don't really feel it beginning for Team USA just yet but I think that there is a great amount of pride and support from several of the other countries that are fielding a team. I think that support for the US team will build soon (and quickly) as it wouldn't take much to transition the patriotic fervor for Team USA at the Winter Olympics to Team USA at the WBC. If everything breaks right, it should only be a matter of time before you see people walking down the street with a nice looking Team USA A-Rod or Jeter jersey or a Dominican jersey with Pedro or Pujols stitched on the back.
Out:
Robbie Cano won't be participating and I for one think his reasons are very valid:
Cano cited the presence of fellow second basemen Alfonso Soriano and Luis Castillo on the Dominican Republic's team as his primary reason for sitting out, saying he would rather use the time to play exhibition games with the Yankees than to sit on the bench with the Dominican team.
"I don't think I'm going to play," Cano said. "Maybe they'd use me once in a while, but I want to win a world championship. If I go there, I'll be sitting on the bench, and I want to get ready for the season."
"I don't think I'm going to play," Cano said. "Maybe they'd use me once in a while, but I want to win a world championship. If I go there, I'll be sitting on the bench, and I want to get ready for the season."
Mariano Rivera also will not be participating.
Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, the highest profile Major League player from Panama, reiterated Monday he will not participate in the World Baseball Classic. The Associated Press quoted Rivera as saying he based the decision on his inability to be prepared to pitch when the WBC begins early next month.
"I won't be ready," Rivera said after he had worked out at the Yankees' Minor League complex.
"I won't be ready," Rivera said after he had worked out at the Yankees' Minor League complex.
Changes:
A-Rod has been added to Team USA and will be playing SS along with Derek Jeter. That's a nice luxury to have, huh? Two Hall-of-Fame bound shortstops on one team? Oh wait...that's everyday life as a Yankee fan...thanks George.
As an aside, I have to admit that I am pleasantly surprised at the excitement that I sense building for this event. I don't really feel it beginning for Team USA just yet but I think that there is a great amount of pride and support from several of the other countries that are fielding a team. I think that support for the US team will build soon (and quickly) as it wouldn't take much to transition the patriotic fervor for Team USA at the Winter Olympics to Team USA at the WBC. If everything breaks right, it should only be a matter of time before you see people walking down the street with a nice looking Team USA A-Rod or Jeter jersey or a Dominican jersey with Pedro or Pujols stitched on the back.
Patrick wrote:
lol. True. :)