Article: 2017 Minnesota Twins Roster Projections - The Starting Pitchers

[Mike Sixel]

 

In the expense of MLB?  Why?  If the whole idea is to develop local talent, have that talent play instead of MLB players.

 

the idea is to spread the game's popularity world wide...

[Willihammer]

 

In the expense of MLB?  Why?  If the whole idea is to develop local talent, have that talent play instead of MLB players.

At the expense of MLB spring training, which, how much difference is there really between ST and WBC practice / games?

[Thrylos]

 

the idea is to spread the game's popularity world wide...

 

If that were the case, I would suspect that they would play games in countries underrepresented now.  I am not convinced that the game will get more popular in Israel because a bunch of Jewish American ballplayers are wearing an Israeli uniform or in Italy because Italian immigrants' grandchildren are wearing that uniform.

 

WBC is popular in Latin America, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Australia.  Places where baseball is already popular.   And in places where Soccer is popular (eg. Brasil, Argentina) you see zero attempt to even field WBC teams.

 

It is a pride tourney for (let's say) Dominicans to brag that they are better than the (let's say) Koreans.

 

And that I value way less than having all the Twins get ready for the season at the best circumstances possible.

Edited February 16, 2017 by Thrylos

[Thrylos]

 

At the expense of MLB spring training, which, how much difference is there really between ST and WBC practice / games?

 

Huge if your double play partner and/or your catcher in your MLB team is not around in the WBC practice.   Try to work infield shifts as a team in WBC and see how well that translates to the MLB...