Late this afternoon, Glen Perkins tweeted that he had just got off the phone with Joe Torre who informed him that he would be joining Joe Mauer on Team USA in the WBC.

Congrats to Perk, but ugh for the Twins.

I'm not really concerned about a RP'er going. A starter is an entirely different matter but the Twins don't have any good ones so that isn't a factor.

I'm not really concerned about a RP'er going. A starter is an entirely different matter but the Twins don't have any good ones so that isn't a factor.

 

Can we volunteer Correia to go?

Can we volunteer Correia to go?

You mean to Afghanistan, right?

He attended Grossmont High School in El Cajon, California. He attended Grossmont Junior College and then transferred to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 2000. Correia is of Portuguese descent.

 

Does Mark Portugal have a team?

This WBC stuff does hurt alot of players.

This WBC stuff does hurt alot of players.

That was the concern but I think that is largely myth. I still get a little concerned about starting pitchers that get knocked out of their spring training routine.

That was the concern but I think that is largely myth. I still get a little concerned about starting pitchers that get knocked out of their spring training routine.

They have pretty strict restrictions on WBC pitchers. I believe the max pitches allowed is under 100, and mandatory days of rest.

They have pretty strict restrictions on WBC pitchers. I believe the max pitches allowed is under 100, and mandatory days of rest.

 

My concern isn't overusage but rather the change to their spring training schedule when they are still building up strength. And possibly reaching back for that little extra since it's a game that matters.

My concern isn't overusage but rather the change to their spring training schedule when they are still building up strength. And possibly reaching back for that little extra since it's a game that matters.

Possibly, but most of the teams with the bulk of the MLB players (US, Dominican) don't play a WBC game until March 7-9. That's two weeks into the exhibition schedule. Starting pitchers should be adequately built up to top out at 85 pitches by that point, and then get the mandatory 4 days rest. (From what I found of the rules once I actually bothered to look.)

Still not the problem. It's the scheduling where a starter might get 6+ days of rest. Or they need to keep a guy available as a long man and he misses a bullpen session. Or the extra starters that don't get regular starts.

 

In spring training a starter is assigned a specific schedule and it doesn't matter if it's the MLB game, an MiLB game or on the back field he is going to pitch on that day. That schedule is thrown out the window in the WBC.

Still not the problem. It's the scheduling where a starter might get 6+ days of rest. Or they need to keep a guy available as a long man and he misses a bullpen session. Or the extra starters that don't get regular starts.

 

In spring training a starter is assigned a specific schedule and it doesn't matter if it's the MLB game, an MiLB game or on the back field he is going to pitch on that day. That schedule is thrown out the window in the WBC.

For the US team, the entire schedule (even if they make the championship) takes less than two weeks. There's no way that a stretch of time that short will be crippling to a player. There's rest built in if they're used, and if they're not, they'll do their regular upkeep activities. They'll still throw bullpen sessions and the like, and I believe the players' MLB teams have the ability to lay down stipulations for their players' usage. Add to it close to another 2 weeks afterwards before the end of the preseason, and it's no more likely to wear a guy down or hurt a player's schedule than whatever may happen in the preseason with their MLB team.

Well, one positive on Diamond having surgery is missing this thing...........not for Canada.......not that it was going to make a difference for us or anything.

I would also add that this is now the third WBC. There should be enough of a history to build up a protocol on how to prepare properly with this schedule compared to a normal schedule.

 

I also am in the camp that I am much less concerned about a relief pitcher than I am a starter.

I don't like the WBC at all. The timing is bad, and forces folks to perform at a level that they are not prepared for. Once the adrenalin sets in and the competition revs up, the players will do things that their body is not ready for, and the chances of getting hurt get massive and are not worth it. The Olympics is where to do this type of thing for your country, and now baseball is not even in the Olympics. If I was an owner, I would have it in my contracts that none of my players could play in the WBC. This really isn't about representing your country. It's just the WBC. I, for one, could care less about this silly competition with athletes not even in shape to compete. It really doesn't mean anything. Now the Twins best player and closer are exposing themselves. Just what a last place team needs, eh? Good luck Joe and Glen. Come back healthy.