2009 US World Baseball Classic Roster
Key US Players Decline Invite Making 2009 Team USA WBC Roster Weak
Mar 4, 2009
The World Cup draws so much frenzy from audiences because of the passion in which it is played by the players. Even sports fans who may not be particularly partial to the game of soccer often watch a little of the World Cup action—and not just to see women take off their shirts and French midfielders throw vicious head butts at Italians.
It is not necessarily all the players from all the countries that lack enthusiasm for the WBC. Americans in particular look less motivated than athletes from other nationalities.
Perhaps modern American baseball players have been conditioned to feel the World Series is the ultimate baseball championship because the WBC is still so new.
American Passion for WBC vs. International MLB Player Passion for WBC
Even though several international stars such as Johan Santana (Venezuela) and Vladimir Guerrero (Dominican Republic) will not be on 2009 WBC rosters, they are not playing due to severe injury or because their MLB clubs have the power to and have exercised their right to veto a player’s desire to play in the WBC.
Furthermore, Seattle Mariners third baseman Adrian Beltre has been arguing with Mariners upper management over his desire to play in the WBC and the team’s opinion that it is not is their best interest due to his recent injury problem.
2009 USA World Baseball Classic Roster Is Weak
The lack of commitment US MLB players have for international tournaments is most evident in the 2009 Team USA bullpen. America will be relying on Mets setup man J.J. Putz and new Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton to shut down games. Both players are very talented, but there are several better options out there.
Twins all-star closer Joe Nathan wanted to play but got taken off the roster because of a nagging injury. If this was the World Series instead of the WBC; however, it is likely that Nathan would be pitching.
The most shocking addition to the 2009 Team USA bullpen is Astros reliever LaTroy Hawkins. Baseball fans must be doing a comical double-take when they glance over the rosters and his name catches their eye.
This is a pitcher who most fans would not even want on their favorite MLB team, let alone their country’s ultimate all-star roster. Hawkins has been on six different teams in the last four years—not exactly a ringing endorsement by past employers.
Americans Lack Passion for WBC, International Tournaments
Critics cited lack of passion for international play as the reason the US basketball teams struggled for years before reclaiming Gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Many Americans passed on their opportunity to play for Team USA, deciding instead to focus on readying themselves for the NBA season.
When players ranging from huge Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder to scrawny San Francisco Giants Cy Young Award winning pitcher Tim Lincecum decline invitations to the WBC, it reflects what happened to the US basketball teams recently. American athletes’ hearts are not in international play as much as other competitors from other countries.
That is the key difference between the WBC and soccer’s World Cup—to soccer players, the World Cup is the zenith of the sport; whereas, for baseball players, winning the World Series is and probably always will be the number one dream and goal.
 |
