Japanese baseball circles rejoice at WBC triumph

Antiseppo is just trolling here -- consider his first statement "This proves Japan is better at baseball than America" -- he can't possibly really believe this. Fact is, the Japanese team won a tournament. Partially through luck (pretty all winners have luck at some point, so this really takes nothing from Japan), and also through skill and hard work. "Best in the world"? Well, it's a title they can claim, I guess, but it's best not to take it too seriously.

RomeoRamen, on the other hand, seems like he's grinding an axe. Well, stop, RR -- Korea played great ball as well. They just didn't win the tournament. They gained respect from the Japanese, Americans, and the baseball-watching world.

 

Why not? Did they not just win the World Cup of Baseball? SO it proves that they are a better team than anyone else at this point in time.

 

to believe Cuba, Japan, Korea or any other team could beat a US team that contained the top US players. If you had a multi-million dollar professional baseball contract that could evaporate if I was injured, would you chance playing a bush-league game? Doubt it. And the MLB players (for the US team) probably were not playing at full throttle either. Just a quick way to pick up a few bucks to get ahead on their car payments...

 

I agree, A-rod, Jeter, Damon, et. al. they need those extra bucks to pay off their car loans. Hence their hearts weren't in it. Plus the fact they were so worried about getting hurt that they just couldn't compete in these bush-league games whole heartedly. I see why they didn't win, very good reason. Thanks for enlightening.

 

Tatanka these guys play for their respective teams for spring-training. What if they got injured during spring training?? What would happen there?? Would they still get paid their millions?? (this is a serious question. I don't know.)

The important thing is, I think that playing for money and your country are 2 very different things and this is totally the reason the heartless Americans lost. All the american supporters say that team USA didn't care. Well then that just proves that they didn't deserve to win. Good for the teams that used teamwork!!! (Cuba, Japan, Korea)

BTW Tatanka I am an american.

Now, just a question. Who watches the NCAA but doesnt care about the NBA?? It is kind of like the WBC and the MLB. People who don't care about basketball will root for their school and people who don't care about baseball will root for their country. It is great to see the MLB started this. I hope they don't trash the WBC just b/c there beloved U.S. didn't win. I don't think they will b/c they got people interested in baseball. And that was the main goal of the WBC.

Before you respond, please read this other article that is also in CRISSCROSS but no one has even read it. Talks about how Team Cuba doesn't get money but they played their hearts out.

http://www.crisscross.com/us/news/21807

 

The Cubans had a heroes welcome home despite their loss.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11943877/

 

Virtually all professional athletes have contracts that specify what physical activities they can and cannot do outside their obligations on the field or court. Bet you won't see many professional athletes on the ski slopes or hang gliding. Spring training is what is says -- training, if your injured (like the perennially injured Mets Matsui) you receive a high percentage or all your salary -- depending on how good your agent is...

Sure Japan, Korea, Cuba and others played their hearts out -- which made watching the tournement exciting. Playing baseball in a US stadium (for them) is like a priest saying mass at the Vatican -- a once in a lifetime opportunity. For the US team - no big deal, just a few extra bucks for not even breaking a sweat.

In the end who won the WBC Classic -- the promoters!

 

Schurnaz: read between the lines. It was and is an endorsement of Japan's fair and wonderful approach; they didn't whine, complained as they had every right to do.

 

interesting that multimillionares would risk injury in a nothing tournament for a few bucks. unless perhaps as you say A-rod needs to pay for his new car or something. Still seems kind of silly to go to a nothing tournament and risk injury for a few bucks. Maybe Damon, Jeter are hurting for cash also? And Clemens just didn't make enough in his career so he had to mooonlight in a meaningless tournament.

I do agree the promoters were winners. They did a good job. For a tourney that nobody really cared about it got a lot more press than I though it would, and decent ratings.

 

Cuba and Japan have the greatest respect for them. Nationality means nothing. It is how good one is. The Cubans and Japanese hope to play on a MLB team. Next time do not do this during spring training. Remember only 2 of the 15 Japanese MLB players played on Team Japan. Those that chose spring training were made to look un-patriotic or money grubbing folks. Very competitive MLB and one must perform or your out.

 

I don't think these players would've had their contracts terminated if they were injured. What happens when hundreds of players play winter ball? I've never heard of a player get injured there and come back to find out that he doesn't have a contract with his team anymore. We're talking multi-year million dollar investements here. If the Yankees released A-Rod for breaking a thumb, somebody would pick him up and sign him at a discount (relatively speaking of course) in a matter of seconds.

 

You were whining along with the rest of them. Accusing the Americans of cheating because of an umpire call. The umpire could have let the call stand but in his judgement it was a bad call and he reversed it. Not the first time this will happen and it is not the last, but those with class will accept that these things happen and move on with their life. There is a big difference between complaining and whining. The Americans complained about the call, as they had every right to do.

Moderator: Back on topic please.

 

Congradulations Japan!

 

I appreciate the information. Even though we are on different sides of the argument. I have to say you make some valid points.

The promoters definately won!!! I mean the main goal was to increase interest in baseball. The WBC definately did that. I think the winner is baseball. We are all here on this post b/c we basically care about and like baseball.

All things aside, the controversies, the arguments, the disputes,etc. Baseball shines through. We are more interested and more fired up for whatever comes next. This was a big step for International Baseball.

On a side note, thanks moderator. schnauzertdad seems to be the only one still complaining. hehe

 

Yes, thank you moderator. Sch got it all mixed up somehow?