The provisional World Baseball Classic roster went out last week, and to the shock and partial delight of many the Sox found not just Matt Thornton but also A.J. Pierzynski, John Danks and Carlos Quentin invited aboard.
As expected, extreme opinions abound on what so-and-so should do, why some guy was robbed of an opportunity to play in the global equivalent of the All-Star Game, why the whole tournament is a sham and so on, but also as expected every single one of these opinions is stupid for the exact same reason: the people who play are ultimately the people who choose to play, and what any of us say or think about some stranger’s career really, in the long run, means absolutely nothing.
John Danks, not Peter Gammons, decides the fate of John Danks.
Carlos Quentin, not Rex Jaybels, chooses whether or not he’s ready to play competitive baseball in March.
Matt Thornton tells Team USA coach Davey Johnson whether he’s in or out, not Phil Rogers.
A.J. Pierzynski, not Kevin Kaduk, will be the one saying when it’s game time.
And yet, the chirping continues from the far corners of the interhole. The players will get hurt; the sport is cheapened; Spring Training is the most important thing in the world. As though it were their arms forced to wake up earlier in the year. As though it were their bat speed that might be off. As though it were their game to win or lose. As though one profit-driven baseball tournament were any more or less valid than another profit-driven baseball tournament.
You almost have to wonder where people on the sidelines get the nerve to get so worked up about such things. Then you remember how stupid it is to put much stock in what people carping at a distance about baseball have to say in the first place, and you relax, and you say out loud to no one in particular that Opening Day can’t come soon enough.
4 Comments
Nice work. I think the point of my article though was to show the varying opinions of the event and debate its success.
The only players I want to take a pass are the players that are injured or coming off a recent injury (Harden, Gallardo, and yes even Quentin).
Oh, almost forgot. Phil Rogers reminds us of Charlie Hough breaking his finger doling “soul” shakes to friends.
See, you condemn people for having opinions on this yet you do so in the form of an opinion – what gives? You really want Quentin hurt again? You think we stand a chance without Danks? I love baseball too, but, neither are worth the risk and I’m glad John said no.
DHG: My point is more that the words of I or any other person outside of MLB should hold absolutely no weight in what someone I have no real personal connection to decides to do or not do.
Me saying John Danks shouldn’t play in the WBC is the equivalent of John Danks saying I shouldn’t ever write for an outlet besides the one you’re reading right now.
(For the record, and for entirely selfish reasons, I’m with Rex: I don’t want Quentin playing unless he’s 100% healthy. Harden, however, is free to try his hand at being a hero.)