WBC Stands for Why Bother Care

The dumbest headline I have come across in quite some time comes courtesy of ESPN:

Jeter, Pedroia likely WBC teammate

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The thought of Derek Jeter and Dustin Pedroia turning double plays together is probably enough to make Yankees and Red Sox fans cringe. World Baseball Classic, here they come. On opposite sides of the New York-Boston rivalry, Jeter and Pedroia could make up the United States' middle infield at the WBC in March.

Ooooooooh. Give me a break.  What are we supposed to take from this?  Maybe Jeter and Pedroia will engage in a "Boston Sucks! / Yankees Suck!" shouting match in the clubhouse, then drop the gloves hockey-style and battle to the death outside the

SkyDome

Rogers Centre? January and February are not typically great baseball months, but there is hardly any sizzle behind this steak. The fact that this bit of "news" is in relation to the World Baseball Classic is just more confirmation that this tournament is pretty much lost on us United Statesians.*

* I can't say Americans because there are Latin American teams.  I can't say North American because Canada (really?) has a team.  So, how else can I properly refer to us United States residents? (apologies to Joe Posnanski for stealing his device)

When I first heard the rumblings of a worldwide tournament, I thought it was great idea.  I never thought it would reach the level of the World Cup in futbol, but maybe it could at least introduce the United States to an international competition that people actually care about. Just about every country in the world goes coo coo for the World Cup except the United States.  I've always blamed it on geography.  It's a lot easier to build up a rivalry between two countries when they constantly have teams playing against each other.  Plus, with the countries so close, people tend to figure out pretty quickly who they like and who they don't. Then there's the US, way across the pond.  We created a sport called baseball and decided that the championship game should be called the World Series, despite the fact that the rest of the world had no idea what we were doing.  We don't participate in the European soccer leagues because, frankly, who wants to fly that far to watch one goal in two hours? The United States is geographically isolated and so, like any good agoraphobic, we created our own entertainment and left the rest of the world out of our games. But now there's the other major factor of the US getting in the way:  capitalism.  Yes, it's wonderful that the US is using this opportunity to reach out to the rest of the world and bring baseball into their living rooms.  But really, what's the purpose of this tournament?  To raise interest in the game?  Well, sure.  To place teams internationally that will compete in the Major Leagues?  Uh, doubtful.  Just ask Puerto Rico.  To drum up interest and talent that will eventually leave the homeland and come to the US?  Bingo. The concept maybe money driven but it's still not a bad thing.  The United States is as much of a melting pot as any major league roster.  Expanding the shores of baseball to tap the largest talent pool possible should be a good thing for the game because it will raise the level of play and increase competition. It's just a shame that we have to put together this flimsy tournament called the WBC, three letters that make most general managers cringe.  The timing of the tournament is a problem in itself, smack dab in the middle of spring training.  Everyone who wants to participate, especially pitchers, have to adjust their preparation routine and yet they still aren't ready to throw a full game when the tournament starts.  Most teams won't even let their top starters participate in the tournament because, if anyone got hurt in an exhibition game, it could ruin a teams season. What good is the tournament, then?  How can someone take pride in their national baseball team when the best pitchers in majors won't play?  Is that representative of their country?  If the ballplayers don't care, why would I stay up until three in the morning to watch a game live? The tournament would probably gather a bit more participation if it happened after the World Series.  Most teams have players that play in fall and winter leagues.  Teams would also have a better idea about what workload their pitchers had taken on over the season and whether they could pitch another couple of weeks.  Most importantly, teams wouldn't have to live in the fear that a strained quad would sideline their star third baseman for the first month of the season.  The WBC would have less impact on the season, which is what most people want.  A GM shouldn't have to make roster decisions based on what happened in an inconsequential tournament. As it is, I have little interest in the WBC.  No Sabathia?  No Santana?  Count me out. Oh, but Ted Lilly might pitch?  Whew.