Cliff Lee declines WBC invite

[Hermie13]

Cliff Lee has declined to participate in the WBC for Team USA. Cited heavy workload this year as main reason. He said (through his agent) that he wants to stay on track. He feels that the Tribe can compete this year and may throw even more innings than last year.


All I can say is "There is a God!"

[TheWord]

DeRosa and Grady are IN right?

[Hermie13]

Grady is, not sure about DeRosa though.

[jellis]

no biggie either way most scouts though woudl agree that you get more out of winter ball than ST type practices, so got to think WBC is winter ball on steriods competion is always good

[Jake Taylor]

Yes, Grady and DeRosa have both commited to the WBC.

I actually like the WBC for the hitters, but am quite hesitant about the pitchers.

[MadThinker88]

DeRosa committed but also stated that since he was dealt, that if the Tribe wanted him in spring training the whole time instead, he would forgo the WBC to learn his new teammates and mesh with the team better.

[Hermie13]

no biggie either way most scouts though woudl agree that you get more out of winter ball than ST type practices, so got to think WBC is winter ball on steriods competion is always good

Big difference is winter ball is immidiately after the season and ends well before ST starts. players are still into the swing of things during winter ball. With the WBC they've been off for 2 months and reving it up to full game speed is bad news for pitchers (as seen by the lousy seasons most pitchers had that year).

Most scouts/analysts think the WBC is bad news for pitchers....

[jellis]

no biggie either way most scouts though woudl agree that you get more out of winter ball than ST type practices, so got to think WBC is winter ball on steriods competion is always good

Big difference is winter ball is immidiately after the season and ends well before ST starts. players are still into the swing of things during winter ball. With the WBC they've been off for 2 months and reving it up to full game speed is bad news for pitchers (as seen by the lousy seasons most pitchers had that year).

Most scouts/analysts think the WBC is bad news for pitchers....

analysts yes because it seems obvious most scouts seem to think its not

[dazindiansfanuk]

Personally I don't think the chances of getting hurt in an event like the WBC differ in any way from spring training, regular season or whatever.

Where I think we see apprehension from coaching staffs and front office personnel is not based on the fact that they think their players are more likely to get hurt playing for their country, but more a realisation that in Baseball there is always the chance that the player might get hurt and if that is to be the case they (the front office staff) have a lot invested in these players and really, if they are going to get hurt, have an inbuilt fear of the players getting hurt wearing a uniform other than their teams.

[TheWord]

Asdrubal Cabrera is also IN for team Venezuela I believe.

[Hermie13]

analysts yes because it seems obvious most scouts seem to think its not

Name me a scout or source that says scouts like the WBC for pitchers......I'm interested in reading it.

[jellis]

analysts yes because it seems obvious most scouts seem to think its not

Name me a scout or source that says scouts like the WBC for pitchers......I'm interested in reading it.

as I recall tony posted on these boards that scouts and sources thought it was good for any players to be there

[Hermie13]

I recall him saying it....but never posting a link.....though I could very well be wrong here.....

[MadThinker88]

IIRC Tony was talking about hitters and the WBC (being good to participate).
I think he was against pitchers going there as it took more away from the building of arm strength and stretching them out.