Share this: Math is the best antidote to the scapegoating of the World Baseball Classic. Figures compiled by Major League Baseball show players who participated in the last two editions of the World Baseball Classic suffer injuries less frequently than those who don’t, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. The numbers refute longstanding fears over WBC players’ health suffering ahead of the start of the MLB season. “Among pitchers on 40-man rosters, only one of 40 from the 2013 tournament (2.5 percent) opened the season on the disabled list, as opposed to 61 of the 605 who remained with their clubs (10.1 percent),” Rosenthal writes. “The most recent WBC produced a comparable result: Only three of 55 pitchers from the tournament (5.5 percent) opened
Tag: World Baseball Classic
Eric Gagne Reportedly Discussing Minor-League Deal With Dodgers
Share this: For all the laughs over 41-year-old Eric Gagne pitching in the World Baseball Classic, it appears that the former All-Star closer might get the last laugh. According to Sporsnet.ca’s Ben Nicholson-Smith, Gagne has been discussing a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers among other teams. Eric Gagne said he's talking minor-lg deal with #Dodgers. 2 other teams “really interested, but right now I’m really focused on the Dodgers” — Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) April 1, 2017 Gagne hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since 2008, but he was much better than expected while pitching for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. The Dodgers have little to lose by giving Gagne a minor-league pact as the worst case scenario is that he is released
Ian Kinsler Clarifies Comments On Latinos’ Style At World Baseball Classic
Ian Kinsler didn’t exactly mean what he said about Latino baseball players. The United States second baseman sought to clarify the controversial comments he made prior to Wednesday’s USA vs. Puerto Rico 2017 World Baseball Classic final about the differences between how Latin American and mainland U.S.-born players play the sport. Following USA’s 8-0 win in the final, Kinsler explained to ESPN what he meant to say. “What I said was that American kids can watch American players play, Puerto Rican kids can watch Puerto Rican players play, Venezuelan kids can watch Venezuelan guys play, and that’s who they emulate,” Kinsler said. “That’... NESN.com
David Ortiz Went Crazy For Dominican Republic’s Comeback Win Over Team USA
Share this: There was a marquee matchup in the World Baseball Classic on Saturday night, as the United States took on the defending champion Dominican Republic at Marlins Park in Miami. Team USA held a two-run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning when Nelson Cruz launched a three-run home run off Andrew Miller to give the Dominican Republic the lead. And former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz loved what he saw. Ortiz was a member of the Dominican Republic team that won the 2013 World Baseball Classic. The Dominican Republic would tack on another run and win 7-5 over Team USA. Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images More Stories Source link
Here’s Who’s On Team Israel, Which Shocked Korea In World Baseball Classic
Share this: March Madness has arrived early — albeit on a different playing field. The 2017 World Baseball Classic kicked off Monday morning with a stunning upset: Israel, making its first-ever appearance in the WBC, shocked two-time tournament medalist Korea with a 2-1 win in extra innings. Israel shortstop Scott Burcham played the role of hero, driving in the game-winning run in the top of the 10th inning on an infield single. Israel scored its only other run on Tyler Krieger’s bases-loaded walk in the second inning, notching its first-ever win in the international tournament despite tallying just two extra-base hits. The Israelis had to overcome gigantic odds just to reach the WBC, defeating Brazil, Great Britain and Pakistan in qualifying play to earn the tournament’s
Xander Bogaerts Takes Practice Reps At Third Base In Preparation For WBC
Xander Bogaerts is used to manning shortstop for the Boston Red Sox, but he got some work in at another position on Friday. In preparation for the World Baseball Classic, Bogaerts took some reps at third base, which is where he’ll be playing for Team Netherlands in the tournament. Bogaerts is no stranger to third base, as he logged some time there in 2013 during the Red Sox World Series run. Still, he admitted there are some differences that take some getting used to. To hear what Bogaerts had to say, check out the video above from “NESN Sports Today,” presented by People’s United Bank.