More time in Tampa
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Sep 23, 2008 
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This from the AP:
Spring training is expanding by nearly a week next year because of the World Baseball Classic.
Players will start reporting to training camps on Feb. 14, under an agreement between the players’ association and the commissioner’s office. Exhibition games will start about Feb. 25.
Under the new schedule, all players on WBC rosters of China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan and pitchers and catchers from other WBC teams must report to their major league clubs on Feb. 14, which will be the voluntary report date for all other pitchers, catchers and injured players.
Remaining WBC position players must report by Feb. 17, which will be the voluntary report date for all other major league position players.
The mandatory reporting date for non-WBC players was moved up to Feb. 22 from March 5.
Does this mean that CMW will be able to participate in WBC? Because I am sure the Taiwanese team would love to have CMW start for them, considering that Dice K started for Japan in 2006…
I wonder if the Yankees let him play. Did we only have Yankee position players in the last WBC? I can’t remember any pitchers…
I think they let Leiter work out with them before the last WBC but he probably knew he wasn’t going to make the team.
I believe each team is allowed to block a certain number of players from participating. I know CMW is huge in Taiwan, but coming off an injury he needs to get ready for the ’09 season in the Yankees camp.
There’s no way Wang can play in the WBC. I hated the first iteration of it (even though we got our first look at Matsuzaka against big league hitters), and I don’t like it now. It’s delaying the start of the season, it’s making Spring Training even longer. I gotta think a good chunk of the players won’t be happy about having to report almost 2 weeks early. I don’t doubt the WBC will be somewhat successful, it will have its supporters and I’ll even watch a bit, but I think it’s as big a joke as baseball in the Olympics. Put some career minor leaguers in there and let that be that.
When is the WBC?
We need a LoHud gathering in Tampa during Spring Training!
Pete?