Since Bud Selig introduced the World Baseball Classic, there has been the daunting question: Do you go and support your home country, or do you stay at Spring Training and prepare for the upcoming season?
It is quite the conundrum. Especially for the managers of the prospective WBCer's: What do they do? Do they take a back seat and let their players compete in the WBC? Say no, take heat from the player, the media and members from the international team? What does the General Manager think?
Cubs relief pitcher Carlos Marmol, who is "competing" for the closer job this Spring, deliberated about playing for his home country, the Dominican Republic, and has since decided to stay in Spring Training and work with pitching coach Larry Rothschild.
Cubs coach Lou Pinella said he would stay out of the way of Marmol's decision and let him do what he felt was right. I don't think Pinella wanted his first-time closer candidate going to pitch in ten extra games and I am sure he will sleep better now that he knows Marmol will be gracing the Cubs with his presence this Spring.
I think it should be left up to the GM and Manager of the respective ball clubs. Why you ask? It is simply because these players are getting paid A LOT of Ching-Chang to play for their MLB teams. Although I think it is a great thing to represent your country, I do not think that the WBC has the right timing (right before the start of the season). By playing in the WBC, players risk injury and hurt their chances to compete into late September and October for the World Series.
Steve Rosenbloom of the Chicago Tribune seems to agree.
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As I fan, I actually find the WBC very entertaining. But, I can understand why some GMs might be frustrated with it. Also, as a Cubs fan, I couldn't be more happy to see Marmol skipping the WBC. The LAST thing I want to see is a tired arm/injury before the games actually count. So, I guess I'm torn between the two sides.
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