Have I mentioned I Hate the WBC

I hate the World Baseball Classic. This is only part of the reason. Every single spring training, fans are told not to pay too much attention to anything we see. Pitchers are just getting stretched out, hitters are getting their timing down. Results are not important. It is just preparation for the season, and the players ready themselves to use the time to be ready for opening day. But now, the Incompetent One Bud Selig sees dollar signs in the WBC, and he doesn't care about anything else. That the best players don't want to play - who cares. That players are pushing themselves, especially pitchers, to try to win in games that are treated as meaningful. Lose a game, and be called failures. So the players who actually do play, push too hard, too soon. And they just are not ready.

Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci had some ideas that might help - put the interests of the players above the interests of the sponsors. If the players are happy, and want to play, and the best players compete, everything else will fall into place. Only problem, Dollar Sign Bud couldn't care less about the players. Taking any step that might lighten anyone's pockets, even if it would significantly help the players and help the game, he would never consider. This is the same man who in a shameful attempt to help ratings, decides home field for the sports biggest event based on the result of an exhibition game. The man is a failure, and as long as he is in charge of anything, whatever it is, will no doubt be flawed and fail as well.

With the WBC, Seig is legacy shopping. He is clearly thinking about what his baseball commissioner obituary is going to say. He is searching for a lead, and he thinks creating this grande world wide tournament may be it. Well, I have news for you Bud. Your legacy is set, the headline has already been written. It is steroids. Not only was it on your watch, but you and your ignorance/indifference allowed steroids to stain everything about the sport over the last 10-12 years. Up next, is probably canceling the World Series. Everything else is a footnote.

The WBC is something that on paper may make sense - baseball is an international game, let's have an international tournament. But there just is not a time to play it that makes sense - where it can be played with the best players competing at their bests. If that is the case, then it should not be played. But competition always takes a back seat for Selig - a backseat to sponsors and ad revenue.