Brian McCann and Chipper Jones to Play in World Baseball Classic

by gondeee on Dec 19, 2008 8:29 AM EST Comment 17 comments

Our All-Star catcher will see live game action a bit earlier than most this spring as he accepted an invitation to play in the World Baseball Classic. Chipper Jones has also elected to play in this year's WBC, he will be a returning member of Team-USA having played in the first WBC three years ago. The 16-team event will begin on March 5 and conclude on March 23, meaning players will miss part of spring training with their major league teams.

"I'm pretty pumped up," McCann said. "This is something I've always wanted to do. Ever since the WBC started, I've always wanted a chance to play and here it is." [...]

"I'm just excited to have the chance to share a locker room with guys like Derek Jeter," McCann said. "It's something I'll cherish for the rest of my life." [...]

"To me, this is the Olympics of baseball," McCann said. "This will be the best players from all of the countries. It's exciting to be a part of it. You always look forward to the chance to represent your country."

This will give us a chance to see the new slimmed down version of Heap, as games for the WBC should be televised.

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Awesome

Even more incentive to making it up to Toronto in March.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Dec 19, 2008 8:45 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Why does everyone have a man crush on Jeter? Is it his swingin’ lifestyle?

by 10-4 on Dec 19, 2008 10:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I cringed a little whne I saw that quote. He could have said anyone else, or “all those great players”, but had to single out Jeter.

C’mon, Heap, what gives?

by VegasAces on Dec 19, 2008 10:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Derek "statistically proven below-average SS" Jeter

I think Heap admires Jeter’s ability to score high-profile tail

Braves

by RehabReject on Dec 19, 2008 11:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Very nice.

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Dec 19, 2008 1:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hope we have better pitching this time

Leiter and Dontrelle were pathetic. I want to see Lincecum and Halladay. Wonder if Jair would play for the Netherlands?

by Land-Man on Dec 19, 2008 3:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I’m pretty sure he will, I think he played for them last time. Since he knows he has a spot in the rotation he doesn’t have a compelling reason not to go play.

by cbwilk on Dec 19, 2008 3:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Can someone tell me why Frenchy didn’t get invited to play on the US team again?

by ghost of tom thobe on Dec 20, 2008 7:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

chances are, because they were able to find 6 better american outfielders than him. heck, i think they were able to find that many in a tri-state radius

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Dec 20, 2008 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I was going to say because they wanted to win, but your response works too.

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Dec 20, 2008 2:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

NOOO!!!

Chipper needs to stay away from this like the plague. That’s all we need…an injury prone, can’t win without him, guy putting himself at risk. I really wish he would just have a leisurely spring training and stay healthy for the beginning of the season.

by KC Ryan on Dec 20, 2008 3:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He's there...

…to inspire David Wright.

by sddbaker on Dec 23, 2008 10:10 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I can see the concerns with Chipper being there, but keep in mind that the WBC does utilize the DH rules. And Chipper did do his share of DHing, because A-Rod was the starting 3B then. They could very easily make Wright the starting 3B, and just have Chipper there as a DH the whole time for all we know.

Just remember, Chipper’s involvement in the WBC gave Wilson Betemit a lot of time to show his worth during Spring Training, and eventually he was traded for Baez and Willy Aybar – granted, neither of them turned into any sort of solution in the long run, but was a move made with the team’s best interests in mind that just didn’t pan out. But with Chipper and Heap out during spring training, it’ll give a lot of playing time to Ross, and Sammons perhaps?

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Dec 23, 2008 1:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Very intelligent analysis. Great job. Maybe it gives Diory Hernandez a longer look in spring training too.

by cbwilk on Dec 23, 2008 3:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

baez turned into jon gilmore, who turned into vazquez. and without aybar, we couldn’t have gotten the awesomeness of JEFF RIDGWAY

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Dec 23, 2008 7:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree with KC Ryan

Like KC Ryan I am worried about Chipper Jones playing in games that may cause injury that may cause him to miss regular season games. I understand the patriotic aspect of the WBC but I wish he would just report when the regulars report. I am not big on the WBC games being played in the spring. They should be played in the fall when there is some time to heal before the next season if there is an injury. Chipper had a great season in 2008 but still missed a lot of games to injury. I can see Bobby Cox cringing if he hears Jones got hurt in a WBC game.

by NIteowl049 on Dec 23, 2008 1:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I would think playing at the end of the season would likely lead to more injuries. Guys are worn down at the end of the year and pretty much every one of them, even the most fit, will tell you they need to rest. If you were to add on some games at the end of the year I think not only would guys be far less inclined to play, but there would also be a much greater chance of guys getting hurt.

by cbwilk on Dec 23, 2008 3:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs