Maybe the WBC isn’t such a good idea

• Carlos Beltran** – Puerto Rico
• Carlos Delgado* – Puerto Rico
• Pedro Feliciano – Puerto Rico
• Alex Cora* – Puerto Rico
• Oliver Perez* – Mexico
• Jose Reyes* – Dominican Republic
• Francisco Rodriguez** – Venezuela
• David Wright – USA
• J.J. Putz** – USA
  *player currently on DL
  **player suffering from injury of some degree

Above is a list of New York Mets that appeared in the World Baseball Classic.  Notice a trend?

Obviously, Cora’s injury cannot be linked to the WBC.  For the other players, though, something could be made of their injuries and their connection to the WBC.

The quick jump into competitive baseball after months off, to common logic, seems like a bad idea.  There needs to be more time for the players to condition themselves and shake the rust off.

I like the WBC.  It’s a good idea, just poorly implemented.  I don’t have an answer or solution, but teams might want to take a better look at which players they allow to participate.

Hat tip to The Mets Police for bringing this to my attention.

ESPN Video: David Wright talks to SportsCenter

Don't tell me Jimmy Rollins or Shane Victorino didn't try to get in a few shots to David Wright's ribs during that celebration.

My WBC experience

Let me just explain to you how I experienced the 9th inning of last night's World Baseball Classic game between USA and Puerto Rico...

First of all, I don't get the MLB Network at school, because it's only on digital cable. The school has promised us HBO and other assorted digital channels in the past, but so far we've received zilch. So I'm stuck watching MLB Gameday and relying on instant messages from Ryan Punzalan of Retire31.com.

Then, while I'm "watching" the 9th inning, my girlfriend gets back to school from a media conference, and I've only seen her for three hours in the past 12 days. Obviously, I better get a move on or I'll be in big trouble, so I unplug my laptop and trek up to her car.

The internet cuts out as Kevin Youklis comes to the plate. Now I'm in my girlfriends car as we drive the 300 feet to the parking lot closer to her dorm (she needed someone to help unpack the massive amounts of clothes she brought bacak). Still no internet.

We park, and here I am, sitting in her car, laptop propped open on my lap, verbally begging the internet to connect so I can find out what happened/is happening.

"You are now wirelessly connected to BobcatNet"

Yes! Refresh MLB Gameday...Sign into AIM...

Me (11:02:11 PM): score?
Ryan (11:02:20 PM): 5-4
Ryan (11:02:24 PM): bases loaded
Ryan (11:02:30 PM): 2-1
Ryan (11:02:51 PM): YES
Ryan (11:02:54 PM): USA WINS
Me (11:02:57 PM): ????
Ryan (11:03:03 PM): DAVID WRIGHT WALK OFF SINGLE
Me (11:03:11 PM): LOVE HIM
Ryan (11:03:15 PM): DAVID WRIGHT IS EPIC

And that's how I watched the WBC.

On the road

I'm hitting the road as it is officially spring break for me. Heading back to New Jersey and then off to warm, tropical Aruba. I'll still be posting, of course, it will just be more sparse. Also, The State of the Mets is being held back until tomorrow, when I know I won't be on a computer for a while.

I'll leave you with links to two articles I wrote for Baseball Digest's new site. Please go check it out!

• Handicapping the World Baseball Classic
• Is the Mets rotation in trouble?

Enjoy and Let's go Mets!

The State of the Mets -- 2/13/09

Here is the fifth edition of The State of the Mets.

This week, I talk about the World Baseball Classic, some bonehead signings this off season and pitchers and catchers reporting for duty.

Enjoy.

No Schneider in WBC

Scratch another Met off the list.

Brian Schneider will likely not be playing for Team USA in next month's World Baseball Classic, according to Bart Hubbuch.

Better for the Mets, I think.

No Johan in the WBC

Turn in those Venezuela jerseys, Johan Santana will sit out of the World Baseball Classic, according to Adam Rubin.

Via Rubin:

Johan Santana plans to withdraw from the World Baseball Classic at the request of Mets officials and remain in camp during spring training, the Daily News has learned.

This makes me breathe a lot easier. Maybe the Mets listened to my letter.

Mets in the World Baseball Classic

There are a ton of Mets participating in the World Baseball Classic. Here's the list:

Major League Players
Jose Reyes -- Dominican Republic
Pedro Feliciano -- Puerto Rico
Carlos Delgado -- Puerto Rico
Carlos Beltran -- Puerto Rico
J.J. Putz -- USA
David Wright -- USA
Brian Schneider -- USA
Francisco Rodriguez -- Venezuela
Johan Santana -- Venezuela

Minor League Players
Stefan Welch -- Australia
Shawn Bowman -- Canada
Angel Antonio Cuan -- Panama
Ruben Tejada -- Panama
Jesus Feliciano -- Puerto Rico

Santana still may bow out, due to either the Mets asking or his knee barking.