Published: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 Scanning the Majors

The World Baseball Classic is ready to exhilarate and thrill baseball fans. This huge event will thrust baseball onto the world stage, showcase the greatest players around today and increase the sport’s popularity ten-fold.

At least that’s how Commissioner Bud Selig has it playing out in his own little dream world. The other day, I turned to Scanwife and asked her if she was looking forward to the WBC. She gave me a look as empty as a Jose Valentin swing. Now, I like to consider myself pretty well versed in Major League Baseball and fairly current on its happenings. Even so, until a few days ago, I had no clue when (or where…or why) the WBC was taking place. I knew it was sometime before the beginning of the regular season. Past that, I had no clue. Truth be told, I didn’t really care. The pitch (which is about as effective as a Giovanni Carrara offering) being made is that we will be seeing dream match-ups like the U.S.’s Roger Clemens hooking up with Dominican Vladimir Guerrero with national pride on the line. However, it’s more likely we’ll see Italy’s Jason Simontacchi staring down the Netherlands’s very own Randall Simon (finally, Italy can get some revenge for Simon’s uncalled for assault on an Italian sausage during the famous sausage races in Milwaukee a couple seasons ago!) Although no one will admit it, the WBC stems from baseball being dropped by the Olympics. This forced attempt to create a tournament where national pride is supposedly on the line has been a disaster from the beginning. When MLB announced the WBC during last season’s All-Star game, it was met with a collective sigh from the baseball community. Wouldn’t it be great to watch Eric Gagne, Barry Bonds, Manny Ramirez, Bobby Abreu, Lance Berkman, Tim Hudson, Roy Halladay and Eric Chavez? Sorry, they won’t be there. Many of the big stars that were to be showcased have let it be known they want no part of it. The players’ rationale is that their first responsibility is to the team that pays them their salary and they need to use Spring Training (which, as it turns out, is when the games are being played) to get ready for the grueling 162-game season. Piling on an additional 15 games in addition to any potential postseason games could push some players near the 200-game plateau. In this day and age when players are multi-million dollar commodities, it isn’t a gamble worth taking for an event that really doesn’t mean anything when it’s all said and done. The major misstep made by MLB was failing to realize that the Olympics are prestigious for a reason: Because they are the Olympics. The WBC is nothing more than a concoction reminiscent of Vince McMahon’s XFL. Remember the XFL? That’s my point. So if you really want to watch Puerto Rico’s Jose Cruz Jr. lock horns with Canada’s Rheal “Deal” Cormier and can’t wait until June 1st (when the Dodgers and Phillies meet up at the Ravine), I’m sure you can find some information online somewhere or by flipping through the pages of the Pennysaver. Don’t look to me though. I know as much about the WBC as Selig does about marketing the game. Jam Shots: Angel manager Mike Scioscia has stated he plans to hit Darin Erstad in the fifth spot this upcoming season. In 2005, Erstad posted a .325 OBP and .371 SLG%. As a comparison, Dodger utility guy Oscar Robles had a .332 OBP and .368 SLG%. So basically, the Angels have Robles hitting fifth for them this year. It’ll be interesting to see if Erstad is still hailed as a “gamer” and Scioscia a genius by Angel fans when they’re averaging two runs a game this season…The Dodgers will give super-prospect Joel Guzman some time at 1B, 3B and the corner OF positions this spring. The 21-year old Guzman has been a SS throughout his career in the system, but some in the organization feel his 6’6, 225 lb. frame will hinder his ability to effectively play short and that his long-term position is elsewhere.

John Scanlan can be reached at scanman_33@sbcglobal.net