Brandon Phillips will be a part of Team USA

[Matt700wlw]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...s_mlb&c_id=mlb

[RedFanAlways1966]

Great... I hope he does not get injured. Hate to be a selfish fan, but I guess I am. All-Star Game and TEAM USA... the less REDS the better IMO.

[medford]

generically speaking, the less reds the less chance at injury, which is something we'd all like to avoid, however the less reds (at either the world baseball classic or the all star game) the higher chance that you have a team full of cruddy players with few wins.

[cumberlandreds]

What other Reds are playing in the WBC? I assume Votto is with Canada. Is Ceuto playing for the Dominicans?

[marcshoe]

It's a safe bet that Aroldis won't be playing with Cuba this time. You start to wonder if Cuba will eventually decrease their top players' exposure to the U.S. market, given the risks.

What about Choo?

[HeatherC1212]

Originally Posted by cumberlandreds

What other Reds are playing in the WBC? I assume Votto is with Canada. Is Ceuto playing for the Dominicans?

We don't know yet. Joey wasn't on the provisional roster for Canada (saw that news on Monday) and the DR roster hasn't been released yet.

Congrats to Brandon! He seems really excited about being part of the WBC so I'm excited for him. This is the closest thing these guys have to being in the Olympics now so hopefully they have a good experience. When I can I'll be watching and cheering on Team USA (and Canada, they have some great players too).

[RedFanAlways1966]

Originally Posted by medford

generically speaking, the less reds the less chance at injury, which is something we'd all like to avoid, however the less reds (at either the world baseball classic or the all star game) the higher chance that you have a team full of cruddy players with few wins.

Yes, I am selfish REDS fan (qualifier)! I am OK with the USA being cruddy. It is exhibition and does not mean a darn thing to me. The REDS regular season means a lot to me. There is no comparison to me between Team USA and the REDS. I am proud of my country and all that, but I live for REDS baseball... I will not even read the story the following day if they lose a game.

I still think back to the All-Star Game skills competition. Barry Larkin hurting his throwing shoulder during the "relay throw" competition. NO!!

[WMR]

Am I the only one who is "over" this whole WBC thing?

I find the whole concept sort of boring at this point... would much rather have healthy Reds players than some mythical "world championship."

[redsfan30]

Only reason I "care" about the WBC is it's better to watch "real" baseball than watch game logs online about a meaningless Spring Training game filled with single A scrubs.

[cumberlandreds]

Originally Posted by HeatherC1212

We don't know yet. Joey wasn't on the provisional roster for Canada (saw that news on Monday) and the DR roster hasn't been released yet.

Congrats to Brandon! He seems really excited about being part of the WBC so I'm excited for him. This is the closest thing these guys have to being in the Olympics now so hopefully they have a good experience. When I can I'll be watching and cheering on Team USA (and Canada, they have some great players too).

Thanks. I just assumed most rosters had been announced by now.

[cumberlandreds]

Originally Posted by redsfan30

Only reason I "care" about the WBC is it's better to watch "real" baseball than watch game logs online about a meaningless Spring Training game filled with single A scrubs.

That's kinda how I feel too. After not having basbeball for a few months this is better than spring training games with guys you know will never be in the big leagues.

[Tommyjohn25]

I love the WBC a lot more than I thought I would. I found myself getting really into team USA last go-round. I don't love it when our pitchers participate, but the hitters don't bother me as much.

[Tadasimha]

Originally Posted by cumberlandreds

What other Reds are playing in the WBC? I assume Votto is with Canada. Is Ceuto playing for the Dominicans?

Originally Posted by marcshoe

It's a safe bet that Aroldis won't be playing with Cuba this time. You start to wonder if Cuba will eventually decrease their top players' exposure to the U.S. market, given the risks.

What about Choo?

Votto and Cueto both seem to want to play but Votto is waiting to get fully cleared to play.

Choo isn't on the roster for Korea.

Ray Chang, however, is playing for China.

[11larkin11]

So say Phillips plays in the WBC the same day say, Jay Bruce plays in a ST game. Does Phillips have a higher chance of injury? If Bruce gets hurt, should he have played in the WBC instead?

Never understood this thinking. All Star Game? Yes. Winter Ball? Yes. But this goes on when these guys would be in ST anyways. I'm more excited to watch Phillips face King Felix in a meaningful game than watch Bruce mash some scrub from a split squad team.

[marcshoe]

I enjoyed the last WBC. Loved watching the foreign guys and discovering Chapman. I'm looking forward to this one as well; it seems as if its been forever.