Jimmy Rollins, NOT John Mayberry Jr., Named To Team USA WBC Roster
By John Stolnis
Only one of these guys is playing in the WBC. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
In what should come as stunning news to the entire baseball-loving community, John Mayberry Jr. was NOT named to the World Baseball Classic Team USA roster today.
Shortstop Jimmy Rollins was the only Phillie named to the team of second and third-tier American stars, meaning Michael Young kept his promise to us all not to play in these riveting contests for life and country.
See? I knew that Michael Young was good people.
Yes, that’s right, they’re doing the WBC once again this year, that rollicking, heart-pounding, remember-where-you-were sports event that comes along only once every four years.
Rollins also played for Team USA the last time this tour-de-force of exhibition baseball came around back in 2009.
So, with the addition of Rollins, the US baseball squad assembled for these games very few people actually care about is all set. Of course, the lineup Team USA COULD have fielded, and the rotation they COULD have put out there, would have been staggeringly good.
That’s right, none of the big names on offense or defense will be on hand for the WBC and that should tell you that almost none of players take this event all that seriously.
Should be a good one, guys!
All joking aside, Phillies fans should be THRILLED only one of their players is playing in this meaningless tournament that proves nothing other than that baseball is being played in other countries.
Sure, it’s neat to see guys from nations who have just started playing the sport try to match up against some of the world’s best. And Major League Baseball’s attempt to expand its brand, much like the NBA has done in recent years, is a smart move for the future of the game.
It’s just not so neat that fans want to see one of their players risk getting hurt in a series of games no one in America really cares about.
The Phillies are a team with injury issues, age issues, and a bunch of platoon scenarios that will need to be fleshed out in spring training.
Could Hamels, Lee or Papelbon been added to the team without any greater risk of injury than if they were pitching for the Phils? Probably.
But with 2013 shaping up to be such a pivotal year, one final run with the cast from the glory days, you really want Phillies coaches monitoring and using these guys, not Joe Torre.
At the end of the day, though, Jimmy Rollins’ 2013 season likely won’t be affected by his participation in the World Baseball Classic, despite what were poor numbers in the 2009 regular season following his appearance in that year’s WBC. One likely had nothing to do with the other.
And, unfortunately, John Mayberry Jr. will now have to wait until 2017 before getting another crack at a WBC team roster.
But John, just remember. Dreams are what motivate us.
Dream large, John Mayberry, Jr.