Choo in WBC, but not in Military?

from Castrovince:

""The Indians have agreed to let Choo play for Korea in the World Baseball Classic. Choo, who is expected to be the Tribe's starting right fielder this season, is on Korea's provisional roster. The final 28-man roster will be announced by Feb. 24.

This time around, the military exemption is not expected to be offered to the Korean players, regardless of how the team fares. But the Indians believe Choo will be able to avoid his military obligation.

"We're confident it won't be an issue," general manager Mark Shapiro said.""

5 months ago Brick. Comment 40 comments 0 recs |

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he also mentions asdrubal might play for venz. for some reason i don’t mind the position guys playing.

by Brick. on Jan 9, 2009 6:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The only position player that might concern me is catcher.

Yankees and Red Sox - MLB's Axis of Evil
(And ESPN is right in the middle)

by Spidey on Jan 9, 2009 6:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Franchise centerfielder concerns me.

Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.

by westbrook on Jan 9, 2009 6:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dude, Crowe is not going.

by afh4 on Jan 9, 2009 7:19 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

I wish he were going. He might learn to not suck.

by world dictator on Jan 9, 2009 7:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Is that what it takes? If only Tadano had earned a spot on a WBC team.

"It's hard to win when you don't score." Cliff Lee, 9/28/05.

by Harry Doyle on Jan 12, 2009 5:20 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I don’t want to lose our future #2 hitter.

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Jan 9, 2009 8:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think playing in the WBC will be good for Choo. I’m a big fan of young position players with little to no major league experience getting as many AB’s as possible.

by world dictator on Jan 9, 2009 7:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hello WD,

I agree that I think for young players with minimal to no experience, I think the WBC can help them to get into a good groove quicker into the younger season than if they don’t play in it. For them, I think the WBC is “a good thing” (pardon the expression :-), though still a bit of a risk due to the injury factor and the fact that these guys are likely not going to play the WBC as an exhibition season like they do Spring Training, but rather like it’s the middle or end of the season or even the postseason. Will going from being virtually “cold” from the offseason and very limited “Spring Training” to going full-bore in the WBC be likelier to cause injuries or cause players to tire out quicker down the stretch of the regular season or in the postseason, being that the normal progression from coming back from the offseason to going to Spring Training to playing in the regular season to perhaps playing in the postseason is disrupted? I’m not sure.

However, for more established players, like Sizemore and DeRosa, along with pitchers, I’m more hesitant because of the risk of injury, plus the disruption to their regular routines, which are more established than the routines of less-experienced players, being that they’re still getting acclimated to the rigors and level of the Major Leagues. Being that the WBC is only played once every 3 (or is it 4?) years, players have to adjust their routines to start earlier, focus on playing earlier (this isn’t such a bad thing, necessarily), and get into mid-season form sooner (since all of them want to play hard and represent their country well). Additionally, will players tire out down the home stretch because they were playing at a faster and/or higher level earlier in the year?

These are all concerns I have regarding the WBC. I understand why MLB does it, but I still have reservations about it concerning the issues above.

Let’s just hope the Indians’ players playing in it stay healthy and benefit from their action in the WBC.

Just my 2 cents.

The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.

by indiansfan on Jan 9, 2009 8:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I just looked this up on Wikipedia. They say that after this initial 3 year time difference (between WBCs), they will be held every 4 years. No explanation for the change that I saw, but I just skimmed it.

by Kenyafan on Jan 10, 2009 1:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think they planned it to roll out that way from the start.

by Jay on Jan 10, 2009 10:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

“We’re confident it won’t be an issue,” general manager Mark Shapiro said.""

I was always under the impression that Choo can apply for citzenship here and that frees him of any responsibility to the Korean military. I believe Choo was quoted as saying that “it wasn’t his first choice”, which leads me to think that he will do it if he has to..

by Toxicadam on Jan 9, 2009 10:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

"We’re confident it won’t be an issue," general manager Mark Shapiro said.

Do you think they had to write a whole new program to model Korean military service implications or do you think DiamondView can already do that?

by NickFantana on Jan 10, 2009 1:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

tonight was a good, good night

Anti-Ben Fran before it was cool.

by Gradyforpresident on Jan 10, 2009 4:16 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I’m gonna go ahead and assume you’re not talking about DiamondView here. I bet a few PBR’s led to this 4;16 am post…

by Nat on Jan 10, 2009 6:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that may be the case, but now I’m interested in hearing about this “good night”

by hans on Jan 10, 2009 12:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that alcohol, watching the Gnat Game, and a few Lithuanians were involved.

by supermarioelia on Jan 10, 2009 12:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

close. alcohol yes, i don’t know what the gnat game is, and no lithuanians that I know of (but possibly so).

guys i’m going to say it right now. we’re going to win the world series in 2009.

Anti-Ben Fran before it was cool.

by Gradyforpresident on Jan 10, 2009 7:07 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I hear that.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jan 10, 2009 7:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Joba game.

by supermarioelia on Jan 10, 2009 7:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

oh dear. spring training couldn’t come soon enough apparently.

Anti-Ben Fran before it was cool.

by Gradyforpresident on Jan 10, 2009 7:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think what you’re looking for is the Fausto game.

by NickFantana on Jan 10, 2009 11:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

When I think THE Fausto game, I think this.

by supermarioelia on Jan 11, 2009 12:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I went to the linked article expecting to see a photo of Fausto drumming on Sheffield’s dome.

by odradek on Jan 11, 2009 12:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ah geez totally forgot about that one. Crazy how many memories El Diablo has already given us.

by supermarioelia on Jan 11, 2009 10:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wait, El Diablo? What?

by NickFantana on Jan 11, 2009 4:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Upon further review, Fausto has only been referred to as “El Diablo” five times on LGT, and I’ve been the only one perpetuating this. Man I’m losing it haha. Why did I think we were calling him this?

by supermarioelia on Jan 11, 2009 5:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I could go with El Diablo. At least it has some personality, and it fits well with the unhittable deception of his power-sinker.

There’s nothing dumber than “Dr. Faustus.” Better to call him Robert Johnson.

by Jay on Jan 11, 2009 6:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Now that I think about this, I actually yelled El Diablo out at a game once, and when no one understood, I took solace in the fact that it was an LGT inside joke. Which apparently it wasn’t haha.

by supermarioelia on Jan 11, 2009 6:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It was an inside inside joke. So inside that only you knew about it.

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Jan 11, 2009 8:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

His name is Fausto…does he even need a nickname?

by APV on Jan 12, 2009 12:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This

Burn on, big river, burn on...

by Turkmenbashi on Jan 12, 2009 8:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

See, that’s what I’m always saying, but people can’t help themselves.

FAUSTO.

by Jay on Jan 12, 2009 8:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i’m on the fausto only train as well. ever since “the fausto game”. i’m kind of in the same boat for asdrubal, but will undoubtedly use droobs a lot in gamethreads.

by Brick. on Jan 12, 2009 8:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs