Why Steinbrenner is the Devil, Reason #666

The Yankees displayed a sign by the customer service booth on the main concourse...“We are sorry that certain players will not be present for portions of spring training...“The New York Yankess,” the sign went on, misspelling the team’s name, “did not vote to support this event. Any comments you have regarding the World Baseball Classic should be directed to the commissioner of Major League Baseball or the Major League Baseball Players Association.”

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How much on Steinbrenner blaming the Classic if the Yanks don't win this year?

How about promoting the sport you supposedly love so much, Herr Steinbrenner? The Classic exists to bring the sport to the world in a year when baseball was taken out of the Olympics. (That is a whole other issue. The sport is becoming more popular throughout the world, and one only has to look at a Major League roster for proof.)

The talk about "injuries" is b.s. If a player is going to get hurt, he'll get hurt. He could get hurt in Spring Training. It doesn't matter what uniform he's wearing - if he gets hurt, he gets hurt, and it's that simple. Look at Herr Steinbrenner's own team - the non-WBC Yanks are getting slammed with Spring Training injuries. I heard the Boston announcers the other day saying it's better to be hurt for your own team. Why? Why does it matter? It's a mental block people have - that's all.

If anything, the WBC will make its participants go into the season more competitive. Spring Training is such a relaxed environment; with the intensity that the WBC is bringing, look for players to come into April swinging.

Games today (my predicted winners are highlighted):
Dominican Republic vs Venezuela @ 1pm
USA vs Mexico @ 4pm
Panama vs Puerto Rico @ 7pm
Australia vs Italy @ 8pm
Canada vs South Africa @ 9pm

Steinbrenner speaks - hope the world doesn't listen

In Steinbrenner's worldview, a classic distraction

George Steinbrenner finished his salad and stuffed shells, rose from the lunch table and headed for his ever-ready golf cart.

Such an image!

...when someone asked about the inaugural World Baseball Classic, Steinbrenner hit the brakes and took the bait.

"Well, we don't like it too well, because if a player gets hurt, he's risking a lot," Steinbrenner said. "But it was Selig's idea and he wants to do it, so I suppose we're going to do it."

Steinbrenner said his players were welcome to withdraw, but he would not tell them to.

In pinstripe language, doesn't that mean, "if you DO play, I'll make your life hell for awhile?"

Other than Selig, is there anyone worse for the game than Steinbrenner?