The World Baseball Classic starts in a few weeks, and for the most part, it seems like a “meh” feeling among baseball fans. I think there’s a few possible reasons for this, here are some that I believe are the root cause of this:

“I don’t want my guys getting hurt” I think this is a lame duck excuse. A guy can get hurt rounding second base in drills, just as easily as he can get hurt in a nationally televised game. As fans of the New York Metropolitans, we have seen guys get hurt in quite literally every way possible, Duaner Sanchez getting into a catastrophic car accident in the back of cab, Seth Lugo breaking a toe while walking into his dorm room at spring training, Francisco Lindor slamming a hotel door on his finger, and who could forget Yoenis Céspedes destorying his ankle because a wild boar chased him, causing him to fall into a ditch on his ranch. You cannot make this shit up. The point being, these guys aren’t robots, they’re human beings just like you and me. They don’t walk around in bubble wrap in between games. “Shit happens, sometimes”–Forest Gump. iAlthough i will admit, there is definitely an argument for the pitchers, but from everything I have read online, it seems like they’re going to be under pitch limits so obviously their arms can stay fresh for the upcoming season.

“These guys are playing for teams of countries they weren’t even born in” At the end of the day, who really gives a shit? Is the fact that Matt Harvey of New London Connecticut, pitching for Team Italy, keeping you up at night? Its competitive professional baseball, and it’s being played prior to the season. We haven’t seen a MLB game since early November, who cares what name is on the front of the jersey? Obviously it’s not as big an event as the World Cup, but it’s international, and it’s most certainly growing the game.

“I didn’t even know it was happening, I haven’t even seen an advertisement for it” That’s actually an excuse I can understand. If you’re like myself, and you follow a million baseball related pages on social media, then you’ve probably been aware of the WBC for a few months by now. If you’re an average fan, this blog may just be the first you’re hearing about this global tournament. We can attribute most of that blame (as we usually do) to Major League Baseball. It’s pretty mind boggling when you think about it. You have this tournament, being played in different places across Asia and North America, filled with (for the most part) the best players within baseball, most of which who can speak multiple languages and communicate with fans across the world. You would think the league would jump all over this to spread the word and drive the ratings up, maybe sell a bunch of jerseys and apparrel in the process and potentially bring in a whole new demographic of people clammering to consume your product day in and day out….right? Nope. Lets barely advertise and talk about it until we just stumble into it, just like we do every year going into opening day.

“I don’t have a rooting interest” I’m not gonna be the guy that tells you to root for the country you were born in, and that its not patriotic to root for a country your family emigrated from to be here. You buying a Team USA jersey doesn’t make you any more of a hardworking, tax paying, freedom loving American, than me, or my buddy Jerry. This is free country, do whatever you want, and let your friends and family root for whoever they want. Enjoy the product. It’s March, just hearing the crack of a bat or the ball crashing into the catcher’s mit should get you excited of what is to come this season, especially if you’re a fan of either New York team. Me personally, I’m rooting for Team USA, but you do whatever the fuck you wanna do, and that’s OK!

At the end of the day, is this tournament going to be perfect? Is your rooting interest winning the whole thing going to feel as good as your favorite MLB team winning a World Series? Probably not. But its baseball, it’s real, 9 innings, 100 mph throwing, dinger ripping baseball. This is like a little appetizer before the main course is served. Think of it as a dinner at your neighborhood Applebees, is it the greatest plate of nachos, mozzerella sticks and wings you ever had? No, but shit! The beers are cold and cheap, and the bill is always $45 cheaper than you thought it was gonna be. So sit back on your couch, invite some friends over, pour some beers, order some Pizza Hut, and watch some damn good baseball on a Saturday afternoon!