Fort Myers has finally experienced some excitement over the past week, with injuries to Dustin Pedroia and Julio Lugo, which we’ve now learned aren’t as worrisome as initially thought. Both injuries were acquired in typical spring fashion: Lugo’s by rounding a base, Pedroia’s by swinging a bat. Here’s the difference: Lugo hurt himself in a Spring Training game; Pedroia was injured while taking batting practice for the much-maligned World Baseball Classic.
Or is it really a difference? No one’s angry about Lugo’s injury, and those do 
who have strong emotion are happy to get Lugo out of the way so Jed Lowrie can play short. There has been a small uproar, though, over Pedroia’s injury. Obviously, according to some fans, the World Baseball Classic is an evil tournament designed only to hurt major league players before brainwashing them and using them to take over the world. But are you really sure, Red Sox Nation, that the injury is the WBC’s fault?
My vote is no. As my regular readers know, I believe the World Baseball Classic is good for the sport and therefore good for the MLB, although indirectly so. (You can read more on my stance on the WBC here). Let’s remember that Pedroia injured himself during batting practice, not during a game. A common criticism of the WBC is that the games are too intense too early in the year, and the players aren’t ready for the level of competition. But Pedroia didn’t injure himself during the intensity of the game, he injured himself warming up. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems players take batting practice in Spring Training as well.
Pedroia himself pointed out that the WBC does require nine-inning games sooner than Spring Training does, but neither Pedroia nor the Red Sox are willing to blame his injury on the tournament. I suppose you could argue that Pedey had over-exerted himself in the games previous to the injury. That’s indeed possible, but who’s to say that it wouldn’t have happened in the first week of the regular season if that was indeed the cause? Opening Day is a mere three weeks away, and if Pedroia injured himself on a batting practice swing it’s entirely possible he would have done the same thing in the regular season, which would have been more damaging to the Sox.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not exactly thrilled Pedroia has been injured. After all, the news of his oblique strain broke about two hours after I drafted him onto my fantasy team. Not cool. But I don’t think it’s fair to blame the injury on the WBC, especially since the injury didn’t even occur during a game. I think it’s plausible the injury would have occurred regardless of which batting cage Pedey was practicing in - he’s not exactly known as a guy to tone it down during exhibition games.
Bottom line: It’s the players’ responsibility to ensure their bodies are prepared for action should they accept an invitation to the World Baseball Classic. They really shouldn’t complain about how early the full nine-inning games are when a) They had a choice whether or not to compete and b) They could have easily started working out a little early to make sure they were prepared. Theo Epstein had the opportunity to coin a new phrase when remarking on Pedroia’s injury, claiming he’s remaining “neutral Switzerland” on the WBC. So follow suit and just be grateful Pedroia’s injury isn’t more serious. Heck, be grateful he’s injured now instead of in April.
Or even better, turn on the TV and watch the boys from the US in the Classic and cheer them on.
