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The Rising Apple Report: Is the WBC Worth the Trouble?
If you didn’t catch the 11th episode of The Rising Apple Report last night at 6:30p EST, then make sure you give our latest show a listen while getting through this Friday Eve at work. I hosted the program, while Michael Lecolant and Sam Maxwellwere nice enough to join me. As always, it was spirited Metsian conversation, but this time we started with the World Baseball Classic and how it’s viewed by some in the public eye.
Mar 13, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Italy designated hitter Chris Colabello (25) puts the ball in play against Puerto Rico during the World Baseball Classic at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
This is a very young tournament that is only taking place for the third time since the inaugural event in 2006, and we all came to the conclusion that the WBC will eventually catch on as a major event for baseball fans, but it will take time for it mature and get to that point. Both Mike and Sam made some fantastic points in favor of the tournament, and they were preaching to the choir, as I agreed wholeheartedly with them. To give you a bit of a preview, Sam published a Quick Hits article on the site yesterday about it. So, before you listen to our latest episode, you can see what he has to say about it here.
In case you missed it, yesterday was Johan Santana‘s 34th birthday, and instead of continuing to not communicate with Mets brass, he decided to have a chat with Sandy Alderson and patch things up… for now. This situation between the southpaw and the organization has been blown out of proportion because the story reached the media, but we’ll see how their relationship is moving forward, as I hope this won’t be the latest smear campaign before letting go another one of the team’s stars.
There’s an open competition right now for the outfield, and according to reports surfacing this week, the competition is still wide open. Alderson said the only thing that will determine who wins these jobs is production. Whichever players are the most productive and give the Mets the best chance to win will be chosen to head north for Opening Day against the San Diego Padres. So, with that in mind, I wanted to see who Mike and Sam would have in their outfield at this point in camp.
Also, can you believe Jordany Valdespin wasn’t wearing protection when he got hit there by a 94 mph Justin Verlander fastball? Yea, me neither. Make sure you give this week’s episode of The Rising Apple Report a listen to help you get through the day.
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