World Baseball Classic - any impact on numbers

[viper]

I don't see how the WBC would effect a hitter but I don't feel the same about pitchers. I don't recall its impact two years ago but I thought there was some. Could we have some insight on how this may effect pitchers?

[Todd Zola]

IIRC. some pitchers did better than their career average, some worse, but not that significantly different that would randomly be expected.

So were some positively impacted? Yeah, probably. Were some negatively affected? Likely. But I'm not sure if this is predictable.

That said, people into this thing more than I will no doubt be spewing out some numbers, so we'll keep an eye out and maybe use this thread to post links to work on the topic.

[rotodog]

I think you are asking about injury risk Viper.... I would be wary or certain pitchers pitching in the WBC as injury risks for the coming year. I remember seeing a study of the MLB pitchers that pitched in the last WBC, and off the top of my head there was some evidence that it did indeed take its toll the following season....If I can remember the link or study, I will post it...

[viper]

yes, I care less about the WBC. What I am curious about is how participating i the WBC might impact their performance in the regular season. I recall it impacted Aylala's in that he tore something and was out for the year

[cwk1963]

I have heard Davey Johnson and especially Marcel Lachemann interviewed at length on XM about the very concern of over-working pitchers this time around. He was very specific about working very closely with each MLB team who had pitchers in the WBC to keep them as close to their normal ST schedule as possible. He said this would not be a one time conversation but that it would be ongoing. Team USAWBC realizes the potential impact to each MLB team and indicated they would not be taking the same approach with each pitcher but would tailor it to what that team's coaching staff wants.

[viper]

Why do I think the team Venezuela may not have the same concerns?

[cwk1963]

Why do I think the team Venezuela may not have the same concerns?

This is true for any other team and you have to look at them individually. The point is Team USA will be doing things differently (so they say) so we can be more comfortable at least on those guys.