WBC a big hit with the players, too
Those not playing in event can't stop watching games
 | Video: Baseball from NBC Sports |
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PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Pedro Martinez kept glancing at the clubhouse television, checking out Ron Artest, the NCAA tournament and the rest of the sports highlights.
The World Baseball Classic, he already knew all about. That’s must-see TV for him, and he’s hardly missed a moment.
“Everything of it!” the New York Mets pitcher said Wednesday, his eyes lighting up wide.
“I’m sitting at home, watching all of the games. I’m calling pitches, I’m right in the game with them,” he said. “I was sweating bullets last night.”
Across the majors, the WBC is drawing attention — players are talking about the first-time tournament while Dominican and Cuban garb is popping up in the stands at spring training parks.
Skeptics remain, mostly over the scheduling of the event, but it is definitely making believers out of some naysayers.
Houston catcher Brad Ausmus watched the U.S.-Japan game with teammates at a sports bar. He admitted he had no interest in playing when it began; now that he’s seen how popular it’s become, Ausmus would welcome the chance.
“The only complaint is the timing,” he said.
New York Yankees slugger Jason Giambi noticed the pulse of the WBC players is different.
“You can tell they’re excited to play there,” he said. “It’s probably a different beat than you’re used to than spring training.”
Hispanic players are especially jazzed in following the games as fans. Martinez missed out pitching for the Dominicans because of a toe problem, so instead he’s cheering for them — and for the tournament.
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After the Astros beat Atlanta 7-5 on Tuesday night, pitcher Ezequiel Astacio and several Latin teammates huddled around the TV to watch the Dominican Republic close out Venezuela 2-1.
As they yelled “vamos!” — “let’s go!” — an Astros staffer was trying to hurry the players for the team bus.
“You can leave. I’ll stay here,” Astacio said.
When Edgardo Alfonzo hit a fly ball for the final out, Astacio squealed.
“Bye, Venezuela,” he said. “We can go now.”
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“Watch this,” Sabathia said.
At a popular Mexican restaurant in Scottsdale, Ariz., where the San Francisco Giants hold spring training, the Dominicans’ big win over Venezuela was shown on a giant-screen TV — instead of the Phoenix Suns’ NBA game against Seattle.
At Jupiter, Fla., four teammates from an Orlando high school baseball team walked around the concourse at Roger Dean Stadium on Wednesday. The St. Louis Cardinals were set to play the Florida Marlins, but the guys want to talk about the WBC.
“It’s awesome. You always wondered how it would be, to see the best players from all over the world playing against each other,” Iviel Carvajal said. “Italy, South Africa, the Netherlands. It’s fun to see them. It’s good for baseball and for those countries.”
Pals Anthony Garcia and Rolando Torres were equally enthused.
“I think a lot of people were thinking the guys wouldn’t play hard, that these would be like exhibition games. But they’re not, they’re like real games,” Torres said.
Added Garcia: “Better than real games.”
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