Schmidt: WBC was great, but what about its future?

[March 25, 2009]  PHOENIX (AP) -- Well, it's over. The World Baseball Classic champion again did not come from the United States. I guess Japan and South Korea have a right to say they are better, since Team USA watched the final between them. We'll not get into who would win if Japan played the Phillies in a seven-game series. Take it from me, a Phillies lover, it would go at least six.

The three weeks on the road with Team USA offered an added dimension to my resume. If I may brag a little, I could coach third base for any big league team. I really enjoyed that experience, but couldn't afford the job.

At 60 years of age, being able to be on the field again, to feel like a small part of the formidable offensive attack, was invigorating.

Going into the WBC, I was worried about screwing up, being self-conscious, losing concentration and, worst-case scenario, running Derek Jeter into a collision at home and costing the USA a championship. Not! I had all the moves.

Sunflower seeds, bubble gum and some dugout spitting was a carry-over from 30 years ago.

I had the stances going, hands in back pockets, hands tucked in pants when cold, hands on knees, legs spread, it looks like you're into it and it's easier to avoid a line drive coming at you. I had the signs down, actually gave a couple real ones.

In general, I think I did a pretty good job. By the way, Team USA's coaching staff -- Barry Larkin, Bill Ripken, Reggie Smith, Marcel Lachemann, Mel Stottlemyre, myself and manager Davey Johnson -- could staff any major league team right now without losing a beat. I thought I knew the equivalent of an encyclopedia of baseball until I met these guys.

For me, this journey had a downside. I set a record for sleeping, sudoku puzzles left undone and room service. You see, I'm used to going to bed at 10, getting up at 6, working out, eating Special K, e-mails, calls and calendar, Starbucks, saying hello to my boat, lunch, teeing off at 12:30, two Coronas at 5, "Seinfeld" and dinner at 6, doing dishes, a Netflix with my wife, Donna, at 7 (or "24" on Monday night) and lights out. Next day, the same. Give me an alternate routine and I freak. That's not to say that for a "real" job I couldn't make changes, but this was a challenge.

Baseball men love to be at the "yard," so we went there every day at least six hours before game time. I'd take a book, puzzles, iPod, video camera, anything to pass the time. I went to every pitcher's meeting, trainer's meeting, staff meeting and wanted even more meetings, as I waited for the team to arrive.

There's something about sitting around in your underwear with plasma TVs everywhere you look, access to a 7-Eleven in the next room, workout facilities better than LA Fitness, spitting in a cup, and telling baseball stories, that could bring big money at any charity auction.

OK, Boston fans, what do I hear for four hours in baseball underwear in Team USA's clubhouse with a locker between Derek Jeter and Kevin Youkilis? Or Philly fans, how about the same, a locker between Jimmy Rollins and David Wright? I had it for three weeks -- priceless -- even worth breaking my daily routine.

Would I do it again? That's a good question.

First, these young men were a pleasure to be with, respectful, dedicated and passionate about the game, and trust me, they left it all on the field. They were there because they considered it an honor. There was no money, tedious travel and too many days off, but they didn't care. I think they will go to their respective camps and say it was a great experience, and hope to be asked back to the next WBC.

Even the players who left with injuries stayed in regular contact and pulled for us by way of text messages and phone calls. Heck, Evan Longoria came across the country for two days and one at-bat. There was tremendous energy and spirit every time we took the field.

On the other hand, there is an undercurrent of uncertainty about the WBC. Daily questions from the media concerning its relevance, timing, player selection and other off-the-field issues. International and major league rules that govern competition and player selection affect game outcomes. Pitch counts affect pitcher-hitter matchups, parent clubs demand players get at-bats and pitchers get innings with no exceptions, and under no circumstances can a player play out of position. These rules apply to other teams, but affect Team USA dramatically, much more so than other clubs.

South Korea and Japan have all their best players on the rosters. They don't have parent clubs dictating who or where a player will play, or how a player must be used. They play to win the game. It's their country's World Series -- we saw and felt it.

Don't expect that to change. In order for us to compete fairly, we'd have to look differently at the WBC. The owners, GMs and players would have to place equal importance on it and the regular season. Not a chance of that happening in our world of big-money baseball. If I owned a team and guaranteed a player millions to perform for my team, he'd not be risking injury anywhere but in my uniform.

It's unfortunate, but for a player to have this experience, imagine what he is risking. Maybe they have insurance, probably do. But still, I guarantee you everyone at Mets camp is breathing a sigh of relief now that D-Wright is back in one piece.

All of us connected with the WBC are glad the commissioner and club owners displayed a positive face throughout this campaign. It is about the expansion and marketing of baseball as a sport internationally. It's been going on quite successfully for years through USA Baseball and executive director Paul Seiler, with teams in the Olympics, World Cup and other international competitions.

Sunday night, Dodger Stadium was electric. Thirty thousand watched Team USA play Japan and millions watched on ESPN. It was a great night for international baseball and the WBC II. But as long as the USA has only a partial commitment to this event, the results we want will be hard to come by.

As long as the regular season exists as is in major league baseball, it's hard to imagine American professional baseball shifting its focus to beating Japan or South Korea every three years.

The WBC is what it is, a tremendous experience for those involved.

[Associated Press; By MIKE SCHMIDT]

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