As fun and meaningful that playing for your home country may be, your job is to perform at the highest level possible for the team that you're under contract for. Being in the WBC, while not necessarily guaranteed to hurt a player, definitely does not help his club.

You should be honoring your Japanese contract, instead of playing for your country.

What are you saying?

The baseball season is 182 games? and it's February--aren't the play-offs in September? And what is this? Are these REAL games? or just exhibitions?

Is Ichiro a pitcher? Does he need to build up his arm strength?

I think you're losing sight of the realities here. Perhaps MLB should respect the WBC, or are they afraid that even with pros on their respective teams, the US would lose.

Oh wait, we did lose before.

Country first gentlemen, MLB second

I don't really care at all about us being in or winning the WBC. With a lengthy 162 game season, spring training and potentially lengthy post seasons, there's just no good time to get involved.I would rather not see our MLB season affected in a bad way by having some of our better players get hurt. I hope NOBODY does, American or otherwise.
I think this would be a perfect time to send our up and coming players that could grow from the competition and would be eager to do well. What ever the outcome, send the young bucks.

No offence but if you were put in these guys shoes what would you do if you had a chance to play for your country or to train with your teammates from your club team for the up and coming baseball season. I'm pretty sure I'd play for my country

This was Bud Selig's brain child (and one of the few positives of his regime). Anything to get away from this PEDs garbage is fine with me. As a matter of fact, these guys put on quite a show last time around, here's to another good one.

these first few classics are meaningless. the bigger picture for this thing will be in 20 years, 25 years....whatever. since this thing still is in a test mode i can see why you would want players playing.

this is to draw world wide attention to baseball...this is to make new baseball players, outside of the norm thus far. In 20 years, when more and more and more players are getting contracts like dice k did last time you wont need the stars to play in it. you will have some of the best up and coming talent playing in it and guys at the mlb level looking for better (Mark Teahan)

right now we need the stars to play so people dont forget about it. as more stars are born globally the less and less it will be a need.

how many people all over would love to play in the classic when they saw a guy from japan get an american size contract...before throwing a major league pitch.

this thing is a show case. not a pride thing to your country. its an audition of sorts, extra spring trainging. guys like jeter are stars enough they dont need to rep the usa to further it.

If I had the chance to represent my country in lew of money, Id take it in a heart beat. I respect his decision and hope he falls just short of beating the USA in the last inning or 2.

If I were an owner,I wouldn't want one of my high priced players risking injury playing at this stupid,worthless event.Especially a pitcher.It's senseless.

I agree with mikey. The WBC is a waste of energy. Last year 5 or 6 players were injured to the point that it effected their season. This year a number of players decided not to participate when they discovered they have no insurance. They're intellegent enough to realize they could lose their lifelihoods.

You must be kidding to suggest that Ichiro Suzuki should skip the World Baseball Classic. In case you have forgotten Ichiro is Japanese. He has all the money in the world. He isn't nursing an injury. What could he say to the Japanese media about not representing his country? This is the most important question you need to ask yourself about Ichiro. When he retires where do think he will live out the rest of his life?

Ichiro could probably care less what his teammates are going to be doing while he helps Japan defend it's title.
He is sure of one thing. Most everyone will be watching him play.

When Ichiro Suzuki is done playing baseball my money is on him living out his years in ... yeah, it's a no brainer ... Japan.