From the Toronto Star:
Atlanta Braves star Chipper Jones isn't too enamoured with the World Baseball Classic – or Toronto.
The third baseman, who left the U.S. team this week due to injury, blasted both the format of the tournament and the city that hosted his team earlier this month for the opening round.
"Just way too many days off," Jones told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the event's format. "We stayed in Toronto for a week and played three games. I don't know if you ever stayed in Toronto, but it's not exactly Las Vegas. To say that we were plucking our eyebrows out one at a time would be an understatement.
“You’re not getting the work in that you should. You’re getting reps, but you’re not getting the at-bats that you need.
“Getting to share a clubhouse with the guys and getting to know people on a different level is the cool part about it. But when you’re talking about a three-week tournament, and you could literally play eight games in three weeks, it’s just too much down time for spring training.”
Jones added he won't play for Team USA again unless the format is changed.
"It isn't exactly Las Vegas" what the hell is that supposed to mean, we don't have as many casinos ok, no flashing lights on every street, fine... but how the hell do you get bored out of your mind in Toronto for 13 days?!
Atlanta Braves star Chipper Jones isn't too enamoured with the World Baseball Classic – or Toronto.
The third baseman, who left the U.S. team this week due to injury, blasted both the format of the tournament and the city that hosted his team earlier this month for the opening round.
"Just way too many days off," Jones told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the event's format. "We stayed in Toronto for a week and played three games. I don't know if you ever stayed in Toronto, but it's not exactly Las Vegas. To say that we were plucking our eyebrows out one at a time would be an understatement.
“You’re not getting the work in that you should. You’re getting reps, but you’re not getting the at-bats that you need.
“Getting to share a clubhouse with the guys and getting to know people on a different level is the cool part about it. But when you’re talking about a three-week tournament, and you could literally play eight games in three weeks, it’s just too much down time for spring training.”
Jones added he won't play for Team USA again unless the format is changed.
"It isn't exactly Las Vegas" what the hell is that supposed to mean, we don't have as many casinos ok, no flashing lights on every street, fine... but how the hell do you get bored out of your mind in Toronto for 13 days?!
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