Angels News: Matt Moore Speaks on Negative Impacts of WBC
Spring Training is meant to be a time in which players are able to get accustomed to one another following some important offseason moves, introduce young prospects to the reality of playing against major leaguers, and build chemistry right before the regular season.
Since 2020 when we saw the pandemic change sports for a very long time, the MLB has gone through so many different changes in hopes of allowing games to continue while also keeping everybody in the vicinity safe. We've finally gotten a somewhat normal start to this season compared to others but a number of big names were missing from most training camps and it was due to the WBC.
Taking place every four years, the WBC allows top baseball players from all around the world to to represent their countries in an international tournament that takes place before official MLB games kick off. Franchises completely understand what an honor it is for players to take part. I mean, we literally witnessed one of the greatest moments in sports in the championship game between Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout.
However, the Angels haven't gotten off to the most marvelous of starts and even though they've won some games in dominant fashion, they've also looked pretty rough at the end of some as well.
LA's LHP spoke on how the team is looking about 16 games into 2023 and he points towards the WBC as to why their group isn't fully gelling yet.
"The nerves usually kind of shake off in Spring Training but with a lot of the guys playing in the WBC this year," said Moore. "First couple of weeks, we're still gelling and getting to know each other. This road trip for us can be a good one for us."
(Via Bally Sports West)
Not many have really spoken on it but the WBC didn't allow every team to get the proper warm-up needed. However, it is the sacrifice they make for their greater good.
