Cervelli withdraws from World Baseball Classic

February 16, 2013 by Mike Axisa 28 Comments

Via Chad Jennings: Frankie Cervelli confirmed that he was withdrawn from the World Baseball Classic. He was scheduled to play for Team Italy.

Cervelli, 27 next month, will compete with Chris Stewart, Austin Romine, and I suppose Bobby Wilson for one of the team’s two catching spots. So yeah, it was a very smart decision on his part to remain with the club in camp so he can do as much as possible to impress the decision makers. Cervelli apparently has a minor league option left and I doubt he wants to return to Triple-A.

Laz

Not sure, but MLBTR insists that Cervelli is out of options. MLB should list this stuff.
- radnom
  
  Someone brought up the Cashman quote (which is what Mike references), but MLBTR thinks Cashman either mistaken or lying.
  
  You’re right, its weird that in this day and age this information isn’t available somewhere.
trr

i’m sure he wanted to compete, but as the article states…
good luck to him and to us!
Travis L.

I wish I had the link for where I saw this, but I dont…I saw an arguement made for Cervelli’s defense back in 2009 and 2010, that said he was catching an erratic AJ Burnett most of the time. What do you guys think about that?
- Mike HC
  
  From what I have seen, I prefer Cervelli over Stewart, but not by much. What they show is Spring Training will make a considerable difference. Here is to hoping Romine is better than both of them by mid season.
- Monterowasnotdinero
  
  Cervelli is quick and has a strong arm. He has been known to reach Grandy in CF quicker than anyone else we have on attempted steals. In 2013 this will be a designed play in which Grandy will creep in and throw out the runner at 3rd.
  
  2-8-5 if you’re scoring at home.
  - Henry Krinkle
    
    Glass houses?
    - Havok9120
      
      ietc
    - Monterowasnotdinero
      
      The glass house without fist pumps and 3 HR’s (maybe) for the season…
      - Havok9120
        
        No one denies Montero’s offensive advantage, even after last season.
        
        Although, just to poke the bear and because I find it hilarious, I would point out that his only MLB season with anywhere near as much playing time as Jesus got last year was worth about as much offensively. Much more if you’re an OBP guy. And the WAR calculation…yeah.
        
        *skips away merrily after tossing the grenade*
        
        Monterowasnotdinero
        
        And we will see about the undeniable BIG defensive advantage as well in the years to come. Grenade doesn’t explode.
        
        Havok9120
        
        I don’t think it’s a huge defensive advantage unless Montero proves completely incapable of playing the position. I simply thought it that his was a funny line. I do not know what the future holds for these guys.
      - Henry Krinkle
        
        Neither of us originally mentioned offense. My point is if my screen name was JohnBelushiwaslek, I wouldn’t rip, say, Lindsay Lohan, for having a coke problem.
        
        Havok9120
        
        Dude is on a role.
        
        Havok9120
        
        And I used the wrong word. Wow. This is what multitasking does to people.
        
        barry
        
        Cocaine is a hell ofa drug
        
        TheManchine
        
        I’d like to rip Lindsay Lohan…..
Who hates bunts more? Axisa or Earl Weaver? (Formerly Austin Aunelowitzky)

Girardi: “You’re not playing for Italy/WBC…Capisce?”
Cervelli: “huh?, hablo Espanol…no hablo Italiano.”
Girardi: “Exactly my point!”
http://www.twitter.com/mattpat11 Matt DiBari

Oh, good.

Maybe a few weeks in Spring Training will allow Granderson and Gardner to figure out the quickest way to retrieve the balls thrown into left center field.
- Havok9120
  
  At this point, I’m expecting a reverse-lock effect. He’s gonna throw out like 55% of baserunners or something equally silly.
  - http://www.twitter.com/mattpat11 Matt DiBari
    
    I certainly hope so. Because if he’s the same shitshow defensively he was in 2010 ( http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2010/11/10/1803183/2010-beyond-the-box-score-catcher-defense-rankings )we had better hope Biogenesis starts to take hold and turns him into Piazza offensively
lou in the bronx

Gimme two week with cervelli. Ill show him what being italian is all about.
- Jacob the OG(formerly Jacob)
  
  I imagine he knows more than us as italian americans lol
RetroRob

Cervelli doing what he needs to to win the starting job. Taking PEDs and staying in camp. Good job.

Interesting that fans and the media only care about HOF-class players who take PEDs. Eveyone else, free pass, even encouraged.
lou in the bronx

The things you’d do for a chance in the show. I mean. Aren’t there major benefits in being called up to the majors. Healthcare?, more money? Correct me if I’m wrong.
- EricVA
  
  No you are absolutely right. If I were a marginal player, I’d definitely take the risk. One day on a major league roster gets you great healthcare for you and your family for life. Worth a 50 game suspension.
umbrellaman

Does the WBC have WADA or Olympic-level PED testing that is more extensive than MLB?
http://www.twitter.com/thewallbreakers Scully

If Cervelli does have an option remaining, I wonder if he didn’t realize it until recently and thought “oh shit, they won’t release me, they’ll send me down” if he doesn’t make the team out of camp… so he decided that the WBC was what it actually is, pointless and that he’d better stay in camp.