Miggy, V-Mart To Boycott World Baseball Classic? [PHOTO]
By: Will Burchfield
@burchie_kid
In a developing controversy, it appears many Venezuelan baseball players, including Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez, are prepared to boycott the 2017 World Baseball Classic if Omar Vizquel is not the team's manager.
Reports surfaced earlier this week that Vizquel had been fired in favor of Atlanta Braves' first base coach Eddie Perez.
The Venezuelan Baseball Federation has not publicly confirmed the move, but MLB.com's Spanish-language site, LasMayores.com, apparently reported it was a done deal. Not according to Vizquel.
On Wednesday, he issued a statement in which he claimed, "I am the manager of Team Venezuela and I have the support and respect of the players."
Right on cue, the players have come to his defense.
On Thursday afternoon, Martinez and some of his teammates appeared on a popular Venezuelan radio show to declare their intentions to sit out the World Baseball Classic (WBC) if Vizquel is fired.
Seattle Mariners' pitcher Felix Hernandez issued the same ultimatum on behalf of the entire team.
One of the greatest Venezuelan baseball players ever, Vizquel won 11 Gold Gloves as a shortstop and played in three All-Star Games over a 24-year MLB career. He currently serves as the Tigers' first base coach.
"Vizquel is an idol to all of us," said Cubs pitcher Hector Rondon, according to MLive.com.
Added Martinez, "All the players believe that Omar Vizquel is suited for this job."
On Thursday evening, the Venezuelan Baseball Federation released its WBC roster. Perez was listed as the team's manager; Vizquel was left off.
Soon thereafter, Hernandez posted an Instagram photo featuring several of his teammates. In the caption, he reiterated the players' commitment to Vizquel.
(From left to right: Rondon, Hernandez, Eduardo Rodriguez of the Red Sox, Martin Prado of the Marlins, Alcides Escobar of the Royals, Gerardo Parra of the Rockies and Ender Inciarte of the Braves.)
The caption reads, "Together in the name of baseball, Venezuela, and our manager, Omar Vizquel. The team is united, we will not participate in the World Baseball Classic without Vizquel."
Cabrera isn't in the photo, but he is one of ten players (along with Martinez) tagged in the caption, suggesting he's part of the protest. Others tagged but not pictured include Salvador Perez of the Royals and Carlos Gonzalez of the Rockies.
Theories vary as to why Vizquel was apparently let go. Some reports suggest he couldn't coexist with the team's general manager, Carlos Guillen. Others indicate that Vizquel wore a Venezuela WBC cap while speaking on behalf of a company that wasn't a sponsor of the tournament. And still others chalk it up to politics, namely that Vizquel has an apparent affiliation with a national corporation that's at odds with the country's president.
Whatever the case, Venezuela's best players have made it clear they won't take the field for the WBC without Vizquel. If those players stick to their guns, the Venezuelan Baseball Federation has three days to either reinstate Vizquel or move on without them.
According to MLive.com, the Federation's executive committee will issue a statement on Friday.
Venezuela is scheduled to kick off the WBC on March 10 against Puerto Rico.
