Sure, he wasn't the first choice. Probably not even the second. Maybe not even the fifth. But when the World Baseball Classic starts on Thursday, Nats closer Joel Hanrahan will be proudly wearing the U.S. uniform.
He's as good a candidate as any to close for the stars and stripes as JJ Putz is the only other "proven" closer on the roster.
Hanrahan joins two other Nats in the Classic.
Adam Dunn was just named to the team and rubber-armed Saul Rivera pitches for what's a pretty deep Puerto Rican staff.
Some fans are grumbling about the players' participation.
They're not happy that Dunn and Hanrahan are leaving when they need to lock down their roles.
First, with Dunn away, Manny Acta can sort through the outfield logjam. Is Kearns back to what he can be? Is Wily Mo going to give them anything? It also allows them to take a longer look at Nick Johnson to see if he's healthy (but also to show him off for potential trades).
Second, we already know their roles. Dunn's going to play every day. The other players will shuffle around him. And Hanrahan's the closer. He proved that he's capable of that last year. He'd have to play himself out of a job -- something that wasn't going to happen even with a few bed-crapping performances in meaningless spring training games.
Others fans complain about the injury risk. They cite Luis Ayala's arm injury from the last WBC.
Really? Luis Ayala blew out his elbow because of a few innings at the WBC and not because of the billion or so games he pitched the few years prior to that? And the Nats training staff with their wonderful healing touch (HA!) would've kept him healthy had he stuck around?
Nope. Players get injured. Happens every spring.
So stop worrying. Enjoy the games. The Nats will be well represented -- and playing for a team that actually can win something this year!
Chris Needham used to write Capitol Punishment. Starting this weekend, he'll be rooting against Canada, Italy and Venezuela -- at least for a few days.
