Russell Martin may not have played in this year’s World Baseball Classic, but that won’t stop him from talking about it.
Ridiculed by fans and players alike since removing himself from Team Canada’s roster two weeks ago — after insisting on playing shortstop — the Pittsburgh Pirates catcher may feel that now it’s his turn to criticize. And he had much to say about the tournament itself recently.
“People are really adamant about the WBC,” the 30-year-old said after a spring training game in Bradenton. “But I feel like it has so many details that aren’t true to baseball.”
For one thing, Martin doesn’t agree with the strict pitch limit to which the tournament adheres.
As the official rules of the WBC states, no pitcher can exceed 65 pitches within the first round of competition, 80 within the second round, and 95 in the championship final.
“I feel like, if a pitcher isn’t potentially going nine innings and he’s your best pitcher, that’s not wh
