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Martinez criticizes timing of WBC: Nobody will be ready to play

Rick Osentoski / USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Tigers slugger Victor Martinez will proudly represent Venezuela at the World Baseball Classic next month, but he isn't exactly thrilled about the timing of the tournament.

"They are going to have to find a different time to do this," Martinez told Chris McCosky of the Detroit News. "It's not fair for the Latin countries - the Dominican, Puerto Rico, Venezuela - where there is so much passion. I am just going to talk about Venezuela. That's all they have - baseball.

"The big hope they have is sport. This is a tough situation. … It’s not fair for our fans or ourselves."

Martinez's main quarrel is that he believes player's bodies are not equipped to deal with the stresses of high-pressure, meaningful games this early in the season. The spring training schedule is developed in a way to help players ease back into game shape slowly, though the WBC throws a wrench in that.

"Let's be honest, there's nobody ready to play that tournament. It's spring training," Martinez said. "In spring training you play four or five innings, get two or three at-bats and you're out of the game."

Martinez will participate in the tournament for the second time, and first since the inaugural event in 2006. While he acknowledges there's no time of the year that would please everyone, he does have a suggestion to hold the event every four years, and start spring training earlier.

"Playing it (at) the All-Star break - that's not going to happen," Martinez said said. "Playing at the end of the season, you are going to have fatigued players and hurt players. But if you start on Feb. 1 and do six weeks - it's just once every four years. You give up just a little bit every four years."

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