Eno Sarris takes a look at the World Baseball Classic and the implications it has for the fantasy owner.

Reviews on the World Baseball Classic as an entity are decidedly mixed. Some, like Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland, feel that it’s a pointless exercise that just puts pitchers at risk. Then again, his view has to be colored by the fact that his young pitcher Armando Galarraga (SP, DET) is the Venezuelan #2.

He has a point beyond protecting his young arm. USA Today did a study about the 2006 WBC and found that four out of five pitchers that went to the hill in the first classic had a higher ERA in 2006 than the year before. And 1/3 of them spent time on the DL. Of course, sample size is a major issue here, but anecdotal evidence also speaks to the fact that many worry about pitching high-stress innings so early in March.

Other players and managers have been unhappy about the classic from other angles. Kevin Youkilis (1B/3B, BOS) famously called out the American fans for not showing up. Felipe Alou, the manager of the Dominican Republic, has railed against the large market teams pressuring their stars to withdraw from the classic. After watching some of the emotional, late-game victories, plenty of players might now agree with Alou. The next classic may feature some changes in terms of rules and personnel.

In any case, playing for one’s national team is both an honor and an opportunity for players to showcase their talents against tougher competition than the average spring training game. Those that can succeed in the WBC will have a leg up for that final roster spot and prospects will get an extra check mark in their favor. Let’s take a look at players that may have affected their value with their WBC play.