The World Baseball Classic has its pros and cons, its supporters and its detractors.

The event has proven two things, however.

1. Professional baseball players — falling in line with athletes from other sports — feel a sense of pride in playing for their country.

2. American baseball players no longer take their craft quite as seriously as those from other countries.

While many owners cringe at the thought of losing a multimillion dollar athlete to injury during the WBC, most players relish the opportunity to compete.

David Wright referred to his game-winning hit against Puerto Rico in the ninth inning of a recent game, which staved off elimination for the U.S., as perhaps the biggest hit of his career.

Yadier Molina considered a home run he hit for Puerto Rico in the WBCbigger than one he hit for the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.

There is something to be said for national pride. The U.S. players certainly felt it during that come-from-behind win against Puerto Rico, especially after losing via the 10-run mercy rule to the same team a few days earlier.

The timing of the WBC might have something to do with a seeming lack of interest in the event on the part of the American sports fan.

It's up against March Madness and the stretch run of the National Hockey League season, and it takes place at a time when we're not quite thinking baseball.

Fans in other countries are loving it, though. South Korea, Japan and Venezuela have all built quite a national following while joining the U.S. in the WBCsemifinals.

American fans, like major league owners, are more worried about keeping players on their respective major league or fantasy teams healthy. They fail to see how much of a global game baseball has become.

Countries like Japan, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela have caught up to the U.S. in baseball partly because they work harder at the game.

While most American-born big leaguers take off the late fall and early winter months to give their bodies a chance to heal, players from other countries keep on playing the game.

Not many Americans are on winter league rosters these days.

That may be why the U.S. team has suffered so many injuries during the WBC. Manager Davey Johnson ran out of healthy first basemen and had to play catcher Brian McCann in left field recently because of a shortage of players.

Johnson admitted that if he didn't have a healthy catcher, he would forfeit a game rather than endure the repercussions of playing a well-paid major leaguer out of position behind the plate.

Point well taken, but sad at the same time.

Baseball talent in America need not take a back seat to anybody.

But the U.S. players' dedication to work ethic and preparation is a different story.

Next time the WBCrolls around, the American team should be fit, in shape and ready to play.

Or it shouldn't play at all.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle.