The early ramp-up period, coupled with an already short offseason? There's reason for worry here.
Earlier this week, Seattle Mariners pitcher Gabe Speier was named as one of the newest relievers for Team USA at the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
It's an incredible accomplishment for Speier, who struggled with injury and an ERA near six in 2024 to become one of the best relievers in baseball in 2025. He was an integral part of the M's roster as they got to the American League Championship Series, appearing in 83 total games between the regular season and playoffs.
However, two things can be true at the same time: You can be happy for Speier, and acknowledge what an amazing achievement it is, while also being nervous for his inclusion in the pre-season event.
We discussed this further on the most recent edition of the 'Refuse to Lose' podcast:
"...he's gassed at the end (of 2025), he appears in nearly half the games, shorter offseason on the front end because the Mariners play so long. Now it's a shorter offseason on the back end because he's gonna have to ramp it up for the WBC three and a half weeks earlier than he would in the regular season, right?
Opening day is March 26th. The first day of the WBC is March 5th. So, Gabe Speier is gonna have to go in and be ready to pitch high-leverage situations at max intensity three weeks earlier than we'd like him to. 'Oh, but Brady, he might only throw 4 or 5 games in the WBC. Oh, but Brady, he might throw the same amount of innings as he would in spring training. It is a totally different ballgame in intensity when you're talking about pitching in spring training than you are pitching in the World Baseball Classic."
What Buster Olney is saying about it
The ESPN MLB Insider appeared on Thursday's edition of the podcast and was asked about these worries:
"Yeah, I don't think there's any question that relievers are at the greatest risk of any player, any position in the WBC because pitchers use spring training typically, to gradually ramp up their strength, to ramp up their endurance. And they get into games, in an exhibition game, and they can sort of ratchet back the intensity as they go through their preparation because those results don't mean anything. All of a sudden you invoke the idea of a world championship and guys are throwing harder, with more intensity than they typically do.
And maybe for Speier, that would be no big deal. It might turn out to be not a problem for him at all. But I know that this is what team executives think, that it scares them to death when they have, especially relievers, go to the WBC. I know that they watch the game basically crossing their fingers, holding their rabbit's foot, everything, hoping that the players get through without being hurt."
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