SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — For all the fears of how the World Baseball Classic would affect players in the long run, there is a benefit. Classic participants have looked readier for the regular season in Cactus and Grapefruit League games than their teammates.
Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford certainly have.
Crawford was in a awful slump when he left for the WBC, but he hit well at the tournament, and his at-bats with the Giants since have been strong. In six at-bats he has singled and homered.
Posey has doubled, singled and homered in six at-bats since the WBC.