World Baseball Classic thread

[TheHurl]

Maybe the Olympics are a better path to player participation. Pause the season like the NHL and make it convenient. They will bring baseball back if MLB works with them.

 

And Japan, China and Korea, and the Minors. Then the players association of each trying to agree to compensation. Even every 4 years there is way too many working parts for this to happen during the season. Then there is the jet lag potential after an Olympics. I think this could work for 2028 in LA. But I don't think baseball would want a 1 year showcase in the Olympics and then never have it happen again.

[Grant77]

And Japan, China and Korea, and the Minors. Then the players association of each trying to agree to compensation. Even every 4 years there is way too many working parts for this to happen during the season. Then there is the jet lag potential after an Olympics. I think this could work for 2028 in LA. But I don't think baseball would want a 1 year showcase in the Olympics and then never have it happen again.

 

There are certainly a lot of hurdles, but it's one of the options. Other sports do it so there is no question that it's possible, but it would take a substantial commitment from owners.

[TheHurl]

There are certainly a lot of hurdles, but it's one of the options. Other sports do it so there is no question that it's possible, but it would take a substantial commitment from owners.

 

Other sports have more off days to compensate for it without effecting things too much. I'd love to see baseball shorten spring and start on March 15th once every 4 years to give them a real Olympic break. Then you have to deal with Florida and Arizona who depend on Spring Training tourism. Getting 10 days off in August would also do some star players (pitchers) a world of good come playoff time.

[Stangstag]

The lack of participation and interest in the WBC makes it pretty clear how the majority of star players feel about the tournament and representing their country. Jordan Romano would be absolutely roasted by fans if he played hockey and snubbed his nation. Players are regularly chastised in hockey and basketball when they opt out of National Team participation.

 

You seem to be under the impression that Romano was going to be playing for Canada.

 

He was slated for team Italy. I think it’s because he didn’t make the Canada team his first time trying but Italy took him instead, so he was showing his loyalty to them. That’s fine. Sucks for them that he pulled out.

[Spanky__99]

There are certainly a lot of hurdles, but it's one of the options. Other sports do it so there is no question that it's possible, but it would take a substantial commitment from owners.

 

This is what it really boils down to, the owners.

[L54]

If you get hurt at the WBC do you still get paid?

[Spanky__99]

If you get hurt at the WBC do you still get paid?

 

Yup.

[Terminator]

Should just kill the MLB All Star game and replace it with the official, MLB sanctioned WBC All Star tournament break.

 

Shrink the WBC so it is only these teams:

 

Puerto Rico

DR

Venezuela

Mexico

Cuba

USA

Japan

Korea

Commonwealth Conglomerate (Canada + GBR + Australia + certain other commonwealths)

Asian Conglomerate (China, Chinese Taipei, etc.)

European Conglomerate (Netherlands, Italy, Israel, Germany, Czech, etc.)

American Conglomerate (Panama, Colombia, Nicaragua, etc.)

 

Nobody wants to see f***ing Nicaragua or the Czech Republic competing on their own.

 

Do some type of very compressed tournament that would resolve in like, one week.

 

You could still elect MLB All Stars and do your Home Run Derby. The All Stars get to represent their countries in the WBC tournament during All Star week, if they want (optional). The countries fill in the remaining players at their discretion.

 

Of all the crazy s*** in this post I think the craziest is the idea of having China and Taiwan joining up to make a team lmao

[Grant77]

You seem to be under the impression that Romano was going to be playing for Canada.

 

He was slated for team Italy. I think it’s because he didn’t make the Canada team his first time trying but Italy took him instead, so he was showing his loyalty to them. That’s fine. Sucks for them that he pulled out.

 

I saw that Romano was playing for Team Italy. The fact that nobody really cares just shows the lack of interest. Imagine if Sidney Crosby or Alphonso Davies decided to play for Team Italy. It would be all over the news.

[Spanky__99]

I saw that Romano was playing for Team Italy. The fact that nobody really cares just shows the lack of interest. Imagine if Sidney Crosby or Alphonso Davies decided to play for Team Italy. It would be all over the news.

 

Like Brett Hull playing for the US, lol. Canadians were pissed.

[Terminator]

The way they have it set up now is the most realistic way to do it.

 

Pitcher injury is scary and real and every pitcher has their limits as a result.

 

Since everyone is playing somewhat competitive baseball in the spring anyway it's the perfect time to have a somewhat competitive international tournament. It'll never be anything more than that nor should it.

 

And frankly baseball just isn't a great international sport anyway. It's basically played in North America and Japan. Sprinkle in South Korea and a couple of South American countries who could field subpar teams and that's it. The rest of the world, including parts of North America, plays cricket. I think cricket has 5 times the international following that baseball does. Baseball is just barely an international sport.

[John_Havok]

Like Brett Hull playing for the US, lol. Canadians were pissed.

 

Canada didn't invite him to the camp. USA did.

[Stangstag]

Canada didn't invite him to the camp. USA did.

 

I believe that’s exactly what happened with Romano and team Italy here too. (In the previous tournament)

[Laika]

Of all the crazy s*** in this post I think the craziest is the idea of having China and Taiwan joining up to make a team lmao

 

the commies would love it

they could appear to be okay at baseball thanks to taiwanese talent

[Spanky__99]

Canada didn't invite him to the camp. USA did.

 

I know, bro. He couldn't make the team at the time, joined the States... and people lost it.

[Terminator]

the commies would love it

they could appear to be okay at baseball thanks to taiwanese talent

 

True. Once China annexes Taiwan they can go all in on America's precious pastime. Just use Taiwan as a factory state which produces nothing but microchips and baseball players. Those worried that Tik Tok is rotting American minds just wait until all the best baseball players are Chinese. Game over.

[Spanky__99]

True. Once China annexes Taiwan they can go all in on America's precious pastime. Just use Taiwan as a factory state which produces nothing but microchips and baseball players. Those worried that Tik Tok is rotting American minds just wait until all the best baseball players are Chinese. Game over.

 

lmao

[TheHurl]

I saw that Romano was playing for Team Italy. The fact that nobody really cares just shows the lack of interest. Imagine if Sidney Crosby or Alphonso Davies decided to play for Team Italy. It would be all over the news.

 

MLB wants European growth. It's a big chunk of the reason that they partnered with the IABF on this. I don't know all the leagues but non-EU players can make up to 45K Euros a season in the Italian baseball league. When they came 4th in the 98 World Cup the league was amateur.

 

Guys like Romano are encouraged (and treated like Kings by some "business men") to play for Italy.

 

MLB is lagging behind MLS, NHL and way behind NFL & NBA in the UK, Germany and Italy. Not sure about the other countries. There is room for growth in Europe. Might make up for their North American losses.

[jaysblue]

Europeans don't like baseball and I don't think baseball will ever be a huge hit overseas there. Just my two cents.

 

Baseball is huge in North America, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, along with some Latin American countries like Cuba, Dominican, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Panama.

[Grant77]

Europeans don't like baseball and I don't think baseball will ever be a huge hit overseas there. Just my two cents.

 

Baseball is huge in North America, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, along with some Latin American countries like Cuba, Dominican, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Panama.

 

It's pretty big in Australia as well. For some reason, it's one of the most popular sports in Iraq.

[jaysblue]

It's pretty big in Australia as well. For some reason, it's one of the most popular sports in Iraq.

 

Yeah baseball in Australia has grown. They also have the perfect climate year round as well.

 

Never knew about Iraq. Interesting.

[Laika]

The areas more ripe for baseball popularity expansion are probably South American countries and the Asia-Pacific countries not currently into it, for whatever reason.

[jaysblue]

The areas more ripe for baseball popularity expansion are probably South American countries and the Asia-Pacific countries not currently into it, for whatever reason.

 

Yeah shocked baseball hasn't taken off in Asia-Pacific countries. Huge populations as well, so definitely a good market to target.

 

I think South American countries are a lot like European countries, they prefer football. Baseball never really took off in Brazil. It's nonexistent in countries like Argentina/Uruguay/Chile etc. Only Colombia and Venezuela, northern countries closer to Latin America and the Caribbean.

[Deadpool]

Yeah shocked baseball hasn't taken off in Asia-Pacific countries. Huge populations as well, so definitely a good market to target.

 

I think South American countries are a lot like European countries, they prefer football. Baseball never really took off in Brazil. It's nonexistent in countries like Argentina/Uruguay/Chile etc. Only Colombia and Venezuela, northern countries closer to Latin America and the Caribbean.

 

Cricket is huge in a lot of places, and is probably too similar to baseball for baseball to make inroads.

[jaysblue]

Cricket is huge in a lot of places, and is probably too similar to baseball for baseball to make inroads.

 

Yeah in India and Pakistan especially. Good point.

[TheHurl]

Europeans don't like baseball and I don't think baseball will ever be a huge hit overseas there. Just my two cents.

 

Baseball is huge in North America, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, along with some Latin American countries like Cuba, Dominican, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Panama.

 

The last five on the list don't scream $$$$ (Mexico, Columbia and Brazil, who you didn't list being the exception). The UK fans are growing and MLB blocked them out of streaming the playoffs last year. Driving them to BT Sport, who I think do MLB on a Pay Per View basis. Nowhere is it written the deal they have with BT but there is some revenue coming in from it. BBC also has the rights to the London series for $3M a year. While MLB is fighting a losing battle for their share of the pie in North America, Europe will likely make up some revenue. The cash cow that was BAM is gone now. That last $900M is distributed to teams to spend on Correa's or in the case of Tampa and Oakland into the owner's pockets as they cry poor at new stadium time.

[Terminator]

Cricket is huge in a lot of places, and is probably too similar to baseball for baseball to make inroads.

 

It oddly never caught on in Europe other than in England.

[Laika]

yeah I guess many European countries don't seem to like baseball, but there is opportunity just based on the VOID of proper team sports they do like.

 

look at Germany for example. they like soccer, they sort of like hockey... what else? basketball? I don't see why baseball couldn't eventually be cool in a country like that.

What did basketball do to make momentum in Europe decades ago? It's essentially a pure North American export sport.

I bet f***ing handball is in their top 8 most popular sports.

Some of these European countries seem to be much more into individual sports and athletics.

[Stangstag]

Cricket is huge in a lot of places, and is probably too similar to baseball for baseball to make inroads.

 

True. Cricket is kinda cool too. I probably would have gotten into it if it was more popular here/had a televised league.

[Stangstag]

yeah I guess many European countries don't seem to like baseball, but there is opportunity just based on the VOID of proper team sports they do like.

 

look at Germany for example. they like soccer, they sort of like hockey... what else? basketball? I don't see why baseball couldn't eventually be cool in a country like that.

What did basketball do to make momentum in Europe decades ago? It's essentially a pure North American export sport.

I bet f***ing handball is in their top 8 most popular sports.

Some of these European countries seem to be much more into individual sports and athletics.

 

Seems there’s a decent chance baseball could be successful there then. Baseball is a team sport yes, but the heart of the game is 1v1 pitcher vs batter.