True world series?

[BradC34]

How long till the MLB World Series champ starts playing the Japan World Series champ? Or would this belittle the World Baseball Classic? Those are all-star teams, I want to see how the best team in one league plays against the best team from another league. Isn't that the heart of the World Series?

[Zagi-CRO]

How long till the MLB World Series champ starts playing the Japan World Series champ? Or would this belittle the World Baseball Classic? Those are all-star teams, I want to see how the best team in one league plays against the best team from another league. Isn't that the heart of the World Series?

Yes, it it... indeed. The World Series... a doubtful term...if you have only USA teams??

[jalbright]

Japanese baseball would love it. It could be a way to help grow the game--but it's not going to happen anytime soon, I'm afraid. The MLB playoffs are already quite long, and MLB doesn't want to take the shine off its own championship. Then there's logistical issues to deal with and so forth.

[yamsi12]

Yes, it it... indeed. The World Series... a doubtful term...if you have only USA teams??

dont forget canada with toronto :happy:

and no, it will never happen.

[deadball-era-rules]

Personally, I think that the World Series needs to stay in America. It would kill any interest in the series if teams were flying halfway across the country to play seven games. Also, the World Baseball Classic is a joke. It's just a stupid way for American baseball to hype itself up because it's not in the Olympics anymore. They (meaning Selig and his cronies) created it as an alternative because the Olympic committe wanted baseball to put forth the best players and stop steroids, but rather than comply with this reasonable request they just decided to ignore the Olympics and make their own lame series. I think it's pathetic. Te World Baseball Classic keeps attention on the MLB, rather than baseball as a world sport. the Olympics are a much more legit competition, and baseball should get its act together.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Personally, I think that the World Series needs to stay in America. It would kill any interest in the series if teams were flying halfway across the country to play seven games. Also, the World Baseball Classic is a joke. It's just a stupid way for American baseball to hype itself up because it's not in the Olympics anymore. They (meaning Selig and his cronies) created it as an alternative because the Olympic committe wanted baseball to put forth the best players and stop steroids, but rather than comply with this reasonable request they just decided to ignore the Olympics and make their own lame series. I think it's pathetic. Te World Baseball Classic keeps attention on the MLB, rather than baseball as a world sport. the Olympics are a much more legit competition, and baseball should get its act together.

Two words - synchronized diving.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Two words - synchronized diving.

Burn. :laugh

In all seriousness, I don't see why MLB has to do anything to accomodate the Olympics. It's certainly not for any ideal of togetherness and brotherhood. Baseball has only been an official Olympic sport since Barcelona.

The NHL is able to stop its season because of the nature of the schedule. Basketball is during the NBA off-season, so it's easy for them. MLB would have to shorten their season permanently (18-36 games?) for something that would happen for two weeks every four years. It would certainly please the people who think the season is too long and for those who like international baseball, but that may be it.

[Brian McKenna]

There are legitimate reasons for Mr. Selig and major league officials promoting baseball in the international market. It seems like a potential boon for MLB, which is Selig's job to pursue - seems like a perfectly smart business move.

Baseball is a highly skilled, specialized sport which has always - at all times - needed an international push outside North America, Latin America and parts of Asia. Both the Olympics and baseball have been around for over 100 years and they haven't been mutually beneficial, so why not an international tournament outside the International Olympic Committee's purview? Why shouldn't MLB propose and lead that method? Is there something that MLB owes the IOC or am I missing something there?

Will the IOC schedule their contests around the ML season? Why should MLB destroy their season to accommodate the IOC? The WBC seems like a perfectly reasonable alternative.

But then again, I guess with all the exciting sports that the Olympics puts on they can afford to ignore baseball.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

We had this very discussion about three years ago! :happy:

http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=35384&highlight=Japanese+champ

[BradC34]

Well my problem with the IOC... or IBAF I guess... would be the bastardization of the game by adding the extra innings rule of free base runners. Team USA manager Davey Johnson pretty much said it wasn't real baseball. Though he lost a game that way, he also won one.

Of course as a side note he said he was surprised that he beat Japan twice and still didn't win gold.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Well my problem with the IOC... or IBAF I guess... would be the bastardization of the game by adding the extra innings rule of free base runners. Team USA manager Davey Johnson pretty much said it wasn't real baseball. Though he lost a game that way, he also won one.

Of course as a side note he said he was surprised that he beat Japan twice and still didn't win gold.

That's because the United States couldn't beat Cuba. >.>

[Imgran]

Frankly, I think the Japanese owners would balk. It might be seen after all as a step towards assimilating MLB and NPB and it's been their goal since the founding of NPB to keep their league distinct from the American version. They've been near-paranoid at rejecting all forms of MLB influence on NPB in the past.

[jalbright]

Frankly, I think the Japanese owners would balk. It might be seen after all as a step towards assimilating MLB and NPB and it's been their goal since the founding of NPB to keep their league distinct from the American version. They've been near-paranoid at rejecting all forms of MLB influence on NPB in the past.

No. Being put on a par with the majors would please them no end. Yes, they want to be distinct from MLB, and such a series might eventually lead to some unification down the road, but I don't think there's much doubt they couldn't pass up such an opportunity if presented. The Japanese fans would love it, and if the NPB powers turned down a legit series, they might revolt.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

No. Being put on a par with the majors would please them no end. Yes, they want to be distinct from MLB, and such a series might eventually lead to some unification down the road, but I don't think there's much doubt they couldn't pass up such an opportunity if presented. The Japanese fans would love it, and if the NPB powers turned down a legit series, they might revolt.

Agree I think the Japanese owners would love it. Unfortunately, Selig and his henchmen have no interest. They only have eyes for the WBC. :rolleyes:

[stejay]

I would hate it to happen. I think with all the tradition and greatness with the WS, it would be suicide to change it.

[NYMets523]

Yes, it it... indeed. The World Series... a doubtful term...if you have only USA teams??

The players aren't just from the US though.

[spark240]

I would hate it to happen. I think with all the tradition and greatness with the WS, it would be suicide to change it.

The World Series has been changed already, at least in the process of qualification for it.

As I said in the other thread, we could (hypothetically) simply change the postseason bracket which sends teams to the WS, seeding in the Japanese (and possibly other foreign league) champions along with the NL and AL divisional winners. If the Japanese and other teams are not competitive, as some think, fine, the NL will still meet the AL.

[josh24]

I would like to see that. Red Sox/Rays/Phillies vs Japan Champion.
COOL!!:D:D:D
But in US. I think Japan is not so commercial as US.