World Cup of Baseball?

[Kingsac]

Well so far the biggest obstacle is that the MLB wants to be in charge of the event. Japan has balked at this and wants it to be governed by an outside organization. Also I don't think all those American players woud actually play for our world cup team, similar to nba players not wanting to play in their off season. I would guess PR would win. I bet those players would love to represent their country and play together. It would be an awsome tourney and I would pay top dollar to go.

[Tavish]

I take back what I was going to say about Latin America. USA wins.

I guess it would depend on the format, in a short series the Latin America team could throw out Pedro, Santana, Vasquez with Rivera, Dotel, Benitez, Urbina and K-Rod. The bats are solid for both teams so it would be a nasty battle (an All-Star game so tough to call one way or another).

[LBJackal]

Well so far the biggest obstacle is that the MLB wants to be in charge of the event. Japan has balked at this and wants it to be governed by an outside organization.

I don't blame the Japanese who don't want it run by MLB. Why not run it the same time as the winter olympics and let the IOC run it? That removes the bias. Have it in Australia, Dominican, or anywhere that it's hot during the North American winter.

[Pogotheostrich]

Well so far the biggest obstacle is that the MLB wants to be in charge of the event. Japan has balked at this and wants it to be governed by an outside organization.

I don't blame the Japanese who don't want it run by MLB. Why not run it the same time as the winter olympics and let the IOC run it? That removes the bias. Have it in Australia, Dominican, or anywhere that it's hot during the North American winter.

I like that idea. I really don't like the current plan of having it during the middle of the MLB season.

[DaQ]

This goes back to the beginning of the thread, but Manny is an American citizen. He missed a game or two earlier this year and took the test. I think the DR would win anyway.

[Amazinz]

Manny has dual-citizenship. My guess is he would still play for the D.R.

[LBJackal]

I'm sure tons of baseball players have dual citizenship since they all play and most likely live in the US (except for Montreal/Toronto players, and Chris Reitsma who lives in Calgary). I think those guys would play for the country they were born in.

[ensanimal]

that would be cool but i guess what would the chances be of that happening they play 162 games or more in a season i doubt they are going to want to play anymore in the offseason

Lots of them already do: winter ball.

I don't think the US would have a chance at winning it all in the WC of Baseball. PR and DR have better teams IMO. Japan would probably be pretty good too, since not all their best players are in the majors. The only ones we know about are Ichiro, Matsui Sr, Matsui Jr, Choi, Tsao, Dave Roberts, Hasegawa, Sasaki, Ishii, Nomo, Otsuka, Takatsu, etc. I'm sure they have lots of good players left over there. USA might not even win a medal in that either

Also, Canada will have Koskie, Morneau, Reitsma, Dempster, Jeff Francis, Gagne, Bedard, Matt Stairs, Larry Walker, Quantrill, Zimmerman, and a few more probably. Reitsma might have been born in the US actually, but he's a Canadian citizen, so not really sure who he'd play for. That'd be something if Canada went further than the US in the WC of B Unlikely, but funny nonetheless.

add harden, bay, cormier to that list. it would be so cool to see. i'd love to see canada take the gold their.




hey, i can dream can't i.

[LBJackal]

Yeah I forgot about Harden and Bay..... probably a few more too. Rheal Cormier isn't anything special, but he'll help I guess. I sat beside his parents at a Jays game in '95 when he was with Boston. All the families were seated in our area.

[Rico The Retard]

harden and bay are canadian geez i dont know anything, that isnt surprising tho