How Classic is the World Baseball Classic?
Next spring, the WBC (World Baseball Classic) returns and Japan is hoping its national team will once again be crowned baseball’s world champs. Well, at least according to the WBC contest anyway.
This begs the question, does anyone believe that the WBC is capable of producing the highest level of competitive baseball in the world? Well, it probably doesn’t need to be said here that most American baseball fans don’t think so. Why? Well, most, if not all believe that the best players in the world eventually make their way to Major League Baseball in the States and that very few of the best, highest-paid professionals in MLB are willing to risk injury, and therefore a potential drop in earned revenue, by participating seriously in a baseball contest that offers little more than a chance to help boost national pride. Yep, the bottom line is money for most of the best athletes pro baseball has to offer. Sad, but true. On top of that, some MLB clubs won’t release players to play in the WBC due to fears of player injuries. In fact, it was recently announced that Hideki Matsui has been refused permission to play in the Classic by his team, the New York Yankees, due to his having spent a fair bit of time on the team’s injury list last season.
Even some Japanese professional baseball players have demonstrated a lack of interest in participating as members of Team Japan. In particular, recently, some Chunichi Dragons players, who were expected to join the national team, have declined to play.
However, one professional Japanese player, who is a member of an MLB team, will be playing in the WBC. And, he happens to be, arguably, the greatest Japanese baseball player ever to put on a uniform. Yeah, you knew it; Ichiro Suzuki. He was the key member of the Japan team that won the inaugural WBC with his dynamic play and fiery demonstrations of leadership. No one can doubt that this guy is a baseball warrior; a player who is part of a very special breed of athlete. I’ll be looking forward to watching him this time around as well.
But, even with legendary players like Ichiro participating, does the WBC matter? I mean, if so many professional baseball players on both sides of the Pacific are showing a lack of interest in participating, and some big-league teams are refusing to allow some of their members to play in the Classic, can we really expect to see the world’s finest baseball being played in the spring of 2009?
What do you think about the WBC?
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(2 votes, average: 2.5 out of 5)
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Typical baseball players. In soccer, all the greatest players participate. Even with the Olympics and basketball, the greatest compete. And Ice Hockey has had many years recently where the greatest hockey players in the world compete in the world championship.
But not baseball. they are worried about stubbing their toe and going on injured reserve for 4 months. babies.
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This is only the second WBC to be held. I admit that during the first two rounds I couldn’t have cared less about the WBC (let’s face it, did anyone actually think that Denmark and South Africa had any chance at winning?) but once the later rounds started I was all over it. Despite being American, I cheered mightily for the Japanese team and was ecstatic about their win over Cuba.
It’s that tournament that made Matsuzaka into a worldwide star after all.
There are still plenty of things to improve about it though but if fans give it a real chance, I think it could rise up to be a premiere display of talent from around the world.
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I have absolutely nothing constructive to add. The only reason I’m posting this is because I don’t feel like working. I had to vote “a waste of time” above because to me personally, the only thing more boring than hitting balls with sticks is hitting them with clubs. Again, that’s just me.
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What I would really like to see is a true World Series! In some ways the WBC is a step in that direction but you are right that there isn’t a lot of incentive for participation or quality play other than pride.
Put a share of the revenue on the line for a true World Series and I believe that would change.
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I hope that the WBC becomes a time honored tradition on the international stage. Although, it will take getting more nations behind it and more player support.
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Since the “world” doesn’t really enjoy baseball as much as soccer, this would take a lot to get going.
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Whoa, whoa … am I hearing a soccer fan call baseball players “babies?” I have grown to like soccer, but …are these brave, bold, patriotic soccer players the same ones who are fouled and then shriek in agony, grab the nearest limb and pout like a 4-year-old Japanese kid who’s been told he can’t have candy? The players who are on their death bed, begging for one last glimpse of mum before giving up the ghost, then suddenly pop up and jog around the pitch after being saved by “magic spray.” Gimme a break.
Baseball players are some serious loafers, but “babies” is a bit strong. I’ll take Phillies star Ryan Howard in a scrap over any two soccer players in a heartbeat. And back to topic, the WBC is a huge waste of time outside Asia. No one cares.
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It could never be on par with the world cup until an at least comparable number of countries take the game seriously, calling such limited contests “World” anything doesn’t help matters - and that includes the “World Series” that’s always been a giggle.
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