World Baseball Classic

[Old Skool Cat]

Anybody watching? Anybody care? I've watched a few games, and it's been good baseball, but alot of big names are not there for whatever reason. Interesting thing I heard while watching the Mexico/Korea game last night. Every Korean male age 20-30 is required to serve in their military; however exemptions are given to athletes winning a gold medal in the Olympics, or in this case, winning the WBC. The Cleveland Indians allowed outfielder Shin-Soo Choo to play for Korea in hopes they would win the WBC, allowing him to avoid military service and remain with the Indiands. Choo turned out to be one of the Indians best players last season.

[bozbobcat]

I've watched a little bit and it's been a good tournament. It's a nice preview of baseball, and I'd hope the final rounds will be enjoyable. And I hope the USA can be part of the final round.

[BDizzle]

I've been watching the games that the US play and Puerto Rico (Geo Soto). Last night was interesting when the US and the Netherlands almost had a bench clearing brawl.

Unfortunately there really isn't a good time to play this tournament. Athletes that are being payed millions of dollars can't really take the chance of getting hurt and missing part of the season. But it is interesting to watch some of the foreign pitchers dominate the Americans.

[Old Skool Cat]

I've been watching the games that the US play and Puerto Rico (Geo Soto). Last night was interesting when the US and the Netherlands almost had a bench clearing brawl.

Unfortunately there really isn't a good time to play this tournament. Athletes that are being payed millions of dollars can't really take the chance of getting hurt and missing part of the season. But it is interesting to watch some of the foreign pitchers dominate the Americans.

I agree there's just no right time to play a competition like this with professional athletes. Probably one of the many reasons baseball will no longer be played in the Olympics.

[AlphaGriz1]

It's great and it makes me like the guys that are playing even more than those that won't.

[SonomaCat]

I just love to see how well the teams from the other countries are competing. Baseball and basketball are truly becoming international sports. I openly pull for the non-U.S. teams simply because I think a win does more to get people in that country excited about baseball than it does here (we don't really need that ego boost ... we invented the game).

[KittieKop]

Baseball's making a hard push to get back on the Olympic agenda after being dropped for 2012 in London. I don't know if they'll make it or not, but sucesses in the WBC and more and more international players in MLB would only help the case. The biggest hurdle would be getting commitments from MLB players to participate. Unfortunately, we've seen the last of college and amateur players in team sports. I, for one, always thought it was a great preview of players to look for in the future in the NBA, MLB and the like, and also a nice break from the commercialism of the professional leagues. All the same, here's hoping to baseball's return to the Olympics

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?s ... &type=lgns" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Old Skool Cat]

Baseball's making a hard push to get back on the Olympic agenda after being dropped for 2012 in London. I don't know if they'll make it or not, but sucesses in the WBC and more and more international players in MLB would only help the case. The biggest hurdle would be getting commitments from MLB players to participate. Unfortunately, we've seen the last of college and amateur players in team sports. I, for one, always thought it was a great preview of players to look for in the future in the NBA, MLB and the like, and also a nice break from the commercialism of the professional leagues. All the same, here's hoping to baseball's return to the Olympics

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?s ... &type=lgns" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I know one of the big hurdles was the IOC wanting Major League Baseball to suspend their season in Olympic years, so guys could go play for their countries. MLB said no, whic irritated the IOC. The IOC is pretty much used to getting their own way, and as much as I would like to see baseball remain part of the Olympic games, I am glad the MLB stood firm on their decision. I would rather much see the college guys back in the games.