Why isn't international baseball a bigger deal?

[chuckywang]

You have the crown jewel of soccer being a World Cup championship. Basketball and Hockey at the Olympics are a huge deal as well.

 

What happened to international baseball? It's not like there's a shortage of countries playing the sport like football. You got Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Canada, USA, Venezuela, and Dominican Republic among a few others. I understand that the WBC is making large strides in making international baseball relevant, but even then players such as Gary Sheffield say he would never respect his club team to play in the WBC. in order for baseball to grow around the world, I think that the international game must have appeal.

[Clem Fandango]

but even then players such as Gary Sheffield say he would never respect his club team to play in the WBC.

 

Gary Sheffield is a bonafide jackhole, who cares what he thinks? Baseball is a big deal, and it is making strides. I do believe the middle east has baseball leagues sprouting up.

 

It's just that soccer has been worldwide and been around much much longer than baseball has. Plus it's bigger in third world countries because you don't really need much equipment to play. If you got a ball, you can make your own goals or kick it around on your own. You can't play baseball with just a baseball, and it sure as hell isn't that much fun to try and play by yourself.

 

The WBC is good for the sport. I think after it's first few go arounds it will pick up the pace and make big strides for the sport worldwide.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The big difference between soccer and baseball is the club leagues. MLB is the best players in the world, very few top players play elsewhere. In soccer there are easily a half dozen leagues with world class players, and the World Cup offers the chance to see all of them in action in addition to nationalistic pride. I'd also suggest that Olympic Basketball and Hockey aren't that big of a deal(mostly for the same reason as MLB). They may be a little more popular in the Olympic games, but that's more of a function of the nature of the game IMO.

[chuckywang]

The big difference between soccer and baseball is the club leagues. MLB is the best players in the world, very few top players play elsewhere. In soccer there are easily a half dozen leagues with world class players, and the World Cup offers the chance to see all of them in action in addition to nationalistic pride. I'd also suggest that Olympic Basketball and Hockey aren't that big of a deal(mostly for the same reason as MLB). They may be a little more popular in the Olympic games, but that's more of a function of the nature of the game IMO.

 

I think Olympic basketball benefited because the NBA season did not overlap with the Summer Olympics. This allowed NBA players to participate in the Olympics. I don't see the NBA suspending its season so players can play in the Olympics like the NHL does.

[CubbieBum]

Well this is an easy one.

 

The difference is ...

 

- the olympics and World Cup are all the countries best players pooled together and it is a battle for country supremacy.

 

- The best soccer players in the world aren't in one league where you get to see them play against each other all the time. They are spread out amongst 3 or 4 leagues.

 

- Baseball is essentially already international. They have almost all the players from all the countries alreay. The NBA is already getting there and I don't find it a coincidence that Olympic basketball popularity in the U.S. has gone down over the last 10 years.

[AlwaysaCub]

Well this is an easy one.

 

The difference is ...

 

- the olympics and World Cup are all the countries best players pooled together and it is a battle for country supremacy.

 

- The best soccer players in the world aren't in one league where you get to see them play against each other all the time. They are spread out amongst 3 or 4 leagues.

 

- Baseball is essentially already international. They have almost all the players from all the countries alreay. The NBA is already getting there and I don't find it a coincidence that Olympic basketball popularity in the U.S. has gone down over the last 10 years.

 

I think the popularity has gone down for the opposite reason. 12 years ago was the second version of the Dream team, a dominant force. Over the time since then the entire international game has changed and is quite different than the NBA. Carmelo Anthony even said that he prefers international competition to the NBA. It's more of a college game now and less flashy. But the rest of the world has proven it has talent and can play a true team game. This leveled the playing field with the Americans, who could no longer dominate the game. Since the team grew worse it has gotten less coverage.

 

On the larger issue, let's wait to pass judgment until we actually have seen more than one WBC. Give it time.

[CubbieBum]

Well this is an easy one.

 

The difference is ...

 

- the olympics and World Cup are all the countries best players pooled together and it is a battle for country supremacy.

 

- The best soccer players in the world aren't in one league where you get to see them play against each other all the time. They are spread out amongst 3 or 4 leagues.

 

- Baseball is essentially already international. They have almost all the players from all the countries alreay. The NBA is already getting there and I don't find it a coincidence that Olympic basketball popularity in the U.S. has gone down over the last 10 years.

 

I think the popularity has gone down for the opposite reason. 12 years ago was the second version of the Dream team, a dominant force. Over the time since then the entire international game has changed and is quite different than the NBA. Carmelo Anthony even said that he prefers international competition to the NBA. It's more of a college game now and less flashy. But the rest of the world has proven it has talent and can play a true team game. This leveled the playing field with the Americans, who could no longer dominate the game. Since the team grew worse it has gotten less coverage.

 

On the larger issue, let's wait to pass judgment until we actually have seen more than one WBC. Give it time.

 

The problem with WBC is it is so close to the start of the season. I would personally play in it given the chance because representing your country is a huge honor but can understand why GMs/owners/players don't with it being close to the start of the season. The other problem and its related is MLB season lasts so long that people are a bit burned out and only have enough time for the 162 regular season games + any playoff ones.

[jersey cubs fan]

Europe

[CubinNY]

Europe

 

I still say "Freedom Fries" and "Freedom Toast"!

[Clem Fandango]

Europe

 

I still say "Freedom Fries" and "Freedom Toast"!

 

FREEDOM KISSING!

[wvcbxl]

What happened to international baseball?

 

It is growing steadily.

 

The comparison between baseball and soccer is unfair imho - both sports have a completely different history and organization.

 

Just looking at the organizational side: soccer governing body FIFA accomodates it's calendar for international tournaments and competitions (like the World Cup) and national leagues are obliged to follow. When something takes place that doesn't fit in to the set scheme (like the upcoming Olympics) it creates all sorts of problems - clubs are reluctant to release players for the Olympics and when they have very little choice (i.e. in countries that have qualified) games have to be resheduled for teams that will be missing several players. Just to give you an example: Belgium have qualified, and the big traditional clubs here have already stated they will demand that their games during the Olympics be resheduled (creating all sorts of problems because those clubs are also the ones that have qualified for the Champion's League end UEFA Cup competitions). On the other hand, foreign clubs don't want to release their Belgian internationals for the Olympics (e.g. Hamburg with Vincent Kompany). In international soccer, FIFA rules and the national leagues have to follow, although it must be said that clubs are gaining more influence and power, as is now obvious with the Olympics, where FIFA rules don't oblige them to release players.

 

Baseball is organized in a completely different way - MLB rules and international bodies have very little power. And as long as MLB does not accomodate for the international game, you'll be stuck with a WBC in it's present form. On a side note, there are actually two WBC's: there the Classic (1 edition - organized by MLB/MLBPA) and the Cup (37 editions - organized by IBAF). This doesn't stop baseball from becoming more and more international, just look at the diversity of players: a small country like the Netherlands currently has 42 players playing pro ball in the US (list - yes, I know, a lot of them are from Curaçao, but they are still Dutch nationals).

[wvcbxl]

And maybe not the source for support in international baseball you want, but I found this entertaining: Castro Blasts Olympics for Dropping Baseball