Global Series

[fromthestretch]

This could be pretty cool.

 

http://baseballmusings.com/?p=45638

[UMFan83]

That's interesting, but I doubt it would be treated as much more than an exhibition from the American side.

[fromthestretch]

That's interesting, but I doubt it would be treated as much more than an exhibition from the American side.

 

I'd hope it would be taken seriously, and if it isn't at first, I guarantee it would be after the first time the Japan champ defeats the MLB champ in a Global World Series.

[jersey cubs fan]

That's interesting, but I doubt it would be treated as much more than an exhibition from the American side.

 

I'd hope it would be taken seriously, and if it isn't at first, I guarantee it would be after the first time the Japan champ defeats the MLB champ in a Global World Series.

 

I doubt that. It's not that easy to manufacture interest in such a game. These guys get paid to play 6 months of regular season baseball, with a little bonus if they play another month, and they do it for free for 1.5 months to start out. The World Series is the pinnacle of their careers. Winning it is what it's all about, once you get past the money. And it drains them. You've got pitchers going on short rest, sometimes your ace throwing from the bullpen in game 7. You win, and then all of a sudden you have to play another series halfway around the globe? How are they going to determine where games are played? Cold weather teams struggle to get games in during late October early November already.

[fromthestretch]

That's interesting, but I doubt it would be treated as much more than an exhibition from the American side.

 

I'd hope it would be taken seriously, and if it isn't at first, I guarantee it would be after the first time the Japan champ defeats the MLB champ in a Global World Series.

 

I doubt that. It's not that easy to manufacture interest in such a game. These guys get paid to play 6 months of regular season baseball, with a little bonus if they play another month, and they do it for free for 1.5 months to start out. The World Series is the pinnacle of their careers. Winning it is what it's all about, once you get past the money. And it drains them. You've got pitchers going on short rest, sometimes your ace throwing from the bullpen in game 7. You win, and then all of a sudden you have to play another series halfway around the globe? How are they going to determine where games are played? Cold weather teams struggle to get games in during late October early November already.

 

Obviously, there's a lot of detail to be worked out, but I'm sure some nice incentives would be put in place to make it worth their time and effort.

 

Just curious, but what do you mean they do it for free for 1.5 months to start out? Are you referring to spring training? I'm pretty sure they get paid during that time.

[jersey cubs fan]

Just curious, but what do you mean they do it for free for 1.5 months to start out? Are you referring to spring training? I'm pretty sure they get paid during that time.

 

I'm referring to the fact that they are paid for a 6 month regular season with 1.5 months of practice beforehand and 1 month of playoffs after. They aren't going to give a crap about such a series. They might play if they get paid, but it won't come close to the intensity of the actual world series. It will be viewed as punishment for winning.

[fromthestretch]

Just curious, but what do you mean they do it for free for 1.5 months to start out? Are you referring to spring training? I'm pretty sure they get paid during that time.

 

I'm referring to the fact that they are paid for a 6 month regular season with 1.5 months of practice beforehand and 1 month of playoffs after. They aren't going to give a crap about such a series. They might play if they get paid, but it won't come close to the intensity of the actual world series. It will be viewed as punishment for winning.

 

I don't doubt that it won't have the luster of the World Series (especially at first), but I doubt anyone will view it as punishment for winning. A true "World" Series is something, if done correctly (big assumption, I know), that could generate a lot of interest. As with anything new, some people will probably really like it, some will hate it, and many will be indifferent.

[UMFan83]

Just curious, but what do you mean they do it for free for 1.5 months to start out? Are you referring to spring training? I'm pretty sure they get paid during that time.

 

I'm referring to the fact that they are paid for a 6 month regular season with 1.5 months of practice beforehand and 1 month of playoffs after. They aren't going to give a crap about such a series. They might play if they get paid, but it won't come close to the intensity of the actual world series. It will be viewed as punishment for winning.

 

I don't doubt that it won't have the luster of the World Series (especially at first), but I doubt anyone will view it as punishment for winning. A true "World" Series is something, if done correctly (big assumption, I know), that could generate a lot of interest. As with anything new, some people will probably really like it, some will hate it, and many will be indifferent.

 

I mean I think the ideal comparison you are hoping to achieve is something like what they do with European soccer and the Champions league, where the best teams from all the leagues in Europe compete in a tournament to determine the "best team in Europe" every year. That is arguably more important to win than their actual league titles.

 

But for that to work a lot of things would have to change. The hardest issue to overcome is that baseball is not really a sport where you can play year round and expect optimal performance, especially with pitchers. Soccer teams can handle playing in their home leagues, champions/uefa leagues, international tournaments and friendlies, and some ever are on loan to other leagues during their main leagues offseason (see Beckham on loan to Milan while under contract to the Galaxy). While some baseball players participate in other leagues during the MLB offseason, the primary importance is always to MLB and to the team you are under contract with. While you might play in the Venezuelan Winter League, most likely you are being closely monitored by your MLB club, cutting outings short at certain pitch counts, etc.

 

So anyways, that's just a pipe dream ultimate dream for an international sport. Getting back this "Global Series" idea, the only way things like this or the WBC would ever become legit in the eyes of just about everyone is if a philosophical change occurs that makes people consider this series as the end all be all tournament of prestige or at the very least, as important as the World Series. Because if CC Sabathia, after throwing over 350 innings between spring training, the season and the playoffs, is out there throwing 100 pitches in a tournament against the Yomiuri Giants and blows out his arm, a lot of people are angry. The Yankees are pissed, the fans are pissed, CC is pissed. If Cristiano Ronaldo tears his ACL playing in a Champion's League game, people dismiss it as part of the game. You need to bridge that gap before anyone even begins to take these tournaments seriously. Until then, you might as well call them exhibitions because that's what they are.

[fromthestretch]

I mean I think the ideal comparison you are hoping to achieve is something like what they do with European soccer and the Champions league, where the best teams from all the leagues in Europe compete in a tournament to determine the "best team in Europe" every year. That is arguably more important to win than their actual league titles.

 

But for that to work a lot of things would have to change. The hardest issue to overcome is that baseball is not really a sport where you can play year round and expect optimal performance, especially with pitchers. Soccer teams can handle playing in their home leagues, champions/uefa leagues, international tournaments and friendlies, and some ever are on loan to other leagues during their main leagues offseason (see Beckham on loan to Milan while under contract to the Galaxy). While some baseball players participate in other leagues during the MLB offseason, the primary importance is always to MLB and to the team you are under contract with. While you might play in the Venezuelan Winter League, most likely you are being closely monitored by your MLB club, cutting outings short at certain pitch counts, etc.

 

So anyways, that's just a pipe dream ultimate dream for an international sport. Getting back this "Global Series" idea, the only way things like this or the WBC would ever become legit in the eyes of just about everyone is if a philosophical change occurs that makes people consider this series as the end all be all tournament of prestige or at the very least, as important as the World Series. Because if CC Sabathia, after throwing over 350 innings between spring training, the season and the playoffs, is out there throwing 100 pitches in a tournament against the Yomiuri Giants and blows out his arm, a lot of people are angry. The Yankees are pissed, the fans are pissed, CC is pissed. If Cristiano Ronaldo tears his ACL playing in a Champion's League game, people dismiss it as part of the game. You need to bridge that gap before anyone even begins to take these tournaments seriously. Until then, you might as well call them exhibitions because that's what they are.

 

I agree with all of that. Like I said, a lot of details to work out, but I think it could be a really good thing if they can get it right.

[jersey cubs fan]

So do you no longer guarantee it will be taken seriously the first time a japanese team won in a global series?

[Sammys Boombox]

I hope this never happens. Also, it's not very intelligent to propose free trading between the 2 leagues. American kids don't dream of making it to the majors so they can get traded to Asia without their own approval. Same could probably be said for a few Japanese players.

[fromthestretch]

So do you no longer guarantee it will be taken seriously the first time a japanese team won in a global series?

 

Guarantee was a stupid word on my part. However, I would wager that the U.S. teams would certainly take a greater interest in winning that series after the first time that happens.

[fromthestretch]

I hope this never happens. Also, it's not very intelligent to propose free trading between the 2 leagues. American kids don't dream of making it to the majors so they can get traded to Asia without their own approval. Same could probably be said for a few Japanese players.

 

I'm not necessarily for trading between the two leagues. I just like the thought of a true World Series.

[jersey cubs fan]

So do you no longer guarantee it will be taken seriously the first time a japanese team won in a global series?

 

Guarantee was a stupid word on my part. However, I would wager that the U.S. teams would certainly take a greater interest in winning that series after the first time that happens.

 

On what scale? Sure, greater interest, but not a meaningful one. I would bet heavily on the Japanese team to win the first one because they will care and the US team won't.

 

It's meaningless. Japan is an inferior league and the MLB players aren't going to care. To compare this to soccer is ridiculous, international competition is the norm in that sport.

[fromthestretch]

So do you no longer guarantee it will be taken seriously the first time a japanese team won in a global series?

 

Guarantee was a stupid word on my part. However, I would wager that the U.S. teams would certainly take a greater interest in winning that series after the first time that happens.

 

On what scale? Sure, greater interest, but not a meaningful one. I would bet heavily on the Japanese team to win the first one because they will care and the US team won't.

 

It's meaningless. Japan is an inferior league and the MLB players aren't going to care. To compare this to soccer is ridiculous, international competition is the norm in that sport.

 

I'm not the one that brought up soccer. I don't even follow the sport.

 

I don't think this would be nearly as complex as the WBC, with only two teams involved. I also think this could eventually lead to better international competition in baseball.

[jersey cubs fan]

I also think this could eventually lead to better international competition in baseball.

 

To what benefit? Who cares about international competition? Do we really need to stir up rivalries with japan and Cuba?

[SouthSideRyan]

I hope this never happens. Also, it's not very intelligent to propose free trading between the 2 leagues. American kids don't dream of making it to the majors so they can get traded to Asia without their own approval. Same could probably be said for a few Japanese players.

 

I'm not necessarily for trading between the two leagues. I just like the thought of a true World Series.

 

We already have a true world series. The best players in the world play in one league.

[fromthestretch]

I also think this could eventually lead to better international competition in baseball.

 

To what benefit? Who cares about international competition? Do we really need to stir up rivalries with japan and Cuba?

 

I'm thinking more long term. Enhanced international competition could lead to better development of baseball in countries that don't have a great presence in the sport already and perhaps a higher level of talent coming from those that already have baseball.

[fromthestretch]

The best players in the world play in one league.

 

No one's arguing this. However, I think the sport benefits from a higher level of play in other parts of the world.

[SouthSideRyan]

The best players in the world play in one league.

 

No one's arguing this. However, I think the sport benefits from a higher level of play in other parts of the world.

 

How does the US team dominating a team from Japan exhibit a higher level of play? (Or alternatively, a listless US team that doesn't want to be there, losing to a team from Japan?)

[Sammys Boombox]

I hope this never happens. Also, it's not very intelligent to propose free trading between the 2 leagues. American kids don't dream of making it to the majors so they can get traded to Asia without their own approval. Same could probably be said for a few Japanese players.

 

I'm not necessarily for trading between the two leagues. I just like the thought of a true World Series.

 

As already stated, we do have a true World Series. The best players in the world play MLB.

[UMFan83]

I think the NFL should set up a true World Bowl and invite the winners of the German american football league for a game against the Super Bowl champions.

[fromthestretch]

The best players in the world play in one league.

 

No one's arguing this. However, I think the sport benefits from a higher level of play in other parts of the world.

 

How does the US team dominating a team from Japan exhibit a higher level of play? (Or alternatively, a listless US team that doesn't want to be there, losing to a team from Japan?)

 

Let me clarify since you came into the middle of an existing discussion.

 

I think that eventually, a "global" series can be a good thing for baseball internationally. Unfortunately, you can't just have a global series including several countries at this time due to the level of competition (or lack thereof) in other countries. If you want to get there though, you have to start somewhere. The U.S. and Japan have the two best professional leagues, with the U.S. certainly a very large step above. Why not start with a series between the two? I think if it's done well it could eventually lead to other countries wanting in, which could possibly lead to better professional leagues in some countries. Thus, increased global interest in the sport. As I said in an earlier post, I'm looking at this long term.

 

As for lack of motivation from the MLB players, that's certainly a concern. I would imagine that both the players and owners would have some issues with it. However, if they wanted to work out a plan to make it beneficial for both the players and the owners, the current CBA expires at the end of 2011. It's as good a time as any to work something out.

 

I'm not claiming this is something simple to put together or that it will even be a success. I'm simply saying that I like the idea, and that I think it could be a good thing. I also feel that there would be some players that actually would embrace the idea. Not all of them will, but I'm sure some would.

[erik316wttn]

While I am not at all opposed to widening baseball's global fanbase and breaking into the HUGE nearly untapped markets of China and India, I don't think this is the way to do it.

 

A global series sounds good on paper, but it would be a logistical nightmare. And if the Cubs make the playoffs, I'm not going to care about some team from Japan.

[chasinf5s]

I dont think its a good idea. I dont see the owners really going along with this because they are paying countless millions to field a team that wins a MLB world series, not against a foreign team. I could see it quickly dying off if a huge name goes down and costs him the next or part of the next MLB season. There also goes into the question of conditioning esp for pitchers, you have pitchers who have already pitched 220 innings (give or take) and now you are going to add on how many more innings that they are not used ? Thats just begging for arm injuries...