Not a WORLD Series

[cubfan87]

I'm writing and argument essay for my English class about how the World Series should not be called a World Series. I'm supposed to write about both sides of the issue so feel free to offer your opinions for either side. Thanks!

[Sarcastic]

Obvious arguments:

 

For: The MLB has not only US players, but most of the best players from all over the world.

 

Against: The entire world is not represented as far as cities go.

 

Personally, I don't think the second argument is all that good, but the first seems to make sense. I don't think there is a better baseball league anywhere in the world.

[cubfan87]

Actually I'm going with the second argument. It is not a World Series because the only country that is really represented is the United States. Other countries have baseball teams and leagues and should be allowed to compete if it is a true World Series. Although many players from all over the globe play, not all countries allow their baseball players to come to the United States to play (Cuba). The World Series should be open to any country who can field a team and is interested in playing. Of course there would have to be some sort of elimination and not all countries would have a good team but the World Series would determine the best team.

[David]

Actually I'm going with the second argument. It is not a World Series because the only country that is really represented is the United States. Other countries have baseball teams and leagues and should be allowed to compete if it is a true World Series. Although many players from all over the globe play, not all countries allow their baseball players to come to the United States to play (Cuba). The World Series should be open to any country who can field a team and is interested in playing. Of course there would have to be some sort of elimination and not all countries would have a good team but the World Series would determine the best team.

 

I thought you were supposed to write about both sides.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Is the US a melting pot or not?

 

This argument could get very complex.

[cubfan87]

I have to give both sides but in the end I have to choose one side or the other.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

you mean that every good essay should argue a point, but bring up the possible opposing arguments and address them?

[bhogg]

Is the US a melting pot or not?

 

This argument could get very complex.

 

Pot is illegal in the US.

 

 

In 190? they named it a the World Series because (i would assum), the US was the only place where baseball was being played.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

It is not a World Series because the only country that is really represented is the United States.

 

What about Canada?

[Careless]

It is not a World Series because the only country that is really represented is the United States.

 

What about Canada?

We actually conquered them in 98, but no one bothered reporting it

[RockTheIvy]

We are the World.

[kroth1342]

Obvious arguments:

 

For: The MLB has not only US players, but most of the best players from all over the world.

 

Against: The entire world is not represented as far as cities go.

 

Personally, I don't think the second argument is all that good, but the first seems to make sense. I don't think there is a better baseball league anywhere in the world.

 

^^^ Co-sign. For the against, I would specifically mention the Japanese Leagues and the players that have played here.

[FurcalsFan]

Obvious arguments:

 

For: The MLB has not only US players, but most of the best players from all over the world.

 

Against: The entire world is not represented as far as cities go.

 

Personally, I don't think the second argument is all that good, but the first seems to make sense. I don't think there is a better baseball league anywhere in the world.

 

^^^ Co-sign. For the against, I would specifically mention the Japanese Leagues and the players that have played here.

 

 

What the hell does that mean? I understand how the Japanese Leagues show that the World Series isn't really the World's Series. But then you mention Japanese players playing in the MLB. Your comment basically is for and against. I really hope you are five years old, cause your point is just plain stupid.

 

Anyways, good luck on your paper!!!

[Marco4]

I don't know the standard, really, of the Japanese leagues but I would think that they are (generally) lower than that of MLB. Does this mean that Japanese teams don't deserve a shot at the World crown?

 

Look at other sports, too, and their crowning of World Champions - I don't know what the champion Australian Rules Football team calls themselves, but they would probably (by a similar default) be the world's best team, too.

 

A lot of people bring this up in the UK (Really, a surprising amount) saying 'Why do you watch baseball when the team they call it the World Series and there is only American teams in it'. I always use the non-American players thing. I'd like to know some stats about the development of the players from abroad - how long, quickly, easily they came to assimilate into the game.

[Wild_Cubs04]

Obvious arguments:

 

For: The MLB has not only US players, but most of the best players from all over the world.

 

Against: The entire world is not represented as far as cities go.

 

Personally, I don't think the second argument is all that good, but the first seems to make sense. I don't think there is a better baseball league anywhere in the world.

 

^^^ Co-sign. For the against, I would specifically mention the Japanese Leagues and the players that have played here.

 

 

What the hell does that mean? I understand how the Japanese Leagues show that the World Series isn't really the World's Series. But then you mention Japanese players playing in the MLB. Your comment basically is for and against. I really hope you are five years old, cause your point is just plain stupid.

 

Anyways, good luck on your paper!!!

 

Was that really needed?

[K-Town]

"World Series" is just a name for the tournament. Nobody is trying to imply that the whole world is represented. Just like "Super Bowl" games aren't always "super", and the "Big Ten Conference" has more than ten teams. Originally, it was a "world" series, because the game was only played in America. The name simply never changed, and there's no reason why it should. American arrogance is alive and well, and I don't really have a problem with that. Besides, every player in the world is welcome to participate. All they have to do is be good enough to be offered a MLB contract. It doesn't matter where they're from.

 

I think people get too caught up in name games. It's just baseball. Let's tackle REAL problems.

[cubfan87]

Except players from Cuba have to risk their lives and take the chance they might never see their family again.

[K-Town]

Except players from Cuba have to risk their lives and take the chance they might never see their family again.

 

So? That's not MLB's fault. The door is still open.

[kroth1342]

Obvious arguments:

 

For: The MLB has not only US players, but most of the best players from all over the world.

 

Against: The entire world is not represented as far as cities go.

 

Personally, I don't think the second argument is all that good, but the first seems to make sense. I don't think there is a better baseball league anywhere in the world.

 

^^^ Co-sign. For the against, I would specifically mention the Japanese Leagues and the players that have played here.

 

 

What the hell does that mean? I understand how the Japanese Leagues show that the World Series isn't really the World's Series. But then you mention Japanese players playing in the MLB. Your comment basically is for and against. I really hope you are five years old, cause your point is just plain stupid.

 

Anyways, good luck on your paper!!!

 

I was merely trying to provide a support example for the Against. He could attempt to make the claim that since Japanese players have had success in the MLB, that lends support to the idea that a true "World Series" would put the MLB winner against a Japanese winner for example. And if you read the kid's original post, he had to find support for the "FOR" and "AGAINST" arguments. That's what I was doing.

 

Who's stupid now?

[cubssox fan]

Well sure I guess it isnt a World Series since all the countries arent involved.... but really what would a japanese team do vs a MLB team. The Royals/Devil Rays would wipe the floor with the Japanese team that won their championship.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

It's the best league in the world, and it includes the best players from all over the world. No one leaves to play in Japan because of the high level competition, and players from all over the world wish to play in the MLB because it's where the best play.

[1908]

I really hope you are five years old, cause your point is just plain stupid.

Who's stupid now?

If you can't make your point without including an insult, I strongly suggest you don't make it at all.

[EricG]

I would say something about the Miss Universe and the Miss World pagents. If Japanese leagues were to call it a Universe Series...

[cubfan87]

Here is my first draft of my essay. I don't necessarily agree with all the points I presented but I knew that it would be an interesting topic to look into and I tried to present many different views. Be prepared, it is kind of long.

 

Not a World Series

 

The baseball season has ended and I am watching highlights of the World Champion White Sox on SportsCenter. I am sitting at my desk in my dorm room doing homework on my computer and do not give a second to the thought that only American teams played in the World Series. A few days later, while watching SportsCenter again, I hear that the Japanese baseball champion has been decided. Why do the Americans claim that their champion is the World Champion when there are other baseball teams in the world? In order for the championship to be called a World Series, it should include any countries that have an active baseball team and want to participate.

In Major League Baseball, the event that decides the ultimate winner of the baseball season is called the World Series. It is a best of seven series between the top American League team and the top National League team. The winner of this series is deemed the World Champion. The Major League Baseball championship series between the American League and the National League should not be referred to as the World Series or the winner as the World Champion.

Major League Baseball is based in the United States. It consists of thirty teams. Twenty-nine of these teams play in the United States. The only team that does not have a stadium in the United States is the Toronto Blue Jays of Toronto, Canada. There are 122 National Baseball Federations throughout the world that could participate (“World Baseball Classic FAQ”). Some countries, like Japan, have a baseball league with a championship called the World Series. How can two countries that do not play against each other, except in exhibitions, both have World Champion teams? In order for a “real” World Champion to be crowned, the six continents that have baseball teams must be involved. The United States feels a sense of superiority because they had organized baseball in the late 1890s, before anyone else. This does not give them the right to claim they have a baseball World Series when usually there in only one country involved in the games.

Major League Baseball does include players from several countries around the world. The teams are a melting pot of diversity and home towns of players stretch across the globe like rubber bands. On opening day 2005 there were players from seventeen different countries, excluding the United States, on Major League Baseball rosters. Some of these countries included Aruba, Colombia, Taiwan, and the Virgin Islands (“Foreign” D02). The theory is, if a player is good enough, no matter what country they come from, they will be recognized, scouted, and signed to a Major League Baseball contract. Their country would then become a part of the melting pot of Major League Baseball. Some of these countries do have teams of their own but the players receive very little if any money for playing on their national team. The prospect of million dollar contracts usually lures the best players away from their countries. Other countries do not have a large enough population to support a successful or any type of baseball team.

Even though players from other countries play in the Major Leagues, not every country allows athletes to play for teams or leagues in the United States. One country that is known for this is communist Cuba whose leader, Fidel Castro, is a huge baseball fan. If a baseball player wants to play for a Major League team, they must risk their life and ride on a small and crowded raft in turbulent water to another country, and defect to the United States, knowing that they may never see their family again. Jose Contreras, a very popular Cuban pitcher and much sought after by American teams, risked his life in 2002 to defect to the United States. He was lucky because he was reunited with his family in 2004 after they defected. So even though players from around the world play, not all countries allow their athletes the opportunity to play elsewhere. In the case of Cuba, the players are expected to represent Cuba in exhibition games and the Olympics. Castro wants to see his players perform well against other teams but Cuba does not have a baseball league and lose some of their best players like Jose Contreras and Rafael Palmeiro to Major League teams and defection. The only way his team gets a chance to play is when they are invited to an exhibition game, play against local citizens, or play in the Olympics or World Baseball Classic. He wants his players to succeed, as long as they succeed for the Cuban national team.

Many people argue that Major League Baseball is the superior league of all the baseball leagues because they draw the best talent from all over the world. This is one reason why many people feel that American baseball has the right to call their championship the World Series. They have the best players and would naturally beat the champions from other leagues and countries. Japanese players, team owners, and fans might disagree and say that their league is superior, but many of the best Japanese players are now coming to the United States to play after they have played their mandatory nine years for their original team in Japan. Ichiro and Hideki Matsui are the most recognized Japanese players who have elected to come to the United States and have succeeded in American baseball. Also, United States baseball players that are unable to stay in the Major Leagues sometimes opt to play for the “lesser” Japanese league. Karl “Tuffy” Rhodes, who only hit thirteen Major League homeruns in his five year career, hit fifty-five homeruns in one season of 130 games in the Japanese league.

Major League Baseball may be the league with the most talented teams, but no one can really say that because no other countries participate against the American teams in games that count. When American teams play in exhibition games against other countries like Japan, they almost always win. These are only exhibition games though. Exhibition games are like the circus, they are played to entertain the fans rather than as a measuring stick for the quality of a team. If teams knew they were playing for the title of World Champion, they might take more time to practice and prepare for games.

In order for the Major League Baseball championship to be called the World Series, it must involve other countries that want to participate. Now would be a great time to start a true World Series because baseball is no longer going to be an Olympic sport beginning in 2012 after the International Olympic Committee voted to have it removed. Baseball is headed in the right direction with the World Baseball Classic. The World Baseball Classic has sixteen different countries that will participate in round-robin play. Unlike the Olympics, which allowed only minor league and college players, the Classic will involve professional baseball players. The first Classic is to be held in the spring of 2006. Instead of having it during Spring Training, it should be moved to October or November, after baseball teams had finished their regular seasons and league championships, so it could become the World Series. These changes need to be made to include other teams or the Major League Baseball championship should change its name. The best possible solution would be to have a World Series, but if the United States does not want to lose their superiority in the baseball world and take the chance they might lose, they must change their name.

[Soul]

I don't know the standard, really, of the Japanese leagues but I would think that they are (generally) lower than that of MLB. Does this mean that Japanese teams don't deserve a shot at the World crown?

 

Look at other sports, too, and their crowning of World Champions - I don't know what the champion Australian Rules Football team calls themselves, but they would probably (by a similar default) be the world's best team, too.

 

A lot of people bring this up in the UK (Really, a surprising amount) saying 'Why do you watch baseball when the team they call it the World Series and there is only American teams in it'. I always use the non-American players thing. I'd like to know some stats about the development of the players from abroad - how long, quickly, easily they came to assimilate into the game.

 

Indeed. However, they don't call it the "Best Players on the Planet Series"

 

They call it the World Series. Is there some other World being kept hostage in the United States that I don't know about? If so, it might be a fun place to shrink down and visit. How is their Apple Pie? :lol:

 

Maybe there's another itty-bitty World in Australia. Nothing but Foster's and the Tasmanian Devil on TV 24/7. :twisted: