Bored 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1917367 ESPN.com news services TOKYO -- The first World Cup of baseball will be held in March 2006, Japanese baseball officials told the Japan Times, following meetings involving American, Japanese and Korean officials. Agreement was reportedly reached following a meeting here Friday that included Bob DuPuy, president and chief operating officer of Major League Baseball, Japanese commissioner Yasuchika Negoro and Park Yong Oh, commissioner of the Korean Baseball Organization. No comment was forthcoming from DuPuy. Major League Baseball had proposed holding the inaugural World Cup with 16 countries in March 2005, but Japan and South Korea wanted greater say in organizing the tournament and it was delayed. The Americans later relented, according to the Japanese newspaper, and agreed to set up an organizing committee and let Japan play a leadership role in the Asian round of the tournament. Working-level talks to organize the tournament will be held in New York in December, according to the paper, with an official announcement expected in the spring. I'm lukewarm on the whole idea but early March is definently the best time to hold it and more likely to get strong participation from star players then doing it after the season. 16 countries though? Let's see you'd have United States, Japan, South Korea, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Canada, maybe Cuba, Panama, Australia. That's ten, maybe eleven. I don't know what other countries could field even marginally competitive team and a few of those listed aren't exactly going to be that good as well. I'd go with eight countries. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anorak 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 I'd be ashamed if the UK sent a team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lightning Flik 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 Actually, Bored it would be something like this: The Americas Round A Dominican Republic Panama Puerto Rico United Sates Round B Brazil Canada Mexico Trinibad (hey, they have a soccer team) Asian/Rest of World Round C China Japan Taiwan *some Euro team here* Round D Australia South Korea North Korea *some Euro team here* I'd just have no clue who would send teams from Europe. I'm guessing probably one from the UK. And this is how I'd guess they'd do it up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 I bet the Dominicans win. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 From what I hear, the Netherlands have a pretty good national team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Precious Roy 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 I love the idea, I think it's going to produce some incredible baseball.... THE DREAM TEAM: LF - Barry Bonds (probably won't play, but definitely should) CF - Jim Edmonds RF - Lance Berkman 1B - Mark Teixeira 2B - Michael Young (out of position, but a more attractive option than a 38 yr old Jeff Kent) SS - Derek Jeter 3B - Alex Rodriguez C - Jason Varitek SP - Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Jason Schmidt, Ben Sheets, Jake Peavy, Roy Oswalt, Mark Mulder (gotta have a lefty) RP - Brad Lidge, Joe Nathan, Keith Foulke, Billy Wagner, BJ Ryan The strength of a US team will be in it's pitching, as looking around the league many of the top position players are products of South America. I'm not quite sure who all is from Venezuala, the Dominican and Puerto Rico, but I'm sure all three will field stong teams. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 Italy fields an Olympic team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 As an aside, Puerto Rico would field the most interesting team. They have Ivan Rodriguez, Javy Lopez, and Jorge Posada all available at the catcher's position. However, the island only has two starters in the majors right now, Javier Vazquez and Joel Pineiro. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 Carlos Zambrano is from Venezuela. Watch out for Team Canada: Eric Gagne, Larry Walker, um, er, Larry Walker... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarvinisaLunatic 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 Greece had an Olympic team that Peter Angelos supported. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 Carlos Zambrano is from Venezuela. Watch out for Team Canada: Eric Gagne, Larry Walker, um, er, Larry Walker... Jason Bay, Rich Harden, and Justin Morneau. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 Greece had an Olympic team that Peter Angelos supported. They even had a Greek or two on the team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Precious Roy 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 Carlos Zambrano is from Venezuela. Watch out for Team Canada: Eric Gagne, Larry Walker, um, er, Larry Walker... Maybe Ferguson Jenkins can come out of retirement Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Precious Roy 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 WHOA! I just found out that Mark Prior is Canadian, so scratch him from the Dream Team! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
treble 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 Canadians would have Corey Koskie, too. And I think Chris Reitsma is from Calgary. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 WHOA! I just found out that Mark Prior is Canadian, so scratch him from the Dream Team! No way! I thought he was from SoCal! Add Ryan Dempster to Canada. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 WHOA! I just found out that Mark Prior is Canadian, so scratch him from the Dream Team! Born in Bonita, California Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Precious Roy 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 Also, Corey Koskie, Matt Stairs, Paul Quantrill and Ryan Dempster. They might be able to suit up a whole team! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 http://www.epcanada.com/about/principals.asp Wrong Mark Prior, you idiot Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Precious Roy 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 WHOA! I just found out that Mark Prior is Canadian, so scratch him from the Dream Team! Born in Bonita, California WHAT?!?1 There's some Canadian website out there pimping him as being from Canada! Damn Canadians and their MLB-infused propaganda! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 Johnny Damon is half-Thai. I never knew that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Precious Roy 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 http://www.epcanada.com/about/principals.asp Wrong Mark Prior, you idiot Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 Here's the Canadian National Team I've come up with so far. C McKay 1B Morneau 2B Clapp SS 3B Koskie LF Bay CF RF Walker SP Bedard SP Francis SP Harden SP Hill SP Myette CL Gagne RP Cormier RP Crain RP Dempster RP Mears RP Quantrill Pond A. Guiel Stairs LaForest Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Rrrsh Report post Posted November 8, 2004 I think Demp wants to start agian and would be a better option than Hill. Plus, I am a big fan of Guill, I think he would be a good DH bat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 Looking at that group, I'd probably play Bay at center, and start Stairs. Guiel would be the primary bench hitter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lightning Flik 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 I was talking with Al, and now I'm curious as to just how exactly the divison robin (8-team) or round robin (4-team) would play out. I'm just wondering which would be better for the World Cup. Which would you select? The division robin allows for the best of the crop to proceed, but it'd most likely end up being 4 Americas teams and 4 Asian teams playing in the finals. If its 8 team divisons doing a robin, I can see them having 14 games and 3 playoff game series for each match up. Top four of each division would advance and play a 3 game series for each playoff. Whereas the round robin would most likely go 4 America teams, 4 Asian teams, 4 Euro teams, and 4 teams from elsewhere in a 4 seperate round robins. If its 4 team round robin, it would be 6 games and 1 game elimination playoffs. This would also allow some countries teams the opportunity to shine in the case that they otherwise would not. My own personal opinion: I'm leaning more towards the 8 division tourney for a World Cup myself because you can then have an "A-Division" and a "B-Division". The A-Divison would be composed of all the teams who succeeded in making the playoffs the previous year (I would assume this is a yearly thing), while the "B-Divison" would be everyone who had not. Therefore say the top 8 in 2006 is Canada, Japan, China, USA, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, South and North Korea. These 8 teams would then make up the A-Divison in the next year. Also, the two worst teams in the World Cup would be relegated out of the robin to allow new blood into the World Cup. Meaning that should the US bomb one year, they'd be out for the following year. It might give a country the incentive to perhaps perform better. Also by having a 3 game playoff tourney for the final 8, you'd allow yourself the chance to have most of your starters perform and also give fans a chance for their teams to rally behind their country in order to win. Sure this would then mean that to win the World Cup a country might have to play a total of 26 games, but hey. It at least would guarentee that the best team won and not a total fluke happening. What do you guys think on the way the robin should be done? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 How many MLBers will actually want to go play though and risk injury? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lightning Flik 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 How many MLBers will actually want to go play though and risk injury? A lot of them do it for Hockey. *shrugs* Besides, it is just something to float around for discussion. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 I think quite a few will the first time, it being a novel concept. The tough part will be getting pitchers on board, since they are still warming up for the regular season in March. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lightning Flik 0 Report post Posted November 8, 2004 However that might be a very good way to warm up though. At least I would think so. You'd get a "real game" experience to it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
