Selig looking to organize a "Global World Series" before he retires

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According to reports out of Japan and on SI.com Bud Selig met with NPB commissioner Ryozo Kato in Milwaukee recently. The topic of discussion was possibly organizing a postseason series where the NPB champion would take on the MLB champion. Selig also hopes to make this a reality before his tenure as commissioner ends in 2012.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/baseball/mlb/01/07/roundup.ap/index.html#ixzz0bwvgkQQU

The champions of U.S. Major League Baseball could face the champions of Japanese professional baseball in a regular Global World Series under a plan being discussed by the two countries.

 

In meetings with Japanese commissioner Ryozo Kato in Milwaukee, MLB commissioner Bud Selig proposed that the Japanese and U.S. champions play each other, the Nikkansports newspaper reported Thursday.

 

"I was surprised, Mr. Selig said he wants to realize the plan before his tenure ends," Kato told the Nikkansports.

 

Selig is set to retire in 2012.

 

When he took office in 2008, Kato, a former Japanese ambassador to the United States, said one of his goals was an international series between the world's two biggest baseball nations.

 

Japan is the two-time defending champion of the World Baseball Classic, a national-teams tournament which involves professional players from leagues around the worl

 

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/baseball/mlb/01/07/roundup.ap/index.html#ixzz0c69swwQU

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A lot of you will probably disagree, but as a fan of the international game and somebody who follows NPB as well I think this would be a great idea! Pitting the champions of the two best leagues in the world would be a great thing towards further developing the internationalization of the game. I know this would make the Japanese fans very happy, and I'm sure Bobby Valentine is ecstatic about this news , as he has long been a proponent of organizing such a series. Of course questions exist as to how it would work; such as the length of the series, where it would be played, when it would be played, etc. Having the two teams alternate home stadiums would be problematic due to travel time and jet-lag, but I think playing a best of 5 series in one country, alternating each year, in November would be the best way to work it. I would be very against playing a series prior to or during Spring Training, not only for the same reasons that people oppose the WBC, but also because the rosters are so different by then that it won't be the two championship teams playing each other. I also think that the games should be played at a neutral stadium in the host country for a few reasons. One, there would be a huge home-field advantage for the host country's team when the visiting team plays as the "home" team in the host's Stadium. Also, in the month of November it is very cold in some parts parts of the US, especially Northeast cities and in the midwest. So a warmer climate such as Southern California, Florida, Texas, or Arizona, or even a domed/retractable roof Stadium would be essential. It won't take away from the home field advantage, as playing in a different city shouldn't necessarily deter that cities fan base from rooting against their country's champion.

 

Well you guys obviously know my feelings on this possibility, I'm curious what you guys would think.......

[example1]

A lot of you will probably disagree, but as a fan of the international game and somebody who follows NPB as well I think this would be a great idea!

 

I don't disagree. It would be better than the World Baseball Classic, which I like in theory much more than I like in practice. The best equivalent I can think of is the Champions League in soccer, where the best club teams play for title of world's best professional soccer club. It is much bigger than what this proposal is, but I'd love to see baseball find time to make something like that work. I won't hold my breath.

[jacksonianmarch]

I have no care for this to happen. These players are exhausted after the World Series and the pitchers are usually worn thin. We take their best players after awhile anyway and thus far, none have been HOF quality. And since baseball has more chance to it than anything else, a loss would be more humiliating than actually a result of inferior talent.

[schillingouttheks]

Any team can take a short series from another... that's why making the playoffs (especially winning a division) over a 162-game marathon is quite remarkable. I agree with jacko that a series loss to a Japanese team would be humiliating instead of a reasonable measure of talent.

[italstallianion]

This screams Pro Bowl to me.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

No way. The WBC is bad enough.

[Dojji]

I'm all for it. Let's showcase the sport as much as possible.

 

We'd have to do a bit of standardization to make it really work -- like deciding whether Japanese or American baseballs would be used for example -- but anything that gives me more baseball to watch is all good as far as I'm concerned.

[Keeper]

Selig has come up with some good ideas in his time as the Commish. This is not one of them.

 

MLB doesn't have to prove anything to the rest of the world.

[Spudboy]

I say we do it.

 

Hold a series in Pearl City and rub their faces in it.

[msubulldogs21]

No thanks.

 

The season is already long enough, and after winning the WS (the real goal to begin with) there would probably be a lot of guys who would mail it in/not take it seriously, similar to how the US did with the WBC classic in '06.

[26 to 6]

Selig has come up with some good ideas in his time as the Commish. This is not one of them.

 

MLB doesn't have to prove anything to the rest of the world.

It's not about proving anything to anyone, it's about revenue and further promoting the game internationally. I see and agree with everyone's points here, but I still think it would be a good idea. If the whole 40 man roster is eligible to play, we don't need to use our best players and pitchers, and can treat it as more of an exhibition series. While a loss would be embarrassing, it still doesn't take away from the fact that we're still better and more talented. It also shouldn't take anything away from the World Series. But again, there's still a long way for this to go before it happens.

[mickeyyoung]

what did you want to say?

[26 to 6]

gfy...

[riverside sluggers]

No thanks.

 

The season is already long enough, and after winning the WS (the real goal to begin with) there would probably be a lot of guys who would mail it in/not take it seriously, similar to how the US did with the WBC classic in '06.

 

Not to mention... in November is when free agency and trades start happening. So would this delay any of that happening just so the World Series champions play the Japan Champions??

 

And could you imagine the outburst if a star player gets hurt during such a series?

 

Im sorry, telling players to get ready to play "meaningful" baseball from March (WBC) to November is ridiculous

[26 to 6]

If a player gets hurt at least it's at the end of the season rather than at the start of the season.

[riverside sluggers]

What if its a torn acl or achilles injury??

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Japan Vs America is not "global". Just more stupid money making garbage. The WBC is basically the same damn thing anyway, but including every continent instead of one team from north america and one team from asia. It's ******** if this happens

[Mr Crunchy]

As much as the far east has influenced baseball I think it would be a travesty if they had an international world series that didnt have the Caribbean and South American players representing their own nations.

[Dojji]

Just more stupid money making garbage.

 

We must avoid making money at all costs, after all.