Stark's plan to revitalize the WBC

Very good look by Jayson Stark and the current setup of the WBC and his views to remedy it; both in timing and impact/interest in The US, apparently its been a far greater success abroad than here.

I like the idea of blocking out a week or so in July filled with the All star game, HR derby and the WBC, played in 2 stadium cities all week long.

In any event, its an intriguing look at what could be a nominally successful tournament.

almost 3 years ago bren 3 comments 0 recs |

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Thanks for the link

I completely and unequivocally disagree with the author. Here’s why:
1. Too much baseball crammed in just one week in July. Logistics and broadcasting nightmare. Foreign teams will be difficult to assemble and coach (and scout, for that matter).
2. Players involved in competitive teams will refuse to attend.
2.1 Disruptive time to leave their competition. Pitchers in particular would be at highest risk.
3. Distraction from MLB and its competition. Alan would never go for this.

Very much like the soccer and basketball World Cups, I would do it at the very end of the MLB season in warm climates (PR, MEX) or in domed stadiums. Players would still have a bit left in the tank and would leave their all on the field.

I do agree that this WBC has been immensely entertaining and full of surprises. I wish for it to succeed.

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Mar 21, 2009 11:42 AM CDT reply actions

I think youre missing what he said

in the first scenario he suggested playing the tourny during the all-star week, so players will be in mid season form, so hopefully more top guys would be willing to play seeing as its only an additional week of games and theyd be in peak shape…..I think it would be feasible in the 2 stadium cities, and between ESPN and MLBN, the broadcasting should be no problem, the big teams will draw the best times of course, I doubt theyd waste air time in the US to show South Africa vs Holland.

Im not sure what you meant about the foreign teams, they have their own coaching staffs/players/trainers etc.

Bud should for this, afterall it is an invention of his office, so he’d be foolish not to explore options that might improve its visibility.

I think taking over the entire sports world for that week in July is a brilliant idea; theres no NFL/NBA/NHL going on, soccer is in the offseason, and if they stay in the odd years they wont have to compete with teh FIFA World Cup, Wimbledon has already taken place….so baseball could completely dominate that entire month with a spectale showing off the games best and the leagues best to the world.

So I hope Bud isnt so stubborn to bend on his pet project.

The bottom line is there will never be an ideal time for this, and pitchers will always be a worry, so they might as well go for an option that maximizes exposure and mitigates risk….which I think July could do.

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Mar 21, 2009 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Gee, I wonder if...

… he read my post from March 3 before he wrote his.

And for anyone who thinks I ripped this off from this Fangraphs post from a week earlier, I never read that before it was called to my attention after I wrote mine.

That’s a case of Great Minds Think Alike, nothing more.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 21, 2009 3:09 PM CDT reply actions