Call For A True World Series

Okay, but then you're including the U.S and Japan, and that's not the world. The point is that the best players in the world do play in North America, and if you disagree with that, then give me one player that is better in Japan than Ichiro or even Matsui for that matter. The best players are in America, even the Japanese players.

Of course you can argue that there are a few that could obviously play in the MLB, but so many of the players in MLB are from Central American countries now anyway. Just saying that I still believe that it is a true world series.

After reading your blog I have a few comments. First of all, I agree with Ozzie even though I don't like him at all. I think any pro baseball team in Japan put into any league in the MLB would finish last. Just look at how people do in Japan. I mean, I'm a huge Swallows fan, and while they now have little chance to play for the championship, two of their best hitters are Riggs and LaRocca. They are pretty much guys that couldn't make it in the MLB, and they are currently hitting about 22 and 18 home runs respectively, while I'm sure that would be their upper limit for a whole season in the MLB.

Another thing is, what do we have to lose in the situation that the Japanese Champion and MLB champ face off? Well, what if the MLB won 50-0 in 4 games? Not to say that it would, but if it did, Japan would be completely embarrassed, and I'm pretty sure that's why they don't want to test it.

They had the WBC, so thats good enough for me. Japan won that so I don't see how the USA would run rough shot over Japan.

- The best players are in America, even the Japanese players.

Why that may or may not still be true, that is due to the internationalization of MLB into Japan, and the fact that many believe that MLB is the top league in the world.

- They are pretty much guys that couldn't make it in the MLB, and they are currently hitting about 22 and 18 home runs respectively, while I'm sure that would be their upper limit for a whole season in the MLB.

I agree, there are numerous players that couldn't make it in the majors, like Sheets, Riggs, and LaRocca. So, I agree, that might make it a little lopsided.

However, also looking at the overall talent pool of Japanese native players in Japan, the pool minus bench players is about as equal as ever.

- ... then give me one player that is better in Japan than Ichiro or even Matsui for that matter.

Daisuke Matsuzaka is right on that level with Ichiro and Matsui. Matsuzaka is on the same level of fanfare and stardom that both Ichiro and Matsui have.

- Another thing is, what do we have to lose in the situation that the Japanese Champion and MLB champ face off? Well, what if the MLB won 50-0 in 4 games?

Let's look back at the earlier history of the Nichi-Bei series and the overall history of the American teams that were sent to Japan.

Japanese teams have continually gotten better and better against American teams. Right now, with the JPBPA voting for an end to a long Nichi-Bei series, I just feel that it would be a tragedy to end such a rich history of baseball dating back to the 1930's.

Also, one final mention, I would like to envision one day a Konami Cup style series, where they could play the MLB Champion, NPB Champion, KBO Champion, and CPBL Champion, and more of the world's top leagues champions.

Finally everything comes with a risk, but I truly believe that baseball in Japan is on par with baseball around the world, and Japan has improved and improved.

Also, without stepping up, how can we really be sure of your last point? I fully understand the risks, but to overcome any risks, you must stand up and face those risks, and I'm a true believer in the level and talent of baseball in Japan.

Let me just finish my opening opinion out by saying that I should have worded my topic better. Limiting the field to just the majors and Japan wouldn't be promoting the wish I have had towards a complete true World Series with all the major baseball powers.

I'm all for the internationalization, the promotion, and the improvement of baseball across the globe. I also wish that one day there would be a Konami Cup type championship, with the MLB Champion, NPB Champion, KBO Champion, CPBL Champion, and so on.

I'm going to close it out with my final thoughts in my new blog post. [Eutaw Street Bombers]

MLB teams think that they have nothing to gain from playing NPB teams in serious games that count, from either the competition (they're expected to win convincingly, anything short of that would be a disappointment, but things can go quite wrong in the small sample size theater of short series) or the fan interest (since most MLB fans view NPB as inferior competition). Just as NPB teams used to think that they have nothing to gain from playing KBO and CPBL teams. But now that we finally have the Asia Series (even though fan interest was only mediocre at best, I had zero problems getting tickets for the games), NPB have seen something in accepting KBO and CPBL challenges, and hopefully MLB will see something in challenges from the rest of the world.

As I have written before, it is all about money and to a lesser extent, scheduling.

There is little fan interest in NPB in the U.S., viewed as an inferior product or not. NPB does not promote itself to the North American audience, MLB does and has a preferred product. Just because some Japanese fans have an interest in MLB (or rather the successful Japanese players in the league and their teams) doesn't mean MLB fans are expected to reciprocate this interest. If there is no interest, the MLB fans and the sponsors wanting to reach them will not part with their money.

So you are right, there is nothing to be gained in a MLB/NPB World Series, so it won't happen. Create an economic reason and they will come.

Well I think the scheduling problem alone would nix the idea of a serious series of games.

March? MLB teams are too worried about injuries to their star players, and as we saw with the WBC, some American fans said that only reason Japan won was because spring training starts earlier in Japan, and so the U.S. players were not ready. (There's always an excuse.)

Mid season? As the Olympics have demonstrated, MLB teams don't want to release players at the height of the regular season, especially those teams in contention.

November? The season's over, pitchers' arms are tired, everybody wants to take it easy. The MLB tour of Japan every two years is testament to this. The players are in holiday mode. It's not serious competition.

That's even before we talk about money, jet lag, and anything else.

Agree with everything you say (except there is always an excuse - how about the guys on the MLB team just stunk?).

One solution might be to shorten the respective seasons, say MLB back to 154 games. The greater playoff revenue might be convincing, but that would also make for an awfully long playoff season.

You're right, better off leaving the World Series as it is. NPB can call their championship the World Series, too, to eliminate complaints of egocentricity. Some wiseacre might even say it's OK, because they play in two different worlds.

- Agree with everything you say (except there is always an excuse - how about the guys on the MLB team just stunk?).

But that's what I meant. There's always an excuse - either it's too early in the year, or the WBC format didn't suit teams with greater depth. Or something else. It's never that the better team won.

If one team stunk, then the team that won had to have played better - on a given day - in a given series. Baseball is not a game of absolutes. Baseball is full of - excuses!

Frankly, the WBC really shows the positive impact of Latin players on MLB.

What's holding up a "true World Series" (it could be played in Hawaii if they wanted it) is the fact that the Japanese teams have a quota, a limit on the number of foreign players. The MLB Players' Association would never go for that.

If that ever gets worked out, I'd like to see a playoff format in which the AL and NL wild cards play each other, with the winner facing the champion from Japan. If the team from Japan wins, they get to play a playoff series vs. an MLB team and "earn their way" into a "True World Series."

Something's going to change in the future if the USA continues to lay an egg in the WBC, because the term World Series is going to sound very hollow to fans who have become aware that the game is also being played at a high level elsewhere.