2009 World Baseball Classic
Discussion in the Open Talk forum
Comments
Re: 2009 World Baseball Classic
[ Author: Christopher | Posted: Jan 24, 2008 8:04 PM
| HAN Fan
]
Holding the games at open stadiums in February in Japan might not be a wise idea. The weather is still pretty cold and Tokyo Dome is probably the best location.
Re: 2009 World Baseball Classic
[ Author: Shinigami | Posted: Jan 25, 2008 11:49 AM
| FSH Fan
]
Another factor that probably created this statistic is the fact that most of the other teams involved in the US had a large amount of MLB stars that people are familiar with. Of course people would want to watch Ortiz, Pujols, and the others batting in the same order.
From the box scores on WBC official site, the lesser teams in the first round were also just drawing a few thousands in attendance. So there wasn't really that much of a difference than how it was at the Tokyo Dome.
Honestly, there aren't that many players in the Korean, Taiwanese, or Chinese lineup that Japanese fans know much about. So it's not a coincidence that the attendance is not high.
And as you mentioned, the attendance for San Diego and Anaheim were in the second round, where it's only left with the good teams slugging it out. Therefore the attendance had to be much higher, with the higher quality of the match ups.
Back on topic, I wouldn't disagree that if the more important games are held in Japan, the attendance would probably be less than what it was in '06. Granted, the other powerhouses are much closer to the US, therefore making them easier to travel over to support their team than if the game's being held in Japan.
From the box scores on WBC official site, the lesser teams in the first round were also just drawing a few thousands in attendance. So there wasn't really that much of a difference than how it was at the Tokyo Dome.
Honestly, there aren't that many players in the Korean, Taiwanese, or Chinese lineup that Japanese fans know much about. So it's not a coincidence that the attendance is not high.
And as you mentioned, the attendance for San Diego and Anaheim were in the second round, where it's only left with the good teams slugging it out. Therefore the attendance had to be much higher, with the higher quality of the match ups.
Back on topic, I wouldn't disagree that if the more important games are held in Japan, the attendance would probably be less than what it was in '06. Granted, the other powerhouses are much closer to the US, therefore making them easier to travel over to support their team than if the game's being held in Japan.
Re: 2009 World Baseball Classic
[ Author: Jbroks86 | Posted: Jan 25, 2008 12:01 PM
| SFT Fan
]
The major problem in this is, will fans in North America travel to Japan to see the games? It isn't exactly cheap anymore to fly with the high air prices. Also, the MLBPA are likely to object to traveling such long distances.
Also, as Christopher mentions, the cold weather doesn't bode well in February. What does that leave as a desirable location? Essentially the Tokyo Dome.
Also, as Christopher mentions, the cold weather doesn't bode well in February. What does that leave as a desirable location? Essentially the Tokyo Dome.
Re: 2009 World Baseball Classic
[ Author: FukudomeCubs | Posted: Feb 20, 2008 10:54 AM
| CD Fan
]
MLB announced today that the same nations have been invited to participate as in 2006. In addition, the article indicates that the venues are expected to be announced next month - with all four first round venues outside the United States, and the second round and final rounds inside the United States.
Re: 2009 World Baseball Classic
[ Author: Guest: LotteFan | Posted: Feb 22, 2008 7:39 AM
]
I realize that this is an old thread, but I just need to add this.
If the next WBC is in U.S., MLB needs to get non MLB umpires when the U.S. is playing - because the umpires at the first WBC were just dreadful.
If the next WBC is in U.S., MLB needs to get non MLB umpires when the U.S. is playing - because the umpires at the first WBC were just dreadful.
Re: 2009 World Baseball Classic
[ Author: Jbroks86 | Posted: Feb 22, 2008 11:15 AM
| SFT Fan
]
- If the next WBC is in U.S., MLB needs to get non MLB umpires when the U.S. is playing - because the umpires at the first WBC were just dreadful.
Yes, Davidson was terrible as a umpire. Though the credentials for being a NPB umpire are low. I would rather prefer that they get MLB umpires under contract. Davidson wasn't a MLB full time umpire.
Still, I'd rather take my chances with MLB umpires than the low bar that is set for umpiring in NPB.
Yes, Davidson was terrible as a umpire. Though the credentials for being a NPB umpire are low. I would rather prefer that they get MLB umpires under contract. Davidson wasn't a MLB full time umpire.
Still, I'd rather take my chances with MLB umpires than the low bar that is set for umpiring in NPB.
Re: 2009 World Baseball Classic
[ Author: Guest: Lotte Fan | Posted: Feb 22, 2008 7:37 PM
]
In any international team sport or event you would not have the umpires or refs from the same country as the players or team. If the U.S. is playing Japan, then the umpires should not be American or Japanese.
While I think it would be much better if there was a World Cup where the IBF or some other organization organized it, the WBC is an extremely US/MLB biased tournament. Imagine the Italian Football Federation wanting to organize the World Cup using only Serie A referees. Other countries would laugh at Italy, and rightfully so.
With that in mind, this makes the win for Japan even more impressive.
While I think it would be much better if there was a World Cup where the IBF or some other organization organized it, the WBC is an extremely US/MLB biased tournament. Imagine the Italian Football Federation wanting to organize the World Cup using only Serie A referees. Other countries would laugh at Italy, and rightfully so.
With that in mind, this makes the win for Japan even more impressive.
Re: 2009 World Baseball Classic
[ Author: Jbroks86 | Posted: Feb 23, 2008 11:21 AM
| SFT Fan
]
- While I think it would be much better if there was a World Cup where the IBF or some other organization organized it, the WBC is an extremely US/MLB biased tournament.
You will not get any argument out of me here. If you look around the archives here, you will see that I was very critical of the setup of the WBC, and critical of how much the MLB and MLBPA benefited while other leagues were ripped off.
My concern about international umpires is making sure they meet the necessary qualifications to meet the bar to umpire in such a big tournament. Since this is a big tournament, I would want qualified umpires to call the games.
This isn't to say that if other non-American umpires meet the necessary qualifications that I wouldn't want them umpiring, because if they're qualified then, yes, they should be allowed to be on the crew. I just want to make sure qualified umpires are calling the games.
You will not get any argument out of me here. If you look around the archives here, you will see that I was very critical of the setup of the WBC, and critical of how much the MLB and MLBPA benefited while other leagues were ripped off.
My concern about international umpires is making sure they meet the necessary qualifications to meet the bar to umpire in such a big tournament. Since this is a big tournament, I would want qualified umpires to call the games.
This isn't to say that if other non-American umpires meet the necessary qualifications that I wouldn't want them umpiring, because if they're qualified then, yes, they should be allowed to be on the crew. I just want to make sure qualified umpires are calling the games.
Re: 2009 World Baseball Classic
[ Author: Guest: Lott Fan | Posted: Feb 23, 2008 11:23 PM
]
I don't think MLB umps are any better or worse than NPB or any other pro league on this planet, therefore I disagree with your stance that MLB umps are better than the rest. There might be a slightly different mentality, different strike zones, etc. Different for an enlightened mind does not mean worse. Therefore when you say you would rather have MLB umps than NPB to me it illustrates the American-centric values which I am not a big fan of. US bigger better ad nauseum. US is not the best. Get over it.
WBC is an US biased tournament, and the umpires were terrible. Therefore it was good that the baseball gods gave the championships to Japan and that there were only 2 MLB players in the finals.
Why not have the WBC during the All Star games? Bring it on.
WBC is an US biased tournament, and the umpires were terrible. Therefore it was good that the baseball gods gave the championships to Japan and that there were only 2 MLB players in the finals.
Why not have the WBC during the All Star games? Bring it on.
Re: 2009 World Baseball Classic
[ Author: Jbroks86 | Posted: Feb 24, 2008 3:56 AM
| SFT Fan
]
Whoa, let's throw around the ethnocentric mentality.
All I said is I'd rather take my chances with MLB umpires over the low bar that is set for NPB umpiring. If you search through this website, you will see that NPB has a low bar set to umpire, this is not the umpiring quality that you would want in such a big name tournament.
The umpires should be screened to include the best of the best, if that is NPB, MLB, IBAF umpires then that is who should umpire these games. All I'm saying, in a tournament of such high stakes that we should have umpires who are qualified.
This isn't to say that there's not crappy MLB umpires, as there's a ton of them, too. Associating every umpire to be like Davidson is nothing more than disgusting bigotry.
I wouldn't want poor MLB umpires calling games any more than I would want poor NPB umpires. Screen them all and put the best of the best, whoever they are.
- WBC is an US biased tournament, and the umpires were terrible.
That's just like I said. You can take some time and look back that I was one of the biggest critics of the WBC. Though, all of the umpires on the crew weren't full time umpires. Also to say that all MLB umpires are terrible based on the umpiring in the WBC, is just as much of an ethnocentric attitude that you're accusing me of. It sickens me to hear such bigotry out of somebody.
- Therefore it was good that the baseball gods gave the championships to Japan
Are you insisting that the Japanese team didn't win the tournament on the fact they were the best team in the WBC? Or are you not happy until you can dig and find some kind of conspiracy?
- Why not have the WBC during the All Star games? Bring it on.
Why not? You won't get any argument out of me. The WBC is more interesting to watch than the spectacle the All Star game has become. It wouldn't hurt the MLB to cancel the All Star game once every 3 years.
All I said is I'd rather take my chances with MLB umpires over the low bar that is set for NPB umpiring. If you search through this website, you will see that NPB has a low bar set to umpire, this is not the umpiring quality that you would want in such a big name tournament.
The umpires should be screened to include the best of the best, if that is NPB, MLB, IBAF umpires then that is who should umpire these games. All I'm saying, in a tournament of such high stakes that we should have umpires who are qualified.
This isn't to say that there's not crappy MLB umpires, as there's a ton of them, too. Associating every umpire to be like Davidson is nothing more than disgusting bigotry.
I wouldn't want poor MLB umpires calling games any more than I would want poor NPB umpires. Screen them all and put the best of the best, whoever they are.
- WBC is an US biased tournament, and the umpires were terrible.
That's just like I said. You can take some time and look back that I was one of the biggest critics of the WBC. Though, all of the umpires on the crew weren't full time umpires. Also to say that all MLB umpires are terrible based on the umpiring in the WBC, is just as much of an ethnocentric attitude that you're accusing me of. It sickens me to hear such bigotry out of somebody.
- Therefore it was good that the baseball gods gave the championships to Japan
Are you insisting that the Japanese team didn't win the tournament on the fact they were the best team in the WBC? Or are you not happy until you can dig and find some kind of conspiracy?
- Why not have the WBC during the All Star games? Bring it on.
Why not? You won't get any argument out of me. The WBC is more interesting to watch than the spectacle the All Star game has become. It wouldn't hurt the MLB to cancel the All Star game once every 3 years.
Re: 2009 World Baseball Classic
[ Author: Guest | Posted: Feb 25, 2008 6:41 AM
]
Simply canceling the All-Star game wouldn't allow for enough time to play out the entire tournament.
I was all for playing the WBC after the post-season wrapped up, in November sometime. There is still the fresh feel of intense baseball, you wouldn't have to worry about the issue of players injuring themselves before the season starts, it wouldn't disrupt Spring Training camps, etc..
I was all for playing the WBC after the post-season wrapped up, in November sometime. There is still the fresh feel of intense baseball, you wouldn't have to worry about the issue of players injuring themselves before the season starts, it wouldn't disrupt Spring Training camps, etc..
"Real" World Series?
[ Author: YankeesDaily | Posted: Feb 29, 2008 12:38 PM
]
Why can't the World Series champions from the United States play the World Series champions from Japan every year?
YankeesDaily
YankeesDaily
Re: "Real" World Series?
[ Author: Christopher | Posted: Feb 29, 2008 8:47 PM
| HAN Fan
]
Because MLB is too narrow minded. Bobby Valentine has suggested this but it has not been taken up. MLB believes itself to be superior to every other baseball league.
About
This is a site about Pro Yakyu (Japanese Baseball), not about who the next player to go over to MLB is. It's a community of Pro Yakyu fans who have come together to share their knowledge and opinions with the world. It's a place to follow teams and individuals playing baseball in Japan (and Asia), and to learn about Japanese (and Asian) culture through baseball.
It is my sincere hope that once you learn a bit about what we're about here that you will join the community of contributors.
Michael Westbay
(aka westbaystars)
Founder
Copyright (c) 1995-2024 JapaneseBaseball.com.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Some rights reserved.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Some rights reserved.
However, there is no getting around certain facts: Japanese baseball fans failed the test of attending WBC games not involving Japan in 2006. Observe these drastic differences:
San Diego
Average Attendance Petco Park for three Semi-Final Round and Final WBC games not involving USA: 42,201
Anaheim
Average Attendance in Angel Stadium for three 2nd Round WBC games not involving USA: 33,083
Average Attendance in Angel Stadium for three 2nd Round WBC games involving USA: 30,823
Tokyo
Average Attendance in Tokyo Dome for three WBC First Round games involving Japan: 29,090
Average Attendance in Tokyo Dome for three WBC First Round games not involving Japan: 4,565
Tokyo admittedly was hosting 1st Round games, whereas Anaheim was hosting 2nd Round games, and San Diego was hosting the Semi-Final Round and the Final Game.
But Tokyo attendance was more than six times higher when Japan was playing vs. when Japan was not playing. San Diego attendance, with the USA not playing, was 45% higher than Tokyo attendance with Japan playing. Anaheim attendance, where whether the USA was playing or not, did not make much difference, was 10% higher than Tokyo attendance with Japan playing, and seven times higher than Tokyo attendance with Japan not playing.
So Japan definitely has a problem in attempting to secure the WBC Semi-Final Round and Final Game. However, in my opinion, there are two things that Japan can and should do immediately to successfully convince MLB and the MLBPA that the Semi-Final Round and Final Game can and should be played in Japan.
First, intensive ticket-selling in advance with Japanese corporations and unions could sell out each game, right now, a full 14 months in advance. Second, Japan should abandon its forlorn love affair with the sterile antiseptic ugly Tokyo Dome.
Japan should offer to hold the Semi-Final Round in Tokyo's beautiful ancient Meiji Jingu Stadium, a real baseball park with grass and no dome, and the Final Game in Japan's most majestic cathedral to the sport, Nishinomiya's Koshien Stadium, home to the most passionate baseball that has ever been played anywhere on the planet, Japan's annual high school championship tournament.
Phil Lowry
16877 Saddlewood Trail
Minnetonka, MN 55345
(612) 281-2713