Baseball plans World Cup

Baseball's chief operating officer, Bob DuPuy, said he expected to be able to confirm the idea within 60 days.

"We're very optimistic that we can get it all accomplished and start a World Cup in the spring of 2005 - that's our current goal," said DuPuy.

The tournament would include between eight and 16 national teams and be played during March 2005 in between four and eight US stadiums.

"That's a goal we share, and with a reasonable amount of luck, I think we will get there," Fehr said.

Management and the union envisage the World Cup teams being comprised of top stars - the USA were eliminated from Olympic qualifying on Friday with a team stocked mainly with minor league players.

Nevertheless, the loss has shocked many major league baseball officials - Canada and Cuba will represent the Americas in Athens next year.

"I'm sure that's going to get people's attention and could lead to further discussion on a World Cup and the Olympics, as well," said Paul Archey, senior vice-president of Major League Baseball International.

The commissioner's office and the union are working on several international events for the 2004 season.

Talks are under way to start next season in Japan - last season's Major League opener between Oakland and Seattle in Tokyo was scrapped because of travel concerns prior to the war in Iraq.

After the US National Team failed to make the Olympics in 2004 MLB's plans for the World Cup could be part of the plans for MLB to join the International Baseball Association and to put MLB players on the 2008 Olympic teams in all nations.

Cuba, which is all but likely to win Olympic Gold, may not be invited.

MLB probably will invite the top 12 teams (the 12 Olympic teams) and at least 4 other national teams to the MLB World Cup.

I can't think of a more effective way to dilute the ever-diminishing interest Americans have in baseball. It's hard enough getting people interested in Cubs vs RedSox, but U.S. vs Taiwan? I don't think so. Major League teams are not going to be happy about seeing their stars starting a month early and being out of gas by September. It's hard enough getting 30 starts out of Pedro now in the course of a season. I'd hate to see him waste 3 or 4 of those in meaningless international competition. This is the desperate move of a desparate cartel.

Seriously, baseball's internationalism hasn't been well established unlike hockey, basketball, and soccer.

The sport, to grow, needs a top-level international event with the world's best players on one stage.

And remember Taiwan scored in its one Olympic appearance in the sport, beating the United States. Major League Baseball joining the IBA and establishing this championship would be the perfect draw.

Since becoming a medal sport in the Olympics since 1992, MLB has been increasing its options in order to organise such a major event in order to keep the sport an Olympic sport.

It's no different than soccer's Coupe du Monde or basketball's World Championships. It's a stars all the way, trophy on the line, national event which would be an off-season event, just like the basketball and soccer international champions events held traditionally in their off-seasons.

The distinction of winning a world championship event such as this would be huge if the Americans can pull it off to wipe away the Olympic disappointment of failing to qualify. Think about it.

The distinction of winning a world championship event such as this would be huge if the Americans can pull it off to wipe away the Olympic disappointment of failing to qualify. Think about it.

This would be perceived, in the U.S., as a phony championship. The best baseball is, always has been, played in the U.S. We don't need to beat Taiwan, Australia, Canada, or Cuba to prove that point. Who cares whether baseball becomes the latest fad in Italy or Belgium? Do the soccer gods in Brazil spend time hoping that nine year olds from Topeka will take a shine to soccer? They shouldn't, nor should we care in the least whether other countries come to appreciate the charms of baseball.

The case of pro basketball is instructive. Nobody in the U.S. takes the "world championships" seriously. Yeah, it's nice to win but it proves nothing. It's played out of season, the rules are different, the court is different, the officiating is different. Membership on the team is a kind of honararium which gets passed around so that everyone gets a chance to play, if they want to. Ask any NBA player whether he'd rather have an NBA championship ring or a gold medal from the world championships. All you'd get is a laugh because no one would regard that as a serious question. Ask any european basketball star whether he'd prefer making an NBA team or making his country's national team. [insert european laughter here]

MLB's major problems do not include a lack of internationalization. Beating Cuba will do nothing to build attendance in Cincinnati, San Diego, or Detroit. It is a measure of MLB's detachment from reality that they would waste time fretting over internationalism rather than confronting the real problems facing the great American game.

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