Darvish struggles in Olympic warm-up

Well Saturday's game was even worse for our Olympic Heroes as they got completely murdered by the Central League 11-2.

Is there a box score anywhere on this game?

I know Kawakami got destroyed and gave up 9 runs and got 0 outs. Ma-kun also gave up 2 runs.

But how about the other pitchers?

I also heard they committed a few bad errors as well. Although I've been saying this Central League team is pretty strong, I'd never thought this would be the result. It certainly looks a little shaky going into the Olympics.

I went to the Dome to see the game against PL on Friday. Darvish wasn't sharp at all, but I'm convinced he'll crank it up a notch or two at the actual Olympics, as he's always been a big game pitcher. Though the bats only came alive against unknown Kattoh of SoftBank, and were shut down against the CL the next day, so that could be a source of worry.

Saturday's loss seems like the work of Kawakami and Nishioka (his error started it all).

Hoshino's loyalty means that he's taking more players to Beijing because of their past performance representing Japan internationally than many people would like. But it's still a good team, and conditions in Beijing will be entirely different from facing Japanese players in Tokyo Dome, so I'm not sure how much these games mean in the grand scheme of things. And I don't think Kawakami's going to lose his place as ace 1A next to Darvish just because of this one inning.

Daily Sports print edition has the box scores. If you want them (and can read Japanese) contact me at my e-mail address and I'll mail them to you.

Found the box score on-line for the CL game [Sports Hochi].

Darvish was quite awful vs. Cuba, too.

7 hits, 4 walks, 4 runs in 4 innings.

And Hoshino's lineup to me seems very questionable. Takahiro Arai as the number 4 hitter? Morino number 3 hitter? Is Hoshino really serious? And why was Murata on the bench?

Anyways, I would have had something like this for the top of the order:

1. Nishioka
2. Inaba
3. Aoki
4. Murata

I really think Hoshino needs to clearly revise his lineup if he wants to be serious about getting the gold medal.

Murata's returning from an illness, but I agree with you that the lineup seemed far from ideal. Where were the hot bats of Nakajima and G.G. Sato? Well, the sacred cleanup spot has been Arai's since the Asian qualifiers last autumn, and Hoshino is loyal to his men.

And Darvish had some good stuff at times, but his command was non-existent. Very disappointing, considering how the other pitchers managed to keep the Cubans off the board (well, Naruse did let in the 2 runners he inherited from Darvish, but ...).

Darvish's next game is likely against Canada, and now I'm torn. I want the Canadians to sneak into the medal rounds, but don't want the Japanese to come home disappointed.

It was just one game. A poor outing against a very strong team. It happens to every pitcher.

This illustrates why baseball is not an Olympic sport. Japan does have a good chance for a medal, maybe even a gold. But a bad outing by an ace in one game, coupled with errors and bad luck can enable an inferior team to win one game. Cuba is not an inferior team. But another loss is possible (like in 2004 against Australia).

It won't be there in 2012.

IMO, the current Olympic baseball arrangement is not fairly balanced, Japan against Taiwan, and professional pitchers on the Japanese squad are throwing against a much lower caliber of players, in general. What are the chances of a Single-A player (Red Sox) from Taiwan driving in a run in a must-do situation? Not likely to happen - and if you watched how the guy was taking his cuts, you could see why.

What is the point of this - ah - competition? With all the high fives after the win, I would think that the Japanese squad might feel a little embarrassed to have participated in such a contest. Same deal with the game against the Netherlands team.

[Editor's note: This really belongs in its own thread. Most Olympic coverage is being put in Baseball Asia Forum.]

What is more embarrassing is that the MLB wouldn't let go of their players. The U.S. only wants to have international competitions when they can arrange it on their own terms.

I find Olympics baseball to be great and wish there were more international tournaments like this one. In the future also have international club competitions like they have in soccer/football.

Sigh, not this argument again. Why should MLB shut down its season or give up players to the Olympics anymore than NPB, KBO, or CPBL?

Second of all, why should the respective leagues take away from the product on the field by allowing their players to play in the Olympics? It, in my opinion, ruins the game and product on the field for the fans.

Also, why should MLB or any other league's players allow their players to play in the Olympics and accidentally suffer a injury, which could put that team's season on the line? I mean what would Fighters fans think if Darvish had a season ending injury, or how would Hanshin fans respond if Fujikawa went down?

Third of all, with the slap on the face to the rule book by the IBAF, I could care less to ever see baseball in the Olympics. The new rule is an embarrassment and tragedy to the game of baseball.

I'll take my chances with the WBC, at least it will have Major League players and the top international players. It might have its kinks, and I still don't think it's anywhere close to perfect, but it is better than the joke the Olympics have become.

- In the future also have international club competitions like they have in soccer/football.

We also don't need the Olympics for this either? In my opinion the IOC dissing of baseball, the slap on the face by the IBAF has been an embarrassment and made me question how much the IBAF is really looking out of baseball's best interest. The current leagues (NPB, CPBL, and KBO) need to do more than the current Konami Cup (which is a great start) and link up with more cooperation between the leagues.

Inter-league play between NPB, KBO, and CPBL would be a step in the right direction, in my opinion. It would be thinking outside the box, though I keep forgetting that is the major problem with these leagues. That their conservative old men ownership refuses to think out of the box.

And I know there might be a few who disagree, but I think MLB needs to further its cooperation in Korea and Taiwan with more exhibition games. They said they might a few years ago, but dropped the ball. I also like to see what Bobby Valentine has been suggesting; that the Nippon Series and World Series champ meet in a 7 game championship for the ultimate baseball championship. The major obstacle to that is that we need to make it where the MLBPA, and major sports media in the US makes it worthwhile. Maybe an outside-the-box person like Masayoshi Son can make it work?

You see baseball has plenty of future on the international level without the Olympics. My opinion is we can't say good riddance to the IOC quick enough.

I disagree with what you say, but understand your view points. MLB should have let go of its players just as the Asian Leagues did. Contribute and market the game. The reason why MLB did not send their best team in the beginning was because if they did all MLB players would have been caught in doping.

Ice hockey has its Olympic teams and World Cups. And NHL. Baseball could too, and because of it grow more in popularity world wide. Olympics and WBC.

- MLB should have let go of its players just as the Asian Leagues did.

But why should MLB or the Asian leagues allow their players to risk injury? Don't the teams owe it to themselves to first and foremost put an effective product on the field? Diluting the product on the field by taking the league's best players away in is no way in the league's best interest.

- Contribute and market the game.

I think you misunderstood my intention on how to market baseball worldwide. As with my example above of better cooperation of Asian Leagues, they should make this a reality. We don't need the Olympics to market baseball. The Olympics and IBAF don't have the best interest of promoting baseball internationally, and I have my big doubts with the IBAF on how much they really care for the game of baseball after their absurd rule change.

Also, if you want to bring the game to regions where it isn't, the respective major leagues must use their power and start from the bottom up. The Olympics will not popularize baseball in countries where it isn't popular. That must be started from the ground up. MLB, NPB, and the other Asian leagues must do this.

- The reason why MLB did not send their best team in the beginning was because if they did all MLB players would have been caught in doping.

What a farce argument. Give us some proof to back this up? This is a very serious accusation and your judgment is taking a hit without any proof to prove that MLB's best players were on 'roids.

If I remember right, Myung-hwan Park of Korea was suspended for doping, but I would never try to argue that all of the Korean team was doping. Your judgment has taken a big hit with blank accusations.

- Ice hockey has its Olympic teams and World Cups. And NHL.

And why should NHL allow it's best players to go and play in international tournaments? Is it a sports team goal first to win or send players to international tournaments?

There are ways beyond the Olympics to promote baseball internationally. The respective Asian major leagues need to do more in Asia, and yes, MLB can also help here, too. Start by doing clinics, donating and giving baseball equipments, have closer cooperation between leagues, and have true world championships.

I'm afraid we're going to have to agree to disagree on our views of how to better promote baseball internationally.

The question is, which is the premier forum for promoting a sport? There are actually two really massive events - the Football World Cup and the Olympics. Other sports have their world cups, but these are not effective in developing or expanding the sports - kind of like preaching to the choir.

Now if MLB is serious about developing baseball as a global sport (and I very much doubt this), it needs to accept two things. Firstly, it cannot control the sport - it must subject itself to an international governing body. Secondly it needs the Olympics to get the exposure. It is not the other way round - the Olympics can survive without baseball, after all it is the premier sporting event in the world. Baseball, of course, can survive without the Olympics, but it cannot become a global sport without the event and without MLB giving up control.

The complaints from America when baseball ceased to be an Olympic sport were instructive. Rather than focus on the real reason they blamed the Europeans. However, the real reason was the lack of commitment by MLB - it would not release the top MLB players. It needs to do this to be acceptable to the premier sports event - it can no longer get by with sending second best.

I suspect that MLB is not serious in developing baseball as a world sport, but really wants to develop MLB as a global brand. Talent from around the world would be plundered, but the game in individual countries would be a feeder for MLB. The Olympics actually offers the best chance to develop baseball as a world game, but it needs more commitment than has been shown. I am sure that if MLB promised to allow the best players to go to the Olympics then the IOC would welcome baseball back.

-Now if MLB is serious about developing baseball as a global sport (and I very much doubt this)

Though, you must admit that MLB has been instrumental in helping the Chinese baseball Olympic team, by sending coaches, equipment, and training. We saw how this played out with a surprising win against Taiwan. Now, I can't say that China will keep baseball afloat in China after this, but this is a postitive start for baseball which might not of been possible without MLB. We will find out soon enough whether China is serious about baseball after the Olympics.

-Firstly, it cannot control the sport - it must subject itself to an international governing body.

I agree, Christopher, though MLB must be part of the process to internationalize baseball, it can't not be the other way around. Without them, the whole process will struggle to come to frutition. Yes, I agree they must not dictate the process though. We must find an agreeable middle ground to find for the sake of baseball.

-Secondly it needs the Olympics to get the exposure.

I would also argue about this too. Christopher, if baseball is not popular say for this case India, is the Olympics really going to make it popular there? We must start from the ground up with baby steps that become bigger steps. It was how baseball was built in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan if I remember right.

Second, a lot of my anger and doubt stems from the IBAF's decision to change the extra inning rule. I can understand the need to try and convince the IOC that the rule is neccessary to try and reinmplent baseball back into the Olympics. Though, in my opinion is selling baseball short by changing what has been years of the same rules? I have my doubts if the IBAF is really looking out for the best interest of baseball. What I would prefered to see is for the IBAF to tell the IOC that we will not change our rules to please the IOC.

To continue my above point, yes the IBAF must be a part of the process of internationalizing the game, but they must rescind the pathetic extra inning rule change before I gain trust back in them. I'm not sure how you feel about the new rule change by the IBAF, but I was appalled by it. I would like you to share your opinion on the rule and whether you think it is in the best interest of the sport?

-However, the real reason was the lack of commitment by MLB - it would not release the top MLB players

Though why should a league release its best players? Isn't it the goal of a team to put the best product on the field? Baseball is a business, while not like many others, but the goal is to win. You dilute the product on the field by sending your best players to the Olympics. In a close pennant race, that can be the difference between first and second or a Wild Card berth. Also, Christopher what if your player were to suffer a major injury that could damper your team's chances at a pennant? How would you feel as a Hanshin fan if Fujikawa would down with a season-ending injury? Wouldn't that damper Hanshin's chances of winning the pennant?

-I suspect that MLB is not serious in developing baseball as a world sport, but really wants to develop MLB as a global brand.

Once again, I would have to disagree. While MLB is far from perfect which was shown by their take it or leave it attitude in the WBC, I do believe they are sincere in trying to spread baseball as a international sport more so than the old mean head brasses in NPB are. Besides maybe Masayoshi Son, I don't think any of them have a clue on how to make baseball a more popular international sport. Maybe, Christopher you can offer some insight on the subject of what you think about how NPB can better try to promote baseball internationally outside of the Olympics, I would be very interested to hear your insight into this matter.

MLB must be commended for their efforts in training the Chinese team. Without MLB's help they would not be where they were at or even in a position to beat the Taiwanese.

-The Olympics actually offers the best chance to develop baseball as a world game, but it needs more commitment than has been shown.

How can you really be sure? In countries where baseball isn't popular, is the fact baseball being in the Olympics going to popularize it any? This process must be started from the bottom up. Like I said the respective major leagues and the respective top 4 powerhouse international baseball federations alongside the IBAF must start with clinics and donating time and money to start from the bottom up. There's a big gold mine in China and India if we can only put our time and money in to it. But, you must know that this will not be started overnight, as with all good things in life it will come over a period of time. But if we aren't to even try of course it will not happen.

-I am sure that if MLB promised to allow the best players to go to the Olympics then the IOC would welcome baseball back.

Finally, I'm going to ask one last question which excuse if I already mentioned before, but I want to bring back up to exmplify the point 100%. Is it in the best interest of a baseball team to send its top players in a middle of a pennant race? Isn't the first goal of a professional baseball team to put a winning team on the field and how by diluting the product by taking your best players away for a month helping that? No matter how much we escape it baseball is a business, and its goal is to win or your season is a failure.

Also, for baseball to re-enter the Olympics and for all other internationally sanctioned events by the IBAF, the asinine rule change must be abolished and returned to the previous status quo. If not, the IBAF takes a serious blow on protecting the best interests of baseball on a international stage.

Finally, I will say one more final thing about all of this. Like I mentioned above the Asian leagues must implement interleague play between the respective leagues. This would help invigorate and help stregthen the level of play of baseball in Asia and not to mention would be a wise business move.

Second, MLB must not be kicked out of the process of helping promote baseball in Asia. MLB as a global baseball body has a lot of power and resources to help make baseball prosper in Asia. As I been saying for years we need to get a true world championship going between the Nippon Series champ and the World Series championship. We have two options on where to play this at: (1) in Hawaii(though the lackluster seating capacity would really take this option off the table and (2) alternate year and year between the Japanese champions home park and the MLB champions home park. Though as I said we must find a way to make this attractive to the MLBPA, that's where I think Masayoshi Son can come in handy at. That has been a big goal of his since becoming Hawks owner to have a true world championship.

There is a lot in what you say and we are not going to agree on everything but I do agree about the rule change.
Do we know if the IOC actually requested such a rule change though or the IBAF introduced it off its own back? I cannot recall this point being clearly explained.

Whilst MLB has certainly helped in China I have doubts that it has done so for altruistic reasons. I rather suspect that it has cast envious eyes on Yao Ming (basketball) and decided that it would like something similar. The potential market in China is enormous and I suspect that it is more to do with getting Chinese talent into MLB then reaping the benefits.

I would also differ on the value of the Olympics - as I said it is the premier sporting event in the world. A sport included in the Olympics acquires a global credibility and exposure that is difficult to match. The sport being in the Olympics may not make it popular in a country that does not play it but having a team in that event and getting a medal does. However, for that to happen the sport must be included in the Olympics and must demonstrate a commitment to the sport. To take your example of India (and we can include Pakistan as well), the big sport is cricket and the new 20/20 version which has taken the cricket world by storm. Baseball needs more than the Yankees to impress Indian sports followers and to dislodge the established sports.

Tied in with the concept of the Olympics is that of national pride and your country doing well. The NBA has realised this - if it does not send its stars, the image of the American sport suffers because basketball is a global sport. The Olympics buys into the concept that playing for your country is more important than playing for your club and that it is the highest honour a sportsman can aspire to. From an atheletes point of view it is also very lucrative as the global endorsement deals can be staggering for the successful atheletes.

For clubs it can be difficult to lose key players but once you reach a global basis you have to accept international competition. This means that you have to give up players to international teams (and this is part of the reason I suspect that MLB is not serious about the global aspect of the sport). The international team then becomes the most important team - not the club team and support is directed to the country. The injury issue though is a red herring, a player can be injured at any time and the team can be deprived of his services. Kubota broke his hands saving his daughter from falling out of her pram - should he have let her fall?

I don't see MLB as being excluded from the process of globalisation but it needs to demonstrate genuine commitment and be prepared to give up a lot. Of course it needs to be part of the process but it may have to accept that it is only a participant and not the major player.

Christopher, this then begs the question? When did the Olympics become so important? If you remember, at one time the Olympics was all about amateur athletes and the celebration of amateur athletes. If the IOC had no problem with it then, then why all of sudden are they hypocrites about it now? I'm afraid we're going to have to agree to disagree on the importance of the Olympics.

In my opinion, the Olympics are far from perfect and I would rather call for a return to amateur athletes, even in, yes, basketball. But that's more or less because I enjoy college basketball much more than the circus NBA has became.

Second, yes no one said MLB must be the one calling the shots in the internationalization of baseball, but that they must be part of it. MLB is a business just like NPB is one, and with that, when baseball is established as a major sport in one country, they are going to come calling to sign players there. Now, can MLB do better at internationalizing? Yes, of course they can. I, if you'll note, never said they were perfect.

Third, regarding my example of India. I never said that the answer to making it popular there was to throw in the Yankees name brand. That isn't going to make baseball any more popular there than the Yomiuri Giants/Hanshin Tigers throwing their name brand around in China. What I said of the process of making baseball a big sport in India is that we must start from the ground up. You do agree that to make baseball a sport in a country in India that you must start from the ground up before even worrying about the Olympics? Without that, the goal of playing in the Olympics or an international tournament doesn't mean anything. Baseball must be started from the ground up, as it was in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

- For clubs it can be difficult to lose key players but once you reach a global basis you have to accept international competition.

But why must the Olympics be the only forum for international play? Can't we, as a population, and shouldn't we have an alternative to the Olympics?

Two more unrelated questions for you Christopher:

1. I'd like to hear your opinion about closer cooperation between the three main Asian leagues and the implementation of inter-league play (because I believe this would help improve the level play in Asia even more); and
2. What should Japan do to better internationalize the game (because Japan is a baseball powerhouse and one of the strongest in the world)?

- I would also differ on the value of the Olympics - as I said it is the premier sporting event in the world. A sport included in the Olympics acquires a global credibility and exposure that is difficult to match.

That may be true, but you are overlooking the fact that baseball is simply not suited to be an Olympic sport. The loss to Korea is an example. Japan is a better team and Korea got lucky capitalizing on a pitcher's lapse, sub par fielding, and bad breaks. If they played 10 times Japan would probably win eight times out of ten.

This is the nature of baseball. Over a 162 (or about 136 in Japan) games schedule the cream rises to the top and the best teams win.

I think it is good MLB thumbed their noses at the Olympics. Japan should have done the same. What makes something global or more popular is not what is necessarily good for the sport.

Just curious Christopher, have you ever played baseball? Your posts while cogent and well-written seem to be posted by someone who has never played the game. Am I wrong?

Anyone who has played baseball for any period (and I played starting at age eight in Little League) would understand why it is not an Olympic sport.

It is a moot point because it won't be there in 2012.

- That may be true, but you are overlooking the fact that baseball is simply not suited to be an Olympic sport. The loss to Korea is an example. Japan is a better team and Korea got lucky capitalizing on a pitcher's lapse, sub par fielding, and bad breaks. If they played 10 times Japan would probably win eight times out of ten.

While Japan does have more depth, at the national team level, their abilities are very close. This has been shown time and again in various tournaments where these teams have played close games (and Korea has won, often enough). Once you include the major leaguers though, Japan should have a better team, not sure if I'd say 8 times out of 10 though, because in baseball that's quite lopsided (unlike basketball, per say).

- This is the nature of baseball. Over a 162 (or about 136 in Japan) games schedule the cream rises to the top and the best teams win.

So... MLB created WBC because... it wanted it's own marketing vehicle instead of following the IOC. Well, they're both huge money making sporting organizations, one pretends to serve the fans while gouging and mistreating them, while the other pretends to be virtuous. Six or one half dozen, almost.

Layyo - To answer your question I played baseball when I was a child and for the odd team of friends after that but not at any serious level. The argument that baseball isn't an Olympic sport is not shared by a lot of the baseball world judging by the disappointment expressed with the decision for the 2012 games. Here I make no comment except to say that the Olympics provides a global forum for the sport and demonstrates that it is not just an American passtime. This is important for a game wishing to globalise.

The Olympics has always been an important event - it brings together the wish to be the best with national pride. Thus countries can get excited demonstrating their superiority and qualities without resorting to bloodshed. I don't think that this is what Baron Coubertin intended but this is what it rapidly became. Unfortunately, the amateur ethos also suffered - most of the competitors either had trust funds or state funded non jobs long before the Olympics abandoned amateur status. Given that national pride is involved television stations rush to broadcast it and countries compete to hold it as it is a great spectacle. The best atheletes compete and this also enhances its credibility - it has only one competitor in this respect. The fact that it is held every four years is also important - it is a rare event and its special status is enhanced.

Now with India and China we have two different cases. To build baseball in either country will need a different approach. Quite simply in India I don't think there is any chance. The game is cricket, the sporting stars are cricketers and baseball doesn't get a look in. It is no secret that the Olympics are interested in cricket (the 20/20 version) which is the shortest version of the game and very popular at the moment. To build baseball from the ground up in India will not work - it is not an Indian sport. The only way it can have a chance is to remain an Olympic sport. India has just won its first gold medal (mens air rifle) and this has woken the country up to the fact that there are sports other than cricket. But the focus will be on the Olympics as the premier forum for sport. If 20/20 becomes an Olympic sport then expect this to be the focus. In China there is no dominant sport and so baseball has a big chance. But it needs big stars to enthuse the ground level. Kids have to aspire to reach either MLB or the Olympics. The goal has to exist before the ground work.

On the unrelated questions - I do favour more cooperation between the various Asian leagues. It is something which has only benefits and no drawbacks. The logistics are fairly easy and as a start maybe an international competition (a la six nations, or tri nations in Rugby Union). Of course Japan would win at first but the gap would close rapidly. Once this was established a competition between the top teams in each country could be launched - a cup competition perhaps though some kind of super league would also be possible. It would have to be well marketed and I would see Japan as taking the lead. It would also need to be part of the regular season - not outside it. For anything like this to happen the NPB needs to become a true governing body and this means abandoning the MLB model of governance. Owners of the Japanese baseball teams would lose their veto power and be subject to the decisions of the NPB which would be made in the interests of the game as a whole. I see this as happening in a month of Sundays.

I agree we should have other forums for sport besides the Olympics but before these are established it is perhaps a good idea to use the best forums that are available. That of course is if globalization is the goal. I would think that an international system akin to rugby and cricket might be a possible alternative for baseball. It is preaching to the converted but the market is there and already strong. No need to try and build a new one.

Yeah, I'll admit that baseball making a foothold in India probably won't be easy with cricket. And yes, it's probably easier to start from the ground up in China where their is no dominant sport. The reason why I used India as an example, is because China and India are the two largest countries, and where baseball, I think, should be focusing on.

Second, I must admit I don't look at the Olympics with the same enthusiasm as others. The political nature (which I prefer not to start on) and the fact that they had no problem with amateur athletes before, but now they do. As for amateur ethos, this might been the case in the former Eastern Bloc countries, from what I've heard, and may have been the case in others, too, I don't know. Though, the fact of representing your country on the world stage in amateur sports should also be championed by the Olympics.

- The goal has to exist before the ground work.

Yeah, but don't you have to lay the ground work to establish baseball before playing in an international tournament? If baseball doesn't exist in, say, India once again, it has to be started from the bottom then worked up to the top goal of international competition.

- Of course Japan would win at first but the gap would close rapidly.

I agree, and I think to an extent we're seeing that in Asia already with how close the Koreans have been playing for the last few years in the WBC and the Konami Cup.

To close out the post, regarding alternatives to the Olympics, I'd prefer to see the IBAF rescind its absurd rule and then see MLB and the world baseball bodies better cooperate to better promote it internationally. Taking away the absurd rule change, I think the IBAF would do wonders for promoting the game internationally. And of course, I agree the world baseball bodies must cooperate on it. My major beef with the IBAF is their rule change, which has disappointed me a lot.

Also, the Asian baseball bodies have taken a nice first step with the Konami Cup. I must, say when they established it I was very excited for Asian baseball. Now, I'd like to see them establish true inter-league play between leagues. This, like you said, would probably have to be a month of Sundays. May or June perhaps replacing the current inter-league play.

- Also, the Asian baseball bodies have taken a nice first step with the Konami Cup. I must, say when they established it I was very excited for Asian baseball. Now, I'd like to see them establish true inter-league play between leagues. This, like you said, would probably have to be a month of Sundays. May or June perhaps replacing the current inter-league play.

Although I'd love to see this too (even if it's just the PL from Japan), Asian leagues are largely driven from gate receipts, and opposing fans put a lot of butts in the seats. And this won't happen (not for the foreseeable future) with international club match-ups.

This is pretty clearly illustrated on a smaller scale with the Asian Ice Hockey League (involving Japanese, Korean, and Chinese clubs). Domestic matches outdraw international matches by a wide margin (5-10 fold) because of lack of traveling fans for the opposition (partially caused by the insular attitudes of Asian citizens when compared to Europeans with much more open borders).

Even with more internationally inclined sport like football, it's taken a long time for the Asian Champions League (and it's predecessors) to establish themselves as premier competition that can draw crowds, some ratings, and serious competition from the clubs.

I came with my views on how to promote it better internationally. One of the reasons to why football [aka soccer] is a global sport and baseball not is because in football there are so many international games and international relationships. They have made the game that top pro players have to represent both their clubs and countries. The top clubs then play other club champions.

Baseball could do the same if they wanted to market it more globally. Baseball is lacking here mostly due to Americans being extremely poor in international relationships and don't see baseball beyond their own borders. It's a shame.

- Baseball is lacking here mostly due to Americans being extremely poor in international relationships and don't see baseball beyond their own borders.

And we can argue that the respective Asian leagues are the same way in that they don't see baseball outside there own borders. What exactly have the Asian leagues done to promote baseball outside of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan?

Once again, MLB isn't perfect, and I never will say it is, but it has done more to promote the sport on an international basis than the respective Asian leagues.

The big three Asian baseball powers are international powerhouses, and if you are to criticize the Americans then you should hold the Asian leagues to the same standard you do of MLB.

In conclusion, the three big Asian baseball powers should be doing more to promote baseball outside of their three leagues.

The 3 Asian leagues are at least sending their best players to the Olympics. Which raises the level of play and, theoretically, helps the sport as a whole.

But yeah, the Asian leagues could be doing more to promote the sport, especially in the region so that there are more than 3 countries where the sport is popular.

- Which raises the level of play and, theoretically, helps the sport as a whole.

On that level, yes, they are putting in an effort. But on promoting it outside of their respective countries, I think they could do it so much better. The Konami Cup, putting China into it, was a start, and over time should help improve the level of play there. Though I would wish that they do more to promote the game outside their borders.

My beef was with Number 26 who criticized MLB for not seeing outside their borders when the Asian baseball leagues don't see outside their borders either. It's quite sad for all of them, really. Instead of bickering they should be trying to promote the game internationally.

- And we can argue that the respective Asian leagues are the same way in that they don't see baseball outside there own borders. What exactly have the Asian leagues done to promote baseball outside of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan?

They have sent their best players from their league which is more than what MLB has done. MLB is not interested in promoting baseball, they want to control it. Imagine if the Premiership would want to arrange their own World Cup. Well that's what MLB has done with the WBC. The Asian Champions already have their Asian Series. The winners should play the "World Champions" to decide who really becomes World Champions.

I thought the WBC was great and Olympic baseball, too, great. It could have been better. By simply sending MLB players to the Olympics, the US could have marketed the sport much more than what they have done in all these years.