When should the WBC be played?

[DrJones]

Re: When should the WBC be played?

I definitely agree with you. Today is a perfect example of the problems of holding it in March. The USA game isn't even televised because ESPN is showing basketball. The WBC will garner even less attention when the NCAA tourney starts next week.

True up here as well. The Canadian rightsholder to the WBC (Sportsnet) didn't show the Canada-Mexico game (5pm Pacific start time) in the Vancouver area, even though the bulk of the Canada's "star power" (Bay, Morneau, Francis) are B.C. boys. All because a Canucks-Predators game was scheduled to start at 7. I mean, I love the Canucks as much as the next guy, but come on. I could've lived without seeing the first period of a regular season tilt with Nashville (besides, the CAN-MEX score was out of reach by 7pm anyway, and Sportsnet could've just switched over to the Canucks game).

[DrJones]

Re: When should the WBC be played?

Another random complaint I have about the current format. Looking at the schedule, the soonest the USA would see Venezuala or the DR would be in the finals. I'm not sure how else they could do it, but it seems like they'd want to have their marquee teams playing each other.

They should've mixed up the groups. Why do we need to see the USA and Mexico play each other twice (and maybe a third time in the semifinals, if they're the top two finishers in their group with Korea and Japan)? It's dumb.

[Stu]

Re: When should the WBC be played?

They should've mixed up the groups. Why do we need to see the USA and Mexico play each other twice (and maybe a third time in the semifinals, if they're the top two finishers in their group with Korea and Japan)? It's dumb.

Yeah that would've worked. You'd have A-1, B-2, C-1, D-2 in one group and A-2, B-1, C-2, D-1 in the other.

You still might not see DR vs USA until the final, but at least you wouldn't see USA vs Mexico twice, Japan vs Korea twice, etc.

[dieselboy]

Re: When should the WBC be played?

After the season.

[SPTO]

Re: When should the WBC be played?

November,


Sadly that's when Free Agency kicks in so no big names are actually gonna go out and play so that wouldn't work. It's weird baseball doesn't have a "perfect" time to showcase their game.

Maybe if they push Free Agency back every 4 years?

[NYJets]

Re: When should the WBC be played?

I think now is the best time.

It think having it during the season would make even less players play. Now at least the players are fresh, but during the season so many guys are going to want to rest injuries or take time off, especially pitchers. And if a key player on a competitive team goes down it will be a disaster.

November isn't a good idea either imo. RIght now everyone is anxious for baseball. In November, it's football time. I don't think most people are going to get excited for this after the world series.

[DrJones]

Re: When should the WBC be played?

I think now is the best time.

It think having it during the season would make even less players play. Now at least the players are fresh, but during the season so many guys are going to want to rest injuries or take time off, especially pitchers. And if a key player on a competitive team goes down it will be a disaster.

November isn't a good idea either imo. RIght now everyone is anxious for baseball. In November, it's football time. I don't think most people are going to get excited for this after the world series.

You really think there'll be a lower turnout than now? Perhaps. I think that the risk of injury is far lower in July than in March, but I certainly agree that now is better than November. But as long as this tournament is held in the spring, it's always going to be somewhat irrelevant in the US. I mean, the semifinals are on March 18, and are going against a full day (8 games) of March Madness. I don't think CBS is worried about its ratings taking a hit.

[Pared]

Re: When should the WBC be played?

Typical MLB short-sightedness. Obviously, you can't take 2 or 3 weeks off in July. I think one week would work, though.

That would be a complete mess. The All-star game would lose any sort of flair that it has left. Players would rather get a nice week off than rush to play with people they have had absolutely NO TIME to practice with... the WBC would be completely disorganized. At least now, even for a its first time, the thing looks pretty well put together.

And do you think ballclubs, in the middle of the season, would be happy risking losing their players due to injury? Hell, I thinks a horrible idea as a fan. The owners would pressure Selig even MORE not to hold it then. Middle of the season just won't work.

Their only problem about it is finding network coverage. That'll easily be fixed come next year...

[glucklich]

Re: When should the WBC be played?

November,


Sadly that's when Free Agency kicks in so no big names are actually gonna go out and play so that wouldn't work. It's weird baseball doesn't have a "perfect" time to showcase their game.

Maybe if they push Free Agency back every 4 years?

I wasnt aware every big name player became a free agent every November.

[jpup]

Re: When should the WBC be played?

You really think there'll be a lower turnout than now? Perhaps. I think that the risk of injury is far lower in July than in March, but I certainly agree that now is better than November. But as long as this tournament is held in the spring, it's always going to be somewhat irrelevant in the US. I mean, the semifinals are on March 18, and are going against a full day (8 games) of March Madness. I don't think CBS is worried about its ratings taking a hit.

...I couldn't care less about "March Madness". Real baseball fans are watching the WBC, no matter when it's played. I have watched many, many games of it, and I think it's great. Baseball fans and college basketball fans aren't always the same people. The ratings for the WBC have been good thus far and March 18th isn't going to change that. The US, Dominican, PR, Korea and Japan are probaly the draws in this thing and as long as they are there, the ratings will be.

The best time to play it is in early March.

[DrJones]

Re: When should the WBC be played?

...I couldn't care less about "March Madness". Real baseball fans are watching the WBC, no matter when it's played. I have watched many, many games of it, and I think it's great. Baseball fans and college basketball fans aren't always the same people. The ratings for the WBC have been good thus far and March 18th isn't going to change that. The US, Dominican, PR, Korea and Japan are probaly the draws in this thing and as long as they are there, the ratings will be.

The best time to play it is in early March.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a baseball junkie and love the idea of international play, no matter what time of year it is (I even included international teams in Triple Play 2001 because I wanted to see an event like this.) All I'm saying is that, from a marketing point of view, July is ideal. I'm not a marketer, so I really don't care, I'm just trying to throw out ideas.

I think this is a cool event. I think this event should treated as be a Big Deal, similar to how international hockey tournament are treated in Canada. And yet, on a day in which the USA beats Japan in a thrilling and controversial game, it's a tiny blip of a headline on websites like SI and even ESPN, the host broadcaster who has every reason to be pimping the WBC. All the big headlines are regarding college basketball. I think that's a shame. I also don't think that's ever going to change while the WBC is played in March. That's the only point I'm trying to make.

[jpup]

Re: When should the WBC be played?

Don't get me wrong, I'm a baseball junkie and love the idea of international play, no matter what time of year it is (I even included international teams in Triple Play 2001 because I wanted to see an event like this.) All I'm saying is that, from a marketing point of view, July is ideal. I'm not a marketer, so I really don't care, I'm just trying to throw out ideas.

I think this is a cool event. I think this event should treated as be a Big Deal, similar to how international hockey tournament are treated in Canada. And yet, on a day in which the USA beats Japan in a thrilling and controversial game, it's a tiny blip of a headline on websites like SI and even ESPN, the host broadcaster who has every reason to be pimping the WBC. All the big headlines are regarding college basketball. I think that's a shame. I also don't think that's ever going to change while the WBC is played in March. That's the only point I'm trying to make.

I disagree.

I have watched ESPN2 all day long. Baseball is where it's at. In 3 years, it will be a much bigger deal. You have to remember that all of this has just started. It will take time.

[Scottdau]

Re: When should the WBC be played?

I disagree.

I have watched ESPN2 all day long. Baseball is where it's at. In 3 years, it will be a much bigger deal. You have to remember that all of this has just started. It will take time.

It will last until a major star gets hurt than you will see problems! Especially from owners!

[aukevin]

Re: When should the WBC be played?

You really think there'll be a lower turnout than now? Perhaps. I think that the risk of injury is far lower in July than in March, but I certainly agree that now is better than November. But as long as this tournament is held in the spring, it's always going to be somewhat irrelevant in the US. I mean, the semifinals are on March 18, and are going against a full day (8 games) of March Madness. I don't think CBS is worried about its ratings taking a hit.

At first I thought this was a good time, but I agree about March Madness taking the stage here in the US over the WBC. A perfect example of it was this morning during Mike and Mike on ESPN Radio. They did not talk about the WBC this morning, the only baseball talk mentioned was on that cheater in SF. All the show was about was Selection Sunday and your brackets. That's all good because MM is so good, but yesterday was an awesome day of the WBC, and you could even through in a little controversy.

I don't know when the best time would be for the WBC though. I wouldn't like it at the end of the year, I think the WS should close the baseball year. Maybe they should just start a couple weeks earlier than they do now just to get more in before MM starts.

[stripmallp]

Re: When should the WBC be played?

I think the best plan of action would be two-fold. One shorten the regular season to 154 games for every year and then start the WBC the first week of March and push the entire MLB schedule back a week. If you have it at the All Star break, then anyone in the hunt for October drops out and that would not be good. November would be terrible because everyone is hurt and worn out. Spring is the ideal time. Just shorten the regular season by a week and it should be fine. During seasons where the WBC doesn't happen then they could finish the WS a week early and when the WS happens in the east or midwest the poor fans don't have to freeze to see a WS game.

Injuries shouldn't even be a concern, players get injured doing much stupider things than playing baseball. See Jeff Kent, Lance Berkman and Clint Barmes.