WBC: World Baseball Conspiracy

So I sat down today to watch some of the WBC and see if I could get myself interested in it. After watching the Canada vs USA game, the only thing I found myself interested in was everything but the game on the television.

First off, I do not need every radio talk show host and tv anchor telling him how gripping and exciting it is, just weeks after not even knowing the damn thing was starting. How gripping and exciting can it be when your own show and its staff didn't even know it was about to start two weeks ago? Up until now, the only news I had been getting on the WBC was A-Rod joining the Dominican Team, players opting not to play in the WBC and then A-Rod not playing for the Dominican Team. I am tired of hearing and talking about A-Rod, but he found another way to dominate the news.

Then there are the seedings, which in my opinion, are bias towards the USA. We have Pool A which features Japan, South Korea, China and Chinese Taipei. Pool B consisting of South Africa, Mexico, Australia and Cuba. Pool C has USA, Canada, Italy and Venezuela. Finally, Pool D, Dominican Republic, Panama, Netherlands and Puerto Rico. How did they decide to seed these teams?

I can understand Pool A since they are all far East Teams. Pool D, with the exception of the Netherlands makes since. However Pool C, the USA's pool seems to be a wash with the exception of Venezuela. Pool B. is all over the globe so how did this work out? Why not seed them according to geographical location?

Pool A
Japan
China
Chinese Taipei
South Korea

Pool B
Dominican Republic
Cuba
Puerto Rico

Pool C
Canada
USA
Mexico
Panama

Pool D
Australia
Italy
Netherlands
Venezuela

Okay, Pool D is still a bit odd, but for the rest of them, they stay as close to "together" as can possibly be. Then again, does it really matter because no one is really showing that they care about the WBC here in the States. It is all about pride for all other countries, but in the USA, it is a time-filler until March Madness. Don't believe me, then check out the ratings last year.

Last year, almost half the televisions in Japan turned in for their games while the Dominican Republic reported that 90% of their viewers turned in for their games. Here in the USA, we barely broke a 2.5 rating. That is two and a half house for every 100 viewers turned in for the games and they were played here! Way to go Bud Selig.

Speaking of Bud Selig, he would like everyone to believe that the last one was a huge success and this one is going to be even bigger. Does this mean that if a batter now gets two hits out of 100 bats he will be successful and three hits will make him great? Selig is trying desperately to get the excitement up about the WBC here in the States, but it isn't working because people simply do not care. We like to think baseball is our game, but the rest of the world has passed us up, much like they did in basketball for several years. Wait until other countries start getting better at football (not soccer) and see what the USA does. Then It will be a full scale panic attack.

Watch some of the games in places like the Dominican Republic or Japan and see how the fans are on the edge of their seats for each and every pitch. Now watch a MLB game when the season starts and see how the fans are more concerned with who's at the game or the outfit they wear to the game than the game itself. As Americans we have gotten lazy and big-headed and then can't stand it when the rest of the world puts us in our place. Especially when it comes to a game we invented.

Yes, the WBC means a lot to every country in it with the exception of the USA. The only thing it does for the USA is allow professional teams to scout players in other countries they might not get a chance to see. So in other words, this is nothing more than the NFL Combine for baseball. I guess for the seventh inning stretch we can have the other players run the bases for times, catch deep fly-balls and throw to home plate to test arm strength and then let them hit for power.

What makes the WBC a bigger joke is the fact that some of these teams playing have players playing for "their country" and they were not even born in that country. Some have never even been to that country. Mark Mulder of the St. Louis Cardinals was going to play for The Netherlands and he was born in Illinois. Don't even get me started on the fact that most of the players for the Netherlands have never even been there. they are from either Curacao or Aruba. yes, these two islands are considered part of the Netherlands, but funny how they can represent themselves in the Olympics.

Chris Cooper is playing for Italy? When did the name Cooper become Italian? Bud Selig and MLB gave permission to players to play for other teams if they could track down their family tree and show that someone in their family once lived in a certain country they want to play for. So that means that if PLAYER A's father's, cousin's, nephew's, third aunt removed lived in Johannesburg, South Africa, they could play for that team? Ridiculous! Don't even get me started on the South African team seeing how most of their names are as common as yours and mine.

I have nothing against the WBC, but I feel it needs to be like the Olympics use to be, for amateur athletes. It gives them a chance to shine on a major stage and gives them a chance to show the world what they can do and represent their country. When the USA got their feelings hurt because they got beat in the Olympics at basketball, things turned ugly and other sports followed suit. We like to think that we are the best at everything and there is nothing wrong with that. However, there is nothing wrong with falling short if you give your best effort. All countries should follow suit and if you play in ANY, I repeat ANY, professional team in the world, you should not be allowed to participate in the WBC, the World Cup, the Olympics or anything of that nature.

I watched the American team and quite frankly, they got lucky. I heard about how they had heart this year and looked to avenge their losses from the previous WBC, but I saw nothing out of them. In short, they bored me. What's even worse is when the games come to the United States (funny, how the championship is here again) the fans will be filled with more supporters of other teams than the home team. Oh yeah, home teams. How is it the US Team played in Canada and was listed as the home team instead of Canada? one last chance to get it right and by the end of the game, they almost needed it.