MLB to allow top players to participate in Olympics 2016
According to Bob Watson, Major League Baseball (MLB) vice president and general manager of Team USA, in an article on SportBusiness.com, the MLB, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) are working on a program to bring the Baseball back to the Olympics 2016. They are currently discussing plans to stop the Major League season so that the best players can participate in the tournament.
“Major League Baseball, the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) and the IOC are working diligently to have a system where our big leaguers are playing. I think if Chicago or Tokyo would win Olympics for 2016, those countries are baseball countries, and they have venues. I believe they are trying to work up something, you have a few years to get a plan. There are a lot of moving parts but don’t rule it out. It’s not too premature to say the minds are turning trying to work things out”.
Thats great News for Baseball Worldwide
Hope it works out
this "sounds" great, but this would mean that MLB would have to stop the regular season for 3+ weeks after the all star break, OR, not stop it but have clubs be minus key players. ???? both options sound bad to me. this does not even include practice / gel time for the squads to tighten up.
Well, they are talking about an extended all star break and if the Games are in Chicago they might only need to shut down the season for about ten days. I also do not think that the preparation for the event needs to be too long, as all players are in mid-season form at the time.
Big IF, if the games are in Chi Town. And if not?? Just a little perspective here from the paying customer: Why would the paying customer of MLB team "x" even want players from that team participating? Mid season form, yes, but mid season form with his MLB team, not with a new team. And what if "Joe Superstar" blows out his knee on a slide at home plate, or his shoulder pitching for a different coach than the one for the team that is paying him millions, and team "x" in the MLB, who was contending before said injury then does not make psot season. Paying customer would not be to happy with MLB then. MLB is a business, the Olympics are an event. I don't see this happening, but I've been wrong before.
I agree with mbd MLB is business, Olympics are an event .
But as proven before US customers as you adress them who in their majority are the " customers of MLB " are also big Olympic viewers and expect the one and only outcome from international games "WIN" .
If the organization wants to push MLB baseball into the Olympics they will do it successfully as they did with the world baseball cup where the whole world enjoyed top level baseball for approximately one month.
But take into cosideration this one . The Olympic tournament consists of only 8 teams right now and for countries like DOMINCAN REPUBLIC , PUERTO RICO , PANAMA , they would have to use their MLB players , in the OLYMPIC QUALIFIER to overcome CUBA or the USA and be part of the final tournament .This is not going to happen . Release twice in the season top level players - never - So its going to be the US team , and some KOREANS , JAPANESE , CANADIANS , AUSSIES maybe , and a few from the NETHERLANDS or ITALY . Talking about 40 - 50 guys missing from MLB teams TOTALY. its not that bad thats why it's more likely to happen.
cheers.