World Series champs against Japanese champs

[LOTWSvirgin]

It could happen

By 'Duk

We were just talking about what moves Bud Selig might make to bolster his legacy before he steps down as baseball's commissioner in 2012, so it probably comes as no surprise that he's thinking big.

Like, globally big.

According to the AP, Selig and Japanese commissioner Ryozo Kato are meeting in Milwaukee and have discussed the possibility of a Global World Series that would pit the World Series champions against the champions from the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan.

From the Associated Press:

"In meetings with Japanese commissioner Ryozo Kato in Milwaukee, MLB commissioner Bud Selig proposed that the Japanese and U.S. champions play each other, the Nikkansports newspaper reported Thursday.

"'I was surprised, Mr. Selig said he wants to realize the plan before his tenure ends,' Kato told Nikkansports.

"Selig is set to retire in 2012. When he took office in 2008, Kato, a former Japanese ambassador to the United States, said one of his goals was an international series between the world's two biggest baseball nations."

There isn't much to this Nikkansports report past those few paragraphs, so we'll have to wait and see just how serious Selig and Kato are about this proposal. Considering that Selig has a serious jonesin' for expanding the game internationally (see the Classic, World Baseball) and that Japan lives, breathes and sleeps baseball, it's not outside the realm of possibilities.

But it's also hard to imagine that the same challenges that face the WBC — scheduling, increased risk of injury to pitchers and apathetic American players — won't also hamper the Global World Series. The player's union would certainly put up a big fight during an attempted adoption as this goes past the usual All-Star goodwill trips to Japan (pictured) that we've seen in the past.

Personally, I'd enjoy seeing how the whole thing would work and the quality of play that we'd be able to see. (This season we would have seen the Yankees vs. the Yomiuri Giants.)

But I also think the novelty would wear off pretty quickly and I'm not sure you could pay the players enough money to extend a season that keeps getting longer and longer

[JBMasterAngler]

I remember as a kid watching the major league all stars play the japanese all stars. Did they play that game before or after the regular season?

[Juneau4]

I remember as a kid watching the major league all stars play the japanese all stars. Did they play that game before or after the regular season?

The all stars did that from 1980 untill 2004 about everyother year. It was played after the regular season and many of the MLB players weren't what you would call "All Stars". They would play a series of games.

[B. Amish]

this is dumb. i'd rather watch the world baseball classic.

[mrklean]

the players association will step in and say no

[zamboni]

We are one of the 2 biggest baseball nations in the world? I'll be, darned. Thought the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico and about 5 other countries were ahead of us.

[Big Dave2]

I would be bored with it after the 1st year anyway.

[zamboni]

I would be bored with it after the 1st year anyway.

Just like I was with/still am with Interleague. Get rid of it

[Big Dave2]

Originally Posted By: Big Dave2

I would be bored with it after the 1st year anyway.

Just like I was with/still am with Interleague. Get rid of it

I agree, or else fix the DH rule one way or the other.

[zamboni]

The WS used to be VERY special because the NL and AL teams ONLY played each other in it. What if the Yanks/Phils play 2 series during the season, then meet for the WS? Kinda takes all the excitment out of it.

[Big Dave2]

The WS used to be VERY special because the NL and AL teams ONLY played each other in it. What if the Yanks/Phils play 2 series during the season, then meet for the WS? Kinda takes all the excitment out of it.

I can agree with that, but this could or maybe has happened in the NFL too and I don't think it diminishes the excitement of the super bowl.

[zamboni]

The NFL to me is different, every since the merger, the NFC and AFC teams have played each other, most of us grew up with it and are used to it. MLB on the other hand, I thought it was cool for a year or two, now its just another Selig gimmick