The next World Baseball Classic in 2013 will have 24 teams with qualifying rounds and have top stars playing games in several nations if Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig gets his way.
Selig was at Dodger Stadium for Monday’s final of the second edition of the 16-nation global showdown, in which Japan defeated South Korea 5-3 in 10 innings.
He spoke about the legacy the event has to offer a sport that has been dropped from the Olympic calendar.
“When you see how far we’ve come in only the second time, I really feel great about where we are. This is tremendous,” Selig said.
“Long after I’m gone this is going to get bigger and bigger. You can count on that. In the evolution of the game, that’s how big this will be. It’s what we are supposed to be doing,” he said.
Selig vowed the Classic will remain in March during pre-season training for major league clubs ahead of April’s openers. Halting the season for the event or staging it in November after the World Series are not being considered.
“I know people have said it’s the wrong time,” Selig said. “It’s really the only time we can do it.”
That timing makes club general managers reluctant to release top talent for the US or other countries to participate in the Classic, but Selig has found huge support from players about competing for their homelands.
“A lot of the players said playing for the USA meant a lot to them,” Selig said. “Some general managers were reluctant. I have to work on them. This is a time to put the best interest of the game ahead of your own selfish interests.”
“You have to ask yourself, ‘Is this an event worth participating in? Will you leave a legacy?’ Some of our players understand that very well. We said we needed to do this. Now we have got to live up to that commitment,” he said.
Excitement for the event has been larger in Asia and Latin America than in US cities, where basketball dominates the attention at this time of year.
Selig praised finalists Japan and South Korea for the excitement the teams and their followers produced over five matchups from Tokyo to San Diego to the final.
“They have not only contributed on the field, they have contributed off the field with the excitement level and that’s exactly what I hoped would happen,” Selig said.
US manager Davey Johnson said he expects the Classic will grow as word spreads among American players and until the US major leaguers can capture the title after a semi-final ouster by Japan and a 2006 second-round exit.
“Players really have enjoyed playing for their country,” Johnson said. “The travel is a little tough. The competition is as little intense for this early in the season.”
“I think it’s going to grow in popularity. It’s just going to take a little time. They understand what we’re trying to do, winning a championship for our country. I think it’s only going to grow,” he said.
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