MLB and NPL Talking Global World Series

[Party]

ESPN.com news services

TOKYO -- The United States and Japanese baseball champions could meet in a Global World Series, Japanese daily Nikkan Sports reported Thursday.

Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Ryozo Kato was quoted as saying his Major League Baseball counterpart, Bud Selig, had agreed the winners of the two countries' professional leagues should play each other.

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

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.

Japan is the two-time defending champion of the World Baseball Classic, a tournament of national teams that includes professional players from leagues around the world that is played during spring training. The next WBC will be played in 2013.

Information from Reuters and The Associated Press was used in this report.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4803999

Bombshell.

[Metes]

That would be the coolest shit.

[The Hanram]

"Global World Series"

heh.

[Metes]

World^2 Series

[Branch]

At least with this it would be a "World" Series instead of a "One Country" Series.

[Party]

Eh, MLB is the highest level of baseball in the world. Calling it the World Series and the winner a World Champion is fitting.

Plus it's a Two Country Series with a team in Canada.

[marlins_virus.exe]

this would be the first good thing Selig has ever done

[CrimsonCane]

If baseball gains in popularity globally, I'd be interested to see it do something like a Champions league or something similar in European league soccer. Perhaps the 4 teams that advance to the NLCS/ALCS in MLB and top 4 teams in the NPL would compete.

[Branch]

Eh, MLB is the highest level of baseball in the world. Calling it the World Series and the winner a World Champion is fitting.

Plus it's a Two Country Series with a team in Canada.

Hey who won the WBC last two years?

Oh yeah, not us.:marchmellow

Edit: Or any of the Mexican countries.

[Party]

Hey who won the WBC last two years?

Oh yeah, not us.:marchmellow

Edit: Or any of the Mexican countries.

There is a difference between a national team of professional all-stars and a league that fields the best talent.

That would be like saying the Greek professional basketball league is on par with the NBA just because the national team wins an Olympic Gold Medal.

Calling all the champions of the Big Four in the US 'World Champions' is not outlandish because they are universally accepted as the highest level in their sports.

[Branch]

Festa, Japan's national team of professional all-stars beat all the national teams of professional all-stars that provide the MLB with its talent. I think that means Japan is tough enough to roll with us.. ..

[Party]

That may very well be, but it is a recent development. 20 years ago, MLB was still miles ahead of the Nippon League.

When a Japanese professional team beats a team from MLB in a seven game series, they will be the world champion. Until then, the title of World Champion should continue to go to MLB teams.

[Branch]

It is for that very reason that Selig and the NPL Commish guy wish to have Japanese and American teams play each other. I look forward to it.

[Party]

I just hope it isn't played at neutral sites. It should be US city v. JPN city.

[Metes]

Oh here we go with that.

[Omar]

Definitely should be city vs city.

I wonder how they would reconcile rules differences. For example, games in the postseason in Japan stop after 15 innings and must be replayed. They also play with a different size ball and a slightly altered strike zone.

[CrimsonCane]

Maybe they use the WBC rules for championship games (to avoid the pitch count restrictions) since they're mutually agreed upon for international competition.

[Omar]

As long as they drop the absolutely stupid rule for adding baserunners in extra innings.

[BigGameFish]

If baseball gains in popularity globally, I'd be interested to see it do something like a Champions league or something similar in European league soccer. Perhaps the 4 teams that advance to the NLCS/ALCS in MLB and top 4 teams in the NPL would compete.

I think I would skeet just a little