One of the little things I love about the WBC is that Team Cuba will play Team Nicaragua to prepare Nicaragua for the upcoming WBC. Who knows maybe Cuba will play other teams like Colombia and Brazil. Maybe this would have never happened without the WBC. This is how baseball will grow and create excitement. Also new stadiums are being built or upgraded in Mexico and Colombia and elsewhere with the WBC in mind.
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1) Cuba playing Colombia and Brazil is not likely, their international schedule is out and the other tournament this year is in Holland.
2) Cuba is playing Nicaragua because their governments are close. It has nothing to do with the WBC.
3) Agreed, this is how baseball grows. It is the only avenue left.
4) Not the basic reasons the stadiums are being renovated, but the WBC helps a tiny bit.
Baseball is limping along without the Olympics, ask Regensburg...
Looks like Australia is getting serious consideration to host MLB games.
Playertobenamedlater
I'd like to watch a couple of these games.
Official Title: 2012 CPBL vs. CUBA GAMES
Event Status: IBAF Officially Sanctioned
Tournament Dates: November 11-14, 2012
Practice Date: November 11, 2012 @ Taichung Intercontinental Stadium
Game Dates: November 12-13, 2012
Venues: Taichung (Intercontinental Stadium) and Taoyuan (International Stadium)
Host City: Taichung City
Teams: Cuba National Team & CPBL Team
Umpires: Supported by NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball)
Ticket Info: To be announced on CBPL and IBAF Websites
Source: http://www.ibaf.org/en/news/2012/07/...f-4ec302f548a1
They might be traveling to Japan and Korea also.
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I wish during All-Star week they could have Team USA play another world power. Televise it on ESPN infront of the world, considering the 2 days after the All-Star break are the only days in the year where their are no professional sporting events happening around the globe. A one game international friendly between the US vs Korea or Cuba (if they would let them come here) would be awesome.
Playertobenamedlater
Not sure how much this improves baseball's chances of Olympic reinstatement, but I guess it's better than nothing.
Source: http://espn.go.com/olympics/story/_/...-2020-olympics
Great article on Baseball America about black South African who is no longer suspect and now a propect. Voted best defensive ss or second baseball and just missed being voted as most exciting player in the FSL I think.
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The "black South African", of course, is Gift Ngoepe. And the article is here, behind a pay wall.Originally Posted by Richard
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Alessandro Maestri won his first game as a Orix Buffaloes in NPB. First native Italian to play in the Japanese professional league.
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Good for Maestri, he got a look while in the ABL i'm guessing?
Playertobenamedlater
Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...5-8-2012_pg2_8Baseball will face its IOC evaluation at the continental qualifying tournament for the 2013 World Baseball Classic in Regensburg, Germany
Last edited by NewEnglandAmazins; 08-28-2012 at 08:01 AM.
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So do they have do it all in the 2012 calender year because it sounds like for every sport they are going to the championship game while for baseball they are attending one of the smaller qualifiers....?
Playertobenamedlater
I don't know, but you are right. It would have been better for the IOC to attend the WBC Final Four and they would still have plenty of time before the September 2013 meeting.
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They did; represented by IBAF!
Playertobenamedlater
Baseball struggling in China...
Playertobenamedlater
Regions Realigned for 2013: Australia to Play in Little League Baseball World Series
The new alignment gives Australia’s national champion in the Little League Baseball Division an automatic berth in the World Series (along with Canada, Mexico, and Japan).
“The 16 regions that send teams to the Little League Baseball World Series are based on participation numbers at the local league level,” Mr. Keener said. “In the last few years, we have seen tremendous growth in Australia – so much so that Australia is now our fourth-largest country in terms of total participation. We expect and hope to see additional growth in Australia, particularly in softball and teenage baseball.”
The U.S. has the most local Little Leagues of any country, with more than 6,000. There are about 500 local Little League programs in Canada, followed by Mexico with about 450, and Japan with about 375. Australia had about 400 chartered leagues in 2012.
Playertobenamedlater
I still cannot believe baseball was removed from the Olympics. An Italian makes the opening day roster of Seattle (Liddi). Three Colombians make their MLB debuts (Solanos and Quintana). More star players from Curacao are emerging (Simmons, Gregorius who was raised there and now Profar). Bogaerts(Aruba) is on the verge of becoming a star for Boston. Uganda makes it to the Little League World Series. Guatamala wins the Senior league World Series. A Brazilian makes the majors and Andres Rienzo possibly getting a shot with the White Sox. Luiz Gohara sets a record for a Brazilian regarding a signing bonus and is regarding arguably as the best left international prospect. More and more Europeans are being signed. I know it was political and it was not about MLB players playing and doping. WHAT A JOKE!
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It was financial and slanted. The IOC wanted big leaguers to sell more TV, and MLB did not want to share. Rogge and Mrs. Rogge like rugby and golf respectively; no big leaguers, just replace baseball and softball...
Playertobenamedlater
Facility identified as key to possible New Zealand Franchise in an expanded professional Australian Baseball League
Source: http://www.baseballnewzealand.com/in...se-in-aucklandMajor League Baseball (MLB) officials have recently announced their intention to work with Auckland officials and Baseball New Zealand to identify prospective facilities to meet the growth of the sport, including a possible future franchise of the Australian Baseball League (ABL) to be located in the city, according to Tom Nicholson, MLB International's director for the Oceania region.
Nicholson recently visited several facilities and parcels of land in Auckland along with Murray Cook, MLB's field and stadium expert. He stated in meetings with Auckland Mayor Len Brown and Regional Facilities and stadium officials that New York-based Major League Baseball is seriously considering bringing a professional franchise to the city, as well as its ground-breaking MLB Academy Program for top teenaged baseball prospects. There is even the potential of an MLB post-season All Star touring team coming to Auckland.
"We are impressed with and excited by the recent growth of baseball in New Zealand," said Nicholson. "The development of appropriate facilities will be crucial to maintaining the momentum and progressing to the next stage. A top-class baseball stadium in Auckland will give Team New Zealand a proper home; it will provide a venue for future ABL games and a facility for the MLB Academy program."
Australian Baseball League CEO, Peter Wermuth also supports the concept stating "A proper baseball facility suitable for professional baseball would be a great development for the sport in New Zealand, provide an opportunity to bring ABL games to New Zealand and would be a key step towards consideration for an ABL expansion franchise in the future. We strongly support the initiative."
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In that spirit, I would love to have more Central Americans in the Nicaraguan Winter League, Only one has played so far. And also, one league game could be played at Tegucigalpa and one at San Jose. Or one of those games could be played on alternate years in San Salvador or Guatemala. I would have liked for Mariano Gomez to play in Nicaragua rather than Venezuela...
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