MLB Europe

[Canadutch]

Let's just say I may have caught wind of details that I know are sketchy right now, but talks are getting under way this week in New York on the issue.

Dutch National team coach Robert Eenhoorn is heading the idea of a new division of MLB opening it's doors as early as 2010 (2009 if it all goes very smoothly). I don't know much about it, all I heard was it would be played in the fall, and the schedule would be 30-40 games. Supposedly the teams would be stationed mostly in the Netherlands and Italy (the baseball hotbeds of Europe), and the teams made up of a mix of the countries' national players and american professional players, the league sponsored by MLB.

I didn't hear this, but it sounds to me like this would be a version of the arizona fall league and the hawaiian league, the month long leagues put together for minor league prospects to get some more work in after their season is done.

Do you think this would fly? Would MLB support and run with the idea?

[Rally Monkey]

Hmm. That would be exciting if true. But it gets pretty cold in the Netherlands in the fall, doesn't it? Heck, it's pretty cold in northern Italy then too!

[cutchemist42]

Wow....if true...then wow. MLB backing of European talent would be great, but would anyone mind being so closely tied to MLB? I don't mind Canada being so MLB influenced because I basically see North Americans almost all alike except a few regional differences.

Would Europeans want American influence to this amount? Also, what would this league have to do to not fail like NFL Europe?

[Agente Libre]

Sounds interesting, but I highly doubt MLB would actually call it "MLB Europe" and the fall scheduling seems odd, if not unlikely, for weather reasons.

I'm not in favor of regular-season MLB games, let alone Opening Day, being played in Europe anytime soon, but otherwise anything to expand interest in MLB and baseball would be good.

[DownUnderDodger]

Wow....if true...then wow. MLB backing of European talent would be great, but would anyone mind being so closely tied to MLB? I don't mind Canada being so MLB influenced because I basically see North Americans almost all alike except a few regional differences.

Would Europeans want American influence to this amount? Also, what would this league have to do to not fail like NFL Europe?

I'm with you. Offering support to get the game flying in other countries.....Yes, but running the leagues in those countries....No!

[Padday]

Wow....if true...then wow. MLB backing of European talent would be great, but would anyone mind being so closely tied to MLB? I don't mind Canada being so MLB influenced because I basically see North Americans almost all alike except a few regional differences.

Would Europeans want American influence to this amount? Also, what would this league have to do to not fail like NFL Europe?

We'd like a bit more recognition from MLB for starters, although this league doesn't really seem like the right answer. What we need is specified development rather than just packing up part of MLB and setting up a random league here.

What I believe is one of the biggest mistakes by MLB in it's fairly pathetic attempt at world domination is not focusing on the UK (and Ireland) market. That is a huge untapped market which has a lot of potential if Major League baseball is willing to put some effort and funding into it.

[Agente Libre]

But you could say that about just about every country on Earth.

Expecting MLB to fund the development of baseball in non-baseball-playing countries just seems silly. MLB didn't spend a dime in places like Cuba, Puerto Rico, the D.R., Venezuela, etc., before they started churning out players. How many millions (or tens of millions) of dollars would it take before a single MLB-caliber player could be developed out of the U.K. (from scratch)? The costs would be astounding.

[Rally Monkey]

What I believe is one of the biggest mistakes by MLB in it's fairly pathetic attempt at world domination is not focusing on the UK (and Ireland) market. That is a huge untapped market which has a lot of potential if Major League baseball is willing to put some effort and funding into it.

I'm sorry, but this sounds too much like the European social model to me: Get the government or other deep pocket to pony up lots of dough, and, voila, you've magically got a market.

No dice. The popularity of a sport or any other enterprise comes from the people, not the elites: People need to want to play and watch baseball before MLB or anyone else will come in help pay for the bats and balls and coaching and training. If there's little or no demand for baseball, all of the infrastructure MLB can provide will lie dormant--just like that ballfield Peter O'Malley paid for in Corcaigh Park.

Supply doesn't create demand. If people in Ireland or the UK want to get the MLB's attention, start playing more baseball.

[Padday]

I'm sorry, but this sounds too much like the European social model to me: Get the government or other deep pocket to pony up lots of dough, and, voila, you've magically got a market.

No dice. The popularity of a sport or any other enterprise comes from the people, not the elites: People need to want to play and watch baseball before MLB or anyone else will come in help pay for the bats and balls and coaching and training. If there's little or no demand for baseball, all of the infrastructure MLB can provide will lie dormant--just like that ballfield Peter O'Malley paid for in Corcaigh Park.

Supply doesn't create demand. If people in Ireland or the UK want to get the MLB's attention, start playing more baseball.

I would agree with you. What I would prefer is if Major League Baseball was to raise the profile of the game here (kind of like what it has done in China). The NFL put some effort into developing American Football here, and now there is a fairly strong American Football tradition growing. The biggest reason people here don't play or show any interest in baseball is because they know nothing about it. I have converted people merely by explaining the game to them. Once they know what it's actually about, they grow curious and want to learn more. Once you develop a tradition of baseball, then the talent will follow.

Lastly, you say we should play more baseball to get MLB's attention, but how can we play more baseball if there isn't enough interest?

[Rally Monkey]

Lastly, you say we should play more baseball to get MLB's attention, but how can we play more baseball if there isn't enough interest?

How? Keep spreading the word. As you say, when people learn the game, they can't help but love it. The Irish Miracle has proven to me that you all are the most entrepreneurial, creative, and open-minded in Europe. If you and other dedicated baseball players spread the good news, I'm convinced a lot of your countrymen will pick up the game.

But let me ask you this: Is it hard to convince people to learn the game because they just see it as an American version of Gaelic rounders?

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

First of all I would like to know what will happen with the national competitions. A league like that during the fall is a bad idea. Weather is lousy and there will be a big risk of injuries because of that. So that would leave summer as the only option. And during that period our national competitions are running.

Furthermore I would like to know what the level of these American players would be. If it is single A or AA, it doesn't make sense. I think that the level of the Dutch major league is AA in general. So they have to send AAA players to improve the level; and that will never happen.

I am a bit sceptical about this plan.

If they will start a competion like this in countries like France, Germany, Belgium and Ireland, I am all for it. The level in those countries will improve dramatically. And in that way Holland can be challenged for an European title. And that would be good for European baseball.

[Padday]

How? Keep spreading the word. As you say, when people learn the game, they can't help but love it. The Irish Miracle has proven to me that you all are the most entrepreneurial, creative, and open-minded in Europe. If you and other dedicated baseball players spread the good news, I'm convinced a lot of your countrymen will pick up the game.

But let me ask you this: Is it hard to convince people to learn the game because they just see it as an American version of Gaelic rounders?

Don't forget, we're also the most drunken in Europe.

Anyway, there's only so much spreading the word can do for you. Some kind of campaign to promote the sport is what is really needed but funding, rescources and spare time are all things which would be needed but are in short supply. Maybe I'm putting a bit too much pressure on MLB but they are the best positioned to offer these and it would be in there best interests to persue this. Wider interest internationally of their sport translates into more revenue.

The first question people usually ask when I bring up baseball is "Is it like rounders?" and I usually say not really because rounders is more of schoolyard game with very little structure and is therefore generally a mess whenever it is played. It is hard for some people to think beyond rounders when I try to educate them about baseball.

[Rally Monkey]

Furthermore I would like to know what the level of these American players would be. If it is single A or AA, it doesn't make sense. I think that the level of the Dutch major league is AA in general. So they have to send AAA players to improve the level; and that will never happen.

The way the winter leagues work in the Americas is that MLB teams send top prospects at the AA level (where the best young players are) to keep them playing and to refine their skills during the offseason. They also send AAA and major league players who need to work on their mechanics to stay sharp.

The quality of play can be very high. It would, I think definitely improve European players to have that kind of competition.

No way they play in the cold low countries, though. Maybe an MLB winter league in southern Italy or Greece would make sense--except those aren't exactly baseball hotbeds, are they?

I'm stumped.

[Rally Monkey]

The first question people usually ask when I bring up baseball is "Is it like rounders?" and I usually say not really because rounders is more of schoolyard game with very little structure and is therefore generally a mess whenever it is played. It is hard for some people to think beyond rounders when I try to educate them about baseball.

Isn't rounders part of the Gaelic Games?

[Padday]

Isn't rounders part of the Gaelic Games?

Yeah, but nobody knows it.:noidea