The Solution
Come on now, guys, this cannot keep happening every four years. At first, you were nuts when looking to play this awful tournament every three years. Sure, you may have gotten me to look the first time — as all curious eyes should — but at this point, that’s all over and done with.
No real tournament can commence during the exhibition phase of the professional sports’ regular season. Period.
These players are tuning up for the real thing. Spring training, unlike preseason in the NHL or NBA, is a slow, momentum-building possess aimed to cure the 162-game ill. These guys simply aren’t ready to play. What’s worse is no owner (in his/her right mind) would ever want the organization’s star player to partake. Why would they risk an injury prior to the season — prior to the gates opening up on day one?
Run the Tourney During the All-Star Break
It’s really simple. Rob Manfred and Major League Baseball should either move all-in or fold pathetically. If Gary Bettman can get it done, so can baseball.
Every four years, simply name an MLB All-Star team and play the World Baseball Classic in its place. Sure, the league would be shut down for two weeks. Yes, the schedule would have to be altered once every four years.
It’s a very small price to pay for, perhaps, something so fantastic that it would spark further international interest in the game.
Start the season one week early and end it one week later. My goodness … it’s not rocket science.
This would be the only way to actually promote pride among players. The season is already in motion. Some teams will already find themselves out of the pennant race. Players will be in perfect baseball shape during the absolute best time to play. Why would they not play? Most would feel the need to play rather than being away from the game completely for two weeks. The thought of losing an edge during that time would scare the best to compete.
Make it real, baseball. For once, do something the NHL executes wonderfully in conjunction with the Olympics. (But don’t copy hockey’s World Cup of Hockey. As predicted, because they played the tournament prior to the season, it stunk in a major way.)
Do it the right way and shut down the sport for two weeks. It forces participation and, therefore, injects pride into the equation over time.
