The WBC—World Baseball Classic was introduced almost 2 decades now. Let’s dig a bit deeper into the WBC to see the GOOD & the BAD in it!

…GOOD–This really isn’t a new idea…plans began to develop back in 2005 after the International Olympic Committee’s decision to remove baseball as an Olympic sport in 2005. Prior to that there was a Baseball World Cup that existed before the classic game was made. This event ran from 1988 to 2011 (much to my surprise—I don’t remember it at all!!!) Since then the WBC has grown into a major sporting event worldwide. The tournament games often rank among the highest-rated sporting events in television history in various participating countries.

…. GOOD..For the MLB, the Classic represents one of the biggest opportunities for fans around the world to watch their own country’s stars face off against the best from other nations. The hope is that such a high-level competition — not to mention some national pride(especially for the smaller countries) — will get fans around the world more invested in MLB’s star players. It could be expected that these WBC fans would then get more interested in the MLB players & teams. It’s much more possible now with teams streaming their games around the world.  

…BAD…Somehow, we (Americans) hold the supposition, that ALL of the superstars play in the MLB. While the vast majority probably do play in the MLB….not all of them. Maybe it’s salary obligations to their country, their age, their asking price. Maybe it’s as simple as they don’t want to leave their own home country for 6-8 months a year(counting spring training). Super-stars of other countries are just now becoming noticed & signed. We’re experiencing right now, a Super-star from outside the USA who is excelling in the MLB.

…VERY GOOD…Shohei Ohtani has arrived on the MLB scene! Check out his WBC stats—as a batter- was 10/23 at the plate, 9 runs, 8 RBI’s, 1 HR, .435-avg,  OPS(OBP+SLUG) 1.345. As a pitcher, Record as starter: 2-0, 1 save, ERA 1.86. Inn-9.2, Hits-5, Runs-2, 2 Walks, 11 strikeouts, WHIP-0.72, bat avg against him-.152. WOW!! He’s in is 6^th MLB season so he’s NOT a flash-in-the-pan. Some of his batting stats for his career—171 HR (closing in on averaging 30 HR/year), lifetime batting avg-.275,career OPS—an unbelievable .923!! And,unlike almost every other slugger, he steals bases!! He has 85 SB in his career!! He’s made the MLB better by having him in the league. Could other stars be spotted (and later signed) playing in WBC to play in the MLB?

… GOOD ….Unnoticed by many…the MLB Players Association has supported the WBC. The collective bargaining agreement (CBA) from the 2021–22 Major League Baseball lockout planned for the latest World Baseball Classic in 2023(March 8-March 21). As a result, in 2023 WBC there were 269 MLB players born outside of USA competing. That is   34 % of the players. I anticipate a continuing increase in WBC participants (like it or not).

…GOOD..the WBC ALREADY uses many MLB players. In this most recent WBC, nearly 200 players who were on MLB 40 man rosters played! Are they good? Shohei Ohtani (Japan) is the biggest star of the MLB right now participates in the WBC!!! I suspect that there are others, in the MLB and star players from other countries, with tremendous talent who have yet to play MLB ball.

…GOOD…The WBC is GROWING in popularity. The 2023 World Baseball Classic registered an attendance record for the First-Round drawing 1,010,999, the most attended round in the history of the tournament and a +98% increase vs. the previous record of 510,056 in 2017. The average attendance of 25,275 also set a record for the First Round of the tournament eclipsing 2017’s average of 20,402 by +24%. From my view, that’s w/o strong interest in the USA…yet 😊

…BAD..There are some who object…mostly from MLB circles.  The chance of injuries always exists. Those same people aren’t bothered about injuries during the season but….play it safe in the off-season. Further, some feel that extending the actual playing season (when adding WBC to MLB) takes a toll on some of the players – especially the older ones. Keep in mind, most of the “older” MLB players are the players receiving the highest salaries. Hence, more production is expected of them .. even through August & September. MLB experts are still developing is a mild remedy to the “injury” issue. Discussions are under way to develop an insurance that would protect teams from having to pay a player for time missed due to an injury suffered in WBC. That coverage may lead more MLB “stars” to participate.

…BAD…at the same time, INJURIES do impact WBC players and seemingly, will ALWAYS happen. While, the MLB has gathered injury data from four WBCs, and the league office says “there is no correlation between being hurt and playing in the WBC” but would not share the data(which make me skeptical).  But another study conducted by Washington University in 2017 released days after the previous WBC determined that tournament participants missed an average of 2.35 MORE days because of injury after a WBC tourney, with the numbers ticking up to 4.07 days for pitchers, working off a sample of 3 WBC tournaments.

…GOOD…as the WBC continues to grow & develop,  MLB players could become legends in their own country. Looking at soccer, mega-stars like Pele, Lionel Messi & Kylian Mbappe have become almost immortal by their key goals, plays, stops on the international stage. Now, that may not happen in the USA but it DOES happen in smaller countries (several Latin American countries). That may lead to even more youngsters playing baseball  in that country.

….POSSIBLE GOOD…Then, I thought that I was really being clever. I told my wife…heck, this WBC could be just like the World Cup Tournament in Soccer. The MLB would parallel the European Premier League by having all, or most, of the stars competing in their league. Then, in my research, I read that these ideas WERE the exact ideas for beginning the WBC!!!

…POSSIBLE BAD…..some day…way down the road, could the WBC pass the MLB in significance?  It seems to me that the World Cup garners more interest world wide than the European Premier League. Is a BAD thing OR  a Good thing for professional baseball in general.

….GOOD…the latest WBC tournament was won by the tiny country of the Dominican Republic. They won 8 straight games!  They won against strong competition— the U.S. and Venezuela, and they beat Puerto Rico 3 times. Only one game was decided by a single run. It was a dominating performance by this tiny country of 11 million people.

….FROM BAD TO GOOD….Would USA baseball team in the WBC  EVER reach the excitement, exultation for winning the WBC like the World Cup and bypass MLB significance?  My guess is…probably not in my lifetime…but over time (maybe decades) it could develop.

…ALWAYS GOOD…..YOUR thoughts are always invited. I really enjoy reading your “takes” and others do too! Don’t be shy (just don’t use vulgarity)! Agree or disagree or a little of each…doesn’t matter. Read the responses on my Facebook page(Bob Ryan) directly under the Buzz. They provide a wide range of “takes”.  Thanks for your read!  Bob