Similar to what the NHL does for the winter games.
You could pause for 2.5 weeks and schedule 12-13 doubleheaders to make up for it. Or 6 doubleheaders with the season going 1 week deeper.
I would like to see a full-fledged tournament in the Olympics with all the best players that the MLB employs playing for their home countries.
Quake1028
08-26-04, 06:19 PM
I wouldn't mind it :).
zuffy
08-26-04, 06:22 PM
I don't think the U.S. will stand a chance of winning if MLB stop baseball for 2 weeks. MLB players from Dominican Republic is gonna kick everyone's asses.
Aphex Twin
08-26-04, 06:29 PM
Originally posted by zuffy
I don't think the U.S. will stand a chance of winning if MLB stop baseball for 2 weeks. MLB players from Dominican Republic is gonna kick everyone's asses.
No, I think the US would win.
Deftones
08-26-04, 06:46 PM
Absolutely. If the Olympics is about the best, why not have our best represent us. It would make for some hella great baseball, that's for sure. :up:
B.A.
08-26-04, 06:48 PM
Originally posted by Deftones, Esq
Absolutely. If the Olympics is about the best, why not have our best represent us. It would make for some hella great baseball, that's for sure. :up: I concur.
And I bet a lot of players wouldn't mind a two-week break in the middle of the season. Some nice R & R.
chrisih8u
08-26-04, 06:50 PM
:up: It would be great to see slighly above average players compete for the US team, while the superstars take a 2 week break.
Red Dog
08-26-04, 07:11 PM
No problem with a pause, although I think they should shorten the season so they are not playing in March and November.
I've long advocated a baseball World Cup.
fumanstan
08-26-04, 07:13 PM
Something tells me that we'd get a situation even worse then the one with NBA players. Considering the fact that the NBA already has trouble getting its superstars to play during the offseason, i'd imagine it would be even harder to get top MLB superstars to play in the middle of the season. Imagine getting hurt playing in the olympics when you're team is in a race for the playoffs,
brizz
08-26-04, 07:14 PM
Hell, I wouldn't mind if they paused for the entire summer ;)
Red Dog
08-26-04, 07:24 PM
Originally posted by fumanstan
Something tells me that we'd get a situation even worse then the one with NBA players. Considering the fact that the NBA already has trouble getting its superstars to play during the offseason, i'd imagine it would be even harder to get top MLB superstars to play in the middle of the season. Imagine getting hurt playing in the olympics when you're team is in a race for the playoffs,
Not a problem in hockey and hockey is far more physical sport. Olympic hockey is awesome too.
El Scorcho
08-26-04, 09:09 PM
I think many players would take pride in having USA vs Japan vs Dominican Republic vs Cuba vs Mexico vs...
I just wish there was a way to get professional athletes to get the mentality that playing for their country is a far greater thing to do than to play for money.
twikoff
08-26-04, 09:18 PM
Originally posted by zuffy
I don't think the U.S. will stand a chance of winning if MLB stop baseball for 2 weeks. MLB players from Dominican Republic is gonna kick everyone's asses.
:hscratch:
they might put together the 2nd best team
but it wouldnt compare to the US squad
Roto
08-26-04, 09:25 PM
I don't know, that Dominican Republic offense looked pretty damn impressive. But Pedro Martinez would probably be done by the time it would ever happen so they'd have virtually no pitching.
I'd definitely be for it. This point in the season sucks anyway.
El Scorcho
08-26-04, 09:27 PM
It'd only be every 4 years too. Not every season. And I don't see the big deal about extending the season one more week and scheduling one double header per month to make up for the missed games.
The Cow
08-26-04, 09:28 PM
Seems to me like it might work for the first couple of Olympics, but after that, I would guess that it would lose it's appeal to the players after that similar to NBA.
Not sure why I feel this way, but seems like the MLB attitude (the "me" not "team" attitude) is getting similar to the NBA, just a few years behind.
On the other hand, team chemistry is not quite as important for baseball over the short period, so maybe it could work.
twikoff
08-26-04, 09:33 PM
Originally posted by Roto
I don't know, that Dominican Republic offense looked pretty damn impressive. But Pedro Martinez would probably be done by the time it would ever happen so they'd have virtually no pitching.
I'd definitely be for it. This point in the season sucks anyway.
i agree
when you look at the players that would be on the D.R. team.. its pretty impressive
but i still think it pales in comparison to the rest of the talent remaining on the US side
El Scorcho
08-26-04, 09:38 PM
I think there are a lot of guys like Schilling, Schmidt, etc. that would love to play for a US national team. Forget about getting Bonds out there though.
zuffy
08-26-04, 09:49 PM
Originally posted by twikoff
:hscratch:
they might put together the 2nd best team
but it wouldnt compare to the US squad
I think they'd be pretty even.
Da Thrilla
08-26-04, 10:43 PM
That would be pretty cool :up:
fumanstan
08-26-04, 11:02 PM
Originally posted by The Cow
Seems to me like it might work for the first couple of Olympics, but after that, I would guess that it would lose it's appeal to the players after that similar to NBA.
Not sure why I feel this way, but seems like the MLB attitude (the "me" not "team" attitude) is getting similar to the NBA, just a few years behind.
On the other hand, team chemistry is not quite as important for baseball over the short period, so maybe it could work.
I agree.... i think we'd get a lot of interest the first time it happens, and then it would waver.
El Scorcho
08-26-04, 11:03 PM
Originally posted by fumanstan
I agree.... i think we'd get a lot of interest the first time it happens, and then it would waver.
Much like your posts ;)
Deftones
08-26-04, 11:47 PM
Originally posted by fumanstan
Something tells me that we'd get a situation even worse then the one with NBA players. Considering the fact that the NBA already has trouble getting its superstars to play during the offseason, i'd imagine it would be even harder to get top MLB superstars to play in the middle of the season. Imagine getting hurt playing in the olympics when you're team is in a race for the playoffs,
But, you also have to remember. There are far more players in MLB than the NBA. You could easily pick different guys every 4 years and never worry about running out of talent.
fumanstan
08-27-04, 12:33 AM
Originally posted by Deftones, Esq
But, you also have to remember. There are far more players in MLB than the NBA. You could easily pick different guys every 4 years and never worry about running out of talent.
Well its not so much running out of talent, its maintaining the *best* talent. Which is the problem with USA Basketball.
I don't care for hockey at all, so i don't know what goes on there at all so i only have basketball as a reference.
Deftones
08-27-04, 01:12 AM
Originally posted by fumanstan
Well its not so much running out of talent, its maintaining the *best* talent. Which is the problem with USA Basketball.
I don't care for hockey at all, so i don't know what goes on there at all so i only have basketball as a reference.
But, as witnessed by last Olympics you don't have to have the best talent to win it all, just good team chemistry and good coaching. I'd say MLB'd mid range guys could probably whoop up on most countries.
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