Hopefully, if Pettite accidentally beans a Cuban, there isn't another World War..... Okay, that was a bad attempt at a joke....
There are strict pitch-count rules: 60 in the opening round, 80 in the 2nd, 90 in the semi's & final. lala - Thanks for the correction, that's what I get for trying to spell unfamiliar foreign names from memory. That's awesome that he signed, last I remember he was talking about returning to Japan.
Is it really that hard to understand? • The player is a citizen of the nation the team represents, as evidenced by a valid passport the player holds as of January 15, 2006; or • The player is a permanent legal resident of the nation or territory the team represents, as evidenced by documentation satisfactory to World Baseball Classic Inc. and the IBAF; or • The player was born in the nation or territory the team represents, as evidenced by a birth certificate or its equivalent; or • The player has one parent who is, or if deceased was, a citizen of the nation the team represents, as evidenced by a passport or other documentation satisfactory to World Baseball Classic Inc. and the IBAF; or • The player has one parent who was born in the nation or territory the team represents, as evidenced by a birth certificate or its equivalent. As to your "money grab" theory... The World Baseball Classic was created to provide a platform that will increase worldwide exposure of the game of baseball and further promote grassroots development in traditional and non-traditional baseball nations. The tournament's primary objectives are to increase global interest and introduce new fans and players to the game. The World Baseball Classic acknowledges and pays tribute to the tremendous growth and internationalization of the game. http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/wbc/faq.jsp
if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it.... seriously...is anyone gonna pick this thing up? if people can't watch it, how does it meet its goal of creating worldwide exposure???
The only reason there is a World Baseball Classic is to try and get baseball games. North and South America, Japan, and Korea are the only places with a significant baseball following. Greece's baseball team for the Olympics consisted mainly of American players, and they were the host country.
oops! That should say "The only reason there is a World Baseball Classic is to get baseball back in the Olympic games"
