Team Japan hasn't yet announced its roster, that I know of.  Expected to play for Team Japan are Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima, who have expressed their strong interest in competing.

Some baseball fans love the WBC, but more hate it.  Too much impact on MLB(TM).  We read one argument on the 'net that says the WBC is a 'bad, bad idea' and a 'sham' cooked up by Bud Selig for nefarious reasons.

Nothing like being on the same page!  :- )

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The arguments against the WBC:

1.  It doesn't break MLB'ers into the season as gradually as conventional ST does

2.  Somebody could get hurt during the games

3.  The games are meaningless because the teams aren't absolutely the countries' best

4.  Some eligibility questions arise

Whereas I've written,

My guess is that as it comes down to it, "baseball" will recognize more and more the goodness of the tourney, the excitement, etc …

And will also begin to accept that the tourney is itself superior pre-season prep to conventional spring training.

Put some stricter official or un-official rules in about pitch counts and I'm guessing the WBC could become a terrific "parallel spring training" as time goes on. At least I hope so.

Last night's Japan-China game was suprisingly enjoyable to watch.  Some of the Latin teams will be too … a Japan-PR game could be really fascinating.

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My own response to the 4 anti-WBC arguments would be:

1.  (a) This far overplays the American "come to Florida to get in shape" tradition.  The Japanese team DID ease into its return from winter … just a few weeks earlier.   Stars have gone and played winter series in Japan.

(b) Even if you're a huge fan of Dodger-style gradual workload increase, you can incorporate that pre-WBC if you want to.

(c) Nobody screams bloody murder over winter ball!

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2.  (a) People can and do get hurt during ST games too — like they could in the Japan Series or All-Star Games or winter ball — so

(b) let's not be over-MLB-centric here.  Fans in e.g. Venezuela and Tokyo matter too.

Who says that the WBC matters 0% and MLB matters 100%?  …does Canada look at the Olympics that way for hockey vs the NHL?

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3.  Having 50% of your top 50 players, rather than 100% of your top 25, works for me.

The Olympics never feature all of the NBA's best players, but that doesn't mean you can't get a real good idea of where each country stands …. sometimes the coaches pick really weird rosters even with all players available, so what's the big deal if unavailability gives you a Japan Series-style roster?  You'd be surprised how good the games are going to be.

Granted a few Al Leiters get in there at the last minute.  …But these teams are packin' some serious heat, bro'.

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4.  I didn't notice many eligibility issues in the Japan-China game.  :-)  I'm sure some exist, but it doesn't have to be a dealbreaker unless you just hate the WBC and are looking for a reason to scuttle it.

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=== Catch A Ballgame Sometime, Dept. ===

I'm guessing that as fans begin to get caught up in the WBC — as they actually WATCH some of it — the upside will become a teensy bit easier to see.

Spring training for me, as an MLB fan, is not only boring but also can be very annoying.  Here's manager after manager on March 3 saying his roster is set — with comfortable, mediocre veterans freezing out hungry, talented youngsters.  I'm getting so I dislike ST, but that's a side point.

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I personally think that the WBC could become a tremendous side of pico de gallo for a boring month of March.  And there's no reason that it couldn't prepare MLB stars for the season at least as well as ST does.

A couple of players get hurt? … in the WBC, or winter ball, or the Japan Series, or an All-Star game?  Well, who made the MLB season the be-all and end-all of baseball in the world?

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I also think we should lighten up a little bit about Bud Selig.  The WBC isn't a sham he cooked up to cheat baseball fans again.  It's a cool idea that may smooth out very nicely as it grows and evolves.

Cheers,

jemanji

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http://blogs.dailyillini.com/justbaseball/files/2007/03/daisuke-matsuzak... -matsuzaka-adjusts-his-cap-dur.jpg