2009 World Baseball Classic: Difference between revisions
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== Format == |
== Format == |
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The 2006 event consisted of 16 national teams initially divided into four "pools," followed by a second round with two four-team pools, a semi-final, and a final. As of February 2008, the venues for the 2009 event have not been announced. All sixteen teams that competed in the 2006 WBC have been invited to the 2009 event. The format |
The 2006 event consisted of 16 national teams initially divided into four "pools," followed by a second round with two four-team pools, a semi-final, and a final. As of February 2008, the venues for the 2009 event have not been announced. All sixteen teams that competed in the 2006 WBC have been invited to the 2009 event. The format is expected to be the same format used in 2006. However, [[Bud Selig]], commissioner of [[Major League Baseball]], has announced his intention to continue to play the tournament in March, during MLB's [[spring training]], rather than at different times during the year as some have suggested. |
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One major change from the 2006 event is that the entire first round will be played outside the United States (exact sites to be determined). Another major change is that all ties in the first two rounds will end in play-off matches.<ref name ="ESPN: Rumbling through the February jungle">[http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3225433 ESPN: Looking for a major league job? Stand in line - scroll down to the "Rumbling through the February jungle" section]</ref> |
One major change from the 2006 event is that the entire first round will be played outside the United States (exact sites to be determined). Another major change is that all ties in the first two rounds will end in play-off matches.<ref name ="ESPN: Rumbling through the February jungle">[http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3225433 ESPN: Looking for a major league job? Stand in line - scroll down to the "Rumbling through the February jungle" section]</ref> |
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Revision as of 15:04, 20 February 2008
Template:Future sport The 2009 World Baseball Classic will be an international baseball competition. It follows the inaugural 2006 World Baseball Classic, the first international tournament to feature a large number of major league players. It will be during March, also the time of MLB spring training.
Format
The 2006 event consisted of 16 national teams initially divided into four "pools," followed by a second round with two four-team pools, a semi-final, and a final. As of February 2008, the venues for the 2009 event have not been announced. All sixteen teams that competed in the 2006 WBC have been invited to the 2009 event. The format is expected to be the same format used in 2006. However, Bud Selig, commissioner of Major League Baseball, has announced his intention to continue to play the tournament in March, during MLB's spring training, rather than at different times during the year as some have suggested.
One major change from the 2006 event is that the entire first round will be played outside the United States (exact sites to be determined). Another major change is that all ties in the first two rounds will end in play-off matches.[1]
Venues
On the issue of location, Gene Orza of the Major League Baseball Players Association has said that he expects Japan, the 2006 champion, to bid to host the semi-final and final rounds (previously played in San Diego). Orza expressed doubt about Japan's chances, as Japan failed to draw many fans of other countries to the first round games hosted there.
The Puerto Rican TV channel Deportes 13 constantly airs images from the Classic that ends with "Puerto Rico 2009," expressing interest in hosting it again in 2009. Most of the games hosted in Puerto Rico were sold out, and it was very popular with the local population.
The Dominican Republic has been said to be a candidate due to the immense popularity of the sport and its production of star players such as Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez, Jose Reyes, Albert Pujols, Alfonso Soriano, David Ortiz, Vladimir Guerrero, Manny Ramirez and many others. Plus, the Dominican Republic has won the most Caribbean Series. The lack of a suitable stadium capable of holding the desired number of spectators may hurt its chances for hosting anything beyond preliminary games.
As the entire first round of the 2009 event seems set to be played outside the United States,[1] possible venues include: the Rogers Centre (SkyDome) in Toronto, which would hope to host opening-round games involving Canada, the United States, and likely two other teams;[2] and Estadio Monterrey which has been promoted as a tournament site by Jose Maiz, the owner of the Sultanes Monterrey and Commissioner for the Mexican team for the 2009 event.[3]
A CBC news report in February 2008 indicates that Toronto (the Rogers Centre), Tokyo, Mexico City and San Juan are each slated to host one of the four groups in the first-round of play with subsequent rounds set to be played in the continental United States. Possible venues for these subsequent rounds include Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles), Minute Maid Park (Houston), AT&T Park (San Francisco), Chase Field (Phoenix) and Petco Park (San Diego).[4]
Participants
All 16 nations that participated in the 2006 tournament have been invited to play in the 2009 incarnation.[5] These nations are: Japan, Canada, Cuba, Australia, China, Mexico, Netherlands, Dominican Republic, Korea, South Africa, Panama, Italy, Chinese Taipei, United States , Puerto Rico and Venezuela.
Future plans
As of 2008, plans call for the World Baseball Classic to be repeated every four years following the 2009 event, so the third installment of the Classic would not occur until 2013. However, Cuba, 2006's runners-up, is campaigning for the Classic to be played every two years. Other plans for the 2013 World Baseball Classic include possibly expanding the number of participating teams to 24 with qualifying rounds as a preface to reach the main competition.[5]