Batting Around: Should MLB copy the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off schedule, format for the World Baseball Classic?

Performs CBS Sports MLB experts will leave you a week around the round table, almost anything a week. Latest news, historical question, thoughts about the future of baseball, all kinds of items. Last week we discussed Vladimir Guerreron’s younger futureA number this week we are going to solve the MLB version of 4 NHL Nations.

Should MLB have a classic classic of the world’s baseball to have the face of 4 NHL countries. What is the best format?

RJ Anderson: I am fine with a world classic baseball left in the spring. Just put it, it’s nice to have a hectic baseball that takes place before the opening day.

Beyond it, there are many logistics that stem from moving the whole tournament to the entire star break. It takes about two weeks, from start to finish, and no chance of MLB (among other league) closes its schedule during that time. You can insist that they have half divided into the tournament. Keep the pool in the spring, then the quarterfinals in the summer.

This scenario seems more feasible (it will still require a few days away than usually allows), but I think there are some consequences for which you have to worry about the next season, weakening a knockout. Teams set by stage. You also have to worry about to recall players, or actually for a seasonal break, or if their teams are unexpectedly well, focus on the playoff race.

Maybe I’m overestimating those risks. NHL has still put a fun tournament in spite of the same odds of the same, but I think MLB is going well and I’m not sure to cause a real stimulus at this moment.

Matt Snyder: I think both events are perfectly good where they are. I fully realize that there are people there who are in favor of two events, but that doesn’t mean they talk to everyone. Many people enjoy both how they are.

I also think that RJ creates an incredible important point, which is only a few days, and the WBC, as a whole, may play in that period. This means that we will have to start the tournament and go down to the last four teams, stopping the whole event until the whole star. The teams could look completely different in mid-July, and any of the previous rounds will be completely lost.

Not everything is for everyone. Some people are not going to like the WBC or All-Star game. That’s life. Both can continue to live as they are.

Dayn Perry: I agree that it is good. There is no ideal solution in terms of planning, but a pause in the middle of the season seems to be a great player to players and compete for teams. Participation rate among US pitchers, probably regardless of whether or whether you hold the tournament. Just keep it. It works well, and it grows in popularity.

Mike Axisa: No, leave the WBC where there is. 4 The people were an explosion, because it is the best event, not because it happens. In March, give me a nice 20-team WBC. MLB participates in the best starter game of four northern American sports, as it is a small commitment (go to your two bats), and I don’t see the need to replace it. WBC is a lot of fun. I wouldn’t be mixed with it. In any case, the star game does not have to “fix”.

For that speaking, the MLB version of 4 countries may be eight teams divided into two parentheses. Play Round Robin to determine the best two teams in each parenthetric. These teams play a game to determine the winner of the bracket, then the winners of the two brackets meet 4 people 8 nation championship game. The graph could look like something like that.

• 1-3 days. Round Robin Games (six total within two days)
• Day 4: The winning games of the two brackets
• Day 5: Disperse
• Day 6: Championship game between two brackets winners

Canada, the Dominican Republic, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Puerto Ricon, Venezuela and the United States are the obvious candidates (sorry for Australia, Cuba and Taiwan). Japan and South Korea have a lot of international competition and will probably stop their regular methods for 8 nations. The other six teams could easily complete Rosters using MLB and Triple-A players.

Maybe you can squeeze it in the eight-day break, even though it is more likely that MLB had to put aside nine or 10 days, and it’s eternity in baseball. Players complain about a place of the wild card, and it is sharply improving the likelihood of their world series. Also will it be difficult to put forward? If Team USA wants Tarik Skubal to be their acne, but he does not match Round Robin’s playing field, then the championship game, hard luck. The face of 4 NHL countries has been an explosion. I don’t think MLB needs its hypothesis. WBC is good as it is. (Now, if you want to talk about the NBA Cup MLB version, I’m all ears.)