I have been hoping the NFL and CFL would do something like this but it appears that the MLB champ and the Nippon league champ would square off for a real Global World Series championship.
It's all just talk right now but I think it would be an awesome idea.
"In meetings with Japanese commissioner Ryozo Kato in Milwaukee, MLB commissioner Bud Selig proposed that the Japanese and U.S. champions play each other, the Nikkansports newspaper reported Thursday.
"'I was surprised, Mr. Selig said he wants to realize the plan before his tenure ends,' Kato told Nikkansports.
"Selig is set to retire in 2012. When he took office in 2008, Kato, a former Japanese ambassador to the United States, said one of his goals was an international series between the world's two biggest baseball nations."
So, after playing 162 games and 3 playoff rounds, a team is going to have to extend their pitchers overseas? Don't think it is going to happen, and if it does, watch all the 'injury replacements' called up from the 40 man roster.
A buddy of mine used to be a scout for the Cubs in Japan (he still lives there doing translation work). According to him, this would not be a close game, as the Japanese league would not be able to keep up with the heavy bats of the MLB. According to him, guys with the prowess of Matsui and Suzuki pretty much tee-off on all but the Nippon league's best pitchers - and, even then, they tend to fair well.
Originally posted by Leroy A buddy of mine used to be a scout for the Cubs in Japan (he still lives there doing translation work). According to him, this would not be a close game, as the Japanese league would not be able to keep up with the heavy bats of the MLB. According to him, guys with the prowess of Matsui and Suzuki pretty much tee-off on all but the Nippon league's best pitchers - and, even then, they tend to fair well.
Still, it would be a neat game to watch.
I have no doubt that over an extended series, the MLB winners would summarily destroy the Japanese champions. But in a best-of-seven, who knows what could happen? There's also the 'WBC factor' of the MLB side treating it as an exhibition, while the Japanese side treats it as the chance of a lifetime.
Kirk, crackers are a family food. Happy families. Maybe single people eat crackers, we don't know. Frankly, we don't want to know. It's a market we can do without.
Originally posted by Leroy A buddy of mine used to be a scout for the Cubs in Japan (he still lives there doing translation work). According to him, this would not be a close game, as the Japanese league would not be able to keep up with the heavy bats of the MLB. According to him, guys with the prowess of Matsui and Suzuki pretty much tee-off on all but the Nippon league's best pitchers - and, even then, they tend to fair well.
Still, it would be a neat game to watch.
I have no doubt that over an extended series, the MLB winners would summarily destroy the Japanese champions. But in a best-of-seven, who knows what could happen? There's also the 'WBC factor' of the MLB side treating it as an exhibition, while the Japanese side treats it as the chance of a lifetime.
The American players won't take it seriously, and there's a chance the clearly inferior team might win? These are the reasons you think the series should happen?
I think it's a horrible idea. For the same two reasons.
I'm not saying I want to see it happen, I just don't think it would necessarily be a one-sided rout.
I fail to see what MLB really gains from this arrangement aside from more exposure in Japan (where they're already big).
Kirk, crackers are a family food. Happy families. Maybe single people eat crackers, we don't know. Frankly, we don't want to know. It's a market we can do without.
Originally posted by ZeruelI have been hoping the NFL and CFL would do something like this but it appears that the MLB champ and the Nippon league champ would square off for a real Global World Series championship.
I would love to see the CFL's best face off against the NFL's best. Too bad the schedules each league keeps aren't compatible.
Concerning the baseball: would it be better to have the best players in the MLB (not necessarily the best team) against the best in Japan's league?
The problem with a theoretical NFL / CFL match-up is that one of the two teams would be playing under a different set of rules than it normally uses, in effect forcing them to learn an almost totally new game. No such problem exists in international baseball contests.
As to my own personal opinion on the subject, I wouldn't go out of my way to watch a Japan vs USA World Series; but as a baseball fan, I'm certainly not opposed to the idea of more baseball.
"Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help." - Isaiah 58:7 (New Living Translation)
Originally posted by Downtown BookieThe problem with a theoretical NFL / CFL match-up is that one of the two teams would be playing under a different set of rules than it normally uses, in effect forcing them to learn an almost totally new game. No such problem exists in international baseball contests.
Fortunately, the only way it would be remotely close would be if the CFL used favorable rules. 12 men against 11, the US gets only 3 downs. Book it!
It is the policy of the documentary crew to remain true observers and not interfere with its subjects. Go Pack Go! (10-6, 2nd NFC North, #5 seed) Let's Go Riders! (2009 West Division Champions)
Originally posted by StingArmySimple solution: play CFL rules one year, NFL rules the next. Either way, still sounds like a recipe for slaughter to me.
Originally posted by WikipediaDuring the 1950s and 1960s exhibition games were played between CFL and NFL/AFL teams using a mixture of each league's rules. The last such exhibition game saw the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeat the AFL's Buffalo Bills, the only time in which a Canadian team defeated an American team in the series.
If I remember correctly and this is real fuzzy, they used to play full CFL rules in one half with CFL refs and NFL rules in the other half with NFL refs. Can't remember if the rules were part of the toss (i.e. win the toss and choose to have your rules in the second half) or if they switched back and forth
It would never happen, but I would love a game between the Grey Cup champions and the WORST team in the NFL played under CFL rules in Canada in a domed stadium. And to make things interesting if the NFL team lost they got the number two pick in the draft instead of number one.
I don't get why people think that the NFL's players are better than the CFL. I think that Canadian Football is a better quality of game than what's played in the US.
If anything, let's put the Packers vs. the Roughriders in a battle of the greatest fans ever.
I can see the rules being a problem, but a true professional will adapt as quickly as necessary. The size of the field shouldn't be an issue, lord knows NHL players adapt well with the difference in ice size in the Olympics. They use different rink size, right?
Originally posted by OliverI don't get why people think that the NFL's players are better than the CFL. I think that Canadian Football is a better quality of game than what's played in the US.
It is simple. NFL players make a TON more money. There might be a few (very few) isolated cases of players staying in the CFL who could have been good in the NFL "for the love of the game," but overall if a player is good enough for the big bucks the player will go to the big bucks.
Yeah, this isn't an issue of USA! USA! USA! vs. Canada. If you are good enough to play in the NFL then why on earth would you take a drastic pay cut to play in the CFL?
Also, look at players like Pacman Jones, Ricky Williams (to some extent), and Warren Moon. They were forced to play in the CFL because they couldn't find a team to play with in the NFL. Not saying those guys were bad players because obviously they're not, but the CFL was their second choice, their backup plan. Doesn't exactly make it look like it's on par with the NFL, now does it?
That's besides the point. The point is that nobody would even sign him in the NFL but it didn't take much at all for him to get signed by a CFL team. I don't know what happened to him after that (cut, injured, whatever) but we know that at the very least someone in the CFL thought he was worth signing even though NO ONE in the NFL thought the same.
I'm unsure whether or not all outlets are offering this, but Time Warner Cable ( at least in the Carolinas (timewarnercable.com)) has a free week, starting today, of the MLB Extra Innings package. Yay free baseball!