Game On!!!! Japan agrees to play in World Cup

[Fenway]

http://www.npb.or.jp/images/bnr_fullswing.gif (http://fullswing.npb.or.jp/)

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2163199

TOKYO -- Japan officially agreed Friday to take part in baseball's first World Cup-style tournament.
After months of negotiations between the Japanese commissioner's office and players' association, a letter accepting an invitation to take part in the World Baseball Classic was delivered to Major League Baseball's Tokyo office.

"I am pleased that Nippon Professional Baseball and its players' association have agreed to participate in the first ever World Baseball Classic," commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "Japanese players are among the best in the world and their participation in this event is important to the global growth of the sport."

Japanese baseball officials originally expressed an intent take part in the tournament in November but didn't get the final approval of the players until Friday.

http://www.npb.or.jp/index.html

[kittle42]

This World Cup is a horrible idea. Isn't it during spring training or something?

[Tekijawa]

This World Cup is a horrible idea. Isn't it during spring training or something?

Don't worry it won't effect the White Sox... well, I guess Iguchi would probably make the Japanese squad.

[kittle42]

Don't worry it won't effect the White Sox... well, I guess Iguchi would probably make the Japanese squad.

Guillen will send them Willie Harris instead....Iguchi would be rested.:smile:

[schmitty9800]

I think it'll be a good idea actually. As long as they can make the players care about the games, though. It should make for some great games on TV.

It'll be only veterans missing spring training anyway, and they don't really need it. Is Cuba going to have defectors play for them or will they not take them back?

[Lip Man 1]

As soon as players start getting injured for this glorified series of exhibitions, the owners will shut it down in a hurry.

Lip

[Tekijawa]

As soon as players start getting injured for this glorified series of exhibitions, the owners will shut it down in a hurry.

Lip

It will end up like USA Basketball where quality high paid players skip out, and you get names like Richard Jefferson on the Squad.... After one or Two times around only foreign big names will still be in the Mix.

[I want Mags back]

Any chance Ozzie is the Venuzualen manager, if they have a team

[ssirish317]

How are the teams going to get insurance for their high paid players in case of injury during these games? That would really suck if we lost Freddy or Tadahito because of this thing. The idea is intriguing though...I'll certainatly be watching.