Olympic baseball is up to bat, but extinction is on deck
With manager Davey Johnson’s announcement of the U.S. Olympic baseball roster this week, it’s worth noting the glaring lack of Major League talent making the trip to Beijing with him. A number of players not even on Major League rosters had their ticket vetoed by management because of the desire to have the young players used as late season call-ups or the fear of injury. Major League Baseball’s refusal to allow its players to compete in the games has not only led to a sub-par national team but the sport’s elimination from the Olympics altogether.
Can we blame them? Not really. These players are worth millions in revenue, and to interrupt the Major League season to allow them to play a three-week tournament halfway around the world would only complicate matters even more. Baseball is not like hockey. As ridiculous as it is to have the NHL playoffs in June, it would be more so to have the World Series during Thanksgiving. At least with hockey (played indoors) you can pretend it’s the right season, and you’re not fighting with mid-season NFL for ratings.
Now, it’s not like the team doesn’t have talent — far from it. Minor league players like outfielder Matt LaPorta (Cleveland Indians) and pitcher Brett Anderson (Oakland Athletics) are primed to be stars at the next level, but they still remain unproven.
Team USA is not the only country hurt by this rule either. The best Latin and Asian players also compete in the Major Leagues, and therefore, will not be in China this August. But the majority of countries the United States will be facing in Beijing have their own professional leagues, and guess what; they do allow their players to participate in the summer games. If this was a true amateur competition the U.S. would probably be a real gold-medal contender. The IOC changed that rule in 2000.
Many people forget that despite creating the sport in the 1800s, the United States has only taken home an Olympic medal twice; a bronze in 1992, and gold in 2000. They did win place second in 1984, and first in 1988. However, baseball was still an exhibition sport.
If Team USA does win gold in Beijing — and remember they didn’t even qualify for the 2004 games — it will be a great accomplishment; possibly greater than the U.S men’s basketball team reaching the podium in 2008, and right up there with another amateur team that faced foreign professionals, the 1980 U.S. hockey team.
Will the sport remain in the Olympics past 2008? Doubtful. The IOC already voted it out of the 2012 London games, and with the World Baseball Classic (a clear replacement for the Olympic tournament) gaining momentum it seems to only be a matter of time before Olympic baseball is gone for good. There are rumors that if Chicago or Tokyo were to win the 2016 Summer Olympics bid, baseball would make a triumphant return. However, that would require MLB to lighten its rule. History tells us that doesn’t happen everyday. Just ask Joe Jackson and Pete Rose.
With memories of Jim Abbot’s gold-medal complete game in Seoul, and a tearful Tommy Lasorda embracing his players in 2000 fading fast, there seems to be only one thing left to do for Olympic baseball fans. Enjoy it while it’s still here.
– Matt Dewhurst / WCSN.com