It looks like predictions are not my strong point. I stated in last week’s column that the Bonds case would start this week. It looks like it will be delayed until July while USA prosecutors try to get evidence readmitted back into the trial. This week I will stay with a safer subject: the World Baseball Classic.

The Classic started today and the first game has been played between Japan and China (at reasonable time for us Brits). Japan, as predicted shot down China with a 4-0 win but it was not a walk over with Japan not scoring until the third inning.  Japan won by a larger run count in the exhibition games. TATSUNORI HARA SHUICHI MURATA commented:

“We should have scored more than four runs.. It is good that we won the first contest. Although we didn’t score big runs, four runs gives us confidence in the next game.”

While the Classic is a good international tournament, we do have to ask ourselves why Bud Selig refuses to support the game on an international level. 

The Classic is just a rehashed version of the Baseball World Cup in which MLB players are not allowed to take part.  There is much talk recently of getting baseball back into the Olympics.  The IOC had two major issues with the MLB, one being the drugs policy and the other getting MLB players to play internationally.  Selig has worked to sort the drug issues within baseball.  The current classic is being drug tested to World Anti-Doping Agency standards through urine tests. They are being tested for more banned substances than if they were being tested as part of the MLB drug testing program. All this goes a long way in helping calm the IOC’s fears of the ‘drug problem’ within baseball. However, until there is a change of direction and MLB players can be allowed to play in the Olympics I can see why IOC will refuse to allow it back in.

On a more positive note, the one thing that the Classic does is remove a number of MLB players from spring training while they take part.  This means the younger players will get the opportunity to shine through and show team managers that they are ready to take the next steps. While the classic games are going on do look at some of the spring training games it may give you an idea on where some of the younger players are heading (this could be especially useful for those in fantasy leagues).

Another positive note is that a $14 million donation is going to the baseball federations taking part in the WBC but also another $1 million will go to the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) to develop baseball worldwide, something as fans of sports we can agree is a good thing.

A new resource to try

As part of this column I wish to give you something tangible that might help improve your experience of being a fan. Some kind of resource, be that a publication or website. Sometimes you may have heard of the resource already other times it may be a new one to you. 

The new resource to check out this week is the USA Today Sports Weekly. In the UK you can buy this long-lived publication from a number of specialist sports shops. What many people do not know is you can buy a virtual copy of the publication at the website NewsStand.com. 

Once you have paid for your subscription (this can be a single issue, 25 or 50 issues) then you need to download Newsstand’s software and it will get the latest copy for you to read on your computer.  USA Today Sports Weekly is packed full of sports articles focusing mainly on baseball and NFL and is an invaluable resource for any fan.  What resources do you use to keep up to date on the latest baseball news?

www.newsstand.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=subscriptions&zone_ID=782&pub_ID=798&pub_type=1&privacy_flag=N

http:///www.worldbaseballclassic.com