Baseball in the Olympics

[11larkin11]

http://espn.go.com/olympics/story/_/...-2020-olympics

The absence of major league players in the Olympics was a major factor in the IOC's decision to drop baseball, and the issue remains crucial to any chance of reinstatement. Major League Baseball has been unwilling to shut down the season during the Olympics.

"If they don't propose their best athletes it will be difficult," Oswald said. "If they do, then they have a chance just like the others."

I'm sure this has been discussed here before, but what is everyone's opinion on baseball in the olympics? I know most here cannot stand to think of their players leaving to play for another team and risk injury in the middle of the season, but I personally would love to see MLB players in the Olympics. I think players love and would relish being able to play for their countries in a real tournament (not the WBC).

The NHL suspends their season every 4 years for it, and it makes for fantastic watching for the Olympics. I personally think a new commissioner (Bud would never do it) would consider it. For me, I know it would be hard watching a guy like Cueto risking his health to pitch for the DR, but what's a two week break every 4 years, where a guy pitches maybe 3 times. Have it replace the All Star Game those years. But of course, how would home field advantage be determined then?

[AtomicDumpling]

I am happy baseball is not in the Olympics. Baseball just doesn't lend itself to that kind of competition where single games decide everything. It would just be a big crapshoot that doesn't prove anything anyway.

I think the real reason they dropped baseball from the Olympics was to get a jab in at the USA for invading Iraq and toppling Saddam Hussein from power. That was the biggest story in the news at the time the decision was made to drop baseball and softball, which are perceived worldwide as American sports so they made an easy target. It was political, which is supposed to not happen in the Olympics but we all know politics has strongly affected the Olympics many times.

Baseball is probably the second most popular sport in the world next to soccer. It is hugely popular in North and South America as well as Japan, Korea and Taiwan and is growing in other places. If the International Olympic Committee doesn't feel such a popular sport is worthy of being included in the Olympics like curling, water polo, ski jumping and handball it just makes them look utterly foolish and incompetent.

[Yachtzee]

I imagine it didn't help baseball as an Olympic sport that MLB was in the midst of a huge steroid scandal when they voted baseball out. At the time players were still against testing too. I wonder how many players would fail the stricter standards for doping required by the Olympics.

[RBA]

How about American Football?

[powersackers]

The WBC is good enough for me. Not an Olympics fan in general though.

[KronoRed]

If it's not a sport the Europeans can win, it's out.

They replaced baseball and softball with Golf and Rugby

[jojo]

Aren't the Olympics supposed to be about amateur athletes?

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the Olympics anyway but I'd find a two week tourney less compelling than the regular season.

[OldRightHander]

Aren't the Olympics supposed to be about amateur athletes?

I would love to see it go back to that, but I don't see it happening.

[oneupper]

I think the Olympics should eliminate big professional team spectator sports from the lineup.
It's always going to be a mess with the conflicts of interest.
So mens soccer, basketball and ice hockey...bye bye. Baseball can stay out. Play softball if you want to.

The Olympics should be about fencing, gymnastics and curling and other stuff we don't see ALL the time on the tube.

[Raisor]

Aren't the Olympics supposed to be about amateur athletes?

.

No, and it hasn't been that way for a long long time.

[RedFanAlways1966]

I would love to see it go back to that, but I don't see it happening.

I assume the pro athletes mean more $$$ in advertising and everything else for the IOC. Allows them to buy more houses/cars/etc. I too have harped on the "it is supposed to be amateurs". At least we do not see ads on olympian athletes clothing (I think?).

Of course... beach volleyball and speed walking are Olympic sports, but not baseball/softball. I guess there is a reason I have not watched too much of this thing in London. I like baseball and football. If only they had the "Summer" Olympics in the winter month of FEB (no baseball or football). lol

[redssince75]

Baseball is probably the second most popular sport in the world next to soccer.

Basketball would like a word with you.

[dougdirt]

Oh, so it is about having the best players in the world? Then why is soccer an under 23 Olympic sport?

[RedsManRick]

Aren't the Olympics supposed to be about amateur athletes?

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the Olympics anyway but I'd find a two week tourney less compelling than the regular season.

I was thinking about that; then I realized that many of the other sports have what amounts to professionals as well. Think there's a professional swimmer better than Michael Phelps? What's his day jobs? The same could be asked for the gymnasts, runners, etc.

The amateur ship has sailed.

Personally, I'm not a fan of any team sports in the Olympics period.

[mth123]

For me the the test should be whether or not the Olympics would be the ultimate event of the sport. Figure skating, Swimming, Track and Field, Field Hockey etc all qualify. Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Hockey and Tennis not so much. Did anyone really think there was anything special about Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova playing in the finals at Wimbeldon? We've seen that, with much more on the line, every year. No reason to take the shine off the other sports to rehash that again IMO. Baseball falls into that category IMO.