Fansided

MLB needs more of a World Baseball Classic atmosphere

By Sarabeth Pollock

Mar 18, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; United States infielder Ian Kinsler (3) scores on a double by outfielder Christian Yelich (7) during the third inning against the Dominican Republic during the 2017 World Baseball Classic at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; United States infielder Ian Kinsler (3) scores on a double by outfielder Christian Yelich (7) during the third inning against the Dominican Republic during the 2017 World Baseball Classic at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
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The atmosphere at a World Baseball Classic game is unlike any MLB game. With so much excitement and energy, should MLB be on notice?

The World Baseball Classic is fun to watch, and MLB should be taking notes.

Take this gem of a moment: Team USA centerfielder Adam Jones made a catch for the ages on Saturday night in the World Baseball Classic Pool F championship game. The catch robbed the Dominican Republic of a home run, but that’s not what made the catch so memorable. The guy who hit the would-be homer was Manny Machado, and as he rounded first base he saw Jones make the amazing catch, and tipped his cap in appreciation.

Jones and Machado are teammates. Jones robbed his Orioles teammate of a home run, and his teammate tipped his cap at him and smiled.

That’s the World Baseball Classic for you. Take the international team concept of the Olympics, combine that with the prestige of the World Series, remove the pomp and pretense of both of those events and you have the World Baseball Classic.

The entire World Baseball Classic event has been fun to watch. Here you have teams from around the world coming together to play baseball, and in many cases these teams have MLB players representing their countries who, like Orioles teammates Jones and Machado, end up facing each other in high stakes games to determine the World Champion. While everyone involved is taking this competition seriously, the word “serious” doesn’t fit at all.

The Atmosphere

Petco Park was filled with fans wrapped in flags from both countries. Team Dominican Republic traveled a huge contingent of fans along with Dominican Republic fans living stateside who came to support their team. Team USA was also well represented, with many fans dressed in their best Stars and Stripes finery. Even a guy dressed as George Washington made an appearance over the course of the Pool F games.

Many fans wore their team gear in addition to their patriotic garb. Indians fans were draped in the Dominican Republic flags while whole groups of fans cheering for Team USA all wore different team hats. Here were Giants fans cheering alongside LA fans, and for the moment all team rivalries were forgotten as fans rallied behind their countries.

Customary ballpark rules were relaxed for the international competition, allowing musical instruments like maracas and vuvuzelas inside the park. A makeshift parade of musical instruments started at the park before the game and ended up parading the aisles between innings, and every inning the parade grew more and more as fans rushed to join in.

Team USA took the lead late in the game, but that didn’t keep Team Dominican Republic from joining in the fun during the dance competition in between innings. Several players showed off their best dance moves from the dugout, earning enthusiastic cheers from fans on both sides when they appeared on the big screen.

Playing The World Stage

While the fun atmosphere contributes to the game experience, there could be a lot more interaction between MLB and the World Baseball Classic.

Joe Maddon, manager of the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs, says he’d like to see the reigning World Series champions play the World Baseball Classic champions in a three-game series to determine a true world champion. Since the WBC takes place during Spring Training, the games could be played immediately following the conclusion of the WBC championship game. “The Major League team would be in great shape and I think it could be kind of interesting,” he said. (Imagine Team USA playing the World Series champions. That would be even more interesting!)

The Little League World Series is a true world series with the United States champions facing off against the world champion team. Why not adopt a similar plan with the World Series champs?

Eyes on 2020

The timing of the World Baseball Classic couldn’t be better. The WBC is played every four years so we won’t see it again until 2021. Baseball is returning to the Summer Olympics in 2020, so the World Baseball Classic gives us a sneak peek at what the Olympics will feel like. Without, of course, the pomp and circumstance of the Olympics.

With baseball returning to the Olympics, now is the time to start cultivating the international fanbase, and perhaps some rivalries, ahead of the 2020 games.

Team USA just knocked out the reigning champions, and this is the first WBC without the Dominican Republic in the semifinal game in years. It would be a shame to see the excitement fade away in the interim when it should be gearing up for the 2020 games.

Next: Updated NCAA Tournament bracket

Looking Ahead

The semifinal round of the World Baseball Classic takes place March 20-21. Team Netherlands faces off against Puerto Rico on Monday while Team USA plays Team Japan on Tuesday, with the winners of the semifinal games meeting each other in Wednesday’s championship game.

The 2017 Major League Baseball season could get a big boost from a Team USA win at the World Baseball Classic. Let’s see if MLB picks up a few tricks from the World Baseball Classic.

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