Valentine: Maybe MLB should let players compete in Olympics

Tuesday 06th May, 07:11 AM JST

NEW YORK —

Chiba Lotte Marines manager Bobby Valentine thinks Major League Baseball should consider following Japan’s example and allow its players to compete in the Olympics, a move that might lead to the sport’s readmission for the 2016 games.

Only players not on 25-man MLB rosters can be considered for the Beijing Olympics in August. The International Olympic Committee dropped baseball from the 2012 Games in London, partly because it was unhappy the best players aren’t allowed to compete.

Valentine began his second stint as the manager of Japan’s Marines in the 2004 and suggests MLB follow the example of the Japanese leagues.

“We have only 12 teams. We are sending a team of 28 players. There are a few players from each team leaving,” he said. “Think if MLB sent a team _ it might be one player from each team, even though there are many different countries represented in MLB.”

Valentine spoke from Tokyo during a video news conference Wednesday night to promote “The Zen of Bobby V.,” a documentary by Andrew Jenks, Jonah Quickmire Pettigrew and Andrew Muscato that is being screened at the Tribeca Film Festival. It will be televised by ESPN2 on May 13 _ the manager’s 58th birthday.

He was a contentious figure while managing the Texas Rangers (1985-92) and New York Mets (1996-2002). In Japan, Valentine is more revered.

“I came here in ‘95 and I gave a good effort but not my best effort,” he said. “I think when I returned in 2004 and then won a championship with a community and a team in 2005, the fans understood totally my passion, my commitment, what I was here for _ that was to not only earn a living and enjoy what I enjoy most in life, and that’s managing a baseball team, but making Japanese baseball as good as it could possibly be.

“And I eat the food and ride the trains and enjoy the culture immensely and even try to speak the language a little,” he added, “and that’s probably picked up here and there.”

Because he’s across “the pond” _ as he termed the Pacific Ocean _ it’s hard for him to keep track of what’s going on in the major leagues.

“I do know the Diamondbacks are off to a great start, but I can’t tell you who’s hurt on the Mets,” he said. “I’m sure that the New York teams, playing the last year in their respective stadiums, are going to give their fans more than their money’s worth this year, and I think they’ll be at the top before it’s all said and done. But that’s just a gut feeling, it’s not based on any knowledge of the teams or the competition.”

9 Comments

treebeard at 09:02 AM JST - 6th May

Just say "no."
pathat at 10:13 PM JST - 6th May

For the last time, good-bye and good riddance to baseball(and softball) after this summer`s Olympics.

You should be spending more time thinking about how your Marines can actually score more than a run or two a game, Bobby, instead of worrying about documentaries about you or this non-issue about baseball and the Olympics. If you had been really serious about trying to win this year, you wouldnt have had the team dole out another 100 million yen to your washed-up buddy, Benny Agbayani. Do you still want the Japan Series and World Series champs to meet after each season? I bet any MLB team would be licking its chops(for the right price) to face the sorry-ass lineup you put on the field every day. Kobayashi and Yabuta werent too keen on sticking around for your high-level baseball, Bobby. You`d better start worrying about your job here.

Baseball and the Olympics: Enough already!
super delegate at 11:26 PM JST - 6th May

They say that long-term expats often revert to identifiable national stereotypes -

“And I eat the food and ride the trains and enjoy the culture immensely and even try to speak the language a little,” he added, “and that’s probably picked up here and there.”

Do Marines' fans know who Rodney Dangerfield is?
northlondon at 11:51 PM JST - 6th May

I disagree with Valentine's views on a MLB team for the Olympics, but I also totally disagree with pathat's rubbish post trying to discredit Valentine's current run in Japan.

The US can put in a really decent Olympic team without the AllStars and it gives the chance for some decent American players to be in the spotlight when they don't always get that chance. The non-AllStar US baseball team will give other teams a run for their money, including the AllStar Japan team.

pathat, I don't know which planet you have been living on, but Valentine has been a breath of fresh air in the tired old boys brigade which is Japanese pro-Yakyu. He has modernised training methods with the Marines and player-coach relations, plus the importance of being hands-on with marketing the Marines to draw in more sponsors finance, plus a real involvement with the local community in Chiba. I am a Tigers fan, but the Marines now have a huge support comparable to that of the Tigers support.

It seems like pathat has some old prejudice against Valentine from his time in MLB perhaps ?
thepossum at 01:11 AM JST - 7th May

Northlondon, I must say, I agree with both of your points on this issue. I too disagree with Bobby's views on MLB players for the Oly's. Individual talent does not always make for a great team effort. The US has been taught this lesson time and time again at the Basketball world championships. And everyone knows that NHL all star teams do rather poorly at the Olympics. it's usually those squads that have been together for years that triumph in these kinds of competitions. I for one would love to see the NCAA champions represent ream USA, in both basketball and baseball. I'm sure America's collegians can hold their own against the worlds best pros, anyone else remember "the miracle on ice" ?

As for pathat's comments deriding Bobby V... Bush league material, simple as that ! Bobby V is da bomb in Chiba ! The fans love him and he has brought a breath of fresh air, not to mention a championship, to Chiba. Bobby V has shown the Japanese that baseball can be fun. He has brought a community like atmosphere to the city. He encourages fan, player activities to get the team out into the community to meet the locals. Autograph signings, base runnings, charity events... its all Bobby Valentine. And, he's successful ! Unfortunately for the locals here in Japan, Bobby is raising the bar ! He's making baseball interesting and fun ! Sorry, the Giants still haven't figured it out... nor have most of the other teams that keep gettin' their arses wooped by Bobby-Ball !

North is right, for a change. Valentine is a breath of fresh air. And lord don't we need that with all the smoke blowin' fools in NPB !
pathat at 01:35 AM JST - 7th May

northlondon/possum: I have respect for much of what Bobby Valentine has done with the Chiba Lotte Marines. I was here his first go round. Ive read Robert Whitings book with Bobbys95 story in it. In no way, shape or form did I discredit Bobby`s work in facilitating some of the changes to training, coaching, and on-field play that you guys want to point out.

However, if you would actually read what I wrote in my first post, you would find that Im criticizing the teams play for 2008. What he did the previous several years is not relevant to what I`m saying here.

I`m criticizing the decision to bring back Benny Agbayani for another season when it was very clear last year that he was washed-up. Care to argue this point?

Why did players like Kobayashi and Yabuta want to leave? Because they want to be challenged by the best baseball in the world, that`s why. And no amount of talk by Bobby Valentine extolling the virtues of the Japanese game will change things.

Im also highly critical of Bobbys opinion that baseball be brought back for the 2016 Olympics-which is basically what this thread is about.(And his ludicrous idea of a World Series/Japan Series playoff.)

Incidentally, northlondon, for a guy who struggles to understand the most basic rules of baseball as your posts so often demonstrate, you might want to study more before criticizing someone like me who knows a helluva a lot about the game.
northlondon at 01:48 AM JST - 7th May

I have always been for NCAA players representing the US in the Olympics in both basketball and baseball. And I'm from England !

Valentine is teaching them how to drag Nippon Yakyu into the modern world of pro-Baseball. There's nothing wrong with the talent here (just take a look at the current Major Leagues, the last World Baseball Classic and the talent coming out of the Koshien tournament), but both Valentine and Trey Hillman have stood out above the other Japanese coaches.
freakashow at 10:22 AM JST - 7th May

I agree, Bobby Valentine is a class act. He even has one a Japan World Series with the Chiba Lotte. Although The Marines are struggling, they are playing pretty good ball. It's taken awhile, but the J players are now seeing the virtues of playing with heart and not worrying about team play. At the same time, Major Leaguers are seeing some of the virtues of playing as a team and playing "small ball". Just look at how much better the Chicago Cubs are playing. The reason for it is that for the first time in recent history, the Cubs are among the league leaders in pitches-seen-per-plate appearance. They average almost five pitches per plate appearance and thus are among the leaders in walks. Fukudome has been a real influence on former swing-away hitters like Ramirez and Lee.
Ultradude at 04:19 PM JST - 12th May

Baseball and softball are simply played in too few countries globally and have way too many players, coaches, etc involved. Along with the special stadiums required, this puts a huge strain on accomodations, schedules and costs. They never belonged in the Olympics and I'm personally happy they'll be gone. Basketball, volleyball, field hockey and volleyball are the types of sports that are enjoyed globally (relatively) and put less strain on the whole enterprise.