Valentine: Maybe MLB should let players compete in Olympics
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0
treebeard
Just say "no."
0
pathat
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 wouldn
t 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!
0
super delegate
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?
0
northlondon
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 ?
0
thepossum
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 !
0
pathat
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. I
ve 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 I
m 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.
I
m 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.
0
northlondon
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.
0
freakashow
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.
0
Ultradude
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.
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