Second World Baseball Classic Coming March 2009

If college basketball's March Madness is not enough to satisfy your thirst championship sports, then there is another tournament that you can drink up. This tournament is made up of some of the best baseball players in the world. The World Baseball Classic 2009 edition kicks off in Tokyo, Japan on March 5th with the start of Pool 'A' play.

Then all across the world as that day marches onward, baseball teams will take the fields in their respective pools to play in a tournament that culminates in crowning a world champion in baseball in Los Angeles on March 23rd.

The last World Baseball Classic took place in 2006 after several years of negotiation with professional leagues, owners, and unions around the world, all spearheaded by Major League Baseball. At first, many Major League Baseball players and fans alike were skeptical about having a world tournament just before spring training. A lot of higher caliber players and some owners feared that playing in the tournament could lead to injury, or affect their training regimen for regular season play. Owners of some of the more higher pay rolled teams, like George Steinbrenner oy the New York Yankees were outspoken critics of the Classic.

The Major League Baseball Players Association, the union for Major League Baseball, had concerns over drug testing policies for its players, as tighter Olympic style standards were being proposed. In Japan, the Nippon Professional Baseball Players League had concerns about the time of year the games were to be played.

As last year's tournament rolled on, its popularity grew almost over night, as television rating, and public support for home country teams grew. Citizens from smaller countries like Cuba were especially proud of their players as they got a chance to play against other professionals around the world.

New rivalries were sparked among teams, and old ones were rekindled. A dramatic championship game was played between Japan and Cuba, with a 10-6 victory by Japan. Now many players in professional leagues are chomping at the bit to go represent their home countries in this years classic.

Look for games to be held in the following cities this year: Tokyo, Mexico City, Toronto, Canada, San Juan, San Diego, Miami. The finals will be played in Los Angeles on March 23rd.

Sixteen teams will take part. They are: China, China Taipei (Taiwan), Japan, Korea, Australia, Cuba, Mexico, South Africa, Canada, Italy, USA, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico.

Look for many Major League Baseball star on their homelands rosters. For example Jorge Posada of the New York Yankees has expressed interest in playing for Puerto Rico, and David Ortiz wants to play for the Dominican Republic.

After this year the World Baseball Classic will only be played every four years. In addition, baseball will not be played in the next Summer Olympics to be held in 2012. This is your only chance to see international play in baseball for quite a while.