Monday, September 20, 2010

MLB in Cuba?

During class early on we talked about whether it would be a good idea to bring a Major League Baseball team to Cuba, or keep them strictly in the U.S. with the exception of Toronto.  I believe this is a bad idea.  Cuba is not a place that is exactly financially stable.  Cuba is run by Fidel Castro who is a dictator. What is to stop him from doing what he pleases with the MLB players.  For example, if they lose a big game he could have them killed because it's his country.  I know this is extreme and the U.S. would not allow it, but Fidel runs the country and knows it a lot better than we do.  He dictates what happens with it as well.  To continue, Cubans are not necessarily made of money.  They will not be able to afford season tickets and those from the U.S. who have money will not want to go through the trouble of traveling out of the country for every game.  It is different for Toronto because we have an understanding with Canada and you can buy a pass to drive across the border in an express-like manner.  For Cuba you either have to fly or go by boat.  This is a major hassle.  All in all Cuba is a bad idea for the MLB.  It will never happen because it is not logical by any means.  Keep bringing the Cuban players to the U.S. if they want to play in the Major Leagues. This has to do with our class because it is talking about baseball expanding to another country.  The MLB is trying to expand from the sounds of it, but they need to realize that it is America's first sport and there is no need to globalize it.  That is what the World Baseball Classic and the Olympics are for.

2 comments:

  1. I agree that Cuba is not nearly ready to support a MLB team and until there is a change in Cuban govt it would be impossible for any American league to consider moving there due to the US's trade embargo with Cuba. Also, I agree though there is plenty of interest in baseball financially the Cubans could not support a team. I believe that if baseball wanted to expand to the Caribbean Puerto Rico would be there best option. But, financially that wouldn't make sense for a major league team. Maybe it could be possible for them support a minor league team in Puerto Rico.

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  2. Lance brings up a good idea of having baseball in Puerto Rico, which has been done already. And of course, Castro will probably not be in power for much longer when it comes to Cuba. Max, you mentioned about the Olympics being where international baseball could be played, but unfortunately, that is no longer an option, and if the U.S. continues to control who can play in the WBC, it really constrains the growth of baseball in the global marketplace.

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