Inside Baseball

Momentum builds for a World Cup that would determine international bragging rights among major leaguers

By Albert Chen

The enthusiastic reception that major league baseball received in Puerto Rico has moved the game one step closer to turning a pipe dream -- a World Cup tournament -- into reality. "Every success we have internationally adds to the interest of a World Cup," says Bob DuPuy, Major League Baseball's president and COO. "The experiment in Puerto Rico is serving as another catalyst." The Expos' first home stand in San Juan, which ended on Sunday, drew 142,821 fans for the 10 games. Twelve more games will be played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium.

The Yankees' Hideki Matsui would be one of the anchors of a Japanese team. Chuck Solomon

In the meantime Major League Baseball International is moving ahead with plans for an inaugural World Cup to take place as early as 2005. The field would consist of teams from eight to 16 countries (including the commonwealth of Puerto Rico) and would be played over a two-week stretch, most likely during spring training and in stadiums across the U.S. Over the past two years MLB International has talked with leagues in six countries, which were all receptive to the idea.

"I think it would be fun, a great experience," says Mariners designated hitter Edgar Martinez, who adds that even though he was born in New York City, he wants to play for Puerto Rico because he was raised there. "Just to be able to compete at that level would be something."

One of the major issues to be resolved is the timing of the event. Interrupting the the regular season to hold the World Cup is viewed by owners as too disruptive, and players don't want it to cut into their off-season. That's why holding the tournament around spring training is the best possible scenario.

In addition to a World Cup, MLB International is pursuing a number of other global initiatives. Baseball is hoping to start the 2004 season in Japan, and also in the works are regular-season series in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. In addition regular-season games in Europe are being discussed for as soon as 2004. "Baseball is an international game," says DuPuy, "and we still have a lot we can do to embrace that."

HOW THEY STACK UP Here are the potential lineups for the top four teams in a proposed World Cup, if it were played in 2005 United States A rotation of Barry Zito, Mark Prior, Roy Oswalt, Mark Mulder and Derek Lowe would be the strength of Team USA. Pos. Name CF TORII HUNTER LF LANCE BERKMAN SS ALEX RODRIGUEZ DH JASON GIAMBI 1B TODD HELTON RF SHAWN GREEN 3B ERIC CHAVEZ C JASON VARITEK 2B BRANDON PHILLIPS SP BARRY ZITO SP MARK PRIOR RP BILLY KOCH Japan If the rest of these Japanese hitters adapted to major league pitching like Ichiro did, this team would be the dark horse. Pos. Name RF ICHIRO SUZUKI SS KAZUO MATSUI LF HIDEKI MATSUI 1B MICHIHIRO OGASAWARA 3B NORIHIRO NAKAMURA DH NOBUHIKO MATSUNAKA C KENJI JOHJIMA 2B TADAHITO IGUCHI CF YOSHITOMO TANI SP HIDEO NOMO SP TOMO OHKA RP MASAHIDE KOBAYASHI Dominican Republic With this potent lineup and stellar pitching, the Dominicans would be World Cup favorites. Pos. Name 2B ALFONSO SORIANO SS MIGUEL TEJADA CF VLADIMIR GUERRERO DH MANNY RAMIREZ RF SAMMY SOSA LF ALBERT PUJOLS 3B ARAMIS RAMIREZ 1B CARLOS PEÑA C MIGUEL OLIVO SP PEDRO MARTINEZ SP BARTOLO COLON RP OCTAVIO DOTEL Puerto Rico While this lineup would measure up to any in the world, suspect pitching would be the team's Achilles' heel. Pos. Name CF CARLOS BELTRAN LF BERNIE WILLIAMS 1B CARLOS DELGADO RF JUAN GONZALEZ DH JORGE POSADA C PUDGE RODRIGUEZ 3B MIKE LOWELL 2B JOSE VIDRO SS JOSE VALENTIN SP JAVIER VAZQUEZ SP JOEL PIÑIERO RP J.C. ROMERO

Issue date: April 28, 2003

For more Inside Baseball see this week's issue of Sports Illustrated, on newsstands Wednesday, April 23. Click here to subscribe to SI.