The Sports Monitor

Bud Selig can try to prop up the World Baseball Classic all he wants . He isn't going to change my mind until he changes some of the tournament's rules. Selig told anyone within earshot that the WBC will continue. And while he was at it, he told everyone to stop complaining about it. That includes, players, general managers and members of the media. The whole shooting match. The idea behind the Classic was noble. It's a way to grow the game around the world and with baseball's removal from the Olympics, it offered a global tournament. And, it didn't hurt Selig to sell a few pieces of merchandise along the way. The trouble was and still is, there's no good time to play it. March is horrible, with players just getting into game shape. November is too late. The rules resemble Little League with pitch counts and 10-run rules. Players find excuses to not play. Interest in the United States just isn't there, either. Did you see any of the games that took place in ...

There was an interesting topic on the radio Wednesday night. The host asked callers if they would rather see the United States win the World Baseball Classic or have their favorite team win the World Series. He opted for the United States to win the WBC, as did the first caller. It's a tough question when you bring in your patriotism into it. Me? I'd like to think I'm pro-U.S. and patriotic. However, if you think the WBC is nothing more than a glorified Little League tournament, then it makes it a lot easier to keep rooting for your favorite team. Especially if your favorite team is the Pirates and they haven't had a winning season since 1992. Heck, I might even opt for the Bucs winning 82 games this year. What's your choice?

Three years ago, the World Baseball Classic did nothing to excite me. I'm talking Rosie O'Donnell at an all-you-can-eat buffet kind of turn-off. Pitchers limited by pitch counts, players declining to invitations to participate and uninspiring games were the norm. That's not baseball. It was a glorified exhibition, no better than spring games going on at the same time. Actually, it made me long for spring games. But I should have expected to be disappointed since the idea came from the brain of Bud Selig, which is not exactly a pool of ideas. This time around, I expected less from the WBC. Wouldn't you know it, I was thoroughly disappointed again. The Mercy Rule Game was the last straw. If you missed it -- and chances are you did -- the United States lost to Puerto Rico 11-1 on Saturday. I wasn't disappointed by the loss. Heck, those type of games happen. No, the maddening moment was the mercy rule. The game was stopped in the seventh inning because Puerto Rico was a...