Why The World Baseball Classic Is Absolutely A Big Deal To Players And Fans | Tim and Friends

Tim Micallef discusses why the World Baseball Classic has mattered to players and fans around the world as the tournament nears its conclusion, despite receiving some skepticism from around North American baseball circles.

[@rayshular6678]

You can't call yourself a baseball fan if you don't love the WBC there has been some of the best baseball I've ever watched in this tournament!

[@pavarottiaardvark3431]

As a British person, I can confirm that the WBC generated more media coverage here than the MLB does.

[@Ueiksg]

I know right the fact there were actual news stories talking about the USA Mexico game was crazy

[@potassiumrichfoods]

The WBC seems like an obscure Olympic sport in a sense. As an American I enjoy England vs. Scotland at Rugby.

[@imstillhereileft7530]

Oooooofffff 🔥 😮

[@JoeGX460]

Any game in World Classic 2023 is more exciting than any 162 season game.

[@zenokada2278]

As in there was a short 3 sentence paragraph in the papers here, we pretty much had nothing, but that’s more than the MLB

[@adamgt4037]

Completely Agree! This Tournament is only good for Baseball, as a USA fan i don't really care if we win it, but I LOVE watching other countries celebrate Baseball! You're not a Real Baseball fan if you can't see that...

[@capturethemoment9170]

Not just that they were playing team USA at Miami Stadium. That wasnt easy to beat a great USA team in their own home field, fans, country, stadium and city.

[@fudgenuggets405]

I'm from USA and I was rooting for pretty much any team other than USA. All those other teams sent their best. We sent our best hitters, but none of our good pitchers could be bothered to show up. Take it serious, or stay home.

[@adamgt4037]

@@fudgenuggets405 It wouldn't even be fair if we sent Verlander, Gallen, Scherzer etc. I hope Japan knows that

[@AveyTheTrainer]

I’ve never watched an MLB game in my life, the WBC has Introduced me to so many players with different backgrounds and I’m more excited than ever to start watching the MLB and cheer for them.

[@LibertarianMexican]

Imma start watching the Washington Nationals and Tampa Bay Rays. Mannases and Arrozharena

[@lukelee3]

Mlb has 90% boring meaningless games.

[@LibertarianMexican]

@Luke Lee Yeah, I just saw the schedules. The MLB should really do something about that.

[@gj1234567899999]

You should see the Czech Republic. None of them are pros and they are all literally amateurs with day jobs - firefighters, doctors, office workers. But for 3 innings they were beating mighty team Japan 1-0, and pitcher struck out Shohei. They have an inspiring story and they became well known in Japan.

[@ISLAVERDE29]

That's pretty much all European baseball

[@jessehall4765]

Big MLB fan, but watching 2 countries that I have no ties to play each other in the WBC is much more entertaining than watching 2 MLB teams that I have no ties to play each other in the World Series.

[@Gigi-zr6hp]

This man speaking FACTS

[@alexanderramirez8997]

“World” series but just North American Teams

[@tomshen2647]

WBC is the real and actual "World Series"

[@SuperJNG18]

This tournament is a fantastic showcase for great teams and players from everywhere. I defy any baseball fan to look up the story of the Czech baseball squad, pretty much all of whom are regular working guys when they're not playing, and not be moved to see how passionate they are. Baseball deserves to be considered an international sport on the level of football (the other kind) and hockey.

[@zakataMan]

Every WBC reminds me that other countries love and respect OUR sport more than we do.

[@ElSombraRegio7]

It is literally the most popular sport in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines in East Asia. It is the moat popular sport in the entirety of the carribean, and the 2nd most popular sport in Central America. Even in Mexico it is the 3rd most popular sport behind futbol and boxing. I can't even say with confidence that it is the 2nd most popular sport in America and at times even Hockey averages more views during its playoffs than MLBs post-season (world series aside). In America, its a sport in the culture thats now looked at as an after-thought to American Football and Basketball (i love those sports roo). For alot of other countries, this sport help defined some of their contemporary culture in the modern era. In Japan, PR, DR, and Korea. Baseball is culture.

@@ElSombraRegio7 Nah, in the Philippines it's basketball then boxing.

[@brianmeen2158]

Definitely. The foreign teams all wanted it more than we Americans did

[@brianmeen2158]

@@ElSombraRegio7the problem is mlbs season is way too long and the games are way too stretched out.

[@clarkesmith.]

@@ElSombraRegio7 In Korea it's definitely football then baseball

[@Becauseimme]

WBC is saving baseball in America.

[@Underpantsniper]

Couldn't agree more, 2026 wbc is going to be even crazier.

[@jac914]

man i wish my country has a baseball team too bad cricket is too big here sad

[@gfox9295]

@@jac914 Cricket looks fun! I've tried to learn more about how it's played but it's still very confusing to this American raised on baseball. Personally, I dream of a world where baseball AND cricket are big in way more countries than they are right now.

[@capturethemoment9170]

@@gfox9295 i think thats the only sports that is very very very boring. Only indians love it

[@gfox9295]

@@capturethemoment9170 aw. it's like baseball. only there's no foul ground and the games can last days. O_O

[@JoeGX460]

Players played for their country and convictions and not for money. This is the purest form of sport.

[@gj1234567899999]

I’m way more into the WBC than the regular season MLB. WBC is basically like a more fun and relevant all star game. US, japan, DR, Puerto Rico can field absolutely stacked teams. Counties like Mexico and Venezuela are good too, and even countries like Italy and Netherlands have surprisingly amount of good pros on their team.

[@BryanChance]

Wow, this is more intense than the world series. Thank you to all the teams and congratulations team Japan!!

[@szlava3641]

Just listen to the tape of the Japanese broadcasters when Japan walked it off against Mexico yesterday. That wasn't a "meaningless" to them

[@superninja252]

Some people were unironically crying in happiness after the walkoff

[@szlava3641]

@@superninja252 That was a game for the ages, even if you were picking team mexico

[@aljon5947]

USA winning is better. USA is the one sending people to other countries to grow baseball while Japan usually keeps to themselves.

[@chrisdunfield513]

I thought USA over Venezuela would have to be the best game of the knockout rounds, but then came Japan over Mexico. Phenomenal! Every knockout game is like a Game 7 of the "World" Series.

[@rantsofedub]

America is unique in that it's basically the only country that argues against playing for your country. No other country really does this for ANY sport.

[@Byorin]

There’s a saying that “nobody hates America more than Americans.” It’s a bit of an exaggeration, but it does ring true in some states and especially with some younger Americans.

[@TypeRyRy]

I'm a big MLB fan, but this is my first WBC tournament that I've ever watched. OMG, it's been amazing! I'm thinking it might be worth it to get tickets to see the '26 WBC. I'm fired up!

[@SangreLatina247]

For Caribbean people and Latin countries the WBC is a really good tournament. We love it, we enjoy it. ❤

[@Odioelfútbol]

Me encanta mucho el béisbol pero más jugarlo debe ser divertido jugar cualquier deporte y representar tu país y hacerte conocido saludos desde México

[@BobSaysWhat22]

One of Great thing about WBC is that we can see relief pitchers who are usually an ace starting pitcher at their clubs. In Finals, Darvish at 8th inning and Ohtani closing the game at final. That’s absolute best of best closers.

[@KWally]

I feel like the World Baseball Classic is finally maturing into a tournament that means something to players and the fans.

[@Jorge-cs6yv]

I'm not into baseball but if my country Mexico is playing I'm going to watch the game.

[@a.w.b.9971]

This tournament has shown, even though MLB is losing popularity… international baseball is a sleeping giant. Everyone is watching, the stadium atmosphere has been the best I’ve ever seen. The players are having more fun than ever… this has been an incredible tournament. Excited for the future ahead

[@jayceh1031]

I have been a huge fan of the WBC since its inception and it has always been exciting to watch. Only to Americans has it finally gained some traction. And that 2017 WBC run by the US was some exciting nail-biting baseball. Only ignorant baseball fans with a very close-minded view see this as "meaningless".

[@gfox9295]

American here who's been paying attention to, if not watching every game of, the WBC since the first one in 2006. Helped that I got back into sports around 2002 (I blame the World Cup in South Korea and Japan that year for reigniting my passion... and then the Houston Astros for being pretty damned good in 2003-2004-2005-2006... but I also got back into basketball in addition to baseball and football/soccer in that time, so it wasn't any one thing alone). Problem here is that with the NFL (American football) and NBA (baseketball) being king, baseball just struggles to get attention. It's been this way my entire life, and it gets worse each and every decade. I hope things like the WBC can reverse the downward slide in America, but if it's too late to save baseball here, at least baseball will live for a very long time in other places in the world, esp. east Asia and the Caribbean.

[@romelovesdan]

AMEN. Thank you for stating what needs to be said and embraced. Yes, I am a "Baseball Traditionalist" who loves the WBC since attending games in the original 2006 incarnation.

[@freddyd17]

I absolutely love how the players can be themselves in the WBC without the “unwritten rules” of American baseball.

[@willwilson9499]

Baseball's "unwritten rules" are for baseball Luddites.

[@chihchang1139]

Taiwan!! This tournament is a classic

[@areguapiri]

Love the pretty dancing girls at the Taiwan games.

[@poshko41]

Injuries can happen in any setting that "doesn't matter." You never want to see injuries, but I'd rather have my guy hurt playing for his country than in spring training or the Arizona Fall League.

[@otaviofrn_adv]

cannot say it better myself

[@theifxxxx]

Literally ended the finals with a true classic Ohtani vs Trout.... you won't see that in MLB...

[@Russia-bullies]

As its easy to get emotional/euphoric about it,agreed.Don’t take my word for it,watch WBC games & WBC fans.

[@superninja252]

My favorite baseball memory was when MY LOCAL TEAM BRAZIL qualified for 2013 WBC, it was vs Panamá twice at their home It was a feat that even other other central American teams had not done before, it was beautiful As you said outside America those games matter A lot

[@areguapiri]

That was fun when Brazil played that game against Panama.

[@ISAKQBs1]

Every game was a World Series game at the wbc , the fans really come out and root for there respected country it just a totally different level .

[@frankeycrawford]

I love this classic and can't wait for it to come back

[@DW-op7ly]

Some of the most watched games in history

[@Tonyconstanza]

Most of these wbc haters are not even fans of baseball they’re just fans of a team like the ones flipping out about Edwin diaz were mostly bitter met fans. To Dominicans we spoke about the wbc for the last 2 years

[@fudgenuggets405]

This WBC tournament was probably the greatest display of baseball skill ever. All the pool D games between DR, PR and VEN combined with the MEX-JPN semi-final game and the USA-JPN final game were like World Series Game 7 played with All-Star teams. It was just unreal. My pro team lost a dude to injury in the WBC. You know what? I'm still going to be a fan.

[@ivanmezagarcia9090]

Adam said it right, here they play because they love the game, they represent something they love, their countries!

[@fame130]

I hope it only gets better! This was by far the best WBC

[@abinadinavas4314]

Let’s be real and realistic the WBC is the real World Series not the jumbo thing we do here in the states. A real competition🎉 to decide who’s is the current champion of the world. Just that simple and wether you get it or not that’s a fact like the wold cup gets more audience than all the US sports combine in decades. We are not center of the universe even when I love this country to death that’s just the true

[@holkn]

My wife always says “you can get hurt walking the dog, does that mean you should just lock yourself at home ?”

[@RickIboa]

I know Americans were hating on it but every other country loves it because we do it for the passion of our country. Not for the money.

[@rigelmax7624]

This is a way to bring the world together, in such dividing times.

[@bobsyoruncle4583]

As far as injury risk to club players - If they didn't play in the WBC they would be playing every day in Spring training - you know...where lots of players get injured every year. In fact, in Spring training I'm sure players are getting hit more often by pitchers than in the WBC because they are constantly facing pitching prospects who have significant control issues. Diaz's injury was a complete freak accident that could have as easily happened horsing around with friends at home. One can also argue that playing games that matter in the WBC is at least as good a preparation for league play as spring training - if not better.

[@frostyhkd]

The World Cup in 22 was pretty much in the middle of every professional league season in the world yet every single player that got called up to their national teams went with no problems from their clubs. MLB needs to do better.

[@otaviofrn_adv]

thing is that for soccer the national calls are mandatory (in competitions and FIFA dates for friendlies). Since the dawn of times. If the club doesn't allow the player to go not only the punishment is harsh but the player will go against the club. On soccer, the World Cup is the showcase for immortality, for some is the only real shot at it. If you are from a smaller nation, reaching it can make you king. If Georgia (the country) ever reaches the World Cup, Kvaratskhelia will be forever regarded as a hero among the people

[@frostyhkd]

@@otaviofrn_adv I also just read that fifa is compensating the players parent clubs to release the players to their international team. Doubt that’ll ever happen in baseball.

[@otaviofrn_adv]

@@frostyhkd It took a lot for them to reach this stage... And the owners would never accept such compensation in the US leagues

[@myusernameisnotfound]

The winner here is baseball! And I’m here for it. The fans have been loving it from all over the world. Who cares? People that don’t like baseball perhaps. Can’t wait for next year’s games though. Viva Mexico cabrones 🌵🇲🇽✌️

[@willbill1536]

I wish it was played after the season but WBC has been great. Always has been. Not only is it much better than regular boring spring training games where players play 3/5 innings, it allows teams to get better looks at their farm players with MLB talent that is left behind. Injuries are part of the game. I'm a Met fan and I'm sick to know Edwin Diaz is out for the season on a freak accident. We lost a player during regular meaningless spring training game in a real baseball action. Should we stop spring training games. I mean let the teams figure it out on their own time and just start the season? Every WBC game is a playoff game. If you are a real baseball fan, what is there not to love about it.

[@Klako-ls6yt]

Problem with holding the WBC after the MLB season is that leagues in other countries run through the winter, so putting the WBC in November would clash with these leagues. These winter leagues, and other winter events like the Caribbean Series usually don't conclude until February. March is the only time when none of the biggest leagues are in season, since the winter leagues have all just concluded and MLB, NPB, and KBO are all in preseason.

[@jakestar121]

i don’t mind it since it provides a nice gap between the two major baseball events for the year so it’s not all saturated into November

[@Tu_Padre31]

Aside from what other have mentioned, holding it after the season means, most players will have a 1 to 4 week gap in between playing time, which is especially bad for pitchers. Only a select few will play throughout October, while most just wait. The season is already 6 months long, plus a month of spring training. Pushing players through the end of November will be grueling and even more injury conducive. The only time to have it is during preseason when summer leagues are ramping up. And winter leagues are ending. It acts as a spring training for summer league players. And an extension of the short winter leagues.

[@moloko5]

The WBC scolds are becoming a vocal minority and after 2023, their opinions are irrelevant. It's the FIFA World Cup of baseball and I fully expect the best pitchers from the USA and Canada for that matter to finally go next time.

[@willwilson9499]

What a great commentary.

[@TungstenArm]

I had more fun watching the World Baseball Classic than any other games I have ever watched. (Now that could be because I’m a Mariners fan born in 2001 so I’ve only watched my team in the playoffs once but that’s neither here nor there)

[@rfp313]

Thank you for this video. I've been saying this. It means something to EVERYONE ELSE.

[@al1976-v7m]

NHL players were also reluctant to take part in the Olympics until the league decided to take a break for it.

[@edgargallegos4274]

Actually in Soccer clubs complains all the time about players getting injured during qualifiers to the world cup and in the world cup itself. However as FIFA is way more powerful than all the teams they are forced to give their players to their national team or FIFA would sanction them

[@otaviofrn_adv]

not only that, a world cup call is priceless. a lifetime dream. what your career is about if you cannot win it. the players would go against the clubs for the World Cup

[@samboywakita8329]

I love WBC 🔥⚾️❤️

[@lagosfury5142]

All you had to see was the lady crying in the stands after the Czech team won their first game

[@airtioteclint]

Man Diaz got hurt just jumping up and down. Had nothing to do with the WBC. That would have happened in spring training he was already compromised. As for Altuve, he'll be alright.

[@otaviofrn_adv]

there was a guy in another comment that said "you can get hurt walking the dog, that doesn't mean you should lock yourself at home"

[@airtioteclint]

@@otaviofrn_adv that's not even the same thing. Read what I said again. If he got hurt just jumping up and down, he was ready to get hurt anywhere. It was going to happen, whether it's wbc or spring training.

[@squidge903]

When players can move between teams, who cares if they're my 'home' team?? When they are *FROM MY HOME* now I care!

[@willwilson9499]

Makes perfect sense.

[@miguelgomez1481]

The WBC only made me love baseball even more.

[@Singularityv616]

Love it and totally agree. Living in Taiwan as an American, the spirit here was like the World Cup. The final should have been Mexico against the US and what a Mardi-Gras party it would’ve been. But geez, what a clutch hit by Japan. And then the final duel with Ohtani and Trout, you can’t script that. Below zero chance they would pick hit Trout or put a normal closer out there. The best of the best and they just happen to be teammates. Unscripted, real life drama. Tip our caps to our boys, and the winners. Spectacular tourney!

[@theedon501]

A “champions league” event with the winners of various professional leagues across the world (MLB, NPB, KBO, Honkbal, CPBL, etc.) would be awesome. This tournament has shown that on any given day, teams at this level can compete and win. Not like the MLB participants would mercy rule every other squad.

[@beezelsub]

Would be great, but not for the boomers.

[@lloydhinshelwood]

The pitchers who refused to go should be booed at every stadium when Japan beat the Americans tonight due to that reason.

[@lloydhinshelwood]

This aged well

[@elk9320]

I want to MLB rethink the schedule of WBC game of 2023. For the group A and B, the13 hour-trip to Miami and having only 3days before the semi/final games was unfair to those group A and B. I am glad that no players in A and B team were injured, despite suffering from jet leg.

[@kurolap7882]

they need to either change the name To: Baseball World Classic, or, BaseBall Baseball Classic

[@Tu_Padre31]

I love the WBC, absolutely love it. I will say this though... with how many minor league and lower class league players fill out most of some teams rosters. And with how many major league players are still warming up for the season and not 100% yet. I do encourage some of you new fans to at least tune into the MLB playoffs... the quality of play will make you appreciate why these players get paid so much. And absolutely no atmosphere or sport can touch those games imo. And I'm an avid Soccer/football fan among many other sports.

[@otaviofrn_adv]

baseball in october is a different animal... I would not say it defeats soccer, but playoffs are playoffs, no matter the sport. Decisive games are universal

[@ardbuijsen8735]

WBC is everything the MLB needs. The passion for the game and the team and most of all the combination of the 2. MLB, if it is wise, could learn al lot from this fest called WBC.

[@otaviofrn_adv]

the MLB itself have had positives with the WBC. Only some old heads and idiots are against it. Let's face it: it's better than Spring Training

[@seiryoden]

It's been a fantastic success and all of Baseball will benefit from it. Yes, that includes the US domestic game.

[@MO-kz9um]

Well said!!!

[@ronnieortiz6803]

Keith Olbermann hasn't been relevant since his show got canceled. I guess he thought this would bring him back somehow...... Or he's just a jerk 😂

[@otaviofrn_adv]

Olbermann is in and out of sports media for decades and still want respect... I can respect the guys that stayed like his former partner. If they're worth a damn

[@FLAT-RE]

Next time, WBC should be held in Japan😊 Gathering all team together, no time difference, no huge move, no sudden match change😂

[@otaviofrn_adv]

I would like that

[@superduperwiiuowner]

"Every other country understands this America" I think Canada is the country that needs to get more on board with Baseball and the WBC, I don't think it's the US that has a participation issue with this sport. But I understand Tim's sentiment coming from those 3 people with blue checkmarks on Twitter with the bad takes. That's not an entire country.

[@Manu-rb6eo]

Lol who cares about the WBC ?......hummm everyone ? Olympics baseball is a joke. If you love the Mets or Dodgers yes ok I understand, but Now it's spring training......who cares about Spring training ?

[@charlieh3998]

You got this right.

[@awacs888]

Players might get hurt...😅 might as well don't play in the regular season

[@ed5378]

What they should do is shorten the MLB Season that way the WBC get more popular cuz it's every 3years

[@willwilson9499]

Play the last rounds in July instead of the all-star game, and it will be even better.

[@ADeep007]

America has great things that the world enjoys but they themselves don’t seem to love. It’s not just with Baseball but with many other things in their culture that have changed drastically.

[@paolee2730]

No excuses, team USA should allow their best players to play in the WBC. Players get injured all the times, regardless of off season, pre season or spring training.

[@andradamarites8579]

AMEN

[@stryngh]

100% agree.

[@jayeightate7347]

Get Bryce Harper in the WBC then it will count

[@graduke1]

He wanted to be there this time...but unfortunately he was injured. He was all in. Good to see!

[@jayeightate7347]

@@graduke1 Also Zac Gallen in pitching

[@kiroolioneaver8532]

Tournament would be better if they had fewer teams like what the ICC did for the Cricket World Cup. Have fewer teams (without the joke teams like Great Britan, Israel, Italy etc.) and expand the groups.

[@ilovelimpfries]

Some mlb fans are one of the worst out of touch gatekeepers of the game.

[@greywolf2155]

I mean, it's simple . . . any sports reporter or pundit who talks down on the WBC is just . . . bad as his or her job. How can you be *so off* on your take? If you don't realize that the WBC is an incredible tournament that millions of people were watching and loving, you just suck as a sports journalist. It's that simple

[@joseluiscruz3819]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@b.t.h.9568]

100

[@Odioelfútbol]

Deberian hacer la mlb lo posible para llevar el béisbol en todo el mundo debería poner 7 entradas nada más deberían hacer partidos divertidos meter más equipos para este mundial para que la gente le muestre interés a el béisbol

[@JohnSmith-ys1wr]

its entertaining, fun but a big deal? nah, its a game bro.

[@HokkeeKun]

The US just complains too much 😂

[@notoriouseagle1074]

Kind of like Sharks fans when they kept getting eliminated early in April.

[@dnailog]

They should make WBC at least make it every 2 years instead of every 3!

[@kenvo343]

many Americans prefer the mighty dollars than representing their own country. and that is sad.

[@Kogasengaha_Hishoshi]

Regular baseball is getting boring tbh. Its this that the world needs, this might replace it instead.

[@ramujomonshumeru1184]

U.S.A. doesn't need to win, Baseball wins either way

[@enshk79]

Wow. Keith Olbermann is extremely unlikable. Insufferable even!

[@RonaldWalker-vz3eh]

How about every year with junior players for insurance reasons

[@RonaldWalker-vz3eh]

How about every year out of the World Series champion Stadium

[@miikop]

WBC > MLB

[@fudgenuggets405]

Imagine the n00bz that don't follow baseball and watched this tournament. They probably think the LAA Angels dominate MLB. 🤣🤣🤣

[@chrisdavis3551]

isnt the WBC played for country , when the MLB is played for rubbing ur cousin's losing as team, in his face. or is that just me?

[@innismor11]

Yeah, but America is still the best in the world at American Football.

[@brianmeen2158]

The foreign teams all had much more fire and desire to compete at the WBC and win it all.. america was playing like it was a scrimmage game

[@dixinbuttz44]

It's not

[@ISLAVERDE29]

It's the biggest deal in baseball!

[@kevinfinnerty8414]

Im going to live and play and make my Millions$$$ in America 11 months out of the year. But in the month of March I’ll represent my ethnicity. lol.

[@gerito07087]

@kevin finnerty. It’s nationality not ethnicity and to these mercenaries (that’s what professional athletes are) that’s what really moves them. Where it’s felt heart and soul. Their club team/employer is where they make their millions and they’ll go to whoever is the highest bidder and it’s business.

[@SweetJimmyNetwork]

There is a glaring issue of lopsided talent. 4 teams are the halves and most teams are the have nots And quite frankly after the Diaz business owners are not gonna want anything to do with this. The Simple soulution is to use future star and College players. High value players are no longer at risk and it evens the playing field for the teams that are overwhelmingly out matched. One team was fielding school teachers. It's embarrassing. But this video is part of corperate media. The world baseball classic generates huge ad revenues so these sportscasters are thinking about their wallets not the product on the field. Many you tube videos on this subject are pro WBC but also take money from fan duel a major sponsor i guess there is no integrity among youtubers. 2 major stars got hurt diluting the talent pool in MLB this year.