Hater Depot
Jun 1st, 2008, 05:56 AM
It's being talked about.
http://eastwindupchronicle.com/japan-is-the-next-stop-for-mlb-expansion/
When O’Malley wanted to move the Dodgers to Los Angeles, he got his arch-rival Giants to go with him to California because there had to be at least two teams on the West Coast to make the move work. Similarly, to appease the players by limiting trips overseas to once or at most twice a season, U.S. teams would need to be able to play multiple opponents over the course of two weeks in Japan. Who would own these teams and how they would be incorporated into the existing leagues also is a major and tricky issue, although Boston manager Terry Francona said, “I’m confident they wouldn’t be in the same division as us.”
...
Existing Japanese teams could join our major leagues as out-right expansion teams. Or MLB could start its own teams. Or Japan’s current leagues could play their own schedule — including interleague games against North American teams — with the top team advancing into the playoff system. Or select teams from Japan, China and Korea could form their own Asia division. Or there could be a system that incorporates aspects of all those options. Or another system entirely that makes sense.
http://eastwindupchronicle.com/japan-is-the-next-stop-for-mlb-expansion/
When O’Malley wanted to move the Dodgers to Los Angeles, he got his arch-rival Giants to go with him to California because there had to be at least two teams on the West Coast to make the move work. Similarly, to appease the players by limiting trips overseas to once or at most twice a season, U.S. teams would need to be able to play multiple opponents over the course of two weeks in Japan. Who would own these teams and how they would be incorporated into the existing leagues also is a major and tricky issue, although Boston manager Terry Francona said, “I’m confident they wouldn’t be in the same division as us.”
...
Existing Japanese teams could join our major leagues as out-right expansion teams. Or MLB could start its own teams. Or Japan’s current leagues could play their own schedule — including interleague games against North American teams — with the top team advancing into the playoff system. Or select teams from Japan, China and Korea could form their own Asia division. Or there could be a system that incorporates aspects of all those options. Or another system entirely that makes sense.