Do you think the MLB should allow its players to play in the olympic games?

Question

cause i do

Answer 1

Yes, it's a disgrace that the United States, home of baseball, doesn't have a team to represent itself in the Olympics. Why not use college or triple a players? It's ridiculous that we're not over there.

Arti, how do you say that baseball is not popular, yet they manage to maintain a synchronized swimming event every year.

Answer 2

NO

Answer 3

we play  162 games. and we been to japan before to play baseball so it really its more of a safety matter than anything else.

who cares?

Answer 4

Not as long as they have to shut down the season for it, no. The season already drags out - I don't really want to see the World Series in November. And Baseball is gone after this Olympics anyway. It simply is not a popular enough sport world wide to be included any more.

And if the Olympics were actually true to the reason they were started in the first place, the NBA players shouldn't play and the NHL players shouldn't either. The last thing the Olympics need is a bunch of multimillionaires staying in luxury hotels all for the sake of competing in something that should be an amateur competition.

Edit - quick note to Bryan.

While I agree that baseball is obviously twice the sport that synchronized swimming is, the decision to place an individual sport in the Olympics is different then having a team sport in it. And regardless of how popular baseball is here, or in Japan or Cuba, it simply is not played on a decent level in that many countries. And a strong international presence is what determines which team sports are in the Olympics, not the fact that a sport is extremely popular in a few countries. Cricket is hugely popular in India and Pakistan, somewhat popular in the UK and Australia, but again, not played in a large number of counties (or at least not played on a high level) By the way, there is a team from the US competing - see link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_at...

Answer 5

Forget about the disruption to the baseball season.

Does no one (Other than Fozzy) actually care that the Olympics are meant for amateur athletes.

For a rower, runner or javelin thrower to compete, they have to train, work, sometimes two jobs, pay for a trainer, try to get sponsors to take the financial pressure off, try to apply for bursaries in the government, then all of a sudden baseball or hockey or basketball players, that make $10 mil a year have to go in and because they are high profile, they get special treatment.

If the conditions were to be duplicated, no professional athlete would want to go to the Olympics, because they don't want to work that hard.

NHL, I always vote against my home country, I hope they lose every game because they want to win so badly, they are ok with an uneven playing field.

Basketball, the US team is a walking advertisement tool for the NBA.

If I were the other countries, I would simply forfeit against the US and refused to be used as a marketing tool

By allowing pro athletes to compete, you cheapen the sacrifices and heartaches that the amateurs go through to get to the games.

Answer 6

sure y not

Answer 7

Yes, but they would have to take another break. The season is already long enough...

Edit: Ummmm, the United States DOES have baseball team you idiot  (Bryan)

http://www.nbcolympics.com/teamusa/meett...

Answer 8

NO! I would hate to see my team in the middle of the pennant race miss two of the best players on the team, so the US can win a medal. Let the college player compete for a medal.

Answer 9

yes

Answer 10

they dont, wow RETARDS

Answer 11

I say yes, but it would require taking another break in an already long season.  Also, what happens to the all-star game?  Would they still play it in an Olympic year?  If they didn't, how would home field advantage in the World Series be decided?  Anyway, as it is, I doubt MLB players will ever be in the Olympics.

Answer 12

i personally think they should, it would save the sport from the extinction it's about to go into for the 2012 summer games, but there's no way mlb would extend the schedule for that purpose

Answer 13

cause you do?? good reasoning

the MLB should not let MLB players play in Olympic sports..i dont like that the NHL does it in season because it takes away from the league, the NBA i can deal with because its off season for them

but the MLB should not, they get a break for the ASG and then if you let some of the best players in the league go off for not just the Olympics, but also time to prepare for them, its ridiculous.

those missed games could be a teams chance at the playoffs or home-field advantage

the MLB would be foolish to let its players play in the Olympics, they are getting paid to play a sport here in the US, not in some other country  

Answer 14

Yes they should but most owners are worried about their players getting injured : o (similar to the world baseball classic)

Answer 15

Actually, the Olympics should be for amateur athletes.

But, I wouldn't mind seeing MLB players participate for the countries of their birth. Play a 120 game season with a break for the Olympics, and as compensation, let 2 more teams from each league into the playoffs. Try it in 2012, and if it doesn't work, then scrap it.

Answer 16

There's no way they could because the Olympics are right in the middle of the playoff push for a lot of teams.  It's more fun to watch teams battling it out for the division than to watch another all-star team at the Olympics.

Answer 17

No, the Olympics took a dive in my opinion when they started letting pros compete.

It used to be a showcase for great amateur talent from across the world. Now you have a bunch of pros beating up on the countries who still use "amateurs" (if there is such a thing anymore).

The men's basketball team is the worst of all. It's the only U.S. team in the Olympics that I actually hope loses.

The baseball team isn't so pro-heavy. They use some minor leaguers and amateur talent.