MLB: Why Opening Day in Japan is Important

Major League Baseball just had Opening Day.  In a controversial move, they opened the season in Japan, before the two teams come back to the states and play some more exhibition games.

I have seen plenty of people saying that this is an American game and that we shouldn't try to globalize the sport, but instead we should be worrying about more pressing issues.

I am here to say that we should play Opening Day in Japan.

First of all, if we are sending our top teams over there, we can get some of Japan's stars (like Ichiro, Dice-K, or Fukudome) and that will create a better league for everybody.

Also, Japan is a major market, and from a business perspective, bringing our merchandise over there will generate many more sales than if we were to have Opening Day state-side.

Besides, this isn't the first time that we have had opening day somewhere else besides the good ol' U-S-of-A.

In 2000, the New York Mets opened the season in Japan and went on to make the World Series.

In 2004, the New York Yankees again opened the season in Japan, they weren't exactly push-overs.

What about the sceptics who say that we should just play some Spring Training games in Japan?

To those people I say, the baseball players in Japan are a lot closer to our American stars than we think.

We can send a re-match of last years World Series, but if it's in Spring Training, then the players aren't playing at 100%.  They will notice that and they will poorly respond to us saying, "Here take our best before they're at their best."

This would hurt the Japanese market that likes to dabble in American baseball.

Anything less than our best would be insulting to this emerging baseball superpower.

We can't give them the Tampa Bay "Deadly Sun?" Rays vs. the Kansas City Royals even if it is opening day.  You couldn't pay me to watch that game, and you can't expect others to.

Baseball in Japan is far from detrimental to our beloved sport, and we should accept that.

I'm Joe W.