Asian Baseball is Officially the World's Finest

After an all-Asian World Baseball Classic final it is official: Asia has surpassed America (that includes Latin America, too) as the center of the baseball universe. Anyone who watched Korea vs. Japan last night noticed the scouting goldmine that exists in the Far East. While some players have begun to come over from Asia, many of them do not enter MLB until they are well into their prime years (can you imagine how many hits Ichiro Suzuki would have compiled had he started his career in America?) Evidently some of the best players in the world are in Asia, and it is only a matter of time before they become a vital part of player development in America.

Watching the World Baseball Classic has also shown me how many elite level prospects there are who have yet to be signed by Major League clubs. Can you imagine the amount of money that Yu Darvish and Aroldis Chapman are going to command when they are released by their current obligations in Japan and Cuba respectively?





Daisuke Matsuzaka commanded a $51.1 million posting fee just to talk to him (he then received a $52 million contract on top of that). Would it be crazy to think that the 22 year old Darvish, with his 97 MPH fastball and outstanding breaking pitches, could command an $100 million posting fee (well, maybe not in this economy...) with a lucrative contract in excess of another $100 million? How about the 21 year old left-handed Aroldis Chapman, with his effortless 100 MPH fastball and developing offspeed pitches? Could he command the same amount, if not more? These are just two of the biggest names. A number of other foreign players would be adequate regulars in the big leagues, too.

Yet again, Asia takes a step forward in its pursuit of global domination (China has owned our asses economically for years). Who knows, perhaps major league players will start going over to the Japanese league, rather than vice-versa? Doubtable, but not as farfetched as it once seemed. U.S.A. must tip its cap to Japan, who has now won back-to-back championships, and prepare for the next W.B.C. in 2013.