Australia, while not on the level of Japan, does love it some baseball. The history of the sport there dates back to the 1850s, and the domestic Australian Baseball League is profitable for the first time ever—thanks in part to funding from MLB. The ABL is increasingly becoming a legitimate winter league for American minor leaguers, and there are currently nine Australian players in MLB, an all-time high. So it's only logical that MLB, seeking another international foothold in its global marketing scheme, would look Down Under. In 1999, the Rockies and Padres opened the season in Monterrey, Mexico. Starting in 2000, and happening semi-regularly since, a pair of teams have started the year in Japan. And, if talks between MLB and Australian officials prove fruitful, the Dodgers and Diamondbacks could kick off the 2014 season with three games at the historic Sidney Cricket Ground. Talks have apparently been in the works for years. But the turning point may have been the team's sale this spring. While the Dodgers may not have a global superstar on the roster, they do have one in the owners' box. Magic Johnson, the public face of the ownership group, is an absolute legend in basketball-crazed Australia, and he might be the biggest selling point. Sydney Blue Sox chairman Bob Turner, who spilled the news of negotiations, was sure to emphasize Johnson's involvement to government officials. ''If we can get Major League Baseball's season opener, which we're working on, in a couple of years' time at the SCG, it will really put the game on the map,'' Turner said. ''Especially if we can get the LA Dodgers to come, where Magic Johnson is the spokesman-owner. That would be great for the game to give us a profile no other sport can really match.'' There are a ton of logistics to work out, but the timing and time zones proved no obstacle to the various Japan series. You'd expect this one to be much the same, with the series being played about a week before the rest of MLB opens up, so there's time to fly back and shake the jet lag. And the time difference is even more favorable in Sydney, which is two hours ahead of Tokyo. The plan is for Saturday and Sunday games to begin at 2 p.m. local time, which would be 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday in Los Angeles—prime time, none of this waking up at 4 a.m. for action from the Tokyo Dome. The Diamondbacks as an opponent isn't set in stone, but as the The Diamondbacks have been making an active push to enhance their global brand. The team's top executive visited Japan in July and Mexico last week. "If the possibility existed for the D-Backs to play overseas, we would most certainly be interested, but I would leave an official comment to MLB International," Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall said in a statement released by the team. MLB denies that any deal with Australia is near, and indeed, even that they've reached the stage where specific teams are being discussed. But it makes too much sense for baseball, and for the Dodgers, to turn down the chance to open up an enormous new market. The only question is whether Dave Nilsson or Graeme Lloyd will throw out the first pitch. Magic's Dodgers set to step up to plate for SCG spectacular [Sydney Morning Herald]
Related Posts
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho revealed the club will pay a lot of money for one player next season amid strong links with Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann.
Mourinho has complained about not being able to compete with free-spending neighbours and runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City in the transfer market as United languish 15 points off the pace.
The disgruntled Portuguese has urged patience with United s balanced approach, though he is determined to spend more following the arrivals of Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic, Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic since replacing Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford in May 2016.
And Griezmann – who resisted a move to United before the start of the season �…
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has challenged Edinson Cavani to not let his recent social media faux pas impact his mindset ahead of a crucial Champions League reunion with former club Paris Saint-Germain.
Cavani was the star of the show and United s saviour in Sunday s 3-2 win over Southampton, coming off the bench to claim an assist and two goals – in doing so, he became the first player since Solskjaer in 1999 to have at least three goal involvements as a substitute in a single Premier League game.
But his performance and accomplishment were overshadowed late that night when a social media post he published contained a Spanish phrase many would consider to be racially insensitive.
Cavani deleted it once he had been informed of its potential t…
With 12 goals on his tally this season, FC Porto striker Moussa Marega has emerged as one of the hottest attacking prospects in Portugal.
The 26-year-old forward has attracted plenty of interest across the European continent but the Metro reports that Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea are leading the race to sign the Porto star.
Marega burst onto the scene with 13 goals in the 2016/17 campaign and continued his rise to prominence with another highly successful half-season.
He joined Porto in 2016 from Maritimo but ended up being loaned out to Vitoria for a season. Having impressed during his loan spell he returned to Porto this term and established himself as a first-team regular.
Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte are both said to have ta…
Chelsea are seemingly eager to sign Jadon Sancho, but they may have to wait until the end of the season.
The Borussia Dortmund star, 19, has been heavily linked with a move away from the Bundesliga club, with numerous Premier League sides reportedly interested.
And Chelsea could be ready to spend big to land the England international.
TOP STORY – CHELSEA READY TO BREAK TRANSFER RECORD FOR SANCHO
Chelsea are prepared to break their transfer record to land Sancho, according to Goal.com.
Sancho has been linked to the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City after impressing at Dortmund.
Chelsea broke their own transfer record last year, when they paid Athletic Bilbao a reported £71.6million (€80m) for goalkeep…
Ligue 1 side Bordeaux have appointed Willy Sagnol as their new coach, replacing the departed Francis Gillot.
Sagnol takes charge at the Stade Chaban Delmas following a spell at the helm of France s Under-21 side.
The 37-year-old has signed a three-year contract that will keep him with the six-time French champions until 2017.
The appointment comes after Gillot, who had previously spent three years as head coach, announced that he would not be extending his deal with Bordeaux.
Bordeaux won the Coupe de France in 2012-13 under Gillot s leadership and have not finished outside of the top half since 2005.
However, a seventh-placed finish this term was not enough to secure UEFA Europa League football for the third straight season and Sagnol will likely be tasked…
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has praised Phil Jones, saying there is more to his game than Chelsea captain John Terry s.
The young defender has had a season hampered by a back injury, but after returning as a substitute against Liverpool earlier this month, he has started United s past three games.
The centre-back, who turns 21 next month, has made five appearances for England after impressing following his 16.5-million pound move to Manchester from Blackburn in 2011.
Ferguson is convinced of his talent and praised Jones, saying he has more talent than Terry did at his age, while acknowledging the England and Chelsea captain s wealth of experience.
Jones has got more in his locker than John. Terry has got the experience and has become a f…
Schalke 04 midfielder Orlando Engelaar will be missing the start of the Bundesliga season as result of a knee injury suffered this week.
The Dutchman injured his knee during the Champions League qualification match with Atletico de Madrid, and tests now point out that recovery might take a while.
The player joined Schalke earlier this summer from FC Twente, after a good performance with Holland at Euro 2008.
Schalke begin their Bundesliga campaign on Saturday, at home with Hannover 96.
…
Martin Odegaard declared Gabriel Jesus long-awaited return from injury was a massive boost for Arsenal following their 3-0 win over Fulham.
The Premier League leaders took a step closer to the title, regaining their five-point lead at the top thanks to first-half goals from Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Odegaard at Craven Cottage.
Mikel Arteta also welcomed Jesus back for his first Arsenal appearance since the win at Wolves in November, the Brazil international appearing as a late substitute for the impressive Leandro Trossard, who chalked up three assists.
Captain Odegaard was delighted to see his team-mate back in action, but insists the Gunners are not getting carried away despite moving within 10 wins of Premier League glory.
It s a massi…
Bayern Munich midfielder Sebastian Rode is a summer transfer target for Serie A outfit Napoli,
Partenopei are believed to be keen on the 25-year-old Germany international, who has made 15 Bundesliga appearances this season for Bayern Munich, having started just three Bundesliga fixtures in the process.
Sebastian Rode joined Bayern Munich in 2014 as a free agent after his contract with Eintracht Frankfurt expired.
The 25-year-old has not been Pep Guardiola’s preferred choice and has ended up playing the total of 38 Bundesliga matches since his arrival.
The Italian media are suggesting that Napoli are keen to offer Rode a summer lifeline outlining that Sebastian Rode has been made one of the top targets for Maurizio Sarri.
Rode’s experience in …
Louis van Gaal has left Manchester United s training ground as speculation continues that he is set to be replaced as manager by Jose Mourinho.
The 64-year-old drove to the AON Training Complex shortly before 0900GMT on Monday and left at around 1700GMT.
The manager waved to reporters but did not make any comment, with United yet to give any official word on the situation.
Van Gaal has reportedly spent the day discussing terms of his severance package, with one season of the three-year deal he signed in 2014 still remaining on his contract.
After initially being turned away, League Managers Association lawyer Paul Gilroy who also negotiated David Moyes compensation deal entered the training ground around an hour after the Dutchman, refusing to answer qu…