Comments on: A Loosely Grouped Essay on Intl Markets and Market Inefficiency

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:12:15 +0000

That is incredible that there is only 1 baseball field in a city the size of Rio De Janeiro.

By: Pitchers Hit Eighth

Pitchers Hit Eighth — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:33:58 +0000

That *was* me! I actually asked the question of Mozeliak at the Cards’ Blogger Day in April when we had a sit-down with the GM.

You probably heard me reference it on our podcast when we had Kevin Goldstein as a guest.

By: hugecardsfan

hugecardsfan — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 01:19:29 +0000

Well sure, when you could be on the drug cartel’s payroll, why would you settle for ML baseball?

By: cariocacardinal

cariocacardinal — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 01:09:15 +0000

No real ball fields in the city of Sao Paulo either. Any ball field that would be open to the public would quickly be turned into a soccer field.

Good athletes in the favela’s? IF they are fast, the favela drug lord will outpay any major league team to have the fast guy as a runner!

Your knowledge of Brazilian geography is commendable. When you understand the culture as well, you will then understand.

By: Mrs. TLR

Mrs. TLR — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 23:01:36 +0000

Here is a tip about Rio: its a city spread along the sea, beneath mountains. Flat land is precious and should not be wasted on ball fields.

However, Sao Paulo is up on a plateau. IIRC, Tampa’s training camp is near Sao Paulo.

Countries like Mexico and Japan are not places where ML teams are likely to establish training camps. Why? Because there are established pro teams that sign amateurs. This domestic infrastructure keeps MLB largely at bay.

But in Brazil there are no baseball teams. And there are many favellas and many good athletes, given the size of the population.
The Cards would be smart to try starting a camp near Sao Paulo. They could scrimmage against the Rays.

By: cariocacardinal

cariocacardinal — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:11:16 +0000

Jumbo, What do those countries all have in common that Brazil doesn’t? – Little League, and by proxy baseball fields. As far as I know there is only one baseball field in the city of Rio de Janeiro ( a city of 6 million+ people) and it is not open to the public. The rest of the country is similar.

The idea of exploring untapped markets is worthy. The idea of looking for water in the middle of the desert might not be the best use of resources.

By: Mrs. TLR

Mrs. TLR — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 03:03:26 +0000

Jeff, there are some good ideas, you are mulling over. Nice point about cricket being ingrained in Commonwealth nations.
The Rays have been smart to give it a shot in Brazil.
Baseball has long roots in the Dominican, Cuba, Puerto Rico. The academies are a new development, post the 1980s, whereas baseball goes back 100 years or more.
I agree with Mo the industry is spending too much money on bonuses in the DR. While its a fine talent pool, the nation is crawling with scouts. The Cards seem to be doing a good job anyway, with C Martinez, Taveras, Gil, Starlin Rodriguez, Raniel Ramirez, Juan Castillo, Audry Perez, and others. They seem to be integrating the Dominicans better into the US teams and guys are thriving accordingly.
The idea of teams in 4 more nations carries things to extremes. Businesses are best by being incremental. The Cards left Venezuela, owing to its problems. Would it make sense to open a second academy in Brazil or somewhere else?
This would help spread the game to nations that know it less, constructive for MLB. Yet the Cards will not want to just pour money down a hole. They will want to find good athletes and teach them game. Its hard and timeconsuming and costly, in a society without many amateurs already playing.
But it could be done. And good players have come out of S Korea, Taiwan, Australia, Mexico. They can be found and developed, from anywhere. There is also often an advantage to being a first mover.

By: cariocacardinal

cariocacardinal — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 02:14:09 +0000

You don’t need an academy or a staff to find the best baseball players in Brazil. There are so few that they are all known almost immediately. If you want to take athletes and try to make them into baseball players that’s a whole different ball game. I think the Royals tried that in the 70′s or 80′s didn’t they (in the US).

I’ll take my million and invest every year in 4-5 Dominican players who are probably good athletes and good baseball players before I waste my time in Brazil.

By: Cards Fan in Chitown #2

Cards Fan in Chitown #2 — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 23:36:47 +0000

Good write up, it seems that we might be wise until waiting until the new CBA is figured out before investing much though?