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The Los Angeles Dodgers were given the honor of being one of the two teams selected to play on Opening Day of the 2014 MLB season as announced Tuesday when next year’s schedule was released. The Boys in Blue will face off against the very Arizona Diamondbacks team which is currently trying to chase the Dodgers down for a playoff spot. I believe MLB’s schedule makers have made a horrible mistake.
Deciding to put one of the hottest and most talked about teams in the game against their closest divisional rival from the previous year: good call. Choosing to let these two teams duke it out in the very first game of the year: good call. Deciding to send these two teams over 7,000 miles from their homes and main fan bases to Sydney, Australia in order to play: what were they thinking??
One of the greatest things about MLB is its rich history as an American sport. Depending on when you define the start of the league, baseball has been a professional game in the U.S. for over 100 years and up to 150 years. Baseball is America’s pastime.
Let me clarify that by no means do I think baseball should only be played domestically. I think the expansion of the sport over the years to other countries is both great for the game and fans alike. The international pool of MLB players is a huge addition for the game and has helped elevate it to great heights.
Opening Day is a sacred tradition that should be watched and enjoyed by all baseball fans, but Americans deserve to have this day be celebrated on their own soil. I strongly believe that MLB games being played on foreign soil is a fun and productive way to spread the game across the world, but these kinds of games should be saved for mid-season games. A game of this magnitude should be saved for the people who have loved the game since its inception.
Feel free to comment below whether or not you agree with me and thanks for reading!
Isaac Comelli is a Los Angeles Dodgers writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @IsaacComelli, “Like” him on Facebook or follow him on Google.
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