Ideas for the World Baseball Classic

I like the U.S. lineup - it is filled with players who have won or played in the World Series. A batting order that features Chipper Jones, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and Derek Jeter is fun to watch.

The pitching rotation could be a little better, but as long as there are guys who can keep it close, I like taking your chances with a lineup that can just plain hit.

That being said, the World Baseball Classic could do a better job of marketing itself and getting better players.

1. Have the tournament last eight days (Thursday-Sunday) - start it the week after the Super Bowl. This way, it doesn't interfere with any body's spring training and if somebody does tweak something while playing, they'd be back around the start of the season.

2. Have ESPN2 cover the non-premiere matches early in the day (South Africa vs. Venezuela) and put the big games on in the evening - double header style. (US vs. Cuba and Japan vs. Dominican Republic).

3. Free agents who haven't signed with a team by this point, should go out and showcase their skills for their country.

4. The U.S. should also consider putting on top minor leaguers (1 or 2 spots) and veterans that may be a few years out of baseball (they'd be like amabassadors/Dream Team types). They could be player/coaches. Think of Rickey Henderson pinch running in a game with Youkilis able to drive him home with a double to the wall.

5. Have the first four days of games take place in spring training locales in Florida and Arizona.

If it was all timed right, this would be around the time of the NBA or NHL All Star games, too, so it would be a cornucopia of All Star type events all grouped together.