Selig thrilled with success, popularity of WBC

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Bud Selig is convinced the World Baseball Classic eventually will be a big hit, even if it takes another tournament or two to get more fans, general managers and players on board.

The commissioner, attending the South Africa-U.S. game Friday, raved about the television ratings for the inaugural 16-team event.

"I'm serious, maybe not even the next cycle, four years from now, but two cycles from now, this will be huge," Selig said. "There's no doubt in my mind, the more I watch it. There are so many good subplots here, so much going on. So far it's maybe been better than I thought. I admit I went in believing it would be good, but this has really, really been good."

Selig plans to attend both the second round next week in Anaheim, Calif., as well as the semifinals and championship in San Diego on March 18 and 20. In a recent trip through the U.S. clubhouse, Selig said he individually thanked the players for taking part -- and many thanked him right back.

"They're thrilled to be here," said Selig, who believes as the word spreads more major leaguers will hurry to sign up. "Any time you try to do something different, there is just an inbred resistance."

PHOENIX -- Barry Bonds is thinking about joining the United States team in the World Baseball Classic, assuming it advances to the second round of play.

But U.S. manager Buck Martinez says it's news to him. Martinez said he has no plans to alter his 30-man roster to make room for Bonds. WBC rules allow teams to substitute a player for the next round if there is an injury.

"We have absolutely no injuries," Martinez said.

ESPN analyst Rick Sutcliffe said Thursday night that he'd spoken with Bonds, who had expressed interest in the WBC. Martinez was interviewed during the game and said it would only happen if his team suffered an injury.

Bonds shagged a few fly balls on a back field at Scottsdale Stadium and took some cuts in the cage Friday before spending the rest of the morning socializing with members of the U.S. team before the Americans' World Baseball Classic game against South Africa.

He denied, however, to the San Francisco Chronicle that he wanted to join the team.

"What's that?" Bonds told the Chronicle. "That's not me. You know that. It's not my thing. Those guys (Team USA players) have been there all along. I would never do that. I haven't talked to them.

"If they ask me, that's something different. But that's not my style."

The U.S. advances if:

• It defeats Mexico

• It loses to Mexico, allowing 1 run in a regulation game (8 innings in the field)

• It loses to Mexico, but does not allow a 2nd run until after it has played 8 2/3 innings in the field

• It loses to Mexico, but does not allow a 3rd run until after it has played 12 1/3 innings in the field

• It ties with Mexico, allowing 3 runs in 14 innings

Japan advances if:

• The U.S. loses to Mexico, and allows 2 runs or more before it has played 8 2/3 innings in the field

• The U.S. loses to Mexico, and allows 3 runs or more before it has played 12 1/3 innings in the field

Mexico advances if:

• It defeats the U.S., 3-0, in 13 innings

But by all means, call off the pack of bloodhounds crazed by the scent of Barry Bonds long enough to acknowledge what Bud Selig has been promising all along, that the World Baseball Classic has been a heck of a show, and a great promotional tool for the sport far beyond our borders.

It is ending this weekend without the Americans, ousted by Mexico Thursday night, but if the players considered the best in the world needed some persuasion that the international bat-and-ball set is rapidly closing in on them, they got it.