South Korea 2, Taiwan 0

Interesting that AP refers to Taiwan, while the WBC itself calls the participating team Chinese Taipei.

this AFP article hints at a perspective that Major League Baseball and shortsighted team owners like George Steinbrenner would do well to heed.

The World Baseball Classic got off to a low-key debut, with limited crowds turning out for the Asian round of the 16-nation extravaganza hoped to reinvigorate a sport under threat from soccer.

Only a few thousand spectators took seats in the 55,000-capacity Tokyo Dome as South Korea beat Taiwan 2-0 to launch the 18-day affair that will carry on to the United States and Puerto Rico.

But more fans turned out to make the downtown stadium half full in the evening as regional powerhouse Japan took on underdogs China on the first day of the three-day WBC Pool-A round robin.

The top two from each pool will advance to the second round with the United States heavily favored ahead of other powerhouses such as the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Cuba and Japan.

The event -- launched with a ceremonial first pitch by legendary Japanese slugger Sachio Kinugasa -- was organized by US Major League Baseball which is seeking to emulate soccer's World Cup.

Soccer's main event won legions of Asian fans four years ago when it was co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.

"Soccer is more popular because of the World Cup finals in 2002," said Lee Min-U, 27, a South Korean student who was part of a 120-strong cheering squad.

"But this will be a turning point. If South Korea goes to the final many people in South Korea will become baseball fans," he said.

The quadrennial Classic may also signal some form of global future for America's national pastime after it was axed from the 2012 Olympics for reasons including a lack of international appeal.