Johnny Eierman Source 3

Knisley, Michael. "International Strikeout?." Sporting News 223.31 (1999): 27. SPORTDiscus with Full Text. Web. 5 Mar. 2015.
     After reading this article my question is going to be... Why does Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua have a minor league all star team playing in the Olympics and the United States has a bunch of scrubs playing for them?
     This article is written even before the 2000 Sydney Olympic games and they were worried about the United States even making the Olympic games. The U.S. roster is full of minor league players that aren't top prospects and former major league players that barely stayed around in the Major leagues and are past their prime. Cuba's roster is full of all potential all stars in the majors but they haven't made their way to the U.S. yet. The Domincan Republic has all of the countries top players and top minor league prospects on their roster. 
     Is this the reason ultimately the Olympics decided to get rid of baseball? Is it because the United States players are more concerned about a Major League call up to the big show? Major league teams also weren't encouraging their top minor league players to play in the Olympics. Why? Is it because they don't want them to risk injury? For example, Yankees top double A prospect Nick Johnson was suppose to be on the roster but the New York Yankees General Mananger wouldn't allow him to play. Here's another example "Then there are the players, such as Marlins pitcher Jason Grilli, who declined on their own out of fear their chance at a major league call-up would be set back. In other words, they weren't encouraged to go by their big-league clubs." What would you do if you were in the minor leagues? Would you want to represent your country and win a gold medal or be selfish and decline that opportunity and try and make it to the big leagues? 
     This source compared to the other sources makes it look like another reason the Olympics shouldn't have baseball. If the top guys aren't playing for each country then what is the point? If that's the case then its not even the top competition available. So far, out of my three sources I have two sources that basically think that baseball doesn't need to be in the olympics. 
     Even with two of the three sources concluding that baseball shouldn't be in the Olympics I still think it needs to be in the Olympics. Saying that, there needs to be some changes made if baseball is going to make a comeback. The top competition absolutely needs to be available, therefore Major League baseball has to work with the Olympics and work some kind of deal to take make available the players for the games, like a month break or however long the Olympics go on. Another thought would be to maybe hold the baseball part of the Olympics before the Major League season starts so the players don't miss any time with their respected teams.  In conclusion this article just shows the countries pride, America has very little to represent baseball and the other countries have a lot of pride for their respected countries.