Shatel: Perfect time for MLB-College World Series partnership | Columnists

Taking stock of our sports world and wondering who the Dodgers should play at TD Ameritrade Park:

It’s been a long winter. And MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred just put me in the mood for baseball.

Manfred is trying to bridge the gap, and perhaps even the feud, between major league baseball and NCAA baseball. In the process he could become the next mayor of Omaha.

But if MLB wants to place a game in Omaha, of course, it will happen.

Just don’t give us Yankees-Red Sox at night. I think there’s a city curfew.

The other headline is the idea of bringing the MLB draft to Omaha, either before or after the CWS. This is another terrific idea. These things can only enhance the CWS.

In fact, it’s the perfect time for this partnership to happen.

Of course, the NCAA might have another opinion.

There could be some pushback from the NCAA office. In fact, expect it.

The NCAA is very protective of the CWS and the image that it’s about amateur sports, kids playing ball for their school and team, not a paycheck. If an MLB game and draft is staged around the CWS, the event takes on the look of a pro event, not college.

I understand some of that. There are other questions. And, if you stage a Cubs-Royals or Rockies-Cardinals game two days before the start of the CWS, how many people would invest money into that game rather than the CWS? Would the college games then become a letdown?

I would argue that the major league game would light the city on fire and carry over into the CWS. And you might get fans from around the region trying to get to the MLB game who have never been to the CWS and decide to stay.

As for the draft, there’s never been a better time for college baseball to embrace it and promote it.

Spring training starts this week, without 60 or so free agents who have yet to find a home. One reason is the current climate in Major League Baseball: More clubs are leaning toward building through the draft and development rather than throwing millions at free agents who may or may not help.

What better time to celebrate the draft and do it at the hub of amateur baseball?

There was more from Kendall Rogers’ story in d1baseball.com. Manfred is also looking at the possibility of funding baseball scholarships for all Division I teams — one per team that would go to a “need-based” player. That is, a kid who needs the financial help and chooses football or basketball — or minor league baseball — because college baseball can’t offer him a full scholarship.

If the NCAA doesn’t welcome that, I don’t want to hear about how it’s for the welfare of the student-athlete.

Also, MLB wants to do more events with college baseball teams in spring training and in the spring. There’s a four-team college event at Dodger Stadium this year.

Too often we wish that the NFL and NBA would work in concert with the NCAA in football and basketball. What Manfred is proposing here is revolutionary, on a lot of levels. It makes too much sense.

“Now is the time,” says Kyle Peterson, ESPN’s college baseball expert.

“For many years, there’s been an unnecessary … college baseball and Major League Baseball have tried to act like one is better than the other. Both routes are right. It’s healthy. They might be right for different kids. If people can take that adversarial part of that and turn into a partnership, all that does is strengthen the game at both levels.”

It’s time to play ball. Baseball wins. Omaha wins.

» I have another idea for how to spend MLB’s money: wood bats at the CWS.

I’m suddenly in the mood for a Zesto. Oh, wait. That’s every month.

Nebraska men’s basketball is 10-4 in the Big Ten, its best conference record since the Huskers went 10-4 to finish the 1975-76 season. That included two wins over Kansas.

I’m not saying that happened a long time ago but that was the last season in the NU Coliseum. And I was a senior in high school. And I’m old.

Kind of puts some context into what Tim Miles’ bunch is doing this year, right?

Can the Huskers get their 20th overall win Tuesday night against Maryland? Kevin Kugler, a TV chap who does his homework, tweeted out that no Big Ten team with at least 20 overall wins and fewer than seven conference losses has missed the NCAA tournament.

Does this season’s Big Ten count?

» Who’s a bigger threat to dominate the Big East tournament next month, Marcus Foster or St. John’s?

There’s no hotter player in the Big East right now than Foster. He’s incredible to watch every game. You just hope his teammates aren’t standing around and watching, too.

There’s no hotter team in the Big East than St. John’s. If the Red Storm keep up their run, they’ll bring out the home crowd to the Garden, one of their home courts.

» Assuming Doug McDermott keeps a jersey from all his stops, he’s going to have one heck of a man cave.

Being traded a lot means you’re still wanted a lot. Gotta love Dallas coach Rick Carlisle singing Doug’s praises. And how cool for Little Mac to be on the same team as hero Dirk Nowitzki.

That’s a game of H-O-R-S-E you’d pay to see.

» What’s your preference, Royals fans? Start the long rebuild now or get to watch Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas every day for the next several years while chasing the Astros, Yankees, Indians, Twins and White Sox?

» Please make the North Dakota hockey fans feel welcome this weekend. They travel well and our burg is one of their favorite stops. In fact, they were in favor of the NCHC making this UND’s designated home-and-home rivalry game. Now, UNO needs to hold up its end of the bargain. The Mavs split at UND earlier this year. Be nice to get at least a split at Baxter.

» One more and I’m outta here: So I’ve figured out that Olympic figure skating is a good way to bond with your daughter every night. Keep me in mind during Father Of The Year voting.