It wasn't pretty but Team USA advances to WBC Quarterfinals!
Welp, all I can say is this:
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
Team USA got a good, key victory over Mexico Monday but then...
Team USA almost got eliminated in the World Baseball Classic after suffering an 8-6 loss to Italy on Tuesday.
Italy really put a whooping on USA and I was absolutely horrified. Team USA made it quite interesting as they nearly made an epic eight run comeback but again...
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
Team USA got really punched in the mouth big time. Pitching was terrible and their defense was terrible. Their offense was underwhelming for sure but I think the loss to Italy came down to pitching and defense.
To make matters even more embarrassing, Team USA manager Mark DeRosa apparently did not know the tiebreaking rules heading into the game versus Italy? What a DOPE! He talked about resting certain key players and I've heard that many players partied in celebration after their win versus Mexico, thinking they'd already clinched a quarterfinals berth?
So yeah, Team USA's fate came down to the result of the Mexico-Italy game that took place Wednesday. Mexico needed to score five runs or Italy needed to score four or win....extra innings could have made it a mess too....
But LUCKILY for Team USA, Team Italy handled business big time and took care of Mexico easily.
Team USA is looking pretty unprofessional right now, but hey, sometimes in sports you gotta get lucky. Team USA showed tactical flaws and for all I know Mark DeRosa and the team eventually did know about the tiebreaking rules and Team USA is simply making excuses.
I have no clue what's going on. But what happened, happened and they must lock in. A World Championship is still possible. My confidence is shaken but, we're alive.
I do want to give major props to Team Italy though. They played aggressive and went undefeated in pool play! To beat Team USA and Team Mexico in back to back games, is seriously impressive. Team Italy is full of mostly Americans but still, they made a serious statement. I will be very worried if Team USA has to face them again. It would be cool to see Italy become a bigger baseball country.
Anyway, enough with all the whining, and being worried. Team USA needs to lock in, and this team is still full of talent.
A majority of people across the globe want to see Team USA fail, and a majority of teams will be playing Team USA like it's the most important game of their lives. Even if they don't win it all, having a win over Team USA will satisfy many teams. Team USA needs to match this level of urgency. Every team remaining is a threat.
In addition, the fact is the world is becoming more talented at baseball. Yes, Team USA has All-Star talent, but there's high level MLB All-Star talent all over the place in this tournament. There's also some Americans who declined to play in this tournament in general.
There are no seven game series to be seen in this tournament, and now it's single elimination.
I hope Team USA understands they need to be at their best every single game they can't simply think 'we'll get em next time'. There is no tomorrow. No time to get out of a slump. Slumps aren't allowed right now.
Team Canada is going to want to beat Team USA for a multitude of reasons, and after America's gold over Canada in the Olympics only a few weeks ago, the entire nation of Canada will be BEGGING for a victory.
Perhaps the world will not be as worried about Team USA going forward after this recent defeat, perhaps Team USA will be humbled slightly. Baseball is a mental game in a big way. Win or lose I'll always be loyal and supportive. Win or lose America still has some of the most elite players on earth, and if anyone thinks otherwise clearly doesn't know ball.
But they can't play scared!
I STILL BELIEVE BABY!!!
