Pool Play
Team USA had a solid yet rocky start to pool play at the World Baseball Classic, playing their pool play games at Daikin Park in Houston Texas. They started strong, going 3-0 with dominating wins over teams like Brazil, Great Britain, and Mexico. However when the USA needed to win the most, they lost to Italy. In their final pool play game they fell short 8-6. Despite the loss they still managed to advance to the next round by the skin of their teeth.
Headlined by star players Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr, and Paul Skenes, Team USA went into the tournament as the team to beat. We quickly learned that the USA’s dominant lineup in the tournament wasn’t so dominant. With lackluster overall performances from reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge, AL MVP runne rup Cal Raleigh, and NL MVP runner up Kyle Schwarber, the USA didn’t have that offensive spark they thought they would have.
Xavier Diaz says “It definitely could have been a reason for the lack of spark from the offense this tournament. Being that he was a captain, he has to set the tone.”
The Bright Spots
Bright spots from the lineup include super stars Gunnar Henderson, Bobby Witt Jr, and Roman Anthony. Anthony and Henderson carried the offense in their win over the Dominican Republic. Even after their valiant effort the 2 man show wasn’t enough.
Nate Langon says “I feel those 3 will be the faces of baseball and they will lead the next team USA in the near future.”
On the pitching side of things the USA was tough as nails. Paul Skenes and Nolan Mclean led the way, both pitching to elite levels in the Semi Finals and Finals against loaded lineups in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. Logan Webb and Tarik Skubal also both handed in winning efforts in this tournament.
Xavier Diaz says “ I feel the USA lined up their pitching staff pretty well considering they held the Dominican Republic’s star studded lineup to only 1 run and 8 hits.”
Along with their star-studded rotation the USA had a shutdown bullpen. The bullpen headlined by the best reliever in the game in Mason Miller. Miller shut the door against the DR and hasn’t served a hit in the last 50 batters he has faced, striking out 39 of them.
Xavier Diaz says “He’s the best closer in the game plain and simple.”
The Final
The championship game of this World Baseball Classic was a very close battle between the juggernaut USA lineup and rotation. Venezuela was viewed as quite a mediocre team all around and USA seemed to have the upper hand. USA’s stars let them down. Aaron Judge went 0-4, with 3 strike outs in the championship, Cal Raleigh had gone 0-9 throughout the whole tournament! A poor performance from 2 of the leagues star players.
The Tides Have Shifted But Not For Long
On the flip side the pitching from the 1st to the 7th inning was flat out amazing. McLean, a right hander from the Mets, held Venezuela to 1 run through 5 innings. Then the bullpen came in and let up a run making the score 2-0 Venezuela. Team USA was on the verge of earning silver when the future Hall of Famer walked up to the plate, Bryce Harper. Harper stepped up with a runner on first base and he was looking to do some damage, and damage he did. He blasted a 2-run home run over the right center field fence, knotting the game up at 2-2.
Nate Langon says “I believed the momentum was going to shift, but that was short lasting.”
Unfortunately this American momentum didn’t last long at all. As soon as the 9th inning had begun the arm out of the bullpen had let up a single. That single led to second base being stolen, and with Eugenio Suarez up to the plate. The super star of this Venezuelan lineup looked to break this game open. In a 3-2 count he ropes a double into the left center field gap, driving in the runner on second. The stadium erupted and this gave Venezuela the lead, 3-2.
Nate Langon says “Though I was rooting for the USA I enjoyed the underdog story.”
USA’s pride and momentum was absolutely destroyed after the last half inning, but Venezuela didn’t yet land the final punch. Venezuela shut down the USA putting the heart of the lineup down one after another. A 1-2-3 inning for Venezuela handing them gold. Team USA earns silver and ends their run short of gold.
