USA Baseball: Team Eagle has Finally Landed

From the desk of:  PLANET BASEBALL

2 0 1 7

WORLD  BASEBALL  CLASSIC

CHAMPIONS

United States   8

Puerto Rico     0

FINAL

Stars and Stripes Stumble Out of Starting Block, But Finish With a Flourish; Claim First Ever World Baseball Classic Title.

Just think - one lapse in concentration, a bad hop, a wild pitch, just one misplay, and The Eagle might have never landed on the pitcher's mound at Dodger Stadium.

Had USA fallen to Colombia in their very first match of the World Baseball Classic - against which they needed ten innings before finally emerging victorious - we might not even be having this discussion.

That's because America's Nine suffered a demoralizing loss during their very next game against Dominican Republic in which they blew a sixth inning, 5-0 lead, en route to a 7-5 loss.  However, Stars-n-Stripes rebounded smartly, closing out Round One with an 8-0 trouncing of Canada.

The Dominican Republic posted a 3-0 record in Pool-C play, whereas Team USA with a 2-1 record might have arguably benefited from a weak field.

Team USA easily handled Venezuela's all-star line-up opening Round Two of pool play.  But then suffered their second (and final) setback of the Classic, losing a hotly contested match against Puerto Rico by a 6-5 final, in which they stranded the tying run in the top of the ninth on third base.

USA continued forward, though, gaining a measure of revenge during their rematch against the defending WBC champions with a 6-3 victory over Dominican Republic, and thus securing themselves a Third Round appearance among the WBC's final four.

The highly anticipated semi-final game against undefeated Japan featured a classic pitchers duel - with every pun intended. Starting for USA, Tanner Roark threw four innings of scoreless baseball, allowing but two hits.  Six relievers followed, combining to limit Japan's potent line-up to a lone run on just two more hits.

Giving credit where it's due, Japan starter was no less up to the task, pitching six strong innings, while allowing USA one run on three hits and a walk, with six strikeouts.

With one out in the top of the eighth, Adam Jones' fielder's choice scored shortstop Brandon Crawford from third giving USA their slim, but final 2-1 margin of victory.

What USA then accomplished in the WBC final game against formidable and likewise undefeated Puerto Rico went far beyond expectations.  Team Borinquen entered Wednesday's final having pounded their opposition into submission, easily leading the tournament in runs scored.  But they say good pitching trumps good hitting, and that's exactly what happened.

Team USA starting pitchers performed superbly throughout the entire WBC tournament.  And Wednesday's championship game proved no different.  Making his second appearance of the games, Marcus Stroman whitewashed Puerto Rico through six innings, allowing but one hit and a walk, while fanning three.  In facing 19 batters he threw 77 pitches with 44 going for strikes, while inducing 11 ground balls, and just one fly.

Jim Leyland handed the ball off to relievers Sam Dyson, Pat Neshek, in the seventh and eighth respectively, then to David Robertson for the ninth.  The trio combined for three scoreless innings of two hit ball, with a walk and three more strikeouts.

Offensively, USA saved their best for last, pounding out eight runs, and hitting safely against each of Puerto Rico's eight pitchers.  Puerto Rico previously limited USA to seven hits during their Second Round encounter.  This time around, America's Nine stroked a team high 13 hits, topping their previous high of eleven set against Canada and matched against Venezuela.

Ian Kinsler opened the scoring in the third inning off starter Seth Lugo with a two-run knock to center.  After which USA never looked back, continuing to pile on six more unanswered runs.  USA got two more RBI each from Andrew McCutchen and Brandon Crawford, and single runs batted in from Christian Yelich and (Miami team mate) Giancarlo Stanton.

In all aspects of play, this was by far their finest performance of the tournament.

So now that USA has won one of these, how will this affect local and national fan interest levels moving forward?  And how, if at all, can winning a WBC title help sway America's more elite ball players into participating?

On a Related Note:  Extra! Extra! Forget All About It!

With regard to my particular local tabloids, their coverage of the 2017 World Baseball Classic flat out sucked.  The 2006 and 2009 Classics were treated with back page covers, and full multi page spreads featuring game photography, in depth summaries, accompanying articles, and just about every boxscore of tournament play.  Coverage was dialed back somewhat during the 2013 Classic, but this scrapbook maker nonetheless found the content at least satisfactory.  But no, the effort put forth was not as extensive as that of the previous two Classics.

This year's coverage was virtually non existent.  Not a single back page was given. Most mentions of the Classic were treated as mere afterthoughts.  The championship game only received one lone quarter panel lost among the ads from one tabloid, with no mention anywhere on the back page that a baseball game even took place.

The NYT did a better job.  And the Asian papers did even better prior to Korea's, Taiwan's, and China's respective elimination.  The Oggi Italia was good for two half panels, and the local Mexican tabloid was useful too.  I could always count on USAToday for good coverage.  They started okay, sputtered, then finished strongly.  Lastly, El Diario always does a superior job covering not just the WBC, but the Winter Leagues as well.

But I must say I was once again counting on USAToday for quality scrapbook content, 

Overall, though, the American papers left much for me to be desired.

2017 World Baseball Classic: Final Four Madness II

From the desk of:  PLANET BASEBALL

THE FINAL FOUR

Semi-Final #1

Puerto Rico def. Netherlands

SEMI-FINAL #2

United States

vs.

Japan

FROM

DODGER STADIUM

Los Angeles

Team USA finally earns opportunity to avenge their 2009 WBC Semi-Final Loss Against Japan.

In three previous World Baseball Classics, Team USA has yet to advance into the championship round.   

They bowed out of the first ever WBC in the second round.  Despite posting a controversial victory over Japan, USA was eliminated after consecutive losses to South Korea and Mexico.  They reached the final four in 2009, but this time were eliminated by Japan whom went on to capture their second straight WBC championship.  In 2013, USA scored a second round victory over Puerto Rico, but lost against eventual champion Dominican Republic, and then were eliminated from the tourney after a lost rematch against Puerto Rico.

For the moment, USA has merely matched their previous best showing with their second ever semi-finals appearance.  Tonight, they'll seek to change that.

Overcoming undefeated Japan, however, poses a daunting task.

After six games, some would argue USA's 4-2 record is a little suspect.  In truth, Team USA has offered up some good, a little bad, but nothing too ugly to speak of.

In Round One, USA barely defeated upstart Colombia in extra innings.  They followed up surrendering a 5-0 lead to Dominican Republic en rout to a ponderous 7-5 loss, then soundly defeated an outclassed Canadian squad in the Pool-C finale.

They opened Round Two defeating Venezuela (whom wound up being one of the most disappointing teams of this tournament).  USA unfortunately ended up on the wrong side of a 6-5 thriller against Puerto Rico in Game Two, but avenged their previous loss against defending champion Dominican Republic with a 6-3 victory to gain their second ever final four appearance.

Former 2003 first round draft pick, Baltimore Orioles outfielder, and San Diego native, Adam Jones continues playing like Captain America.  I don't care that he's presently under the Mendoza Line, batting .154 through six games.  He drove in the winning run during USA's extra-inning Pool-C opener against Colombia, hit the game tying home run against Venezuela opening Round Two, then homered against Puerto Rico, and most recently made a game saving catch in the seventh inning against Dominican Republic, reaching over the right/center field wall robbing Manny Machado of a home run.

Trust me ... I'm okay with that.

Daniel Murphy, however, has had six at-bats all tournament.  He started at DH and went 0 for 4 in USA's very first game against Colombia.  He then went 0 for 2 in USA's fifth game versus Venezuela, and that's it - that's been the full extent of his participation through six games.

Jim Leyland has tasked (Washington) Tanner Roark with starting Tuesday evening's showdown against Japan.  His lone appearance to date came in USA's second game of Pool-C play against Dominican Republic.  That was the game which started out so brilliantly with Marcus Stroman on the mound, and USA leading 5-0 through 5 1/2 innings of play.  

Then the roof caved in.

In relief of Stroman, Tanner Roark faced nine batters, throwing 41 pitches, but only 24 (58%) going for strikes.  He was tagged for three earned runs on three hits, two walks, with no strikeouts in just 1.1 innings of work.  Yet, he still somehow managed getting credited with a hold.

That doesn't exactly inspire confidence with regards to this evening's game.  But a look at his 2016 season totals should.  Roark appeared in 34 games and made 33 starts.  He pitched 210 innings, posting a 16-10 record with a 2.83 ERA/1.171 WHiP/.379 FIP, and a 7.4 K/9 average.

I will say this, though: Jim Leyland's handling of the bullpen, his selections, and negotiating match-ups, has left much to be desired.  I said it after game one against Colombia, and maintain that same opinion today.

Jim Leyland is faced with another dilemma in the outfield awaiting a decision: who to start between Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Andrew McCutchen, and Adam Jones.  And who to DH for that matter.

USA needs power!  They have hit seven home runs through six games, and none during the first two games of Pool-C.  Giancarlo Stanton finally came around during USA's most recent win over D.R. with his first knock of the tourney.

This is a revamped Japan team that has homered in every game they've played.  They have hit multiple home runs in four of their six games, and have hit ten overall.

2017 World Baseball Classic Showdown: USA vs. Puerto Rico Preview

From the desk of:  PLANET BASEBALL

WORLD  BASEBALL  CLASSIC

ROUND TWO

FRIDAY

United States

vs.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is undefeated through four games of World Baseball Classic play.

They were far and away the class of Pool-D, offering no quarter to opponents Venezuela, Mexico, and Italy.  Puerto Rico outscored the field by a 32-8 margin, and out-hit them by a similar 36-13 margin.

In a rematch of the 2013 WBC final, Puerto Rico most recently defeated Dominican Republic opening Round Two play.  Their 3-1 victory was the most tightly contested game they've played to date.  Each team was limited to six hits.

So far Puerto Rico has hit eight home runs and have committed just one error in the field.

New York Mets pitcher Seth Lugo will climb the hill again for Puerto Rico in their Friday night showdown against Team USA.  He started Puerto Rico's opening game of the WBC against Venezuela, surrendering just one hit and striking out three over 5.1 scoreless innings of work.

Team USA's most recent victory over Venezuela was perhaps their best played game of the tournament so far.

They have outscored their four opponents by a somewhat less prolific 20-11 margin.  However, USA has matched Puerto Rico's 36 hits during the tourney (while allowing their opponents 24 hits).  They are also coming off back-to-back 11 hit games (against Canada and Venezuela).

Team USA's strength has easily been their starting pitching.  Chris Archer, Marcus Stroman, Danny Duffy, and Drew Smyly, all started a game apiece.  Together, they have combined to allow just one unearned run on eight hits and no walks, with 22 strikeouts through 17.1 stellar innings pitched. None has yet to pitch five full innings.

Marcus Stroman returns to the mound for USA against Puerto Rico.


mural; street art
#Wythe/Williamsburgh/BK

2017 World Baseball Classic: USA Late Strike Defeats Venezuela

From the desk of:  PLANET BASEBALL

WORLD  BASEBALL  CLASSIC

ROUND TWO

FINAL

Venezuela        2

United States  4

Adam Jones Continues Leading USA in Right Direction

Team USA put forth perhaps their most complete performance to date, despite Venezuela leading 2-0 through the top of the seventh inning,

Venezuela opened the scoring as Carlos Gonzalez crossed the plate on Ender Inciarte's sac-fly to center.

Third baseman Rougned Odor later gave Venezuela a 2-0 lead with a home run to right in the top of the seventh.  But USA got a run back in the bottom of the frame when Jonathan Lucroy delivered home Eric Hosmer with a sac-fly to right.

Generally speaking, taking a lead in the bottom of the eighth is golden ... just ask Japan.  And Team USA did just that.   Center fielder Adam Jones tied the game at two with a lead-off home run to left/center.  Left fielder Christian Yelich followed with a single.  Then with one out, Eric Hosmer homered to right/center, giving USA a 4-2 lead, and final margin of victory.

On the mound, Seattle's Drew Smyly provided team USA with their fourth straight high quality performance.  He faced 16 Venezuelan batters over 4.2 innings, throwing 64 pitches with 44 going for strikes.  Smyly allowed one unearned run due to his own throwing error in the third, but otherwise allowed just three hits, no walks, and struck out eight batters before exiting on the losing side of a (then) 1-0 game.  Smyly needed to be that good because his Mariners team mate, King Felix Hernandez, pitched five innings of scoreless, three hit baseball against USA, with three strikeouts.

Jim Leyland utilized five relievers over the final 5.1 innings of the game, whom collectively limited Venezuela to one run on just three hits, issued one walk, and fanned a pair.

USA's victory sets up a Pool-F showdown versus undefeated Puerto Rico.


Made In The USA...

Former 2003 first round draft pick, Baltimore Orioles outfielder, and San Diego native, Adam Jones gets my preliminary vote for team MVP.  He drove in the winning run during USA's extra-inning Pool-C opener against Colombia, and in Round Two hit the game tying home run against Venezuela.   His is 5 for 18 (.278) through four games, with two doubles, a home run, three RBI, and three runs scored.

2017 World Baseball Classic Musings

From the desk of:  PLANET BASEBALL

2017

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC

ROUND ONE

POOL - A

Advance:

• Israel (3-0)
• Netherlands (2-1)

Eliminated:

• South Korea (1-2)
• Chinese Taipei (0-3)

Israel stuns the world; easily the top story of Round One.  Netherlands baseball is no longer a secret; they can hit with the best of 'em.  South Korea is in a state of shock; once considered a perennial lock for Round Two.  Chinese Paipei played much better than their record indicates.

POOL - B

Advance:

• Japan (3-0)
• Cuba (2-1)

Eliminated:

• Australia (1-2)
• China (0-3)

No surprises here.  Feature game no doubt was the rematch between Japan and Cuba.  Team Japan enters the WBC with a completely revamped roster.  Cuba not looking as sharp as in previous Classics.  Australia displayed unexpected power, and came damn close to pulling off an upset against Cuba.

POOL - C

Advance:

• Dominican R. (3-0)
• United States (2-1)

Eliminated:

• Colombia (1-2)
• Canada (0-3)

Poor showing for Canada; they'll be forced to re-qualify.  Colombia was another major surpise of Round One.  They gave major headaches to every team they faced.  USA needed extra innings against Colombia, and are somewhat lucky to have advanced.  Dominican Republic line-up is doing exactly what was predicted of them.

POOL - D

Advance:

• Puerto Rico (3-0)
• Venezuela (1-2)*

Eliminated:

• Italy (1-2)
• Mexico (1-2)

*tie-breaker - Venezuela def. Italy


Venezuela becomes the most dangerous team of the tourney if only because they just barely survived the first round thanks to tie-breakers. Their line-up is an all-star team unto itself, but have not wielded their big sticks yet.  That's what makes them dangerous; they're lick a ticking time bomb.   Puerto Rico is smooth and balanced, and are right where they should be.  They are dealing with very high expectations.  Mexico bowing out was a surprise, as well as a disappointment.  Italy was the most resilient and tenacious team of Round One. They could very easily be in Round Two over Venezuela, but they just came up one break short.


ROUND TWO

POOL - E

• Japan (2-0)
• Netherlands (1-1)
• Israel (1-1)
• Cuba (0-2)

Japan has done all the right things, and remain undefeated.  Cuba on the other hand, deserves to be right where they are.  They haven't been sharp to begin with, and played a particularly sloppy rematch game against Japan.  Errors no doubt cost them a victory.  Look out for Netherlands!  They take on Cuba next in a game with Trump-like "huge" implications.

POOL - F

• Dominican Republic
• United States
• Puerto Rico
• Venezuela

Underway in San Diego, California.

2017 World Baseball Classic: USA Finally Gets Act Together

From the desk of:  PLANET BASEBALL

2017

WORLD  BASEBALL  CLASSIC

Dominican Republic Reminds USA Who's Game This "Was"

The other day I thought over-extending the bullpen in Game One against Colombia wound wind up costing the United States dearly against the Dominican Republic.  Needless to say, after a game that started out so promisingly ended in agonizing defeat for Jim Leyland and Team USA, I stand by that.

Everything started off great.  USA led 5-0 after 5 1/2 innings helped along by RBI from left fielder Christian Yelich, shortstop Brandon Crawford, and right fielder Giancarlo Stanton.  Even better, starter Marcus Stroman pitched brilliantly (just like Chris Archer before him), throwing 4.2 innings of scoreless, three hit baseball.  He faced 17 batters, and threw a full allotment of 64 pitches with 37 going for strikes.  He did not allow a walk and fanned four.

After which, the wheels on USA's wagon essentially fell off.  Dominican Republic went on to score seven unanswered runs, highlighted by an explosive four-run eighth inning.

Leyland initially utilized Tanner Roark - a starter for the Nationals - in relief of Stroman, whom proceeded to allowed three earned runs on three hits, including a home run.  Later in the eighth, Jim Leyland allowed reliever Andrew Miller to face six batters, in which he surrendered three hits with two going for home runs - but none more devastating than Nelson Cruz' three-run rope into the second outfield deck at Marlins Park.

• The game set a Marlins Park record for attendance.  Moreover, the clearly partisan crowd in Miami roared for the Dominican Republic.

• Even if you're a fan who is still on the fence regarding the World Baseball Classic, how could you not get caught up in this game?

USA Finally Fires on All Cylinders Against Canada

Team America received a third straight stellar performance from their starting pitcher.  Kansas City Royal Danny Duffy faced 14 batters, and threw a full allotment of 63 pitches with 44 going for strikes.  He pitched four scoreless innings of two hit baseball, with no walks, and a nifty seven strikeouts to earn the victory.  Canada fared no better against USA's bullpen, whom combined on five innings of scoreless, two hit baseball, walking one, and striking out eight.

Canada's starter Ryan Dempster made a nice effort to participate in these games, but in truth he failed to be even somewhat effective.  USA encountered no problem scoring early and often against him.  A pair of RBI from Eric Hosmer and another from Buster Posey staked USA to a 3-0 lead in the first.   In the second, Nolan Arenado launched a three run home run over the left/center field wall.  Posey promptly followed with his second RBI of the game, giving USA a 7-0 lead.

Buster Posey homered in the seventh for good measure as Team USA dispatched Canada by an 8-0 final to advance into Round Two.

2017 World Baseball Classic: Adam Jones Saves USA From Colombia

From the desk of:  PLANET BASEBALL

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC

POOL-C: Showdown! USA vs. Dominican Republic

• Dominican R.      1-0
• United States      1-0
• Colombia            1-1
• Canada               0-2

FINAL

Colombia        2

United States  3

10-innings

Did manager Jim Leyland almost blow the game?

Think about it ... the score was tied 2-2 after nine innings.  Colombia's starter Jose Quintana (White Sox) threw his full allotment of pitches, which was good enough for 5.2 innings of work.  He allowed one run on one hit and a walk, while fanning four.  Colombia then utilized three relief pitchers through the tenth inning.

Chris Archer started for Team USA.  He only tossed four innings due to the Tampa Bay Rays' expressed desire of limiting his innings.  Archer nevertheless pitched superbly, allowing no runs, no hits, no walks, and striking out three.  Jim Leyland then utilized five relievers while maneuvering USA through the ninth.  Tyler Clippard pitched the tenth inning, making it six relievers on the night - all basically given an inning each of responsibility.  Said another way, Leyland exhausted all but three members of his bullpen, with a game against Dominican Republic scheduled the very next day.

• Had the game extended into the 11th inning, WBC rules dictate each half inning from that point forward would start with runners on first and second base.

Lucky for Leyland, Orioles slugger Adam Jones made that a moot point.  Jones and Christian Yelich were the only ones to hit with any kind of authority against Quintana and Colombia pitching.  Jones drove in USA's first run in the sixth with a double lined down the left field line scoring Brandon Crawford.  His base hit to center in the bottom of the tenth center plated Yelich from third for the victory.

Whoa Canada!

Team Canada lost their second straight.  After dropping the Pool-C opener against Dominican Republic, Canada bowed to surprisingly tough Colombia.  Despite jumping out to a quick 1-0 first inning lead on Freddie Freeman's RBI single, Colombia went on to score four unanswered runs to claim their first victory of the tournament.

Yankees product, shortstop Donovan Solano went 2 for 5 with two RBI for Colombia.  Starter Julio Teheran (Braves) completed five innings, allowing just one run on two hits and a walk, with three strikeouts for the victory.

2017 World Baseball Classic: USA Preview; Pool-C

From the desk of:  PLANET BASEBALL

Pool A and B

POOL-C: @ Miami, USA

• Columbia
• Dominican Republic
• Canada
• United States

Is This The Year Team USA Finally Wins the World Baseball Classic?

This much is true: they've been their own worst naysayer.

There's no disguising how the World Baseball Classic gets taken far more seriously everywhere else on the globe outside America - ironically the country where the game originated, yet where WBC apathy rules the day.

The number of USA's best players willing to participate speaks for itself.  Some top tier players relish the opportunity of playing for their country.  But just not enough of the game's elite consider the WBC -- a meaningless exhibition -- worthy enough of breaking routines, compromising perceived obligations to their organizations, or risking injury.  I begrudge none of them.  After all, this country taught its children to win World Series championships, not round robin tournaments against other countries.  You can arguably blame USA's ambivalence towards international interaction.  After all, the 2006 WBC was the first time American major league players were able to compete in international competition.

For the moment, national teams still just aren't America's cup of tea ... yet.  The Classic and soccer's World Cup are making small strides towards changing that.  The evolution, though, will remain slow.

USA advanced to the second round of the 2006 WBC, then advanced to the 2009 semi-finals.  In 2013, they were eliminated in the second round after consecutive losses to eventual WBC champion Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

Entering 2017, I feel Jim Leyland is the best manager Team USA has ever named (Buck Martinez, Davey Johnson, Joe Torre).

However, I have reservations regarding USA starting pitchers.  Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer will open USA pool play when he climbs the hill on Friday against Columbia.  I have no issues there.
After Archer matters become more uncertain.  How will Marcus Stroman and Danny Duffy fare against the Dominican Republic and Canada?  It's still undetermined how Tanner Roark, Sonny Gray and Drew Smyly will be worked into the mix.  However, USA sports a good bullpen with Andrew Miller, David Robertson, and serviceable Tyler Clippard.

USA is strong behind the plate with Buster Posey and Jonathan Lucroy sharing duties.  The rest of the diamond will be manned by the likes of Daniel Murphy, Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Eric Hosmer, Ian Kinsler.  An outfield comprised of Andrew McCutchen, Giancarlo Stanton, Adam Jones and Christian Yelich, looks good on paper and should be able to hold their own against a slugging team like the Dominican Republic, right?

*          *          *

Once again a heavy favorite, the Dominican Republic are the defending World Baseball Classic champions.  And once again, manager Felipe Alou will have many names to chose from when filling out his line-up card.  However, according to this USA Today article, manager Tony Pena told his Dominican contingent they'll need to check their egos at the door if they intend to repeat.  Once listed as questionable, Adrian Beltre may play in round one after all.  Otherwise, Robinson Cano leads a well stacked crew consisting of Jose Batista, Manny Machado, Jose Reyes, Nelson Cruz, Starling Marte, et al.  Jeurys Familia, Hansel Robles, and Dellin Betances, gives D.R. a representative bullpen, while Johnny Cueto and Carlos Martinez headline the starting rotation.


Oh Canada ... they have their work cut out for them.  Perhaps the most notable player not playing for them is Joey Votto.  Instead, Canada will feature Justin Morneau, Freddie Freeman, and Pete Orr in the infield.  On the mound, they hope to get an assist from 39- year old Ryan Dempster who pitched for the 2013 world champion Red Sox, and from 41-year old reliever Eric Gagne who pitched briefly for Ottowa of the Can-Am League last season, and even touched 93-mph on the radar gun.  It's been eight years, however, since he last threw a major league pitch.  Canada still might be better off activating members of their coaching staff: Bert Blylevin, Ernie Whitt, and Larry Walker.


This is Colombia's first participation in the World Baseball Classic.  They defeated the field of Panama, Spain, and France in the WBC #2 Qualifier played last March in Panama City.  There's still a chance former Mets prospect Dilson Herrera could participate for Columbia.  Keep an eye on catcher Jorge Alfaro.  Otherwise, Jose Quintana and Julio Teheran should provide representative pitching ... if nothing else.


updated 9:30pm