Why the World Baseball Classic began to look like the FIFA World Cup
MLB Network’s John Morosi spoke with Tony Anderson about the energy surrounding WBC 2023 and why fans are starting to take notice.
Sports seriously, USA Today
For baseball fans, there was none this kind of drama this early spring. And now there is only one game left.
The defending champion team from the United States takes on two-time winners Japan tonight in Miami for the 2023 World Baseball Classic title.
It is a match between two strong teams. Team USA upset Cuba 14-2 in the semi-finals on Sunday, while undefeated Japan claimed a dramatic 6-5 victory over Mexico on Monday night.
A frenzied, frenzied crowd will be there, hoping to see another classic game as Diamondbacks right fielder Merrill Kelly takes the mound for the US and surprise starter Shota Imanaga gets the ball for Japan.
How to watch: Time, TV channel, information stream for WBC Final
Team USA took a 1–0 lead with Trea Turner’s solo homer in the second inning, the fifth home run of the tournament, tying the baseball classic world record.
The first leg at home against Japanese star Shota Imanaga comes after Turner scored two goals in the semi-finals against Cuba, another in the quarter-finals against Venezuela and another in the group stage against Canada.
Turner signed an 11-year, $300 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies this winter.
Mike Trott converted the blunder into a solo double in the top of the first inning, but Japan star Shota Imanaga hit Paul Goldschmidt and got Nolan Arenado on the first down to end the half.
Left-handed Imanaga has a 3.01 ERA in 970.2 career innings pitched in Japan, including a 2.04 mark in 24 games played in 2022.
Angels teammates Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani led their teams onto the field at LoanDepot Park prior to the national anthem, with each star carrying their country’s flag on the foul lines.
After the visitors in their last two games, shortstop Trea Turner moves into the USA squad. Other lineup changes include JT Realmuto starting at behind the plate, Kyle Schwarber at designated hitter and Cedric Mullins at left field.
USA player Merrill Kelly gave up two earned runs in three innings against Colombia in the group stage.
Standing at the entrance of the Japanese club late Monday night, surrounded by a group of reporters, Shuhei Ohtani was asked what everyone in the baseball world wants to know:
Will he play Tuesday night against the USA in the final of the World Baseball Classic, even with Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout?
Ohtani smiled, was a bit shy, but revealed that if asked, if necessary, he would actually play, as well as the DH team that started Japan.
“Mentally, I’ll be ready for it,” Ohtani said, “but I’m obviously going to be DHing, so it’s going to be hard to find that time to get the heat in the workplace.”
Angels Manager Phil Nevin said Tuesday afternoon Ohtani was cleared in the first half of the match.
– Bob Nightingale
Returning to the World Baseball Classic final is where they thought they would end up all along.
Team USA laughed their way into a 14-2 win over Cuba Sunday night, then turned the post-game into a comedy club routine.
Star player Adam Wainwright struggled in the opening inning, but St. Louis Cardinals teammate Paul Goldschmidt saved it with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first.
“He comes up after he runs home, and the first thing he does, he goes right to me and says, ‘We got you,'” Wainwright says.
“I mean, honestly, to me,” Goldschmidt said, “that was one of the best home runs I’ve ever had in my entire life.”
Trea Turner, who had not yet had a losing ninth in the starting lineup until this tournament, had already set a USA record with four home runs and 10 RBIs in the WBC.
“I kept saying every time he got deeper, ‘Who’s the idiot that hit him in the ninth? But that’s how this lineup was built,'” USA coach Mark DeRosa said.
– Bob Nightingale
Cuban bullpen catcher defects after the team lost in the WBC
Cuban catcher Ivan Prieto Gonzalez defected from Cuba after the national team lost to Team USA in the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic in Miami.
The news was first reported by the Miami Herald. The newspaper said that the Cuban team was scheduled to leave Miami International Airport on Monday after losing the team on loan to Depot Park on Sunday night, but before the flight took off, Gonzalez was not on the plane and stayed in Miami.
González played eight seasons in the Cuban National Series, the largest professional baseball league in the country, with the Sabuesos de Holguín and Alazanes de Granma.
Jordan Mendoza
Colorado Rockies near Daniel Bard, after a rough night’s sleep, woke up Sunday feeling terrible.
Things got worse as the day went on.
Bard, a Team USA guard who suddenly lost control Saturday night, was the one whose errant fastball hit Houston Astros All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve in a 9-7 win over Venezuela.
He hoped it was nothing more than a sprained or badly bruised thumb, but Altuve was diagnosed Sunday morning with a broken thumb. He will have surgery this week and will be out eight to ten weeks.
“I feel terrible,” Bard told USA TODAY Sports during the game before Sunday’s game against Cuba. “I was sinking into a hammock. I missed and inside. You just hate seeing it. I saw my reaction. ”
Cold winced the moment Fastball hit Altuve, lowered his head, and then prayed that it would be okay when he was on the floor in pain.
“You want to make some guys uncomfortable in the box,” Bard said, “but never to the point of hurting them.”
– Bob Nightingale
Six years after winning the 2007 World Baseball Classic, Team USA has assembled its largest collection of Major League Baseball stars to date.
Managed by Mark DeRosa, the 30-man roster includes MVP winners Mike Trott, Mookie Bates, Paul Goldschmidt (Clayton Kershaw had to drop out), and some of the game’s other top players like Nolan Arenado, Trea Turner, Tim Anderson and Pitt. Alonso.
“Beer enthusiast. Subtly charming alcohol junkie. Wannabe internet buff. Typical pop culture lover.”
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