NFL
By Jason Gulden
With us still on a high from our men’s and women’s ice hockey teams winning gold medals at the Olympics, we have another tournament in the major 4 sports (baseball, football, hockey, and basketball) featuring national teams starting up.
Starting Wednesday night, but most importantly Friday night, we have the World Baseball Classic taking place. Unlike the hockey tournament, baseball is not stopping its season, as this is taking place during Major League Baseball’s spring training.
History
This will be the 6th World Baseball Classic since it started in 2006.
In 2006, the USA team would go 2-1 in pool play before being eliminated in the second round, finishing 3-2 in the tournament. Japan would win the inaugural tournament by beating Cuba.
In 2009, the USA team went 2-1 in pool play. They would fall in the semifinals after going 4-4 in the tournament. Once again, Japan would win the tournament, but this time beat South Korea in the final.
In 2013 USA team went 2-1 in pool play. They would be eliminated in the second round after going 3-3 in the tournament. After winning the first two Classics, Japan would lose to Puerto Rico in the semifinals. The Dominican Republic would win its first Classic tournament by taking down Puerto Rico 3-0 in the championship game.
In 2017 USA would finally take the crown as the top nation in Baseball by winning the classic. They would go 3-0 in pool play. They would go 6-2 in the tournament and would beat Puerto Rico in the championship game.
In 2023 USA would go 3-1 in pool play. They would cruise to the championship game before losing to Japan. The final out in the game came down to Shohei Ohtani, pitcher for Japan, and Mike Trout, outfielder for the USA. Ohtani would strike out Trout. At the time, those two were teammates on the Los Angeles Angels.
USA schedule
The tournament will once again feature 20 nations. Each pool will have 5 teams each. The USA will be in a pool with Brazil, Great Britain, Italy, and Mexico.
The USA games will be taking place down at Daikin Park, the home of the Houston Astros.
The USA’s first game will take place on Friday, March 6th, against Brazil. Game starts at 6 pm MST/8 pm EST. The game will be broadcast on Fox.
Saturday, March 7th, will be against Great Britain. Same time and channel as Friday night’s game.
Monday, March 9th, they take on Mexico, also on the same time and channel as the first two games.
Tuesday, March 10th, they take on Italy. That game will start an hour later than the previous 3 games, at 7 pm MST/9 pm EST, and will be on FS1 instead of Fox.
Coaching and Staff
After managing the team in 2023, Mark DeRosa returns to lead the team this year. He will be joined in the dugout by Andy Pettitte (pitching coach), Sean Casey and Matt Holliday (hitting coaches), Dino Ebel (third base coach), George Lombard (first base coach), and David Ross (bullpen coach).
His assistant managers will be Fredi Gonzalez, Brian McCann, and Michael Young.
Pitching Staff
On the pitching staff, you have some young arms, some flame throwers, Cy Young winners, and future Hall of Famers.
- David Bednar, New York Yankees
- Matthew Boyd, Chicago Cubs
- Garrett Cleavinger, Tampa Bay Rays
- Clay Holmes, New York Mets
- Griffin Jax, Tampa Bay Rays
- Brad Keller, Philadelphia Phillies
- Clayton Kershaw
- Nolan McLean, New York Mets
- Mason Miller, San Diego Padres
- Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers
- Gabe Speier, Seattle Mariners
- Michael Wacha, Kansas City Royals
- Logan Webb, San Fransico Giants
- Garrett Whitlock, Boston Red Sox
- Ryan Yarbrough, New York Yankees
The probable pitchers to start for the USA in pool play are Logan Webb, Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes, and Nolan McLean in that order.
You think the pitching staff is stacked, wait until you see the position players we have on the team this year.
Position Players
- Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners, Catcher
- Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers, Catcher
- Alex Bregman, Chicago Cubs, infielder
- Ernie Clement, Toronto Blue Jays, infielder
- Paul Goldschmidt, New York Yankees, infielder
- Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies, infielder
- Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles, infielder
- Brice Turang, Milwaukee Brewers, infielder
- Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals, infielder
- Roman Anthony, Boston Red Sox, outfielder
- Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins, outfielder
- Pete Crow-Armstong, Chicago Cubs, outfielder
- Aaron Judge, New York Yankees, outfielder
- Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies, designated hitter
As you can see, the position players are stacked with talent. Ranging from MVPs to silver sluggers, contact hitters to power hitters. Every game, this USA team will be stacked from 1-9 in the batting order. I would hate to have to face this team.
Closing
With the feeling we had with the hockey teams, a medal in the Olympics would be great, especially for the men, as we expected to win a medal in the Women’s tournament. In baseball, however, with it being the American Pastime, anything but a championship will be a disappointment. This gets underway Friday Night on Fox when we take on Brazil.
Like I always say, if you have read my NCHC articles, if you haven’t, go check them out, grab your favorite beverage, your favorite snack, and sit in your comfy chair and cheer USA baseball on to victory,
Talk to you guys following the pool play action, as we will recap the four pool play games.
