The fate of the United States’ World Baseball Classic hopes rests on the outcome of the Team Mexico versus Team Italy game this afternoon.
That, and an injured Astros pitcher, coming up in today’s roundup.
Team USA Manager Criticized Over Italy Loss
Team USA’s upset loss to Team Italy was bad enough, but making things worse is the apparent belief by manager Mark DeRosa that the Americans had already locked up a spot in the knockout round of the WBC.
That wasn’t the case, and if Team Mexico beats Team Italy in a low-scoring game, the Americans’ time in the WBC could already be over.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic let DeRosa and Team USA have it.
“Really? We’re calculating the WBC’s run-quotient formula?” Rosenthal wrote. “We’re wondering if Harper and Kyle Schwarber will give their Philadelphia Phillies teammate, right-hander Aaron Nola, a pep talk before he starts for Italy against Mexico? We’re preparing to possibly say goodbye to a U.S. team in a tournament set up in their favor, requiring them to beat either powerful Japan or the potent Dominican Republic to win the title, but not both?
“Incredibly, the answers to each of those questions is yes,” he wrote.
Tarik Skubal Gets Criticized as Well
Tigers ace Tarik Skubal was always going to pitch just once for Team USA, but after the squad gave up eight runs to Italy, some fans placed at least some of the blame on Skubal’s absence.
Skubal, back at spring training, wasn’t having any insinuation that he doesn’t love what he calls “the greatest country in the world,” as reported by Jayson Stark of The Athletic.
“It’s just not fair,” Skubal said. “But that’s part of the business. It’s part of the game. If they know me, though, and they know me on a personal level, and they know what my peers think of me, I don’t think it’s fair to say those things.”
Astros Closer Will Start Season on IL
Astros closer Josh Hader will miss the beginning of the season.
Hader has been dealing with inflammation in his bicep, and he’s still ramping up for the season, said manager Joe Espada.
“I think today how he came in and how he felt yesterday throwing is a good indication that we are going in the right direction and that’s all we are looking for right now,” Espada told reporters, as reported by ESPN.
