Don't tell the Team USA players and coaches that the WBC doesn't matter
FT. MYERS, Fla. – You can fret that your favorite team’s star might get hurt, lament that many of the United States’ top pitchers will not participate, say you simply don’t care about the World Baseball Classic.
All of those positions are reasonable; baseball’s popularity stems in large part from the allegiances of fans to their local teams. But listening to Team USA manager Jim Leyland and his players at their first workout Tuesday, the complaints seemed rather small, almost petty.
Second baseman Ian Kinsler recalled former Rangers teammate and Team USA member Michael Young telling him that the WBC was like the All-Star Game and postseason combined.
Outfielder Adam Jones, returning for his second WBC, explained his decision by saying, “America. America. Easy call.”
Then there was right-hander Chris Archer, who will start Team USA’s opener against Colombia on Friday at Marlins Park in Miami.
Archer said that he wanted to play in the WBC from the time he was 17, when he saw some of his favorite players – Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr., Roger Clemens – compete in the inaugural 2006 event.
And then the pitcher went further.
“Given the timing and circumstances of our country, I think it’s a great opportunity for us temporarily to show that we are united, regardless of the turmoil and things going on here and other places in the world,” Archer said. “It’s always been a dream. What’s going on in the country right now makes it even better.”
Asked later to expound, Archer added, “It is a beautiful country of diversity and freedom and a lot of other things that other countries don’t have. For this moment in time, for this next two weeks, we’re going to put on this jersey with pride and show, we’re diverse, we’re united and what USA is really all about.”
So, here we are -- no Kershaw, no Bumgarner, no Trout, no Harper, etc. The Team USA lineup is stacked, but none of the top five finishers in both the 2016 AL and NL Cy Young voting – all of whom were American – will pitch in the WBC. Max Scherzer, the reigning NL Cy Young, accepted an invitation to join Team USA, but a stress fracture in his right ring finger forced him to bow out.
Leyland acknowledged that he had concerns about losing players to the WBC when he was the Tigers’ manager. He said that he respected the reluctance of certain players and clubs, and vowed that he will do his best to make sure that players return to their teams “healthy and happy.”
Archer, meanwhile, was sympathetic to the star pitchers who declined invitations from Team USA.
“The media has to understand that there are a lot of guys who have bumps and bruises, that don’t disclose their injuries but are warriors. They go out there and pitch regardless,” Archer said.
“Spring training for those guys is a time when they’re still trying to recoup and heal. The guys who are here were fully healthy at the end of last year. There was no question.
“I’m happy with the guys who want to be here. If there is any doubt or any uncertainty with somebody, it’s better that they stay home, because that’s not what this is all about. It’s about people who want to be here, who want to represent the game, want to grow the game and want to represent their country.”
That, from this moment forward, is where the focus should be – with, of course, an obligatory knock on wood for everyone to stay healthy.
Catcher Jonathan Lucroy said he looked around the room during Team USA’s morning meeting and noted with admiration, “There are some animals here.”
Photo by Ken Rosenthal
Infielder Alex Bregman, the team’s youngest player at 22 (think Christian Laettner on the original basketball “Dream Team”) pestered older players such as Kinsler, saying with a smile, “there’s a lot to learn.”
And Leyland, who last managed in 2013, looked like his old self back in uniform – a Team USA uniform that he wore with considerable pride. He paced around the workout with his fungo, cracking jokes with reporters, engaging players at the batting cage.
At one point during the morning, Leyland reminded shortstop Brandon Crawford that he was one of his favorite players, dating back to Crawford’s stellar performance against the Tigers in the 2012 World Series. To which Crawford’s Giants teammate, catcher Buster Posey, responded, “Hey, no pressure.”
Leyland will wear No. 11 for the tournament.
“One of our good players has No. 10,” Leyland said, referring to Jones. “He should get the number before I should, I can assure you of that. I don’t care what number I’ve got. The name on the chest says it all.”
So, complain about the WBC all you want. Ignore it if you must. But take it from Leyland and the players – you’ll be missing a good thing.