Will U. S. gold in Milan rub off on the USA in WBC?

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla – For those about to depart major league training camps for the World Baseball Classic, there may be an unfair question on the table.

There is an incredibly high sentiment floating in the United States these days, and centers around the emotion and accomplishments of both the men’s and women’s Gold Medal-winning hockey achievement at the recently concluded Winter Games in Milano-Cortina.

Since returning, the men’s team was honored at the State of the Union address, and players from different teams displayed unity.

Perhaps the greatest example took place before 16,514 at the Prudential Center in Newark on Feb.25.

Prior to a game between the New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres, Jack Hughes, who scored the game-winning overtime goal against Team Canada to assure the U. S. gold medal, was introduced to the crowd. Reaching the ice, he immediately skated over to the Sabres’ bench, grabbed USA teammate Tage Thompson, and both were duly recognized by the crowd.

The hope and expectation are that the emotion on display during and after the Olympics will have a residual effect on Team USA during the upcoming WBC.

While the team has exhibition games scheduled for March 3 and 4, there is a common denominator among Team USA and the U.S. Olympians and this is an unmistakable passion for country.

“Many of us watched the Olympics, especially the men’s hockey game, and we created a group chat for our team,” said Tampa Bay reliever Garrett Clavinger, one of 16 pitchers announced for the USA squad. “Everyone was pretty much fired up after the hockey game. I will be fun to kind of piggyback from what they did. Hopefully, we’ll have similar success.”

The USA enters the competition amid a sparkling array of talent. Team Japan, which captured the last WBC in 2023, is formidable, as will be the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.

The tournament, consisting of 20 teams, is divided into Pool play with four pools of five teams, and commencing competition in San Juan, Houston, Toyoko, and Miami. The championship game is slated for the Marlins’ loanDepot Park on March 17.

“It’s certainly something beautiful to go and represent your country,” said Tampa Bay first baseman Jonathan Arneda, who will play for Team Mexico. “It’s something really great for us. One of the best things about this entire experience is being able to hear that Mexican anthem with all the fans. It’s a special kind of tournament, but at the end of the day, you need to trust the process, be confident in your abilities, and help my team in any way I can to win.”

Team USA is in Pool B with Mexico, Italy, Great Britan and Brazil. For the Americans, play begins on March 6 against Brazil in Houston. That follows the next night against Great Britain and March 9 against Mexico.

The top two teams in each for four pool segments advance to a single elimination bracket in Houston. If the U. S. makes it to the Knockout Stage, they would play on March 13 in Miami.

Members of Team USA include pitchers Paul Skenes, Taril Skubal and Logan Webb, catchers Cal Raleigh and Will Smith, infielders Alex Bregman, Bryce Harper, Bobby Witt, Jr., and Gunnar Henderson. Outfielders include Kyle Schwarber, Aaron Judge, Pete Crow-Armtron,g and Roman Anthony.

Team USA is managed by Mark DeRosa, who guided the American team during the last WBC.

On the diamond … Tampa Bay right-hander Ryan Pepiot started his first game of spring Feb. 27 at home against Toronto and pronounced the glass “half-filled.” Given this was his initial start, the veteran right-hander sailed through an impressive 10-pitch first inning and then struggled. In the second, and he went two against the Jays, walked the two leadoff hitters, surrendered an RBI single to shortstopLeo Jimenez and managed to get through a 20-pitch frame. “I don’t think I did a very good job in the long run,” he said afterward. “I moved the ball around a little but, obviously, not enough. I came out a little stiff and I wasn’t in sync. Mechanics were all right. Just need to get back to the drawing board and get more crisp.” The Rays staked Pepiot to a two-run, early advantage. That’s when Junior Caminero drilled a two-run, bases-loaded single up the middle in the first. Eventually, the Jays tied the game with a four-spot in the eighth, and Ryan Vilade’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth was the difference in the Rays’ 6-5 victory.

A long-awaited curtain call .. Tampa Bay left-hander Shane McClanahan is expected to receive his first start of the spring on March 3 at home against the Philadelphia Phillies. McClanahan, who missed the past two seasons with Tommy John surgery and triceps issues, last touched a baseball in a game last March against Boston in a spring contest. That was supposed to be his last outing before opening the season at home against the Colorado Rockies. Instead, he spent another agonizing summer rehabbing and repairing. The outlook against the Phillies calls for McClanahan to go two innings or 25 to 30 pitches, whichever comes first.

The post Will U. S. gold in Milan rub off on the USA in WBC? first appeared on Through The Fence Baseball.

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