Why Tariq Skubal doesn’t appear in more WBC matches for the United States
Tariq Skubal explained to the media why he decided not to pitch in a future World Baseball Classic game, despite the camaraderie between him and his American teammates.
HOUSTON — The party at Daikin Park was long over, with the sold-out crowd long gone home Monday night, but Team USA decided to hold its own get-together inside its private clubhouse.
After the 5-3 win over Mexico, they sat for about two hours talking about stories and life, reminding each other that they still needed four more wins to get where they ultimately wanted to go in the World Baseball Classic.
It was an old-fashioned bond, just like the days when players routinely hung out in the clubhouse and talked about ball after games instead of rushing back to their hotel rooms to play video games.
This American team has only been together for a week, but it feels as if they’ve known each other for years.
And oh yeah, they can also play with small balls.
Paul Skeens pitched like the greatest young pitcher in baseball. Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. had two great plays and looked like the best young player in the game.
Roman Anthony looked like the guy who would one day be the face of the Boston Red Sox franchise.
And yes, there’s Aaron Judge, showing why he’ll be in the Hall of Fame someday.
On Friday night, a sold-out crowd of 41,678 at Daikin Park in Houston looked on as if to ensure the U.S. made it to the quarterfinals.
Buy tickets to the World Baseball Classic!
Team USA currently leads Pool B with a 3-0 record and could clinch the top seed with a win over Team Italy on Tuesday night. They will then have two full days off before returning to Daikin Field to face Puerto Rico, Cuba or Canada.
And there will be plenty of time for everyone to continue praising the greatness of the judge who has carried the American team on his shoulders, and the closer his teammates are to him, the more they will be in awe of him.
“Obviously one of the best players to ever play in this game,” said U.S. third baseman Alex Bregman.
Judge’s heroics began in the third inning, when Mexico threatened American starting pitcher Paul Skeens for the only time in four innings. After an error by second baseman Bryce Turan, with Joey Ortiz at first base, Jalen Duran hit a hard liner to right field, and Ortiz tried to advance to third base.
The judge had other ideas.
While Ortiz was running toward third base, Judge grabbed the ball in one leap and threw a 92 mph laser to third baseman Alex Bregman, who gave Ortiz the out for the end of the inning.
“So it’s an unbelievable pitch to put him at third base,” Bregman said.
“One of the best pitches I’ve ever seen,” Skeens said.
When Judge stepped up to the plate with first baseman Bryce Harper, he didn’t have time to notice the cheers from his teammates. He hit a slider from reliever Jesús Cruz with two outs and first base into the right field seats.
The judge began his home run trot, circling the bench and gesturing to the American bench. The explosion started the American offense, and by the end of the inning they had a 5-0 lead on a three-run home run by 21-year-old Roman Anthony, making him the youngest American to hit a home run in the WBC.
“It was a big moment just to get some momentum, and being able to use that offensively was huge,” Bregman said late Monday night.
With Mexico refusing to withdraw, the United States proved to need all the offensive violence it could muster. Duran of the Boston Red Sox hit two home runs and provided late-game drama in the right fielder that night. They threatened again in the 9th inning with Joey Manesses’ first hit, but Garrett Whitlock ended the game with three consecutive strikeouts.
The Air Force Academy duo of Skeens and Griffin Jacks kept Mexico’s offense in check during two stints, much to the delight of the Air Force Academy baseball team, which was invited to spend one more day in Texas after the weekend’s game against Baylor.
Skeens, who spent two years at the Air Force Academy before transferring to LSU, pitched four shutout innings, allowing just one hit and striking out seven batters. The former cadet was so fired up that he threw 21 pitches in the first two innings, clocking at least 97 mph on the radar gun. Jacks, the first Air Force Academy graduate to reach the major leagues, came off the bench in the eighth inning and forced Alejandro Kirk into an inning-ending double play, sealing off Mexico’s last batter.
After his first WBC appearance, Skeens said, “It’s nice to feel like I’m doing something rather than occupying a hotel room and eating all the free food. It’s nice to be able to go out and do my job.”
And even if the AFA duo didn’t shut out Mexico, U.S. shortstop Bobby Witt made two must-see plays with his knee throws to stop it.
“Bobby’s two plays were great,” Bregman said.
Judge was so intoxicated that when Witt came into the dugout after striking out Nick Gonzalez in the bottom of the fifth inning, he yelled in Witt’s face, “Are you kidding me?”
And now the rest of the World Baseball Classic players are repeating the same thing about Team USA.
They are very talented. they play together a lot. And, sure enough, they’ve turned into a close-knit family, too, as a late Monday night gathering showed.
“This team is different. It’s special. And I’m proud to be a part of it,” DeRosa said.
