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 U.S. team survived its pool and won Friday’s quarterfinal game against Canada, acting as if the whole thing was just a three-hour business meeting.
After the 5-3 victory, the players slowly walked out of the dugout onto the field, shook hands, gave each other polite fist bumps, patted a few on the back, and retired to the Daikin Park clubhouse to prepare to head to Miami to face the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic semifinals on Sunday.
They claim to be having a lot of fun, and some say it’s the best time they’ve ever had playing baseball, but on the surface their emotions are suppressed, as if they were simply relieved that they won four of five games.
Former MLB outfielder Cameron Maybin posted on his
“Enjoy. Let’s celebrate this moment. DR, Venezuela, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico… They’re playing with real juice, and you can feel it through the TV. Team USA is dry as hell right now.”
Team USA respectfully disagrees with that assessment, but that may change once he arrives in Miami. Maybe once they see the towering bat flips, the dancing on the basepaths, the team selfies after home runs, and the pure passion of the Dominican Republic and its fans, they’ll be moved by it.
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Indeed, no one enjoys outward appearances as much as those people. The Dominican Republic deftly handled everyone in their way, outscoring their opponents 51-10, winning five innings and hitting 14 home runs.
“It’s exciting to see what DR is doing,” says U.S. captain Aaron Judge. “It was fun to watch the game and see what was going on. I think everyone in that room is excited to get there and be a part of it.”
While the Dominican Republic put on a nightly laser show, the U.S. played well enough in a weak pool to reach the semifinals, but it was mostly methodical.
The U.S. beat Brazil and Great Britain, the two top teams in the pool, but they allowed a run in just one inning against Mexico, were shut out through six innings against Italy, and allowed just one extra-base hit against Canada on Friday.
“I don’t think we’ve played our best ball yet,” U.S. shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. said.
The Americans, wearing American sweatsuits as they leave the stadium for the two-and-a-half hour flight to Miami, have 48 hours to wake up before they face a powerful Dominican team that defeated South Korea 10-0 in Miami.
So what can Americans expect when they bring a Lawn Depot Park full of passionate Dominican fans to Miami?
“It’s a surreal environment, isn’t it?” said Mark DeRosa, the U.S. national team manager. “I have a lot of respect for (Dominican Republic coach) Albert Pujols. He’s an old teammate from 2009. So, yeah, I expect it to be like one of the best games of all time. … This game is going to be great to play against. We have superstars in both lineups. Both pitchers.”
“It’s just going to be a spectacle.”
Perhaps a win over the Dominican Republic and setting up a possible rematch with Japan in the WBC Championship Game could be the emotional jolt the United States needs.
“It’s fun, it’s exciting, and I know the fans definitely like it,” Judge said of the Dominican team. “But I try not to look at what other teams are doing, what other people are doing. I’m focused on what I got here.
“We have a special group of guys who love to play this game. They love being in this room. I know how honored they all are to be in this room. They don’t take it for granted.”
‘Relieved’ Team USA was able to move forward
Still, as U.S. pitching coach Andy Pettitte said, the victory doesn’t bring much joy. The Americans were supposed to advance to the semifinals. They were supposed to roll everyone on their way to Miami. They certainly shouldn’t have lost to Italy and been exposed to Canada in the quarterfinals.
“Obviously, I was relieved,” said Pettit, a five-time World Series champion. “You don’t want to lose, you’re going home. But I think it’s both. It’s a relief to be able to move forward. We’re America. We have a great team. I knew no matter how we had to come together, we were going to win this.”
“But we have an unbelievable team. … So you’re going to feel like if we don’t win, we’re going to be disappointed.”
Indeed, the United States likes its chances against the Dominican Republic with National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skeens on the mound. Skeens posted a 1.96 ERA in two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, striking out 386 batters in 320 2/3 innings. WBC rules allow him to throw 95 pitches, but Pettitte said he will likely limit himself to 75 to 80 and leave it up to the bullpen.
Skenes had a dominant victory in his first WBC start against Mexico, allowing just one hit and seven strikeouts in four shutout innings.
“I love every game Paul Skeens pitches,” Judge said. “It’s just unbelievable. It’s been unbelievable to watch him work on his craft the last few weeks. Watching him in the game against Mexico, which was an electric environment, he just stepped up to the slab and went out and put in the work. That was really impressive.”
“I’m looking forward to watching him get out there and do his job.”
America prepares for a raucous semifinal in Miami
But while I marveled at the environment in which the U.S. team faced Mexico, it may feel like a weekday game in Sacramento compared to Miami vs. the Dominican Republic.
“The game against Mexico was probably the best environment I’ve ever played in. It was a lot of fun and there were a lot of chants,” Judge said. They get up and go back and forth between “America and Mexico.” It was really great.
“I think you can see the emotions coming out of the players in a situation like that. So, that’s what you live for. When you’re a kid playing Wiffle ball in the backyard, you dream about having the opportunity to play in front of fans like that and in an environment like that.”
“So we look forward to seeing more environments like that in Miami.”
Well, not only will they experience an environment unlike anything they’ve ever felt in their lives, but they’ll also be up against a star-studded Dominican lineup that includes Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Ketel Marte and Julio Rodriguez.
“It’s going to be crazy,” said U.S. first baseman Bryce Harper. “They’re one of the greatest nations in the world at baseball. I mean, they’re young, they’re talented. From one to nine in that lineup, everyone can hit deep and everyone can hit average. They expect to be great, and that’s what they’re doing.”
“We know what type of team they are,” Judge said. “Just an unbelievable offensive line, a great pitching staff, a bullpen. Everything is just top notch. We’re looking forward to it.”
Even though the Dominican batting lineup is full of stars, the Americans can’t help but be confident with veteran starting pitcher Luis Severino on the mound. It may not be cheeky, but the Dominican’s power show could be short-circuited with Skenes getting the start.
“We’re very confident,” Bregman said. “Obviously one of the best pitchers in the world. I can’t wait to stand in the field behind him and watch him.”
The rest of the baseball world will also be paying attention.
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