What do Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico all have in common? (No, it’s not the fact that they all are Spanish speaking countries). All of these nations triumphed over the highly touted United States squad at this year’s World Baseball Classic. To some, this comes as no surprise, as it is a widely known fact that baseball in the Caribbean and other Latin countries has been strong for quite some time. However, fans of Team USA could have never predicted that their star-studded lineup would present such a dismal showing in the tournament; posting a 3-3 record overall and failing to make it past the second round.
We certainly can’t blame the roster selection committee this year, which was often the core problem in years past. Despite having a track record of bringing mediocre teams to the event, the head honchos of team USA corrected their mistake and selected a handful of top notch athletes to the team. Bolstered by players such as reigning Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey, Gio Gonzalez, the Nationals’ trusty ace, and former MVP Ryan Braun, this roster was more talented than ever before. In addition, legendary manager Joe Torre was appointed head coach of the squad and brought his wide array of baseball knowledge to an already experienced dugout. On paper, this team was primed for success. They had all the components needed to be a contender: experience, solid management and home field advantage for all of their games.
So why the early exit? Some analysts argued that plain and simple, the US team just didn’t really care too much about dominating the competition. If that was the case though, why show up to play at all? Even if it wasn’t a big deal to the multi-million dollar athletes participating on the team, there is still a huge pride factor involved. There’s something to be said about officially being the number one baseball team in the world. I mean come on, our soccer team isn’t bringing home the World Cup anytime soon, so shouldn’t we at least try to be the best at something we’re relatively good at?
In a way, this year’s USA World Baseball Classic team kind of reminds me of England’s national soccer team. England is the hottest destination for the world’s top soccer players, just like the United States is the pinnacle for professional baseball athletes. In most World Cups, England’s national team roster is usually loaded with stellar players, much like this year’s US baseball team. Yet in the past few tournaments, England has failed to live up to their hype and left many hometown fans shaking their heads at the Brits’ lousy performances.
Critics often claim that despite the fact that the USA and England have the best leagues in the world in their respective sports, a majority of the players that come to play in these prestigious leagues hail from other nations. Statistics, though, prove otherwise. In the MLB alone, the number of American-born players clocks in at around 72 percent, according to ESPN. In terms of the Premier League (England’s Pro League), English footballers make up a majority of the league, at about 60 percent, according to Daily Mail. Based on these facts, we know there is plenty of homegrown talent to choose from here in the US, and that we have highest number of Americans playing in the top professional league.
Ultimately though, the team with the “best players” doesn’t always win, and that rings true in every sport. Factors such as team chemistry, collaboration and luck each play vital roles in any kind of competition. Point is, just because a team has the flashiest and most decorated players, it doesn’t translate to instant success. However, one would think that a team with multiple superstars, experienced coaching and a bevy of resources at their disposal would be able to squeak out a few more W’s in a tournament like this, especially in a sport that isn’t terribly popular outside of the Americas.
I don’t think any Americans are “crushed” by the USA baseball team’s underwhelming act this past month, but I truly believe that baseball fans expected more. As the World Baseball Classic grows more and more with popularity, the USA needs to demonstrate that they are the golden standard for baseball excellence in the future. Perhaps a younger, more energetic lineup would remedy their tournament woes. (Cough Cough, Mike Trout and Bryce Harper.)
Griffin Guinta can be reached at griffin.guinta@spartans.ut.edu.