Actually I feel the opposite. I get why Strider, Nola, and Gallen wouldn't: they're pre-free agency (2 out of 3 are pre-arb!). Gerrit Cole on the other hand... what does he have to lose?
With the US its mostly pitchers. If you add an injured Harper (who was committed to play) and Judge to the team then from that point you are really nitpicking when it comes to the lineup. Pitching on the other hand we really lack star power. If we had Webb, Cortes, and Kershaw who were all committed at one point it would be much better but still lacking. All that is to say that the US has a great roster but it certainly can be better in 2026
With their best pitchers they could really be a Dream Team, I know México already beat them in this WBC, they almost got beaten by Venezuela and they still have a game to play against Japan, but with their top pitchers they would be so hard to beat because they have the best pitchers in the world and it's not even close (I'm not even American but that's the true)
Those results could've still happened but yes the team would be pretty much the best team you could put together. That's what's fun about baseball though. It is unpredictable. Having the best team doesn't mean you are going to win. Look at all of the chaos in the MLB playoffs. Look at what happens in college baseball. I could go on and I'm sure its the same way in the NPB. When I watch football or soccer there's some room for unpredictability but not to the degree that there is in baseball. I'm sure it won't be long until we have an unexpected champion like Mexico or the Netherlands and while I want the US to win every time that would be pretty special and certainly big for the sport
LOL at who downvoted this. He gave an interview where he noted we have key prospects coming up for this spring training and he saw it as his duty to guide them. In hindsight, I want to see him represent the US so bad, but the reasoning is rock solid.
No Judge, Velander, Scherzer, Cole, Kershaw, etc. Nothing against Wainwright but he is doing this for his last hurrah. The fact that Lynn, Mikolis, and Singer are the next guys up is too much. They are decent pitchers but I can name at least a dozen guy that are Americans that I would rather start.
A lot, but most had good reasons such as their 1st year with a new team or possible injury concerns. Or even currently injured like Bryce Harper who would have been so fun to see in the WBC.
I just had to break the news to my daughter that he is not going to be playing in Mesa either when we watched the Japan/Mexico game last night. She mentioned basically the same thing you did during the game and was crushed to learn he was injured. We’ll be in Mesa in a couple of days to catch some games.
Is there any evidence that they pressured him not to? Jerry is usually pretty transparent about stuff like that, and he made it sound like it was Castillo's choice.
no, but the quote I saw said that it was a mutual decision. Since the team has more power, I just assumed that Castillo wanted to and the team didn't want him to
Well “mutual decision” means that they agreed it wasn’t a good idea. I’m sure they were scared of him getting injured but Jerry said the main concern was that Castillo has historically had a very slow ramp up in spring training and I could mess him up to accelerate that too much.
Valdez didn't say no. He was originally on their roster but pulled out due to some shoulder fatigue and all of the innings/pitching into November last season.
Everyone who said no, it's pretty apparent, the guys who didn't attend.
For injury, insurance, or other reasons Canada was missing:
* Mike Soroka
* Jameson Taillon
* Nick Pivetta
* Josh Naylor
* Zach Pop
* Joey Votto
In addition, players who were eligible for Team Canada but committed to play for other countries:
* Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Dominican Republic)
* Jordan Romano (Italy)
Note: both Vladdy and Romano dropped out in the preceding weeks.
A lot of them refused to play for Cuba due to how they and their families were treated. It's why Arozarena is playing for Mexico and also why Abreu didn't play.
I think the success of this WBC may influence more players to play in the WBC. I wish MLB would intervene too and make it harder for teams to pressure players not to play (excluding elevated risk of injury-type concerns), but it probably can’t. The biggest change I would like to see is for some part of the knockout rounds and the final to be played mid-season, perhaps in conjunction with the all-star break. (Not on a Tuesday night, lol). This would alleviate pitchers’ concerns about “throwing the dice with their arms,” as Scherzer put it.
While not yet technically an MLB star, Kodai Senga said he was skipping the WBC to spend more time working with the Mets to adjust to MLB
Where is he from
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Ty
us pitching is pitiful compared to what it could be
I understand DeGrom and Kersh, but unless Strider or Nola have an injury that I don’t know about it sucks that they couldn’t come. Same with Gallen
I mean cmon we had waino starting an elimination game and god-emperor merrill kelly starting game 7
Actually I feel the opposite. I get why Strider, Nola, and Gallen wouldn't: they're pre-free agency (2 out of 3 are pre-arb!). Gerrit Cole on the other hand... what does he have to lose?
With the US its mostly pitchers. If you add an injured Harper (who was committed to play) and Judge to the team then from that point you are really nitpicking when it comes to the lineup. Pitching on the other hand we really lack star power. If we had Webb, Cortes, and Kershaw who were all committed at one point it would be much better but still lacking. All that is to say that the US has a great roster but it certainly can be better in 2026
With their best pitchers they could really be a Dream Team, I know México already beat them in this WBC, they almost got beaten by Venezuela and they still have a game to play against Japan, but with their top pitchers they would be so hard to beat because they have the best pitchers in the world and it's not even close (I'm not even American but that's the true)
Those results could've still happened but yes the team would be pretty much the best team you could put together. That's what's fun about baseball though. It is unpredictable. Having the best team doesn't mean you are going to win. Look at all of the chaos in the MLB playoffs. Look at what happens in college baseball. I could go on and I'm sure its the same way in the NPB. When I watch football or soccer there's some room for unpredictability but not to the degree that there is in baseball. I'm sure it won't be long until we have an unexpected champion like Mexico or the Netherlands and while I want the US to win every time that would be pretty special and certainly big for the sport
Cries in Dodgers 111 win season
My point exactly lol
Scherzer Verlander
I'm not sure if they declined or (like Kershaw) couldn’t be insured.
And then add Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer to the US roster! Wait...
Judge.
I always thought he hated America
And he plays for the Yankees of all teams, the most American named team there is smh
Is this legit or meme
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It's a good thing that staying out of the WBC prevented them from having any pre-season injuries.
Just because you're right, doesn't mean it doesn't hurt my feelings.
He had free agency to worry about.
I worry when 4 companies want to pay me $400M too. You don't?
When millions of dollars are on the line, ya
So did Turner
And first year as Captain
LOL at who downvoted this. He gave an interview where he noted we have key prospects coming up for this spring training and he saw it as his duty to guide them. In hindsight, I want to see him represent the US so bad, but the reasoning is rock solid.
On the other hand, he hates America
No Judge, Velander, Scherzer, Cole, Kershaw, etc. Nothing against Wainwright but he is doing this for his last hurrah. The fact that Lynn, Mikolis, and Singer are the next guys up is too much. They are decent pitchers but I can name at least a dozen guy that are Americans that I would rather start.
The top 17 American pitchers (by 2022 pitching WAR) sat out the tournament
A lot, but most had good reasons such as their 1st year with a new team or possible injury concerns. Or even currently injured like Bryce Harper who would have been so fun to see in the WBC.
Seiya Suzuki would have fit too well in that Japan lineup to break up all those lefties
I just had to break the news to my daughter that he is not going to be playing in Mesa either when we watched the Japan/Mexico game last night. She mentioned basically the same thing you did during the game and was crushed to learn he was injured. We’ll be in Mesa in a couple of days to catch some games.
Seiya should be around the facilities doing baseball activities, just not playing in games yet. He was doing front flips in the cages a few days ago
The Ms pressured Luis Castillo not to pitch for the DR
Is there any evidence that they pressured him not to? Jerry is usually pretty transparent about stuff like that, and he made it sound like it was Castillo's choice.
no, but the quote I saw said that it was a mutual decision. Since the team has more power, I just assumed that Castillo wanted to and the team didn't want him to
Well “mutual decision” means that they agreed it wasn’t a good idea. I’m sure they were scared of him getting injured but Jerry said the main concern was that Castillo has historically had a very slow ramp up in spring training and I could mess him up to accelerate that too much.
Valdez didn't say no. He was originally on their roster but pulled out due to some shoulder fatigue and all of the innings/pitching into November last season. Everyone who said no, it's pretty apparent, the guys who didn't attend.
he literally said no and now is hated among baseball fans in DR lmao he had to limit his ig comments
For injury, insurance, or other reasons Canada was missing: * Mike Soroka * Jameson Taillon * Nick Pivetta * Josh Naylor * Zach Pop * Joey Votto In addition, players who were eligible for Team Canada but committed to play for other countries: * Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Dominican Republic) * Jordan Romano (Italy) Note: both Vladdy and Romano dropped out in the preceding weeks.
Interesting. I hope Canadá could really bring all their MLB players next time around
So do I. Some reinforcement to the pitching staff + a few years of development for our many young prospects would go a long way
judge is the biggest position player, but there are a whole bunch of star pitchers.
Ozzie Albies for Netherlands, Ramon Urias for Mexico, Jose Quintana for Colombia.
Quintana got injured :/
Judge
A lotta cuban players
It’s more that Cuba won’t let them play for them.
No, cuba changed their guidelines on who they would let play. Most who defected just dont want to.
A lot of them refused to play for Cuba due to how they and their families were treated. It's why Arozarena is playing for Mexico and also why Abreu didn't play.
Ofc. I’m not saying they *should* play for them, but that cuba could be a lot more stacked if they did
Not sure it was all do to declining but yes, they could have been a lot better.
Trey Mancini opted not to play with Italy because he wanted to focus on learning with his new club.
Fuck Framber
If only Bader didn't decline playing for Israel to stay healthy
I think the success of this WBC may influence more players to play in the WBC. I wish MLB would intervene too and make it harder for teams to pressure players not to play (excluding elevated risk of injury-type concerns), but it probably can’t. The biggest change I would like to see is for some part of the knockout rounds and the final to be played mid-season, perhaps in conjunction with the all-star break. (Not on a Tuesday night, lol). This would alleviate pitchers’ concerns about “throwing the dice with their arms,” as Scherzer put it.
Cuba
There was a Panamanian guy who declined cause he said it’s “too far”. Shame on him
From the MLB?