Pyle of List

So Team America made it into the Final Four of the WBC.

Barely.

And I don’t mean they barely won enough games, I mean they had so many injuries that the team itself barely stayed intact enough to make it to the final games at Chavez Ravine.

While there may be many available players out there to add some depth, apparently the higher ups are having none of that. Yikes, and I thought I was being hard on the team! (seriously, you should read that link, it’s a good insight into how silly we are treating this tournament). Onto the games…

Game 6 USA 6, Puerto Rico 5

Finally, some passion! Team USA mobbed the field on Tuesday after their come from behind victory against Puerto Rico who had embarrassed them just a few days earlier. It’s great to see that these guys do in fact take some pride in winning and are having fun in this thing.

My favorite part of this game: Mark DeRosa tagging up from first on McCann’s sac fly (David Wright scored). Him getting to second allowed him to score what would be a crucial run on Victorino’s base hit. Second favorite part: Youkilis taking the bases loaded walk in the ninth to put the US down only one. As much as I rip on the Sox, Youk has really been a team first guy and been very clutch during the WBC.

Ted Lilly got the start and was, well, what you expect out of Ted Lilly I guess. 3 1/3 IP is not going to cut it for our starters. Especially if you’re giving up a run an inning (all earned, all of HRs). We’re still walking more batters than other teams, and that is what is really hurting us.

USA Player of the Game: David Wright (3 for4, BB, run scored, 2 RBI to win the game)

USA Goat of the Game: Adam Dunn (0 for 3, 2K, 2 LOB)

Game 7 USA 6, Venezuela 10

I can’t blame an injury riddled team for mailing this one in a bit. I guess. I don’t know, maybe I’m just expecting so much apathy from this club that I in turn have become apathetic. Either way, they lost.

Normally I write about the offense in this catagory, but I feel that I need to address the defense for the first time. I know we’ve gotten bit by the injury bug, but Adam Dunn at 1B? And you keep letting him make error after error? That’s just poor leadership. Remind me again why Tommy Lasorda isn’t in charge of this thing again?

It’s not even really Jeremy Guthrie’s fault. I mean, it is his fault that he only gave us 1 2/3 IP, but of the 6 runs he gave up, only 2 were earned. That means the 7 guys behind him (and one in front of him) did not have his back. That being said, when our releivers are only asked to pitch one inning, they can’t be giving up 3 ER like LaTroy “The Troy” Hawkins. Pathetic.

USA Player of the Game: Mark DeRosa (3 for 5, HR, run scored, 3 RBI)

USA Goat of the Game: David Wright (0 for 4, BB, RBI, K, 6 LOB)

Next game: Saturday vs. winner of Japan/Korea