Heading into the 2017 World Baseball Classic, it was evident that the United States had the most star studded lineup of any team in the tournament, with the likes of Buster Posey, Giancarlo Stanton, Adam Jones and a bevy of All-Stars on their roster. But they were lacking that same star power in one vital spot: their starting pitching. Madison Bumgarner and Clayton Kershaw were nowhere to be found, and in their place were Tanner Roark, Chris Archer and a number of solid pitchers, but certainly not the best team USA potentially had to offer.
Despite that, pitching propelled Team USA throughout the tournament. US starting pitchers posted a 1.29 ERA with 29 strikeouts and didn’t allow a single homer. On Wednesday night, Marcus Stroman gave the team it’s best pitching performance of the tournament in what was arguably the best game of his young professional career. A game that had to have had Blue Jays fans, coaches and the organization as a whole smiling from ear to ear.
“(Puerto Rico) is a great offense, I was just trying to do everything in my power to change up timing, keeping the ball down in the zone,” Stroman said during the post game trophy presentation, “Me and (Jonathan) Lucroy had a great gameplay going into it and we tried to stick to it.”
Stroman was expected to breakout for the Blue Jays last year after he fully recovered from a torn ACL, but he posted a sub-par 4.37 ERA in an up and down year. He did finish strong, however, posting a 3.28 ERA over the last two months of the regular season. That Stroman that was on display Wednesday night, as team USA claimed it’s first WBC championship. The 25-year-old was masterful against a stacked Puerto Rico lineup and earned tournament MVP honors as he allowed just one hit, a 7th inning double by former Giant Angel Pagan, in 6 plus innings of work. His stuff wasn’t overpowering, striking out just 3 batters, but getting superstars like Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor to only make soft contact throughout the game was impressive enough.
“It’s huge” Stroman said on winning the WBC title for team USA. “It’s been a really special experience, I’ve developed life long friendships. It’s been really special.”
Not to be outdone, the United States lineup flexed their muscle in their first ever championship game appearance. Second baseman Ian Kinsler started the scoring in the 3rd inning with a two-run home run to left field and Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford provided a big blow with a two-run single that put the game out of reach.
“To grace the field with these great men right here, I couldn’t be prouder,” Adam Jones told the crowd as confetti rained down. “We brought it home for the United States. We tip our cap to team Puerto Rico and everybody else in the tournament but we did something special and it happened because of hard work.”
It was a fitting end for team USA, who ended up having the type of dominant performance many expected from them when the tournament began back in 2006. They beat undefeated Japan and Puerto Rico en route to a title, and their only losses in the tournament were to defending champion team Dominican Republic in Round 1, and a one run loss to Puerto Rico in Round 2. It’s the kind of performance that just might convince some of the United States’ best stars to join the fun in 2021, or persuade international stars to participate so they can slay the giant.
“It’s the most fun I’ve ever had playing baseball…no joke, 100%” outfielder Christian Yelich said of his WBC experience. “This group of guys is awesome. This experience, this crowd behind us…this is unbelievable.”
While this United States’ victory will certainly be a boon for the WBC stateside, the tournament was a rousing success before a pitch was ever thrown on Wednesday. Well over a million fans attended the WBC, with over 51,000 at Dodger Stadium for the final. Fans both in the stands and at home have been rewarded with a brand of baseball that is distinctly different than the MLB and provides an October baseball feel weeks before Opening Day. There are still flaws aplenty, but the buzz that this year’s tournament generated should be an incentive to fix what is wrong with it and embrace the things that make it unlike any other event in professional baseball.