The World Baseball Classic is now into the final stages and the USA Team is out of the running to win the title, again.
I know it doesn't matter, but come on it would be nice to make some real noise in this made for spring training tournament.
It truly amazes me that the USA cannot put together 25 guys, born in this country, that WANT to play with the Stars and Stripes on their sleeves. Perhaps it's their teams that truly don't want them to participate, or maybe not.
I know it doesn't matter to the Angels and Nationals, but come on, how great would it be to see Mike Trout and Bryce Harper, the emerging youth in MLB play for stoic Joe Torre?
Baseball is one of the true American traditions that was created here and adopted by other cultures and their passion for the game seems to have surpassed ours. Some of those countries have taken more of a serious approach to our game, and it shows by emotional performances in a seemingly meaningless event.
I know it doesn't matter, but come on, why aren't there Americans volunteering to play for our country and trouncing the rest of the world? Torre should have to turn players away at the locker room entrance.
The USA team, I'm sure, is not the only team in this tournament devoid of top notch players. It's the me first approach to team sports, the look at me, I just made a play mentality.
I know it doesn't matter, but come on, we American baseball fans deserved a better showing on and off the field, even if this a meaningless event to some.
It is however, an event of our own creation, of our own game. Sad.
Danny O'Connell (Hoboken, NJ)
