MIAMI — Two hours after ball-strike calls ended the Dominican Republic’s World Baseball Classic, players emerged from the team’s clubhouse with smiles, music and a message.
smiles hide the pain lost 2-1 on sunday night Sent Team USA to WBC finalsMusic followed them as they walked down the halls of Loan Depot Park to the team bus and a message from Star juan sotoWho preferred to watch the entire tournament rather than its final game.
“We showed the world who the best team in baseball is,” Soto told ESPN. “That’s all I have to say.”
Soto’s frustration, as well as that of his teammates, was evident after home-plate umpire Corey Blazer called a full-count slider near the US closer. mason miller DR for strike against shortstop Geraldo Perdomo Despite the pitch being clearly below the zone. The call came an inning after Soto was caught looking at a slider that was also down the zone, though not to the extent of Perdomo, who had worked a spectacular seven-pitch at-bat before the eighth, ending the Dominicans’ dreams of bringing home the WBC championship.
“I knew 100% it was a ball,” Perdomo told ESPN. “I knew.”
While Americans celebrated a tense, tense and elite display of baseball between two of the world’s most talented nations, the ending left a sour taste for the Dominicans, for whom the WBC holds Olympic-level importance. Even more disappointing was that the automated ball-strike challenge system – which will debut in Major League Baseball this season to address such blow calls – is not being used in the WBC.
In 2023, the year the pitch clock was introduced into MLB, the WBC also did not implement it. In order for ABS to work accurately in MLB this season, the league measured each player’s height to assign the proper strike zone. Doing so for the WBC would require measurements for players from all 20 nations in the tournament as well as implementation of the system used to call it in Japan and Puerto Rico.
“It’s part of the game,” Dominican Republic general manager Nelson Cruz told ESPN. “You lost by inches. We’ll have ABS in a few years, so hopefully next time we’ll be able to challenge games like this.
“This event is really good for baseball. You have regular fans who love the game — and you have people who don’t pay attention and you’re attracting them.”
The focus has been significant, especially on a Dominican team full of stars and even more energy and enthusiasm. DR breaks WBC record for home runs in a tournament junior caminero took us ace Paul Skenes Deep for a 1-0 lead. America bounced back with a home run Gunnar Henderson And roman anthony. And as the game turned to the bullpens, Team USA’s power relief pitching held off the Dominican team, which had dominated through pool play and the quarterfinal victory.
The crowd of 36,337, overwhelmingly pro-Dominican, criticized Soto’s third-strike call and protested a call against Perdomo, while also telling the Blazers – who otherwise called consistent and strong plays behind home plate – that the umpire knew it was a ball.
“It was a lot,” said Perdomo, who took a slider similar to a blown call for a ball earlier in the count and drew fouls on consecutive 101 mph two-strike pitches to stay alive. “It was the whole tournament, but we didn’t lose the game right there. It’s a part of the game, and I hope we do better next time.”
The Olympics could be next, if Major League Baseball and the players can make it happen Reach an agreement to allow big league players to play in Los Angeles games In 2028. The next WBC has not yet been determined, but the success has pleased the league’s players and officials.
Team USA will face the winner Italy–Venezuela Semifinals on Monday at 8 PM ET.
