Identity Crisis in the US of A? Team USA falls just short again

Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

For the second time in a row, Team USA has fallen just short in the World Baseball Classic against a team they were favored against. 

FanDuel had the United States at -265 to win over Team Venezuela. Big swings from Wilyer Abreu and Eugenio Suarez left the U.S. with its second silver medal in as many contests. This had nothing to do with talent and everything to do with identity. 

At some point, questions start popping up. The first being, what needs to change? 

Many baseball fans appreciate the emotion that flares during the WBC. Dancing, singing, playing instruments, it’s a beautiful kind of chaos that normally only postseason baseball can encapsulate. 

The United States may have opted out of the party that everyone else seems to be throwing. 

During the WBC final, Venezuela players in the dugout were on the top step, chanting with the crowd, amping up their fans and one another. 

When Bryce Harper came to the plate in the eighth inning and blasted a two-run bomb off Andres Machado, who had been untouchable the entire tournament, the camera panned to Venezuela’s Willson Contreras. I’m no Jomboy, but Contreras seemed to nod his head, say something along the lines of “We’re good,” and clapped his hands, reassuring his teammates that they wouldn’t fall victim to a Phillie yet again. 

Then, in the ninth, team captain Eugenio Suarez muscled an RBI double, bringing home Javier Sanoja (pinch runner for Luis Arraez), giving Venezuela a 3-2 lead. 

Where’s the passion? Where’s the electricity? Case in point: earlier in the same game, reliever Jose Butto got out of a small two-out threat the U.S had mounted. He walked off the mound screaming, pumping his fist, and celebrating with his teammates. 

I’m not saying the U.S. players don’t care about the tournament or did not try; that isn’t even remotely the case. But maybe the USA isn’t short on talent; they’re short on glue guys. 

The WBC isn’t a 162-game season where stoicism tackles failure and leads to consistent success. This tournament is a SPRINT to the finish line. With so many players rostered for the United States who have been the “lead by example” guy, it’s hard to put a fiery team together that’s hungry to win. 

Manager Mark DeRosa was under scrutiny from the media earlier in this tournament when his comments suggested he didn’t understand that Team USA’s game against Italy was a must-win matchup. He confronted the situation and made it clear that he knew what was at stake. Be that as it may, Team USA clearly didn’t understand the assignment in the championship game. 

On top of the managerial drama, Team USA was reported to have reached out to Twins ace starter Joe Ryan to start the WBC final. He ended up not being rostered for the matchup. It’s believed that manager Mark DeRosa wanted a “true reliever” because young hurler Nolan McLean was locked into the starting role. Reliever Jeff Hoffman, who was picked up instead, didn’t even make an appearance. In this scenario, it feels like the U.S. could’ve maximized its resources more efficiently, rather than losing out on an ace-type arm and bringing in a reliever they didn’t even use. 

The WBC is supposed to be a rager. A tournament-long party to scream, jump around, and chant while hoisting your nation's flag. Why hold back here? Why aren’t bats being flipped 40 feet in the air? Why aren’t pitchers screaming and jumping after getting through an inning? Baseball is, and always will be, a kid's game. Team USA’s 2026 roster was unbelievably talented, played hard, and showed up, but they DID NOT play the kids' game. If the Americans want a better shot in 2029, it’s time to rewire their approach to roster construction.

If you're interested in being notified when the next article comes out, be sure to scroll down to the "Free Subscription" form and subscribe, we hope you enjoyed!