Alright, everybody, just calm down a bit. I've been reading posts on some web sites such as ESPN.com saying how "embarrassed" the USA should be because we got defeated 11-1 in the World Baseball Classic on Saturday.
And to that I reply with a great big, resounding YAWN.
Mercy me. Regardless of whether you enjoy the WBC or not, and I admit it has grown on me somewhat, you need to understand one basic fact.
The results are basically meaningless.
That's right. And the reason is two-fold.
One, we simply don't care about the WBC as much in this country as the other countries do. Therefore, the fans don't show up to support our team as much, and don't display as much fervor and excitement as do other countries' fans.
And two, we don't have all of our best players there.
In fact, it's this second point that is key. One of our best pitchers, CC Sabathia, isn't there.
One of our best hitters, Ryan Howard, is nowhere to be found.
Sure, the Puerto Ricans destroyed Team USA on Saturday. In fact, only the mercy rule stopped the carnage.
And perhaps we Chicago Cubs fans should be glad we didn't acquire Jake Peavy after all. Peavy gave up six runs in the first two innings.
So what? Let's take a look at the starting lineup for Team USA.
Mark DeRosa was a late replacement for Dustin Pedroia, who is out with a strained muscle on his left side.
Look, DeRosa is a good player, but he's hardly Pedroia, who is the reigning AL MVP. DeRosa was considered so expendable by the Cubs this offseason that we basically gave him away for three marginal prospects from the Cleveland organization.
Chase Utley, anyone?
Where is Mark Teixeira, who just signed one of the richest contracts in MLB history over the winter? 2008 NL Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum?
And the list goes on. Beckett, Papelbon, Oswalt, Haren, Nathan, Lidge, Webb.
Chipper Jones and Derek Jeter shouldn't be playing. Jeter is not a good defensive shortstop and Chipper, while still a great hitter, is old and injury-prone and takes time to get going.
And although the game was played in Dolphin Stadium, the Florida Marlins' home field, the crowd was largely pro-Puerto Rico.
And Jose Oquendo's club is filled with mostly major league ballplayers who play in...you guessed it...America!
Well maybe the players weren't born here, but it only serves to prove that the best baseball in the world is still played right here in the United States of America, folks.
So to those of you who say Puerto Rico is better than the US, I say let's play on a truly neutral field with our best major leaguers, regardless of country affiliation, and play against your baseball teams.
Believe me, the outcome wouldn't be pretty.
Don't get me wrong, this isn't sour grapes at all. The American MLB players who happen to be representing Puerto Rico have played terrific baseball. They have yet to commit an error in the tournament, and haven't had a wild pitch or a passed ball.
But we lost to a territory which is our territory. There are some who will argue those players should be playing for our team.
"Embarrassment is the only word that comes to mind," Adam Dunn said.
No, Adam, another word comes to mind, come to think of it: Indifference.
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