Gracious Hosts

After an opening game loss to the United States at the World Baseball Classic, Team Canada played the role of gracious hosts a little too well by handing Team Italia the win last night in game four. That loss ended Team Canada’s chances of advancing to the second round.

Before the game started the jumbotron (is this term still used?) showed video of the crowd (all 12,411 of them) before landing on the live feed of the jovial Italian dugout. The players inside were smiling and laughing, some were even out front swinging a bat to stay loose. Next the cameras found the sullen Canadian dugout. The players in this dugout looked as though they were heading out to battle not expecting to return, nary a smile was found.

The first Italian batter came up and immediately hit a one hopper to the mound (the Canadians couldn’t have scripted this any better) but the nerves of the Canadians were evident as Perkins dropped the ball allowing the batter to reach first base. Had the Canadian bats come out in the first inning perhaps the bobble would have been forgotten and Perkins would have settled down but that didn’t happen and things didn’t get much better for the Canadians. They did manage to keep the Italians to six runs though. On the offensive side, well, there was no offensive side for the Canadians aside from Justin Morneau (4 for 5) and Jason bay (2 for 2). With everyone trying for the long ball it is hard to get anything going.

The game overall was rather uninspiring. There were two highlight reel defensive plays by the Italians late in the game but otherwise the game was slow and void of life. There was more action in the stands than on the field. Two kids were removed from the game early in the night and then a few innings later another person was sent walking for inappropriate conduct towards the Italian bullpen. The real excitement of the game happened when the seventh inning stretch became the seventh inning grope. A real family affair last night it was. Gee, I wonder why Toronto hasn’t hosted a top notch international event like, say, the Olympics.

The most glaring aspect of the early exit from the tournament by Team Canada is the fact that their number one pitcher, Scott Richmond, didn’t see any action. It was decided by coaching staff to save Richmond for the game against Venezuela today once they defeated Italy. Given the fact that the next game was not guaranteed this may have been the wrong decision but when the offense, the supposed strong point of the club, only scores two runs against an Italian squad the blame for the loss lies at the feet of the hitters not the pitchers or a coaching decision. The players will be the first ones to admit that but unfortunately, the short sighted media in Toronto will lay blame on Ernie Whitt and the other coaches for their pitching decision.

Congratulations go to Team Italia for ignoring the negativity and going out and playing baseball last night. Had the Canadians done the same, I have no doubt they would be playing today instead of the Italians but as it is, the best team on the night won. Good luck seeking revenge against Venezuela tonight Italy.