2026 World Baseball Classic

[andyb]

Not a good outing for Sanchez at all. Good news is he struck out 4 in 1.1 innings. Bad news was he sprinkled 6 hits and a walk to give up 3 earned runs against a mediocre Nicaragua lineup (the Dusty Baker magic lasted only 2 innings in a 12-3 loss eventually).

Apparently he struck out 4 in the first with an extra WP in the dirt that the hitter swung at.

Harper 1-5 with a BB, Schwarber 2-4 with 2 BBs for Team USA.

[andyb]

Huge game for Nori against Brazil. 3-3, 2 HR

[owaistabish]

Solid player and contact hitter. Needed in Phillies lineup.

[andyb]

It is fun but Nori hitting an 85 mph fastball really does not tell us much. An 8-team focused event would be much better competition.

Upper deck Schwarbomb also last night. Against some scrub of course (the pitcher was actually named Andre Scrubb).

[andyb]

US and Italy both undefeated in their group are playing tonight. Nola is starting tomorrow against Mexico which is likely a big game with the winner going onto the quarterfinals as Mexico also has one loss. This is almost certainly Nola's only start though technically he'd have 5 days rest for the final if Italy made it that far.

[VoteForKalas]

USA loses to Italy 8-6 and now has to watch Italy & Mexico play to decide if they advance or go home. Really disappointing loss.

To make things even worse, the buffoon manager Mark DeRosa stated on MLB Network earlier in the day that the team had "already punched their ticket to the quarterfinals" and thus the game vs Italy did not matter.

How the manager does not even know where his own team stands and what the rules of the tournament are is beyond mind boggling.

[fish]

Of all the dominant relief arms in the game and on the roster, why is Ryan Yarborough on the team?

[zambonir]

Guess Aaron Nola is pitching for Team USA tonight after all, one way or another (he either has to win for US to get the spot or get hammered by Mexico for US to get the tiebreak).

[andyb]

Looks like the US just needs Italy to score 4 runs OR Mexico to score 5 to advance if Italy does not win. I think there are extra inning scenarios where we would need to add a run to that equation. Chart below is for a 9-inning game since the formula involves total outs and runs allowed.

Based on tomorrow’s score between Italy and Mexico, this table shows which team will be eliminated pic.twitter.com/6prq35xFYv

— Sammy Steigert ( @SammySteigert ) March 11, 2026

[zambonir]

Funny thread. Also funny that the hosts and producers of the show (which DeRosa is on) didn't know enough to call him on it.

https://bsky.app/profile/baumann.bsky.social/post/3mgs6ivfjlc2i

And that Michael Hill (former Marlins GM and MLB functionary) is ostensibly the Team USA general manager (and DeRosa is also the Manfred stooge who called out Harper over the salary cap comments).

[andyb]

Italy-Mexico game moved to FS1 instead of Tubi where Venezuela-Dominican will now go. Nola is probably going to face a 90% Mexican crowd in Houston.

[zambonir]

Can't really say I care if the US backs into the quarters at this point. Mexico probably more fun (and deserving as a "World" baseball country.. A team of Italian-American MLB journeymen and Nola, not so much, though obviously I would like to see Nola pitch well.

[phillychuck]

The best thing Nola can do for the US is to give up 5 runs in the first inning. Throw all FBs, aim for the middle of the plate.

[zambonir]

There's definitely going to be a moment in the game where both teams might stop trying to win. But obviously Nola's not going to tank the game (unless someone in Italy wants him too. Oops, sorry that's problematic).

Mexico fan just celebrated catching Italy's home run. Don't think he's throwing it back either.

[zambonir]

Nola with 4 1/3 innings of shutout ball, Italy up 5-0, he's thrown 65 pitches and I guess is about to get hooked.

He goes five full, thanks to a CS for out two and then he gets weak contact to close out the fifth.

[andyb]

US is almost mathematically in with Italy scoring 5 unless this goes like 15 innings. Mexico winning might be better because we would get the 1 seed in the pool.

[zambonir]

Yes PC didn't seem to consider that Nola winning the game was the simplest/best thing for the US.

[andyb]

Nori with a big squeeze play bunt and is 2-2.

[Philsmania]

I wonder if Nori is going to shoot up the prospect rankings with his WBC showing.

And, maybe Nola's strong showing is a good sign for us.

[phillychuck]

They gave Nori a sac instead of a hit on the bunt...could have gone either way.

While we’re at this, the WBC format certainly does not result in the best team winning. Baseball, especially with pitchers limited to a max 4 IP or so, especially in the early spring during MLB ramp-up, is really random in any particular game. The AAA/AA Italy team could easily win it all if they stay hot. That’s why all the vitriol for the US losing to Italy is just so inappropriate...