Carlos A. Nava | ESPN Digital Writer Mar 11, 2023 Read: 3 min.
PHOENIX — The champion is back; He improved and improved… And he knows that anything less than a repeat of the World Baseball Classic title is a failure.
The United States opens its participation this Saturday against Great Britain, as one of the favorites to win the tournament again, with a team full of stars; all major league top players
“We never came here to compete, we came here to win,” said US outfielder Mike Trout. “This competition is much bigger to all of us than people think.”
A selection of Los Angeles Angels superstar heads that includes 20 players who were former All-Stars and who have combined to appear in 66 All-Star Games.
The only other time the United States had raised so many major leaguers was in 2006. But those rosters combined had fewer All-Stars in their resumes (58).
“This is good for the team,” Trout added. “With all due respect, maybe better than last season. Sometimes I think it’s a dream to play with all these guys.”
The manager of the United States, former baseball player and now television analyst Mark DeRosa, recognized that he has talent but that he cannot take any of his rivals for granted, among the Europeans they will meet in the stadium in Arizona on Saturday night. The Diamondbacks, in Phoenix, are already guaranteed to be fully sold out.
“We have to respect all guys because we don’t want to be caught off guard,” DeRosa said. “For today the most important rival for us is tomorrow; then the next game will be and so on. To play with everyone The responsibility.”
DeRosa confirmed that Adam Wainwright will be the starting pitcher for the opening game against the Angels, but it will be after each game when he announces the next pitcher to throw to the mound to start.
“There is no reason for the opponent to take advantage of the time,” DeRosa said. “As I know, the rule is that I can report to an hour after the previous game ends. That’s how it goes every day.”
Great Britain is one of the newcomers to the tournament with only six players born in their country, a good portion of Americans, Caribbean and Canadians with roots in the United Kingdom.
Los Angeles Dodgers Outfielder Trayce Thompson, the brother of Golden State Warriors basketball player Klay Thompson, is one of the few major leaguers to be inducted by the English.
Shortstop Lucius Fox made his big league debut last season with the Washington Nationals and catcher Harry Ford is one of Seattle’s top pitchers.
“I think the biggest part of my job with this All-Star team will be the motivational aspect, in addition to the coaching or management aspect,” DeRosa said. “We’re helping them create a great framework, a united force. The superstars are all from different organizations. It’s just going to be a job here.”
The United States also shares Group C with Mexico, which they will meet on Sunday; Canada and Columbia.
