Well, the U.S.
bought home the cup/trophy/ribbon/participation certificate by winning the
World Baseball Classic with a 8-0 thumping of Puerto Rico earlier this week. The Americans also made a statement by not
being demonstrative, at least when compared to other teams and fans.
Puerto Rico,
Cuba, Korea, Italy, Israel, Venezuela, Mexico, Japan—everybody seemed to get
into the “act” but the U.S. This whole
question of showing emotion goes back to Jose Batista’s bat flips and the
routines of a number of closers on the mound after they’ve finished a
game. The more the merrier in some
cultures, but…
“It didn’t sit
well,” Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen told the NYT of all the victory
preparations—caps, t-shirts, parade—the other side was making, this before the
game had been played. “I always learned
in this game: Stay humble, be humble, or this game will humble you,” McCutchen
said. “I learned it over my career. Hey, don’t say anything; just go out and play
the game. It will speak for you.”
I couldn’t have
said it better myself. Here’s hoping
McCutchen wins Comeback Player of the Year in the NL.
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