Mark DeRosa continues to insist that he actually knew where Team USA stood in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) even after making a very, very wrong proclamation on the topic.
The Americans’ manager called out “false narratives” surrounding his actions while saying that he fully knew all the tiebreaker scenarios that could derail Team USA’s quest to win the WBC despite saying prior to Tuesday’s loss to Italy that his squad had already qualified for the quarterfinals.
He also yet again made an error, falsely claiming Team USA had a 2-0 record entering the game when they had been 3-0 in pool play.
“We went into that game prepared to win it. I think there’s a couple false narratives out there, but, no, I was well aware we had to win that game besides on all the scenarios that could take place. They went in 2-0, we went in 2-0, we knew they were playing Mexico the next day,” DeRosa said Thursday ahead of Friday’ quarterfinal game vs. Canada.
“We knew there was tiebreakers involved. I can understand the questions about lineup and pitching situations we are up against. A lot of guardrails with regard to teams, the deployment of certain reliever, how many pitches they can use, whether they can go back out, whether they can clean up innings. You’re just trying to piece it together in real time.”
DeRosa has come under fire for his comments and how he managed Tuesday’s stunning 8-6 loss to Team Italy that left his team in a vulnerable situation.
Prior to that game, while appearing on “Hot Stove” on MLB Network — where he also works as an analyst — he said Team USA already had made the final eight.
“Ton of respect for Italy. It’s weird, we want to win this game even though our ticket’s punched to the quarterfinals because Mexico plays Italy actually (Wednesday),” DeRosa said.
“So, the way the schedule lines up this is an important game for us.”
America’s ticket had not been punched, and the team suffered a stunning 8-6 loss that featured some questionable decisions.
He benched Bryce Harper to start Paul Goldschmidt, catcher Cal Raleigh did not start and he used long reliever Ryan Yarbrough while trailing 3-0, which led to Italy grabbing a 6-0 lead before it ballooned to 8-0.
Those moves did not carry any urgency or make it appear that the Americans had any concern about possible tiebreakers.
He attempted to defuse the situation after the game, but did not help himself.
“I misspoke,” DeRosa said. “I was on ‘Hot Stove’ with a couple of buddies today and completely misread the calculations. We knew Mexico was going to play Italy and running all the numbers with if we lost tonight with the runs allowed and runs scored and outs. So, I just misspoke.”
The loss left Team USA needing either Italy to beat Mexico on Wednesday or Mexico to score at least five run in a win to advance.
Italy won, 9-1, to prevent a disaster.
DeRosa again maintained Thursday that he simply misspoke.
“It’s just an overly confident statement on ‘Hot Stove.’ Period. The end. And it’s my fault,” he said.
“(Italy) played a hell of game, they smacked us in the mouth early. They got up big.”
Since it did not win Pool B, America is now on the same side of the bracket as Team Dominican Republic, which will face Team Korea in the other quarterfinal on that side of the bracket.