Rob Manfred, MLBPA United In Support Of World Baseball Classic

LOS ANGELES—As far as the World Baseball Classic is concerned, commissioner Rob Manfred and MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark couldn’t be happier.

Manfred and Clark held a joint press conference at Dodger Stadium prior to Wednesday night’s WBC championship game between the United States and Puerto Rico, and both expressed extreme satisfaction with the tournament and how it has grown.

“I can’t tell you how pleased I am, and I’m sure Tony feels the same way, about the way this event has gone,” Manfred said. “We’ve had crowds that not only were record number crowds, but had passion that it’s hard to think where you saw something that good the last time. I mean, just really amazing.”

“I would echo that point,” Clark added. “Very rarely do you have an opportunity in the middle of March to appreciate the quality of play that we’ve seen during the course of this tournament. So even as a fan, myself, as I’m sure a number of you are as well, being able to see what we’ve seen, not just in the U.S. venues but in all the international venues as well, the quality of play has been off the charts.”

The WBC drew one million fans for the first time in 2017 and provided MLB Network its highest ratings outside of the postseason. The championship game is expected to draw more than 50,000 fans to Dodger Stadium.

Manfred compared the WBC’s growth trend to another international event that began to spike in popularity in the early 1990s and has grown progressively ever since.

“I like to use the analogy of the Ryder Cup,” Manfred said. “It took time for the Ryder Cup to become what the Ryder Cup is today, and it is going to take time with this tournament. But each and every time, it’s been better. There’s been more traction, more interest. I think we’re kind of at a watershed with 2017 with how good it’s been. But I really do firmly believe we will continue to build momentum with this event.”

Clark added that players who passed up participating have since expressed to him they wish they had chosen to participate.

“I won’t offer you names,” Clark said, “but I will suggest that as soon as the lights come on and the guys get on the field, even in the first round your phone starts to buzz a little bit where guys start to second-guess whether or not they should have or could have participated. It’s not a surprise.

Neither provided any concrete answers in response to questions about how the event may change in future years. For now, they are glowing in the success of 2017.

“This is one of the first tournaments where in walking the street I’ve actually had people yelling positively at me as I walked, where you have one country starting to chant their name as you walk down the street only to have another country hear it and start chanting theirs,” Clark said. “That hasn’t happened before.

“The idea of this tournament moving forward in the fashion that it has, I think, gives us all a chance to appreciate what it might look like in four years.”

ARMS ON DECK

Puerto Rico manager Edwin Rodriguez said all pitchers will be available except for lefthander Hector Santiago, who pitched 3.1 innings in the semifinal win over the Netherlands.

Those available include closer Edwin Diaz, who previously said he would have to check with his team, the Mariners, to see if he would be allowed to throw after pitching the final two innings of Puerto Rico’s semifinal win.

Rodriguez added that starter Seth Lugo was available and in shape to throw the maximum 95 pitches allowed if necessary.

LEADING THE WAY

Josh Harrison and Alex Bregman will lead Team USA on to the field and serve as flagbearers during a pregame ceremony, manager Jim Leyland said.

Harrison and Bregman have received the fewest at-bats in the tournament of any U.S. player, a factor Leyland said in choosing them for the flag-bearing honor.

“There is no question that Bregman and Harrison have gotten the short end of the stick,” Leyalnd said. “So we tried to put a little twist in there that would show our appreciation for what they’ve done.”

Leyland added that everyone is available to play for the U.S. except righthanded reliever Nate Jones.