00:00We also had that in the World Baseball Classic.
00:02I'm Donnie Wright, talking with Joe Ranieri.
00:03And also, welcoming in Tom Vecchio.
00:06Exciting times this weekend.
00:08Tonight, another game.
00:09Tuesday, World Baseball Championship game.
00:12Great time here in baseball, Tommy.
00:14It is.
00:15You know, one more game tonight, like you said, final after that.
00:18And before we know it, the regular season won't be here for the MLB.
00:21But very exciting game last night.
00:23Obviously, plenty of big moments.
00:25The home runs, the close calls.
00:27You know, good defense from Bobby Witt.
00:29You name it.
00:29It had everything, including some controversial calls to end things.
00:32But Team USA advances.
00:34It really comes down to what version of the opposing teams that they see.
00:39Because Venezuela has looked absolutely awesome.
00:41The power from Team Italy has also been awesome.
00:44Really, which of those teams shows up, that's what's going to determine
00:47who I think can really take down Team USA.
00:50And by the way, Tom Vecchio is going to join me this weekend on Pro Baseball Today.
00:54The World Baseball Classic will be wrapped up.
00:56Looking forward to opening day.
00:57So certainly don't miss out on that.
00:58But, Tom, I've got to ask you a question.
01:00One of the biggest upsets that you're going to see maybe was happening during those knockout stage rounds
01:05or even the pool play.
01:06But Japan, not advancing.
01:08You're falling to Venezuela.
01:09What a comeback.
01:10The place was electric here.
01:12But most people expected Japan was probably going to get to at least the championship game, Tom.
01:16They didn't.
01:17They didn't.
01:18And it's really just credit to Venezuela.
01:20They slugged their way to advancing.
01:23And that's what it comes down to.
01:23Two, three weeks ago at this point, I talked to you about Venezuela potentially winning their group over the Dominican
01:28Republic because I like their lineup so much.
01:30And when you have that much power, you can't navigate around a lineup, you know, time and time again.
01:36You can do it once, maybe twice.
01:37But if there's that many good hitters, they're going to find good pitches to hit.
01:41And that's what came through for them.
01:44Comes down to it, though, Tom, right?
01:45We were talking about it.
01:47Great pitching neutralizes great hitting.
01:50And it feels like especially this time of year.
01:53Do we have enough arms left?
01:56Do we have enough left in the tank here to be able to get it done?
01:59You know, that's what it comes down to.
02:00I saw that Noah McLean's going to be starting for Team USA.
02:03And he was okay in, you know, his start during group play.
02:08I think he has a really bright future.
02:10He is one of the best pitching prospects, not just for the Mets, not just in the NL, in all
02:14of baseball.
02:14He's truly one of the best.
02:16And he's one of the breakout candidates that a lot of people talk about this year.
02:19But he's literally never pitched on a stage like this.
02:21He's literally never had this much on his plate before.
02:24So just because we think he's going to be great and he projects to be great, it doesn't mean that
02:29we're actually going to be seeing that on, you know, March 17th when he doesn't have a long track record
02:34to back that up.
02:34So I think he's going to be out there for no more than three innings, 3.1.
02:38And then they're going to have to rely on, you know, everyone coming from the bullpen.
02:42If Joe Ryan can be out there, great.
02:44And then everyone else has to do their part.
02:46I'll tell you what's been a fun part of this tournament, Tom.
02:49Coming into it, you knew who the big teams were.
02:51Nobody really factored in can Italy do damage.
02:53And not only did they play great in pool play, they continued to advance.
02:56And the question is typically, and it's perfect to ask on Selection Sunday, hey, some of these lower conferences matching
03:02up with bigger conferences, where do they see those opponents?
03:04Like Italy's already played great opponents and beaten them, which included the United States.
03:08They trip up Puerto Rico.
03:10And now we find them against Venezuela.
03:13Venezuela today, Tom, minus 196 favorite here, plus 162 split with Italy if you take them as the dog.
03:18Total listed around 10.5, depending where he's shopping at.
03:21But talk to me about this team, Italy, man.
03:23They're all hands on deck and getting it done.
03:26Right.
03:26And the thing I keep asking myself about Italy is, you know, can they win a lower scoring game?
03:31Because they just outslugged Team USA in that game.
03:33They scored against Mexico, right, which was the clinching game for Team USA to advance.
03:38They scored eight runs against Puerto Rico, right?
03:40They're slugging their way to wins, which is great.
03:42There's no doubt about it.
03:43Like, teams run through these hot stretches all the time.
03:44But can they win a game 2-1, as, you know, Team USA did last night?
03:48What if the bats go cold?
03:50Do they have enough pitching and enough timely hitting to get across the finish line and pick up a win
03:542-1, 3-1, something like that?
03:56Because the hitting's fantastic.
03:57The home runs from Vinny P are awesome.
03:59But what happens if that runs out?
04:03Runs coming?
04:04What are we thinking?
04:05And who are we backing?
04:06There's got to be a home run or two in a game.
04:08No?
04:09I mean, come on.
04:10There's got to be the long ball here.
04:12It does.
04:13You know, frankly, I would back the under.
04:14I just think that between the park change going from Houston to Miami is something we actually have to account.
04:21And we always talk about Miami as being one of the best pitcher parks.
04:24Now, obviously, there's a ton of talent in this.
04:26But I would back the under.
04:27It is minus 122 for under 10.5.
04:30I certainly do like that.
04:31The home runs, I do like.
04:32Vinny P's been hot.
04:33Jack Tackley-Owen has a ton of power.
04:35But, man, Ronald Acuna leading off, knowing that we're getting the extra at-bats room,
04:39considering they are the away team, is something I'll always have interest in.
04:43And also, Tom, take a look at some of these futures here.
04:46Before I ask you who's going to win this tournament, that MVP market is kind of fun.
04:50Last night, Judge did have a home run that got taken away.
04:52Also came up with a key spot with one out.
04:55Could have got some more RBI, but didn't.
04:56But he's the favorite right now.
04:58Listen to the plus 260 price.
04:59Time to be the MVP of the World Baseball Classic.
05:02Bobby Wittkowski, Robert Bryce Harper behind him.
05:04Roman Anthony went yard here at a 12-1 price.
05:06Who are we leaning on right now?
05:08Is it still Aaron Judge for you?
05:10It's not.
05:11You know, last week, last Friday, I talked to you guys about Bobby Witt.
05:14And I think it was 14-1 at the time.
05:15Now he's 7-1.
05:16I said, listen, if Bobby Witt has more great defensive plays, I think that'll put him in the conversation.
05:21But he also needs to add another home run or a home run in order to really put him alongside
05:25Aaron Judge.
05:26And now, at this point, I think the answer might be Roman Anthony.
05:30Because now he has multiple home runs.
05:31And he's alongside Judge when it comes to power and production.
05:34So, if he has one more home run in the clinching game and a truly defining, you know, game-defining
05:40home run, Roman Anthony should be in the conversation.
05:43So, I like Bobby Witt at 14-1.
05:45But if we get Roman Anthony at 12-1, I think that's absolutely in the conversation.
05:51You got nothing to worry about, Tom, because Scooble's going to—oh, no, wait a minute.
05:54No, that was—oh, yeah, no, he won't be there for Team USA.
05:59But you know who it was?
06:00Give it to Paul Skeens.
06:02I mean, my goodness.
06:03What this guy has done and what he has meant for them, needed a big game both times, and comes
06:09up huge, man.
06:11Skeens is my MVP.
06:12At least he's there.
06:14He should be, and, you know, it was very interesting to see him make the comments to—I believe it was
06:18Ken Rosenthal during the—right after his first start, where he said, you know, it's great—he said something to the fact
06:24that, like, oh, it's great to pitch in a place where the stands are full.
06:27Obviously, he doesn't get that in Pittsburgh, but pitching on this stage is fantastic for him.
06:31And it just makes me think, it's like, his days in Pittsburgh are numbered.
06:34Like, if he wants the big stage, everyone knows that about him.
06:37Like, he's that type of player, and he wants that big stage, he wants the emotion, and he wants the
06:42tension that really brings out the best of him.
06:45This was just a glimpse of what we're going to see from him after he leaves Pittsburgh, because he deserves
06:50it.
06:50That'd be great stuff here.
06:52Big players on the biggest stage.
06:53A lot of fun in the stands here.
06:54Team USA is a minus 390 favorite to win this tournament here.
06:57Venezuela, plus 360, followed by Italy at 14-1.
07:00The U.S. will be in the championship.
07:02We'll find out who joins them.
07:03But today, Tom Becchio joins us, and we thank you for that, Tommy.
07:07We'll be right back after this short break.
07:09But let's take a look, Joe.
07:11Digging on what the people want us to know in our fade-to-public poll here.
07:22We told you I couldn't watch this live, but I saw all the highlights this morning, the recaps here.
07:27And the question we asked from at SportsGrid here,
07:29was the final pitch of United States versus Dominican Republic a ball or a strike?
07:34Three options you got, Joe.
07:35Strike.
07:36Good call, Blue.
07:37Ball.
07:37It was low.
07:38Or I don't watch the WBC.
07:40Who doesn't watch the WBC?
07:42Well, you're watching the Oscars last night?
07:44Come on, Joe.
07:45Yeah.
07:47Listen, you got to be protecting with two strikes.
07:49If it's even remotely close, you better be swinging.
07:53Do not allow the umps to decide it.
07:56And that's exactly what Perdomo did.
07:59So, you know, as far as I'm concerned, if it was anywhere near it, you should have been swinging at
08:03it.
08:03But you didn't.
08:04And it was a strike.
08:05And that's the end of the game.
08:07Joe, take me back to your Little League here.
08:09What's your coach yelling from the dugout in a 2-2 count right there?
08:11Is he yelling, take the pitch if it's close?
08:14No.
08:14He's probably telling you to choke up and make sure you put that ball in play.
08:18Put it in play.
08:18It wasn't put in play.
08:19USA picks up the victory.
08:21And away you go.
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