Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Yelich, Stanton garner WBC glory
JUPITER — Few in the Miami Marlins clubhouse can honestly claim to have watched the United States win the World Baseball Classic late Wednesday night — or, rather, early Thursday morning — but the result elicited plenty of pride anyway.
And that pride came on multiple levels. They were proud of their teammates, Christian Yelich and Giancarlo Stanton, for their roles in Team USA’s title-winning run; of their sport, for putting on a show at a time of year when baseball usually doesn’t; and, in some cases, of their country, for winning a tournament the U.S. previously hadn’t.
For right-hander Tom Koehler, bigger than Team USA’s 8-0 title-game win over Puerto Rico was what it might mean for the Marlins moving forward.
“I think it’s the greatest thing that could’ve happened for us, selfishly, the Marlins organization,” Koehler said. “Because now Yelly got a taste of what it feels like to be on a huge stage and be a leader on a team full of superstars. You saw that guy playing out there with so much emotion.”
The WBC marked a significant step in Yelich’s emergence as one of the preeminent outfielders in baseball. During the previous tournament, in 2013, Yelich had yet to make his big league debut. This time, he batted third in a lineup of All-Stars and experienced considerable success, hitting .292/.370/.417 with three doubles and two RBI.
In the championship game, Yelich and Stanton both went 2 for 5 with an RBI and a double. Yelich also scored a run.
Afterward, on national television and surrounded by falling confetti, Yelich declared: “It’s the most fun I’ve ever had playing baseball.”
“He’s no longer the young, quiet guy in the corner. He took a whole ’nother step,” Koehler said. “Him getting that taste of winning — on the stage that he was on — he’s going to expect that from us now. He’s going to want to do that again. Him and [Stanton].”
“It looks like he has a little bit more fire. That might be the final piece.”
There was also a sense that Team USA’s championship could propel the WBC to a greater degree of popularity in America — among both fans and players/potential participants. The next WBC is scheduled for 2021.
“A lot has been said about our interest in it, our enthusiasm toward the event,” said catcher A.J. Ellis, who was supposed to play for Team USA but withdrew due to a hamstring injury. “It’s really cool to see those guys step up and put a lot of those questions hopefully to rest forever.”
Said closer A.J. Ramos: “Maybe that draws more interest into the game. That’s what we hope, to expand the game and show we can have fun and the game is fun.”
Now, if only they could fix the issue of start times. Team USA played the semifinal and final in Los Angeles — and the round before that in San Diego — and the 9 p.m. or later first pitches were not exactly East Coast friendly.
Manager Don Mattingly didn’t wake up for the late innings Wednesday like he happened to earlier in the week. Ellis watched three innings. Koehler drifted in and out, waking up during the fourth and sixth. Reliever Nick Wittgren fought sleep to watch pieces.
When they were awake, Marlins players lit up a group text every time Yelich and Stanton did something.
“That’s the one negative thing about the whole [WBC] — the start times,” Ellis said.
Added Koehler: “I watched as much of it as I could.”
Odds and ends
A WBC logistical note: Mattingly expected Yelich and Stanton back in camp today. They were due to travel back to Florida from Los Angeles on Thursday and could be back in a Grapefruit League lineup as soon as Saturday.
Mattingly isn’t ready quite yet to publicly name the Marlins’ Opening Day starter. “It’s funny,” he said. “Of all the stuff we talk about, it hasn’t come to that point yet.” Expect news by the end of the weekend.
Ellis (left hamstring strain) has been getting atbats on the backfields. He hopes to run the bases by early next week.
The Marlins optioned third baseman Brian Anderson, their top positionplayer prospect, to Double-A Jacksonville on Thursday. They also sent outfielders Destin Hood, Isaac Galloway and Moises Sierra, right-hander Severino Gonzalez, and infielder Matt Juengel to Triple-A New Orleans. Forty-one players remain in big league camp.