Well, indirectly pissed off at Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman because he is once again in the starting lineup for Team USA in Friday’s night’s quarterfinals game against Canada in the World Baseball Classic. Mark DeRosa has been on the hot seat all tournament long for his lineup choices and his public perception went into the toilet this week after he not only displayed a lack of knowledge of the tournament’s rules, but then lied multiple times afterward about it.
DeRosa hasn’t taken any accountability and now the Team USA manager is getting grilled for going back to Bregman in the starting lineup. Fans have been perplexed over DeRosa’s decision to keep Gunnar Henderson on the bench, while Bregman and Brice Turang have been the main starters in the infield next to Bobby Witt Jr. at shortstop.
In the two games that Henderson has played in he’s gone 5-for-10, with a home run, double and three RBI. Meanwhile, Turang has also recorded five hits in 12 at-bats, which includes four doubles in three games. As for Bregman, he started the first three games in pool play and went 1-for-7, with a double. Bregman’s first game against Brazil was quite peculiar as he was walked four times and got hit by a pitch as well in six trips to the plate.
Some see that 1-for-7, and are upset that DeRosa is going with Bregman against Canada Friday night.
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Down in the batting order Pete Crow-Armstrong is getting the nod in center fielder over veteran Byron Buxton. The Cubs center fielder homered twice in Team USA’s 8-6 loss against Italy during pool play. Crow-Armstrong also appeared in two other games and is 3-for-10, with two home runs, double, two walks, five RBI and four runs scored. Buxton, who started the first game against Brazil, is 0-for-5, with a walk in the tournament.
So, do fans have a legit beef with DeRosa going with Bregman over Henderson? We’ll see if that decision ends up mattering as the United States will attempt to punch its ticket to the semifinals in the World Baseball Classic.
First pitch will be shortly after 7 p.m. central on Fox.
