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U.S. Advances To WBC Final After Win Over Japan In Front Of 33,462 Fans In L.A.

The U.S. advanced to the World Baseball Classic final last night with a 2-1 win over Japan at Dodger Stadium, where a crowd of 33,462 was present on a "cool and rainy evening," according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. TIMES. The ballpark was less than "two-thirds full," but the "'U-S-A' chants were deafening as the Americans scored the winning run in the eighth and held on for victory in the ninth." U.S. players "have embraced the carnival atmosphere" in Miami, San Diego and L.A., and with it the "curious underdog status of the U.S. team." They will face Puerto Rico in tonight's final (L.A. TIMES, 3/22). In L.A., Dylan Hernandez notes the primary soundtrack last night "provided by a little orchestra stationed at the top of the left-field pavilion." The nine-man band was "armed with a drum, eight trumpets and a giant Japanese flag." The ensemble made its "presence heard throughout the stadium in the bottom of every inning, loud and clear, leading individualized, horn-driven cheers for every hitter in the Samurai Japan lineup." More than any other sport, baseball continues to "move the people of Japan -- in the case of this small-but-loud cheering section, literally." The group traveled from Japan "specifically for this tournament." MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred "views the tournament as a vehicle to increase baseball’s popularity globally." But the tournament’s real purpose might be something "more humble" -- preventing soccer in Japan from "encroaching further" (L.A. TIMES, 3/22).

NATIONAL PRIDE: USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale writes the U.S. tonight find themselves "playing the most important international baseball game" since the country won the Gold Medal at the '00 Sydney Games. U.S. P Pat Neshek said, "Besides making my first All-Star Game, which was in Minnesota where I grew up, this is the best thing I’ve done. Nothing can beat this." He added, "I’ve never been in the World Series, but I’ve been in a lot of playoff games, and this is better." Nightengale writes "no matter the outcome of the championship game," Team USA has lifted this tournament into what MLB and the MLBPA "envisioned when it was first created." U.S. RF Andrew McCutchen said, "Who would have thought we’d be playing in this type of game in Los Angeles?" (USA TODAY, 3/22). USA TODAY's Jorge Ortiz writes under the header, "Puerto Rico's World Baseball Classic Run Means Everything To 'This Tiny Island.'" Succeeding in this tournament "elicits such pride and emotion from Puerto Rican players and so many" of the island’s inhabitants. Oritz: "International competitions bring out the sense of David vs. Goliath among the locals" (USA TODAY, 3/22).

U.S.players have embraced the carnival atmosphere in Miami, San Diego and L.A.
HATS OFF: SI.com's Ted Keith writes this is "another opportunity for baseball to ride the positive momentum of the past six months: an unforgettable" World Series, a new CBA that ensures labor peace through '21 and the "awareness to publicly confront the issue of pace-of-play that threatens the game’s future." A win by the U.S. "will not have anywhere near the historic significance" of the Cubs’ title or the "lasting impact of a CBA or rules changes, but it could go a long way toward making the WBC a more significant part of the sports calendar" (SI.com, 3/22). In San Diego, Bryce Miller writes this year's WBC has "dished up truckloads of reasons to buy in." MLB Network's Matt Vasgersian, who does play-by-play for the WBC in the U.S., said that "perceptions are likely to shift" on the tournament. Vasgersian: "In terms of where’s Trout, where’s Harper, where’s Kershaw, it’s a total insult to the guys who are here. Every guy I’ve talked to down there (in the U.S. clubhouse), and it’s been a lot of them, they’re having a blast" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/22). In Akron, Ryan Lewis writes this WBC has "been one for the ages." As much "criticism as the WBC has received for its timing and which countries might care more about it, it’s undeniable" that the '17 edition has been an "enjoyable tournament." However, the No. 1 "drawback, also undeniable, is that it leaves teams adjusting their schedules and players’ routines as they attempt to prepare for a grueling 162-game season" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 3/22).

IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME
: ESPN's Karl Ravech said of the WBC, “The monotony of spring training, doesn’t this beat the heck out of that? ... There are a few players who are participating in this who have suggested we do this every three years, if not every two years.” ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian said of the U.S. advancing to the final, “This is going to change how the United States looks at the WBC from now on. Whether they win or lose tomorrow night, I think all of these guys are going to go home and say, ‘Fellas, you got to play in this the next time. It’s really great.’ I think if they win tomorrow night, it will completely change things, but I'm guessing in four years, the Mike Trouts and the rest, as many as possible, will be here" ("Baseball Tonight," ESPN, 3/22).

CHANGES TO BE MADE
: ESPN.com's Buster Olney writes under the header, "World Baseball Classic Needs Serious Commitment -- Or Just Get Rid Of It" (ESPN.com, 3/22). The N.Y. Daily News' John Harper reflected on the start times for the WBC semifinals, saying, "MLB is trying to promote this event, trying to get the American people to capture their attention with it. The biggest game of the tournament against the Dominican Republic, which is really two star-studded teams, (began at 10:00pm ET)." Harper noted the great catch by U.S. CF Adam Jones to rob a home run happened at 1:00am ET and it was "only the 7th inning." Harper: "At that point I had said, 'I'm going to bed.' I watched it the next morning on DVR. That should not be the way they're trying to sell this tournament to the American public." SNY's Marc Malusis said, "If you're going to go out there and do it, make sure you put it at a time the majority of the country can go out there and watch the game" ("Daily News Live," SNY, 3/20). CBS Sports Network's Adam Schein said of Yankees SS Didi Gregorius injuring himself playing for the Netherlands at the WBC, "This injury again proves my point. Get rid of the WBC. This is why I don't like the WBC, why I can't stand the WBC" ("Time to Schein," CBSSN, 3/21).

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