Mexico beats US Olympic baseball team

[Slayer 0]

Source

 

PANAMA CITY, Panama -- Now here's a stunner: The defending champion U.S. baseball team will be at home next summer while countries like the Netherlands and Italy compete for an Olympic medal in Athens.

 

Manager Frank Robinson and his team of mostly minor leaguers were beaten at their own game, falling to Mexico 2-1 Friday -- a loss that eliminated them from a qualifying tournament with no second chances.

 

The Americans were among the favorites to win in Greece. There was even a chance future Hall of Famer Roger Clemens would have pitched for them.

 

Not to be.

 

"I can't believe it!" said Tom Lasorda, who managed the 2000 U.S. team to the gold in Sydney. "It's a shock and a disgrace that the Americans won't be represented in the Olympics."

 

"Baseball is America's game," he said. "It doesn't belong to the Japanese or the Cubans or the Koreans or the Italians. This is sad, very sad."

 

Lasorda's team had Ben Sheets, Roy Oswalt and Doug Mientkiewicz in the first Olympic tournament that included professionals.

 

"I know Roger Clemens wanted to play. That would've been a big draw for them. That's a shame, because they've got some good players on that team," Mientkiewicz said.

 

"It would've been nice to go out there and defend it, but now they're not going to get that chance," the Minnesota first baseman said. "I feel for all those guys. It's going to be hard to watch the Olympics now, that's for sure."

 

The Mexican team was a heavy underdog in this quarterfinal game, but got a tiebreaking home run in the ninth inning from Luis A. Garcia off Brian Bruney.

 

Bruney had 26 saves in the Arizona Diamondbacks' minor league system this season.

 

The United States threatened in the bottom of the ninth when Grady Sizemore and former major leaguer Ernie Young led off with singles.

 

With runners on second and third with one out, reliever Isidro Marquez got Justin Leone to ground back to the mound and retired Gerald Laird on a popup to end it.

 

Former New York Mets pitcher Rigo Beltran held the Americans to three hits in seven innings. Leone, of the Seattle system, homered in the fourth for the U.S. run.

 

"It was a well-pitched game by their pitchers," said Robinson, the Montreal Expos' manager and a Hall of Famer himself. "We were not able to do much until the ninth inning and it was not enough."

 

Ray Martinez tied it in the fifth with a homer off Cleveland Indians prospect Jason Stanford. The Americans had outscored their opponents 21-0.

 

The U.S. roster also included Atlanta Braves rookie pitcher Horacio Ramirez and former big leaguers Mike Lamb and Todd Williams.

 

"We lost a game. I don't think it's a setback for U.S. baseball," said Sandy Alderson, an executive vice president in the commissioner's office and the top American official with the team.

 

"I think it's a validation of the internationalization of the game. As we know, anything can happen in a game or a short series of games," he said.

 

Unlike basketball, the biggest stars in the United States do not play Olympic baseball, jeopardizing the sport's future in the games.

 

Even so, Alderson does not expect top major leaguers to participate four years from now when qualifying begins for the Beijing Summer Games.

 

"This is not about an eligibility issue. This is about a game played well by Mexico and unfortunately lost by the United States. Again, that's the nature of the game. Things happen," he said.

 

The U.S. team went 3-0 in pool play while Mexico lost all three games. But Mexico advanced when the Bahamas forfeited by failing to show up.

 

The Bahamas' action prompted Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin to say: "It makes you wonder if baseball is an Olympic sport."

 

The two finalists in this tournament will reach the Olympics. Canada and Colombia will meet Saturday for the right to play Mexico on Sunday to determine one of the spots.

 

Cuba is the favorite for the other spot.

 

Baseball was a demonstration in the Olympics in 1984 and became a medal sport in 1996, when Cuba won the gold medal in Atlanta.

 

Sheets beat Cuba 4-0 to win the 2000 gold in Australia. Roy Oswalt, Sean Burroughs, Brad Wilkerson and Ryan Franklin also were on that American team.

 

As Mientkiewicz spoke on his cell phone after Friday's loss, he got a call from Mike Neill, who homered in the 2000 gold medal game.

 

"A lot of us used that as kind of a leaping board. It kind of put us on the map, so to speak for baseball," Mientkiewicz said. "That kind of shows how special our team was."

 

I guess this is supposed to be revenge for beating them in the World Cup last year

 

Ouch

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Its nonsense that qualifying berths are decided in a single elimination tournament, particularly in baseball. Oh well.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Not like baseball's taken seriously in the US when it comes to the Olympic Games, anyway, otherwise you'd see some big names there, like with basketball.

[treble 0]

Hmm, Canada could still make it. Maybe Clemens could move back to Toronto and become a Canadian citizen...

[Guest Anglesault]

Hmm, Canada could still make it. Maybe Clemens could move back to Toronto and become a Canadian citizen...

I don't think he wants it that bad.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Well, with Canada fading from the NHL scene over the years, it only makes sense America won't play its national pastime in the '04 Olympics...

[The Czech Republic 0]

Well, with Canada fading from the NHL scene over the years, it only makes sense America won't play its national pastime in the '04 Olympics...

Canada's team should play Mexico's team with the rights to the Montreal Expos on the line.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Not me.

 

Je parle francias.

 

(Waiting for MrRant to stop by...)

[Guest Sylvan Grenier]

Je n'aime pas les xenophobes, comme M. Rant.

 

Et si les Canadiens et les Mexicains va jouer pour les Expos, les Canadiens ne vouleraient pas jouer avec un passion.

[Vern Gagne 0]

^No gimmick posters allowed in the Sports Folder.

 

Mexico 1-3 makes the Olympics the United States 3-1 doesn't? The Olympic can't get anything right.

 

This gets me thinking of a possible, World Cup of Baseball. Do you see it happening in the near future? What are your thoughts on a tournament.

[The Czech Republic 0]

This gets me thinking of a possible, World Cup of Baseball. Do you see it happening in the near future? What are your thoughts on a tournament.

I'd like to see it happen, but when on the calendar? I'm thinking maybe February and March, and do like 32 teams, best of 5 for a few rounds, best of 7 for the last couple, winning nation gets a big trophy and stuff.

 

And where would Team USA play? It'd have to be like Tropicana Field or something. Ewwwwww.

[Vern Gagne 0]

32 countries seems like alot. I don't even know if that many countries have Baseball teams.

 

I say make it 16. Starting in January. Double Elimination. The US team can play at the BOB. It's the nicest weather in the country, and is not being used for football.

[Bored 0]

Another problem with how the Olympics are set up is that only two teams from North America can go which is the same number of teams that can go from "baseball crazy" Europe. I always figured in team sports the defending Olympic champion didn't have to qualify but guess not.

[The Czech Republic 0]

32 countries seems like alot. I don't even know if that many countries have Baseball teams.

 

I say make it 16. Starting in January. Double Elimination. The US team can play at the BOB. It's the nicest weather in the country, and is not being used for football.

United States

Canada

Mexico

Puerto Rico

Dominican Republic

Cuba

Brazil

Jamaica

Costa Rica

Japan

 

I guess the reason why we couldn't do a World Cup is because you may as well just unify all the damn Latin American countries into one team and nobody would care. If New York vs. Miami isn't a draw, I shudder at the possibility of Japan vs. Barbados.

[Guest webmasterofwrestlegame]

"I can't believe it!" said Tom Lasorda, who managed the 2000 U.S. team to the gold in Sydney. "It's a shock and a disgrace that the Americans won't be represented in the Olympics."

 

"Baseball is America's game," he said. "It doesn't belong to the Japanese or the Cubans or the Koreans or the Italians. This is sad, very sad."

 

A typical American reaction.

 

That is all I have to say.

[Tony149 0]

"I can't believe it!" said Tom Lasorda, who managed the 2000 U.S. team to the gold in Sydney. "It's a shock and a disgrace that the Americans won't be represented in the Olympics."

 

"Baseball is America's game," he said. "It doesn't belong to the Japanese or the Cubans or the Koreans or the Italians. This is sad, very sad."

 

A typical American reaction.

 

That is all I have to say.

Well, it's true. Countries who are well known for their sports should always win it (Canada is hockey, etc). That's why nobody in the U.S. really cares if we don't win the World Cup. We don't care about soccer (or football for our international fans with us).

 

But like a previous poster said, you'd think the defending champs would have a spot locked.

 

Does anybody know if there's ever been an U.S. baseball "Dream Team"? It seems to me they only let a few big leaguers in once and a while. If there's never been a baseball Dream Team, I'd like to see that happen at least once, before letting the kids back in. Not sure how many MLBers would want to do it, but add a bonus for those who play.

[King Kamala 0]

If their ever was a World Cup of Baseball play it at Dodger Stadium, decent enough weather and the ballpark has some sort of history to it unlike BOB, Tropicana or Pro Player. Hell put it at Edison or wherever the Angels play, that's a state of the art ball park.

[Guest FrigidSoul]

I'd rather the U.S. lose with up and coming players or retired over the hill players that never won anything than with major stars.

 

I remember watching Oswalt play in the 2000 Olympics and thinking "That guy is gonna be something special". Of course it could just be me because I like to see if I'm a good scout of talent, and I still think I'll be right about Rich Harden one day becoming so dominant that Oakland will be able to trade Barry Zito if need be

[Slayer 0]

If their ever was a World Cup of Baseball play it at Dodger Stadium

But then Olympic baseball fans wouldn't show up until the 3rd inning...

[razazteca 0]

Does anybody know if there's ever been an U.S. baseball "Dream Team"?

Well the basketball Dream Team only happened because of the embarrassment that was the '88 Olympics.

[Bored 0]

And who knew the "Dream Team" would lead to the an even bigger embarassment in the 2002 World Championships? There was only one "Dream Team" and that was the '92 team. Oh well at least they went undefeated in the Olympic qualifying this year.

[ISportsFan 0]

I agree with everyone that a single elimination tournament is ridiculous for determining something as important as Olympic births for a sport such as BASEBALL, where even the worst major league teams win over 1/4 of their games. Absurd.

 

And, what kind of tournament gives a team that was 0-3 in pool play a birth in the single elimination tournament because another team didn't show up? How fair is that to the 3-0 team, to have to play a game in a rightful bye spot.

 

Of course, all these things are completely ridiculous, but the United States should have won. I can make these excuses, and no matter how stupid this tournament seems from the outside, they still needed to get the job done. They didn't.

 

Jason

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I'd rather the U.S. lose with up and coming players or retired over the hill players that never won anything than with major stars.

 

I remember watching Oswalt play in the 2000 Olympics and thinking "That guy is gonna be something special". Of course it could just be me because I like to see if I'm a good scout of talent, and I still think I'll be right about Rich Harden one day becoming so dominant that Oakland will be able to trade Barry Zito if need be

Like plugging Rich Harden as a future star is a major accomplishment.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

I am completely against letting professional athletes in ANY sport in the Olympics. It was always intended to be for amateurs only.

[Vern Gagne 0]

I would agree, but the rest of world used professionals before the U.S. did. The college teams aren't good enough to beat the professional teams.

[treble 0]

I've always thought that the Olympics should be for the world's best athletes, regardless of whether they're being paid or not.

[Guest FrigidSoul]

I'd rather the U.S. lose with up and coming players or retired over the hill players that never won anything than with major stars.

 

I remember watching Oswalt play in the 2000 Olympics and thinking "That guy is gonna be something special". Of course it could just be me because I like to see if I'm a good scout of talent, and I still think I'll be right about Rich Harden one day becoming so dominant that Oakland will be able to trade Barry Zito if need be

Like plugging Rich Harden as a future star is a major accomplishment.

I think it is when you call it while the guy is still playing in Junior College

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Wait a second. If he were still playing in junior college, he wouldn't have been drafted yet. So you pegged him to replace Barry Zito BEFORE the A's drafted him?

 

I'm impressed.

[Slayer 0]

Wait a second. If he were still playing in junior college, he wouldn't have been drafted yet. So you pegged him to replace Barry Zito BEFORE the A's drafted him?

 

I'm impressed.

I believe he meant that he called Harden's being a general breakout star in baseball, not specifically for the A's

 

I've known Plunderin for a long time (well before this board) and I can vouch for his prediction though

[Guest FrigidSoul]

Wait a second. If he were still playing in junior college, he wouldn't have been drafted yet. So you pegged him to replace Barry Zito BEFORE the A's drafted him?

 

I'm impressed.

I said he would be a star while he was being drafted out of junior college. Then when the A's got him I said "They're going to be able to trade one of the big 3 now for offense and it won't hurt them a bit". Being as how they have 3 lefties they can go ahead and trade Zito who will be making the most and will get them a damn fine bat.