Team USA survives, advances in March Madness

"That was the closest 9-4 ballgame I've ever seen," said USA Baseball CEO Paul Seiler, just minutes after I ran into him behind the USA dugout, following the United States' critical, do-or-die victory over Canada this afternoon at Chase Field in Phoenix.
He couldn't have summed it up much better. It absolutely was a nailbiter. It always is, when Team USA and Canada meet on the diamond (as described in my book Miracle on Grass, when Canada shocked Team USA in the very first game of the 1999 Pan Ams, 7-6 in extra innings).
Only when Team USA's Eric Hosmer ripped a bases-clearing double in the top of the ninth, with Team USA ahead 6-4, did anyone in the USA dugout feel comfortable.
The Americans were literally six outs from being ELIMINATED from this World Baseball Classic. They trailed Canada 3-2, going to the 8th inning. Yes, it would have been a natural disaster had Team USA lost this game. MLB was counting on them for higher TV ratings and higher ticket revenues for the next round in Miami, and possibly the finals in San Francisco.
When Canada's Michael Saunders launched a 2-run homer in the second inning of USA starter Derek Holland, we were already off to a bad start. But the Americans battled back and tied it 2-2 in the 4th. Canada went back ahead 3-2 on a base hit by Adam Loewen, and it stayed that way until the critical 8th. That's when Orioles star Adam Jones came up with the biggest hit of the event so far for Team USA, drilling a one out, two-run double into the left-center gap off Canadian reliever Jim Henderson. It gave Team USA a 4-3 lead.
But, just as they always do (see my column here that I wrote prior to the WBC starting): Canada fought right back, and had cut the lead to 5-4, with the bases loaded and two outs. Joe Torre went to relief pitcher Steve Cishek, to face Canadian pinch hitter Tim Smith. In what was the game's most critical moment, Cishek got Smith to ground out to second base, securing the 5-4 lead.
The Americans then blew it open with four runs in the 9th, and all of the Canadian fans began to gather their things and walk out up the aisles and out of the stadium, as soon as Hosmer's double cleared the bases. Craig Kimbrel came on to secure the final three outs, for Team USA.
It was a rousing way for Pool D to come to an end, and this will be remembered for the raucous fight between the two teams that failed to advance: Mexico & Canada, along with the surprising Italian team, that beat both of those squads to join the Americans in Miami.
Incredibly, Team USA came ever so close to being knocked out of the event and finishing in last place in the pool. Instead, they won Pool D outright and will meet the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Italy later this week in Florida.
I'm excited that they have advanced, but - if they wait as long as they did here in Phoenix to put their game faces on - I'm afraid they might not make it to the finals in San Francisco. The DR is my favorite to win the next round, and it will be up to the other three teams to decide which one grabs the second flight to California. Should be fun to watch. I will blog again during the second round. That's all from here in Phoenix.
It's been a fun week, and I've been able to generate alot of publicity for Miracle on Grass, while covering the WBC.
Here are some photos from today's action between Team USA & Canada:

Final pitch of the game: Kimbrel strikes out Votto to end it

Flag ceremony showing the two teams that have advanced: Italy and the USA

David Fanucchi is the author of “Miracle on Grass” - How Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda led Team USA to a shocking upset over Cuba, capturing the only Olympic gold medal in USA Baseball history. He was the official Team USA Press Officer for both the 2000 USA Baseball Olympic Team and the 2006 USA World Baseball Classic Team. More information about Fanucchi and Miracle on Grass can be found on his website at www.davidfanucchi.com. Follow him on Twitter @miracleongrass.  

Team USA in early trouble at the WBC

I have been fortunate enough to be around the USA Baseball organization for several years, and I've gotten to know many of the people involved with the operation. All of them are so passionate about winning, and putting their best foot forward in ever single international baseball competition they enter. They care about the results, a lot.
And in every event that they choose to compete in, USA Baseball has their own hand in the player selection process. The only time that they end up with a major-league level roster though, is in the World Baseball Classic. In all of their other events - with minor-leaguers, college players, high school stars on the rise, or younger kids - what they get are hungry, eager-to-prove themselves athletes, who are fired up about the opportunity to wear the Team USA jersey.
I'm not saying that the players on this year's 2013 WBC team aren't excited about it. But it's evident that the level that they have invested into this chance, and buy into what USA Baseball is doing, isn't the same.
That's the only reason I can think of, for their lackluster performance last night in an opening round loss to Mexico, 5-2, in their first game. They looked uninterested in competing, and had no fire. They were boring to watch. And I hate to say it, but sadly, I saw this coming last week, when I posted this column on my blog:
Team USA shouldn't overlook Mexico & Canada in 1st Round

The Mexico fans easily outnumbered the Team USA fans Friday night at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ. They held an impromptu rally and dance outside the stadium, after they beat the Americans, 5-2. 

The loss has put Team USA in danger of not even advancing to the second round of play in Miami. That, would be a colossal disaster. For a good explanation of where things stand in Pool D right now, see CBS Sports' Danny Knobler's piece here: Making sense of the WBC format
As I write this, Canada is beating Mexico down at Chase Field, 5-3 in the 6th inning. A win by Canada, would go a long way in helping Team USA's chances of advancing, if they can actually show up and play tonight vs. Italy. Suddenly, that is not a game that they can take lightly. The Italians are 2-0, and absolutely shellacked Canada yesterday, 14-4 in 8 innings. "They are playing with a lot of confidence," said USA Manager Joe Torre.

The Italian fans were going crazy after their 14-4 win over Canada Friday in the World Baseball Classic

If Team USA can beat Italy, and then also beat Canada tomorrow, they should advance. That is unless they lose a tiebreaker in runs scored differential between the three teams with 2-1 records. If Canada beats Mexico today, and the USA beats Italy tonight, the USA vs Canada game on Sunday becomes an automatic qualifier for the 2nd round, as each team would be 1-1, with Italy at 2-1 and Mexico done playing at 1-2. The winner would advance to Miami, the loser would be done.

I am hoping the Americans find a way to muster up alot more energy tonight and tomorrow, than they had last night. I have been doing some live radio reports for CBS Sports Radio, and did a spot with the Doug Gottlieb show yesterday prior to the game. I also did a post-game wrap report late last night on the Amy Lawrence show, and they plan on calling me again tonight. If you are awake during the wee hours, look up Amy's show online, and give it a listen.

I stopped by the Milwaukee Brewers' spring training game yesterday, and had a nice exchange with Brewers legendary radio announcer Bob Uecker about my book Miracle on Grass. I gave him a copy, and he appreciated it. I also gave one to his on-air partner Joe Block, and Joe seemed very excited about reading it.

Here's Uecker, doing the Brewers game on radio yesterday,
with a copy of Miracle on Grass sitting next to his microphone.

And finally, I got a pretty nice surprise Thursday night, when I stopped into one of Scottsdale's landmarks when it comes to baseball and spring training - Don and Charlie's restaurant. If you've never been there, the place is a must see for all baseball fans. On any given night during spring training, you could run into several current players, ex-players, coaches, managers, or TV and radio personalities. Alot of the game's baseball beat writers go there for dinner as well. It's famous for it's ribs, chicken, and bbq sauce. Sports memorabilia is all over the walls of the entire place.
I was standing in the bar, waiting for a chance to order a beer, when I looked to my right and saw one of my favorite San Francisco Giants of all-time: Will "The Thrill" Clark. He was there to meet up with a few other Giants coaches, so I had to shake his hand, say hello, and take a picture with him. It was a cool moment for me. He was awesome - we talked for a minute about his game-winning hit off Mitch Williams in Game 5 of the 1989 National League Championship Series, that clinched the NL pennant for the Giants. I was at the game that day, and told him about it.

David Fanucchi is the author of “Miracle on Grass” - How Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda led Team USA to a shocking upset over Cuba, capturing the only Olympic gold medal in USA Baseball history. He was the official Team USA Press Officer for both the 2000 USA Baseball Olympic Team and the 2006 USA World Baseball Classic Team. More information about Fanucchi and Miracle on Grass can be found on his website at www.davidfanucchi.com.  You can follow him on Twitter at @miracleongrass.

Cobb keeps the ball rolling in Phoenix

To consider how Major League Baseball operates a miniature, month-long practice season of up to 10 games a day, spread across nine different luxurious ballparks all in the Metro Phoenix area, you would have to think about the hundreds of parking lot and concession volunteers, stadium operations people, and MLB Team front office execs it must take.
Then, add in the fact that you'd like to also play the first round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic in that same city, and use one of the ballparks (Salt River Fields, home of the D-Backs and Rockies), as a secondary site for some of the games. In addition, you want to outfit four additional teams, create some locker room space for them, find them practice fields that aren't being used, and schedule their transportation and hotel accomodations. Now, you've got a pretty tough logistical scenario.

Phoenix Municipal Stadium (Home of the Oakland A's) is one of the spring training venues in Arizona.

For all of that, Major League Baseball relies on a baseball-savvy, veteran named Steve Cobb. I've known Steve since he hired me as a media relations assistant for the 1994 Arizona Fall League. That was Cobb's second year in charge of the MLB's proving ground league, for young prospects looking to make the jump to the big leagues the next spring. Cobb just passed his 20th year in charge of the operation.
A former Traveling Secretary for the Cincinnati Reds during the late 70's and early 80's, Cobb took an opportunity with the AFL as an assistant in operations, after spending 7 years working in Xavier University's Athletic Department.

Cobb, in the red jacket, is pictured here with the 1985 Reds, managed by Pete Rose.

"I figured I'd come out here to Arizona, maybe spend a year getting myself back into baseball, then try and grab a job in the big leagues again with a club," said Cobb. "But, I just haven't left. Been here ever since, and I'm not going anywhere anytime soon."
He has grown the AFL into what it is today, a very well-respected entity throughout the game, and something that every club has come to rely on. Cobb knows all the stadium operations people around town, which just makes it that much easier for him to coordinate this special event called the WBC.
Besides the games that are being played, Cobb also has to figure out where to house and train the two teams from Pool A and B that advance to the finals in San Francisco. Those two squads will make a pit stop in Phoenix next week, to stay in game playing shape for a few days, while Pools C & D catch up and finish the first two rounds.
"We may be looking at Cuba coming in here, and that always creates an extra set of challenges," said Cobb. "But, we'll roll with the punches and make it happen."
Cobb also gets many of the extra "logistical" assignments from MLB, such as coordinating a professional level team of American players, when they might go play overseas. It was in that role, when he worked with the 2000 USA Baseball Olympic Team, as they traveled to Australia to play in the Olympic Games under Manager Tommy Lasorda. Cobb's exploits running the Team USA operation are featured in Miracle on Grass, as he describes several of the crazy tales he recalls of trying to move a Hall of Fame manager, a baseball team, and a group of 50 Americans, to the other side of the world.

A photo of a 2000 USA Baseball Olympic Team jersey, signed by Lasorda and every player on the team that won a gold medal in Sydney, hangs on the wall in Cobb's home. 

So, whenever you're in Phoenix and at a spring training game, Arizona Fall League game, or WBC game, now you know who helps keep the baseball rolling in the operation. That being said, I'm not sure he had anything to do with this:

You gotta love the Chicago Cubs spring training games at HoHoKam Park in Mesa, where they serve cold pitchers of beer - five different varieties - in the media and volunteer dining room. I was there today for the Cubs game vs. the White Sox. 

David Fanucchi is the author of “Miracle on Grass” - How Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda led Team USA to a shocking upset over Cuba, capturing the only Olympic gold medal in USA Baseball history. He was the official Team USA Press Officer for both the 2000 USA Baseball Olympic Team and the 2006 USA World Baseball Classic Team. More information about Fanucchi and Miracle on Grass can be found on his website at www.davidfanucchi.com.  You can follow him on Twitter at @miracleongrass.

Miracle on Grass hits the MLB Radio airwaves

So far, in the first three days I've been here at Spring Training in Arizona, I've had an opportunity to be a guest on five MLB Teams' pre-game radio shows. My book Miracle on Grass has been getting quite a bit of attention, because this is the optimal time for the baseball world to be discussing the game on an international level, with the 3rd installment of the World Baseball Classic upon us. The first round of those games in Pool D, between the USA, Canada, Mexico and Italy, starts tomorrow. Team USA faces Mexico Friday night at Chase Field, Italy Saturday night, and Canada on Sunday.

Tonight, I am here at the Team USA exhibition game at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, the Cactus League home of the Diamondbacks and Rockies. It's also where they play some games during the Arizona Fall League, which I was once (1994-95) or twice (1998) the Director of Communications for. What a great facility. Very nice. Here's what the ballpark looks like, as it gets set to host the opener between Italy and Mexico tomorrow afternoon.

Tonight, I was a guest on the Rockies pre-game show on 850 KMO Radio in Denver, with Colorado radio announcer Jerry Schemmel.

During the Royals and Diamondbacks Game here at Salt River earlier today, I sat in with Royals announcer Steve Stewart during the 6th inning of his live broadcast of the Royals 8-1 victory, and discussed the book with him on the air. I hope the fans in Kansas City enjoyed my commentary! KC has won 11 games without a loss so far this spring....pretty impressive.

This afternoon, I recorded an extensive interview with the producer of the Cincinnati Reds' radio show David Armbruster, at their stadium in Goodyear, AZ. That interview will be aired in pieces over the next week or so, on Reds' radio broadcasts. It may even be used in the regular season.

Yesterday, I had the good fortune of catching up with an old friend from my Arizona days, when I worked for the triple-A Phoenix Firebirds (this was before the Diamondbacks even existed). One of their radio announcers is Jeff Munn, who I knew from back in the day. He and I talked about the book, and he recorded an interview that he will use in the coming days on the D'Backs airwaves. I did not get a picture with him.

But I did get a photo with Cleveland Indians radio announcer Jim Rosenhaus, who I sat down with yesterday at Scottsdale Stadium (the first baseball stadium I ever worked at, and where I got my start in the game of baseball.) I went on the air during the 4th inning of the Indians 4-3 win over my beloved Giants, and that was a great chance to bring my story to Cleveland fans on their radio network.

Finally, Here I am at Scottsdale Stadium, proudly standing next to the two logos of the Giants' recent 2012 and 2010 World Championships!

David Fanucchi is the author of “Miracle on Grass” - How Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda led Team USA to a shocking upset over Cuba, capturing the only Olympic gold medal in USA Baseball history. He was the official Team USA Press Officer for both the 2000 USA Baseball Olympic Team and the 2006 USA World Baseball Classic Team. More information about Fanucchi and Miracle on Grass can be found on his website at www.davidfanucchi.com.  You can follow him on Twitter at @miracleongrass.

    

Miracle on Grass "officially" enters the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown

March 6, 2013. Today will be a pretty proud day for me.

I woke up this morning to find an e-mail message in my inbox from Jim Gates - the Library Director at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY. Last week, I sent off two signed copies of my book Miracle on Grass - one to President Jeff Idelson, who has been a friend of mine ever since we worked the 1997 National League Championship Series together (between the Florida Marlins and the Atlanta Braves). The second copy was meant to be given to the library, and Jim's message confirmed that he had indeed received the book from Jeff. 

Here is the e-mail message from Jim:

Mr. Fanucchi,

Greetings from Cooperstown.

On behalf of everyone at the library of the National Baseball Hall of Fame I would like to thank you for the copy of Miracle on Grass.  We are very pleased to have this book and it will be added to our permanent collection.  It is via such donations that we are able to expand the scope and depth of our archive and your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Best wishes,

Jim G.

----------------------------------------------------------------
James L. Gates Jr., Library Director
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
25 Main Street
Cooperstown, NY 13326

So, at the end of the day, no matter how many people out there buy the book or read it, I'll always have that to hang my hat on. I hope that if you're reading this blog, you might have an interest in picking up a copy of Miracle on Grass and reading one of the great stories in American baseball history. It is available on www.Amazon.com or on my website at www.davidfanucchi.com. Please follow me on Twitter, as I am covering the first round of the WBC from here in Phoenix this week: @miracleongrass: https://twitter.com/miracleongrass

Here's my promo poster for the book, done by my good friend from high school, Frank Quadro. 

David Fanucchi is the author of “Miracle on Grass” - How Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda led Team USA to a shocking upset over Cuba, capturing the only Olympic gold medal in USA Baseball history. He was the official Team USA Press Officer for both the 2000 USA Baseball Olympic Team and the 2006 USA World Baseball Classic Team. More information about Fanucchi and Miracle on Grass can be found on his website at www.davidfanucchi.com.  You can follow him on Twitter at @miracleongrass.

Seattle ESPN Radio's Cactus League Report

My guest appearance on the Seattle Mariners' 2-hour Cactus League Radio Report, from the Salty Senorita restaurant in Peoria, Arizona Monday night, March 4, was a lot of fun. I was one of six guests over the two hours, along with Mariners pitching coach Carl Willis, Mariners players Casper Wells, Tom Wilhelmsen and former USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Winner Mike Zunino. Mariners beat writer Larry Stone came on right before me, and I wrapped up the show at the end.

Mariners' pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen (center) was also one of the guests on the show last night.
(photo courtesy Jeff Evans)

We gave away a copy of Miracle on Grass, to a fan that answered the trivia question: Name one of the four Mariners prospects from the 2000 USA Baseball Olympic Team? (Seattle had four players on the roster, the most of any MLB organization). The answer of course: OF Mike Neill, RHP Todd Williams, OF Anthony Sanders and RHP Ryan Franklin. One member of the audience named Franklin right away, and won the book. He later told me that he and his wife knew Ryan when he was a member of the Mariners, because they lived in the same apartment complex in Peoria, when Ryan was there for spring training, and used to see him out by the pool.

Here is a link to the blog post done by Shannon Drayer - MLB reporter in Seattle and one of the co-hosts of the show, that includes a link to the podcast where you can hear my interview:
http://mynorthwest.com/374/2218293/More-fun-at-the-Salty-Senorita


 

Team USA optimistic about chances for that elusive WBC title

By David Fanucchi

When the marriage between Major League Baseball and USA Baseball (the national governing body for the sport) took place in 1999, a New Jersey native and former college soccer player named Paul Seiler was second in command of the USAB operation, behind long-time MLB executive Dan O’Brien Sr.

Seiler and O’Brien worked together to introduce the two organizations to one another, and help the MLB executives that were chosen to guide USA Baseball through the player selection process for the first-ever professional Team USA, that would represent the country at the 1999 Pan Am Games. That event would serve as the qualifying event for the 2000 Olympics.

One year later, after Team USA had successfully qualified for the Olympic Games in Sydney, O’Brien stepped down, and the USAB Board of Directors gave the job of CEO to Seiler, on an interim basis. They wanted to see his leadership ability, as the 2000 Olympic Team was being put together.

With the help of current New York Mets GM Sandy Alderson, former New York Yankees GM Bob Watson, Hall of Fame Manager Tommy Lasorda and a host of many other talented individuals throughout various MLB club front offices, Seiler guided the organization to their finest moment – a gold medal victory at the 2000 Olympic Games.

(Seiler, in black sweater, talks with 2000 Team USA Olympic Manager Tommy Lasorda
Monday at the practice being held at Sal River Fields in Phoenix). 

He has been the Chief Operating Officer ever since – now going on 13 years – and yet he still is looking for that next crowning achievement in the organization’s history. “What that group of players in 2000 did for USA Baseball as an organization, was give us that world championship that we could hang our hat on,” said Seiler.  “In the history of Olympic baseball, it would have been a shame had the United States not won a Gold Medal at least once.  With our victory in 2000, we can always say that we climbed to the top of the mountain and got it done, that we were the very best baseball team in the world for one moment in time.” (as quoted in the book Miracle on Grass).

Seiler is fully aware of how difficult it can be to get back to the top of the international baseball mountain. In the 12 professional level major international baseball events that have taken place since 2000 – all of which USA Baseball and MLB collaborated on the roster selection process - Team USA has won exactly……….twice.

Although they have had success getting deep into the events and having chances to win, it just hasn't happened often enough. They were able to win the low-profile, IBAF World Cup in back-to-back attempts in 2007 & 2009, beating Cuba both times. But three losses in gold medal games, and three other third place finishes (including the 2008 Olympics and the 2009 WBC), have added up to it being over 12 years now, since Team USA has won it all on the biggest stage, with the spotlight on the game.

Here are the results of the 14 professional USA Baseball teams that have taken the field. 

  

1999 Pan Am Games                      2^nd place                                                Silver Medal
2000 Olympic Games                     1^st place                                               Gold Medal
2001 IBAF World Cup                    2^nd place                                               Silver Medal
2003 Olympic Qualifier                     Lost in Qtrfinals
2005 IBAF World Cup                    5th Place
2006 World Baseball Classic            Lost in 2^nd Round                                             
2006 Olympic Qualifier                    Qualified for 2008 Olympics
2007 Pan Am Games                       2^nd Place                                              Silver Medal
2007 IBAF World Cup                    1st Place                                              Gold Medal
2008 Olympic Games                      3^rd place                                               Bronze Medal
2009 World Baseball Classic           3^rd Place
2009 IBAF World Cup                    1st Place                                              Gold Medal
2010 Pan Am Qualifier                    3^rd Place                                               Bronze Medal
2011 Pan Am Games                       2^nd Place                                              Silver Medal

Seiler saw first-hand the unique brand of motivational speak that the legendary Lasorda used on a group of unheralded minor-league players at the time. But finding the right blend of talent on the field, personalities in the locker room, and a coaching staff that can drum up the same level of success as Lasorda did, with a roster full of proven, veteran big-leaguers, has proven to be much more daunting than he would have originally thought. 

Lasorda discusses some Team USA strategy with 2013 USA WBC Manager Joe Torre

For obvious reasons, Seiler is hoping that his manager this time around – Joe Torre here at the 2013 World Baseball Classic – can find that magic in a bottle, and carry the Red, White and Blue to a championship in San Francisco. As MLB.com writer Barry Bloom suggested in his column on Sunday, Lasorda's Olympic gold has set an example for Torre, and that a WBC triumph for Team USA would get USA Baseball back to the top of the mountain, where Seiler knows they belong.

Seiler chats with Team USA starting pitcher R.A. Dickey, who was a member of the 1996 USA Olympic Team that competed in Atlanta. Dickey was a player at the University of Tennessee at the time. 

Rayts utilityman Ben Zobrist takes some infield practice at first base, at Team USA's first full squad workout Monday in Scottsdale, AZ.

David Fanucchi is the author of “Miracle on Grass” - How Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda led Team USA to a shocking upset over Cuba, capturing the only Olympic gold medal in USA Baseball history. He was the official Team USA Press Officer for both the 2000 USA Baseball Olympic Team and the 2006 USA World Baseball Classic Team. More information about Fanucchi and Miracle on Grass can be found on his website at www.davidfanucchi.com.  You can follow him on Twitter at @miracleongrass.