Mark DeRosa and Team USA get their WBC reprieve. Now they need to take advantage

HOUSTON — Nothing to see here! Team USA’s ticket is indeed punched to the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic. Manager Mark DeRosa just got a little ahead of himself, that’s all.

That would be the charitable view, heartily endorsed by DeRosa’s employers at Major League Baseball. But Team USA, the runner-up in Pool B, literally can move on now. The firestorm DeRosa created by prematurely saying his team advanced will subside Friday the moment the first pitch is thrown in the quarterfinal against Canada, the Pool A winner.

For its narrow escape, Team USA can thank the Italian-Americans who on Wednesday night helped Italy eliminate Mexico 9-1 — most notably Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola, who threw five scoreless innings, and Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, who hit three homers.

“You’re welcome, USA,” Pasquantino said in the postgame interview with Fox’s Jon Morosi. “We were thinking of you guys over at your hotel. We were thinking of you guys, so I’m glad you could join us in the party.”

Perhaps Team USA should donate whatever prize money it receives to the Italian Baseball Federation. Outfit the entire Italian team in Armani. Donate an Italian-American major leaguer currently in spring training for the rest of the WBC.

Ah, but enough of this espresso rush.

The focus now will turn to another of DeRosa’s comments from earlier in the tournament, when he was asked about which pitcher Mexico manager Benji Gil might start against Team USA.

“Honestly, I think we have the best 30 players in the world in that clubhouse,” he said, “and they’re coming together as a team. I don’t really think it’s going to matter who he starts. We’re going to put a lineup out there and get after it.”

Gil took exception, but Team USA rode a five-run third inning in that game to defeat Mexico 5-3. The supposed 30 best players in the world, though, couldn’t beat Italy, which started journeyman right-hander Michael Lorenzen and featured a lineup with zero All-Star appearances to Team USA’s 24, with Bryce Harper and Alex Bregman combining for 11 more on the U.S. bench.

A victory over Canada in the quarterfinal would push Team USA to the semifinals in Miami, Fla. At some point, the 30 best players in the world might need to overcome similarly loaded teams from the Dominican Republic and/or three-time WBC champion Japan. Its offense, in particular, will need to show more than brief flashes of dominance.

The U.S. pitching is in relatively good shape. Logan Webb will start the quarterfinal. Paul Skenes is lined up for the potential semi. DeRosa has already pegged Nolan McLean, who struggled against Italy, for the potential final. But before and after the quarters, Team USA could freshen up its pitching staff with several relievers from its designated pitcher pool, and Joe Ryan could be in play in some capacity for the championship game.

As for future lineups, here’s guessing DeRosa won’t start Paul Goldschmidt over Harper at first base, and maybe not Gunnar Henderson over Bregman at third, either.

The choice of Henderson against Italy was defensible — he had four hits, all between 106 and 111 mph, in his previous start, and hit a home run while striking out three times. But Bregman, who has 447 career plate appearances in the postseason, is far more experienced in high-pressure environments.

Second baseman Brice Turang, one of Team USA’s best players in the tournament, also needs to remain in the lineup. Want to win? Give yourself the best chance, particularly when everyone involved with Team USA says the players are willing to sacrifice their egos for the cause.

As one major-league manager, granted anonymity for his candor, said: “You can’t manage to please the group. Play your nine and win games.”

Whatever happens next, Team USA and DeRosa should be thankful for the reprieve. If the U.S. had failed to finish in the top eight — not a lot to ask — the ramifications might have been far-reaching. And painful.

Team USA would have been a laughingstock, subject to barbs not just from social and traditional media, but also those in the international baseball community who — like Gil — perceived DeRosa and company as overly confident if not downright arrogant.

DeRosa almost certainly would not have returned for his third stint as manager — and still might not, based on how the U.S. fares. But the bigger question, particularly if the tournament ends in frustration for Team USA, concerns the participation of American players in the future.

Players this time were motivated by the excitement of the 2023 WBC and the disappointment the U.S. experienced when Japan’s Shohei Ohtani struck out Team USA’s Mike Trout for the final out. To a man, they are relishing spending time together and playing for their country.

Would a sour ending provide even greater motivation for U.S. players, assuming the league and players union agree to continue the tournament, which they absolutely should to keep growing the game internationally? Would a potential free-agent pitcher in Tarik Skubal’s position rearrange his spring training schedule the next time so he could make more than a token appearance?

Or will more U.S. players again view the WBC with the type of skepticism that before ’23 was more prevalent in their ranks? When dealing with the best of the best, playing time always will be an issue. DeRosa said when he left Harper and Bregman out of the lineup Tuesday night, both gave him the “side eye.”

In every sport, the best way to mute selfish concerns is by winning. Team USA now gets a second chance. Many U.S. fans invest minimal emotion in a tournament that is just 20 years old and takes place in the middle of spring training. But DeRosa and USA Baseball have been preparing for this moment ever since the loss in ’23. And other countries sure seem to care.

Now that the WBC is in the knockout stage, DeRosa no longer needs to worry about what it will take to punch Team USA’s ticket. Win the tournament, and Tuesday’s fiasco will be remembered as little more than a loud hiccup. DeRosa and company should be grateful for the glass of water Italy provided. And sip politely from here.