Win and advance. That’s the universal goal of every team that’s ever played in a tournament… the teams that care to win, at least. And ideally, while pursuing that goal, someone on the team is keeping track of the things necessary to advance.
When it came to Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, that second part was optional. Apparently, not a single person was aware they still needed to win Tuesday’s game over Italy to guarantee a spot in the knockout stage. Manager Mark DeRosa exposed that cluelessness on national TV.
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It makes you wonder how much they actually care to be there. It’s not the Olympics after all, as Bryce Harper made sure to note before the tournament started.
MISSED THE MARK: MLB Network tried to hide DeRosa’s blunder
Fortunately (or unfortunately?) for the U.S., Italy wasn’t ready for them to go home just yet. After beating Team USA to push them to brink of elimination Tuesday, Italy saved them by beating Mexico on Wednesday. That victory moved the U.S. into the knockout round where they’ll play Canada in the quarterfinals Friday.
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Team USA should send Team Italy a new espresso machine for the dugout as a thank you gift.
After near-elimination, Team USA’s odds to win the tournament at BetMGM have moved from -110 at the start of pool play to +135 now. However, despite losing ground, the Americans remain the favorites. If they really want to show some gratitude for being there, they can prove they care and go compete. The only thing that can wash away that embarrassment is winning.
Colts bring back their $100 million man
Daniel Jones just got paid… again.
The Indianapolis Colts just re-signed Daniel Jones to a two-year deal that could be worth up to $100 million with incentives. Here’s your reminder Jones will be playing the 2026 season fresh off an Achilles tear.
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Nevertheless, it would’ve been awfully hard for Indy to find better production than what Jones provided last season. Plus, it’s not a crippling contract if he struggles. Which is why FTW’s Christian D’Andrea graded the deal favorably.
“If Jones shines, he’ll make somewhere between $45 million and $50 million in annual salary, which wouldn’t crack the top 10 among QBs. If not, the Colts can clean house and rebuild without too damaging a dead cap hit in 2027. From a financial standpoint, it makes sense for both sides.
The question is whether Jones can sustain his 2025 start. The evidence is in his favor…”
Check out more from Christian on why the Jones deal was probably worth it for the Colts.
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This article originally appeared on For The Win: Italy gave Team USA the WBC mulligan it desperately needed