Man Just Go!

Dear World Baseball Classic,

Every four years, you reenter my existence like a summer fling I can never quite recover from.

You never call nor send messages. You just show up- patriotic ball caps, star studded rosters, and story lines revived like old pictures dug up from the basement. Yet somehow, every time, I fall for you again. 

You’re more than just a tournament. Time itself, measured in outs and ball counts, and in extra innings. You remind me of me of how life was four years ago. Where I watched the games. Who I watched with. Who’s no longer there and who is. You stitch my soul together in nine inning chapters.  

I love how small you make the universe feel. 

For another week and a half or so, the world will remain gathered in silence around the same glow. We’ll all lean forward and cheer in excitement simultaneously from living rooms in Philadelphia, bars in LA., and stadiums from San Juan to Tokyo. Inhaling at the same taken pitch during a full count, shouting at the same missed call. There’s something mystical about that- millions of heartbeats in alignment because a star outfielder made a game saving diving catch.

An Oscar worthy drama film with no script.

You’ve given us heroes we didn’t expect and villains we secretly love to admire. You turn unknown names from around the world into legends. Make underdogs believers and have giants fall. Time and time again you prove that ball is more courage than reputation. 

You introduced the world to Daisuke, crowned David Wright as “Captain America”, and showed us just how important baseball is to the rest of the earth. 

Flags stitched to the sides of fitted caps. Anthems sung out of key but from the heart. Fans associating more with their home team’s coaching staff than line-up. Children are given the opportunity to root for ball clubs of the lands of their great grand parents. For a brief second in time, identity is something to celebrate as opposed to create division. The competition is short, but the opportunity to celebrate is unmatched. 

And yes, of course there’s the heartbreak.

Ohtani striking out Trout, Team USA’s comeback against Puerto Rico in 2009, and Murakami’s walk off definitely caused a bit. 

You have the power to break me without apology. Walk offs. Late inning situations that feel like emotional Russian roulette. I imagine the disappointment is similar to how a pitcher feels walking back from the mound after being pulled from a bad start. Yet I keep watching. Because loving you means accepting the duality that is joy and pain. 

You’ve helped me learn to hope. 

That the end of every championship game means a chance to reset. That history is important, but not the ultimate deciding factor. That a team can carry itself further than all predictions solely on belief. That sometimes, the smallest country stands tallest. You ask us politely to wait our turn, because our moment will come. 

Once you leave everything goes silent. 

Players return to spring training. Headlines keep coming and going. Banners rise. But you always linger around, in replays, debates, and the home run robbery videos we watch over and over because we still can’t believe it happened. And in promise that in four years we’ll meet again- older, wiser, and just as ready to feel everything again. 

This post is dedicated to you, World Baseball Classic.  

Thanks for giving us baseball fans a sense of prestige. For the sleepless nights, living room celebrations, joyful memories. For reminding me that the world, despite all its craziness, can still gather for something beautiful.

P.S….Here go my ManJustGo predictions for the WBC tourney:

Pool A: Nolan Arenado and co. have the most well known squad in the pool and complimentary young pieces. I’ve got Puerto Rico and Cuba advancing from Pool A. Cuba’s guys have enough international success to be competitive. 

Pool B: The United States has a straight up super team and Mexico is notoriously successful in international competition. I’ve got team Judge and team Arozarena coming out of Pool B. 

Pool C: Yamamoto, Ohtani, and Itoh have plenty of weapons around them to win the WBC for a fourth time. I’ll add Korea to the mix due to its previous tourney successes. Japan and Korea advance from Pool C. 

Pool D: Mis hermanos dominicanos have the most dangerous line-up in the tournament. Tatis, Vlady Jr., Machado, J.Rod, and Soto create a pick your poison dynamic. Acuna Jr. is just my guy. Dominican Republic and Venezuela top Pool D.  

Quarter Finals: Mexico knocks off Puerto Rico, United States destroys Cuba, Japan slightly edges out Venezuela, and Dominican Republic mercies Korea. 

Semi Finals: The Dominicans mercy another opponent in Mexico and Japan scrapes by the United States in what will be the best pitching duel of the tournament. 

Championship: Japan’s arms stay hot and shut down the Dominican line-up to capture a fourth World Baseball Classic Championship trophy. 

-Giovanni Alvarado