Tarik Skubal, limiting himself to just one game in the World Baseball Classic, has many fans upset. On Monday afternoon, it was reported that Skubal will only throw 55 pitches and return to the Detroit Tigers for Spring Training.
Skubal is being careful to prepare for the long season run and upcoming free agency in winter, where he’s predicted to land a $400M deal. He is scheduled to pitch against Great Britain on Saturday.
Team USA captain Aaron Judge, unlike others, is excited to have Tarik Skubal in the game, even if it’s for a short time. He backed the pitcher, noting that it’s a crucial time for him and that the fact that he is even participating is great.
“It speaks volumes, definitely, because of what’s ahead of him,’’ Aaron Judge said. “You know, he’s got the two Cy Young awards, but this guy’s about to make half-a-billion dollars here in the next offseason. So, for him to put it all on the line for his country, and come out here and show up for us…”
“You know, maybe it is just one game, but you know there’s a risk with everything you do, and for him to take that risk and come out here and be with us, you know, the boys love it. They’re hyped in the clubhouse.’’
Judge further added that Skubal might play another game for Team USA, but it is yet unknown. Team USA manager Mark DeRosa also backed Tigers ace, saying,
“He’s in a different situation than anybody here. And to be honest, I’m over the moon that he decided to join us. I didn’t think he was going to, based on everything he has, trying to win three Cy Youngs and going into his free-agent year.’’
On Monday, DeRosa revealed the lineup for the first four pool games, starting with Logan Webb, Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes, and Nolan McLean. Webb will start against Brazil in Houston on Friday, Skenes will follow up against Mexico on March 9, and McLean will start against Italy on March 10.
Aaron Judge says Team USA is hyped up after Olympic Hockey golds
Aaron Judge said that Team USA winning both the men’s and women’s ice hockey and bringing home Olympic gold had his WBC teammates fired up. During an appearance on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ on Monday, Judge noted that the “boys were pumped” in the group chat following the Olympic game.
“Boys were fired up,” Aaron Judge said. “Hughes, man, we sent so many pictures of Hughes in the group text. It was great.
“It’s kinda cool that it’s going to snowball into this. Just the excitement we had when I was with the Yankees, and then with the group text, the boys were pumped up. Now, it’s WBC, we get the chance to throw on the red, white, and blue and copy what they did.”
Bryce Harper admitted that he was “glued to the TV for those two, three weeks.” Team USA is the favorite this time around in the World Baseball Classic, with Mark DeRosa adding all the star-studded players to the lineup.
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