USA expects World Baseball Classic 'spectacle' vs. Dominican Republic superstars - USA Today

HOUSTON — Team USA survived its pool, won its quarterfinal game Friday against Canada, and acted like it was all just a three-hour business meeting.

The players walked slowly out of the dugout onto the field after their 5-3 victory, shook hands, politely fist-bumped each other, slapped a couple of backs, and retreated to the Daikin Park clubhouse to pack for their trip to Miami to play the Dominican Republic on Sunday in the World Baseball Classic semifinals.

They insist they’re having a blast, with several saying it’s the best time they’ve ever had playing baseball, but outwardly, their emotions have been muted, almost as if winning four of five games has been simply a relief.

“Still rooting for Team USA," former MLB outfielder Cameron Maybin posted on his X account, “but damn… these games have been boring as hell to watch. Save me the 'this is the American way to play the game' speech....

"Have some fun. Celebrate these moments. The DR, Venezuela, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico… those boys are playing with real juice and you can feel it through the TV. Right now Team USA look dry as hell."

Team USA politely disagrees with the assessment, but maybe things will change once they get to Miami. Perhaps once they see the towering bat-flips, dancing on the basepaths, taking team selfies after homers, and the sheer unadulterated passion by the Dominican Republic and its fans, it will rub off on them.

Certainly, no one is having more outwardly fun than those dudes. The Dominican Republic has manhandled everyone in their way, outscoring the opposition, 51-10, in their five victories, while hitting 14 home runs.

“It's exciting to see what the DR is doing," USA captain Aaron Judge says. “It's been fun watching those games and seeing what's going on. I think everybody in that room is excited to get there and be a part of it."

While the Dominican Republic is putting on a nightly laser show, the USA has played well enough to qualify for the semifinals in a weak pool, but it’s almost been methodical.

The Americans trounced Brazil and Great Britain, the two patsies in their pool, but scored in just one inning against Mexico, were shut out until the sixth inning against Italy, and produced just one extra-base Friday against Canada.

“I still think we haven’t played our best ball yet," USA shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. said.

The Americans, wearing USA sweatsuits as they left the stadium for their 2 ½-hour flight to Miami, have 48 hours to wake up before facing the powerful Dominican team, who mercy-ruled Korea with a 10-0 victory in Miami.

So, just what can the Americans expect when they hit Miami with the loanDepot Park filled with the passionate Dominican fanbase?

“An unreal environment, right?" USA manager Mark DeRosa said. “Ton of respect for [Dominican manager] Albert Pujols. He's an old teammate from 2009. So, yeah, I expect it to be like one of the best games of all time. …This game is going to be awesome to play against. There are superstars up and down both lineups. Pitching staffs.

“It's just going to be a spectacle."

Perhaps a victory over the Dominican Republic, setting up a potential rematch against Japan in the WBC championship game, could be the emotional jolt USA needs.

“It's fun, it's exciting, I know the fans definitely love it," Judge said of the Dominican team. “But I try not to look at what other teams are doing, what other people are doing. I'm focused on what we've got here.

“We've got a special group of guys that love to play this game. They're excited to be in this room. I know how they're all honored to be in this room, and they're not taking it for granted."

'It's a relief' for Team USA to move on

Still, as USA pitching coach Andy Pettitte said, the victories haven't brought much joy. The Americans were supposed to be in the semifinals. They were supposed to roll over everyone on their way to Miami. They certainly weren’t supposed to lose to Italy, and have Canada scare the daylights out of them in the quarterfinals.

“Obviously, it’s a relief," said Pettitte, the five-time World Series champion. “You don’t want to lose, you’re going home. But I’d say it’s both. It’s a relief we’re moving on. We’re the USA. We got a great team. I expected to win this thing no matter how we’ve got to piece it together.

“But we’ve got an unbelievable team.... so you feel like it’s going to be a disappointment if we don’t win."

Certainly, USA likes their chances against the Dominican Republic with defending NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes on the mound. Skenes has a 1.96 ERA in his two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, striking out 386 batters over 320 ⅔ innings. He is permitted by WBC regulations to throw 95 pitches, but Pettitte said they’ll likely limit him to 75 to 80, and turn it over to the bullpen.

Skenes was dominant against Mexico in his first WBC st...