Kelvin Kuo/USA TODAY Sports
Since its inception in 2006, the World Baseball Classic has been a fun event for hardcore fans, but it has never quite shed its reputation as a silly little World Cup wannabe. To an extent, this is understandable. Despite baseball’s global reach, soccer is by far the most popular sport in the world.
Just look at some of this year’s WBC rosters, which were revealed last night on MLB Network, and you’ll notice more U.S.-born players on the Italian team than those born in the team’s actual country. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it could be part of the reason why, say, people in Italy might not connect with a roster featuring 29 players born in the U.S. (including starting pitcher Matt Harvey!) and only five born in Italy. Also, Italy’s manager is Mike Piazza (birthplace: Norristown, Pa.).
