Even if it didn’t help grow the game worldwide, even if it didn’t give players a chance to represent their countries, even if it didn’t provide exciting baseball to break up the monotony of spring training, the World Baseball Classic would be worth it, because it has done this year what in five seasons the Angels could not: allow the two best players in the world to play games that matter.
Since 2018—Shohei Ohtani’s first season in MLB—he and Mike Trout have never finished higher than third place. Between the teammates, they have won two of the past four American League MVP awards—Trout in center field, Ohtani at pitcher and DH—and finished second twice more, but they have not enjoyed a single winning season. They have not even played a meaningful game after the All-Star break.
But Ohtani’s Team Japan and Trout’s Team USA have streaked through the WBC, and, after the U.S. routed Cuba on Sunday, 14–2, and Japan walked off Mexico on Monday, 6–5, they earned the right to meet in Tuesday’s final. It’s hard to imagine a better matchup: the U.S.’s All-Star lineup against a collection of Japanese studs at the plate and on the mound. But mostly: Trout vs. Ohtani.
