Mark DeRosa thought Team USA already advanced before stunning WBC loss to Italy

Mark DeRosa, that was not how Tuesday was supposed to go. Team USA lost to Italy 8-6 in a stunning upset Tuesday night at Daikin Park, leaving the Americans in genuine danger of being eliminated from the World Baseball Classic.

Team USA beat Brazil 15-5, beat Great Britain 9-1, and beat Mexico 5-3 just lose to Italy and now will sweat out a Wednesday tiebreaker scenario.

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Making it better, or worse depending on your perspective, is the fact that manager Mark DeRosa went on MLB Network just hours before last night’s game and said Team USA had already punched their ticket to the quarterfinals.

Mark DeRosa thought Team USA already advanced…?

“It’s weird. We want to win this game even though our ticket’s punched to the quarterfinals.” -Team USA manager Mark DeRosa earlier today

Team USA’s ticket was not, in fact, punched to the quarterfinals, and now they’re in danger of missing out pic.twitter.com/xMPAdLODTY

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 11, 2026

“It’s weird. We want to win this game even though our ticket’s punched to the quarterfinals…”

“I misspoke… Completely misread the calculations.”

Manager Mark DeRosa confirms he did not know Team USA could still be eliminated during pool play pic.twitter.com/n5Gbo3SxcB

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 11, 2026

Team USA’s ticket was not punched. Not even close.

DeRosa did not fully understand the tiebreaker rules. Fucking great. Just a horrible look for Team USA. Honestly, I can’t even be only mad at Mark DeRosa either. How does no one else understand the situation either?

Aaron Judge? Captain America? Come on brother. Mike Trout would have never allowed this to happen. Look alive out there!

Here is the situation as it stands. If Mexico beats Italy on Wednesday, all three teams would be tied at 3-1 with only two advancing.

The tiebreaker is based on a runs-allowed quotient between the tied teams. In plain language, Team USA needs either Italy to score at least 5 runs against Mexico or Mexico to score at least 6 runs against Italy when those two play Wednesday. If neither happens and Mexico wins cleanly, Team USA could be going home.

The United States of America. Sent home from the World Baseball Classic. In pool play. After going 3-0.

This is not a guaranteed elimination. Team USA still controls part of their fate through the tiebreaker math and Mexico still has to beat Italy first.

However, the manager of the best team in the World Baseball Classic going on national television and saying the wrong thing about his own team’s standing is not a great sign heading into the most stressful 24 hours of the tournament.

Mark DeRosa. Come on, man. Mexico and Italy on Wednesday. Team USA is watching. The WBC has delivered again.

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