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Tuesday, April 06, 2021

Mike Scioscia gets back into managing, will lead Team USA in Olympics quest

For the first time since leaving the Angels three years ago, Mike Scioscia is back in the dugout.

Scioscia was selected Tuesday as manager of Team USA. He’ll lead the team in an Olympic qualifying tournament in Florida in June.

The U.S. is one of 12 countries competing for the final two spots in the baseball tournament at the Tokyo Olympics. Mexico, Israel, South Korea and host Japan already have qualified.

Scioscia is a three-time World Series champion, as a catcher for the Dodgers in 1981 and 1988, and as manager of the Angels in 2002. His 1,650 victories as a major league manager — all in his 19 seasons with the Angels — rank 19th on the all-time list.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: April 06, 2021 at 11:52 AM | 7 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: mike scioscia, olympics, usa baseball

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1. JJ1986 Posted: April 06, 2021 at 02:35 PM (#6012037)

Jeff Mathis is available.

2. jacksone (AKA It's OK...) Posted: April 06, 2021 at 02:59 PM (#6012044)

Jeff Mathis is available.

Primey!

3. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: April 06, 2021 at 04:31 PM (#6012067)

You joke, but...

In building
@USABaseball
roster for
@Tokyo2020
qualifying, Mike Scioscia said he envisions "a blend" between veterans who are familiar with pennant-race pressure and talented players at multiple levels of the minor leagues.

I actually think it would be a good idea to get some former MLB players on the team, might draw some attention, and wouldn't Adam Jones and Jeff Mathis be better than some Double-A non prospect?

4. Jay Seaver Posted: April 06, 2021 at 04:56 PM (#6012073)

I mean, I can see an argument for Jeff Mathis - a veteran catcher whom the manager and the players trust/respect seems like a good bet for a team that's coming together from a lot of different sources for a short period of time. I don't think there's a particularly good way to build an Olympic team unless you're going to stop the season, but I suspect that I'd like a 3-to-1 mix of prospects with potential and last hurrah guys.

What I'd really want is the World Baseball Classic every odd-numbered year. It's a ton of fun, and getting it off the four-year schedule might make it stop feeling like an aberration and encourage more people to play/unclench about their team's players being involved.

5. DL from MN Posted: April 06, 2021 at 05:42 PM (#6012082)

Looking over the recent free agents and retirees for players who could be useful: Ryan Braun, Tyler Flowers, Jed Gyorko, Cole Hamels, Mike Leake, Rick Porcello, Brad Peacock, Shane Greene, Josh Reddick, David Robertson, Jeff Samardzija, Nick Markakis, Gio Gonzalez, Matt Wieters.

6. JJ1986 Posted: April 06, 2021 at 05:44 PM (#6012084)

I think it's funny, but I also think it's likely to happen. Erik Kratz was on the last team.

7. Ziggy: social distancing since 1980 Posted: April 06, 2021 at 08:12 PM (#6012125)

Some weird names on that list. Jed Gyorko had a 121 OPS+ last year. (And a 0.00 ERA!)

Hamels only pitched three innings last year; was his injury of the "can never pitch again"? Because he was above average in 2019. Peacock pitched only two innings last year, but was pretty good the year before. Unless these guys are going all Ty Buttrey on us, it's a surprise that no one tossed them a bone.

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Tuesday, April 06, 2021

Mike Scioscia gets back into managing, will lead Team USA in Olympics quest

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