Phoenix – It was your basic split-finger, attention pointed equally at those here and those not.
The World Baseball Classic opened to controversy Tuesday, with the United States scratching past Mexico 2-0 before 32,727 rowdy fans at Chase Field. On a day when the teams took a small step toward globalizing the sport, they were dragged reluctantly into the past by slugger Barry Bonds.
Excerpts from a book to be released this month, authored by the San Francisco Chronicle reporters who followed the BALCO scandal, claim Bonds used an array of performance-enhancing drugs for five years beginning in 1998. So while Bonds wasn’t on the American roster – he declined as a concession to his thrice-repaired left knee – his shadow hung over the dugout.
The juxtaposition was striking – selfless American players celebrating a successful launch to this inaugural interrupted to discuss the alleged indiscretions of the WBC’s most famous absentee. It prompted the puzzling question: Will this tournament, with its Olympic-style drug testing, help baseball finally get beyond steroids?
“I sure hope so. This game is about much more than people have been hearing about for the past few years,” Team USA left fielder Johnny Damon said. “Players do have passion for the game. They do have respect for the game.
“There are many guys who play by the rules and, as you can see, the fans were more interested in watching good baseball today than talking about (steroids).”
Many American players were unaware of the Bonds book, learning about it from reporters. Joe Nathan, one of six U.S. relievers who allowed just three hits over the final six innings, wanted the game to be remembered for what’s right with baseball.
“It’s the case where the bad news always makes the front page,” Nathan said. “The reality is that 96 percent of the big-leaguers (did not test positive for performance-enhancing drugs).”
Even Bonds’ accompanying drama couldn’t completely overshadow a well-played opener.
Team USA starter Jake Peavy called it “the highlight of his baseball career,” even though he faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League division series in October. Peavy fed off the energy of a loud, divided crowd, breezing through three innings.
American pitchers threw 66 strikes in 88 pitches, surrendering just four hits, including a seventh-inning single to Mexican captain Vinny Castilla.
“It was emotional,” Mexican starter Rodrigo Lopez said. “Our pitching was sort of off, and it is hard to gauge the exact strength of the U.S. ballplayers.”
The American lineup feasted on two brief mistakes, with first baseman Derrek Lee and third baseman Chipper Jones smashing solo home runs.
“It really did feel different than a normal home run trot. It was a proud feeling,” Lee said. “I felt like the whole country was watching.”
If the tournament goes as expected, the Americans hope the whole country is talking – and not just about Bonds.
“It was a great baseball atmosphere,” outfielder Randy Winn said. “Hopefully more games like this will focus the attention away from the negative stuff.”
Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-820-5447 or trenck@denverpost.com.
