La Novena: Harper argues and PR falls in love in the World Classic

ByDavid Mitchell
La Novena: Harper argues and PR falls in love in the World Classic

Bryce Harper speaks and argues that Nicaragua finds the “culprit” of the setback against the Netherlands and Team Rubio strengthens itself in front of its audience.

1. Bryce Harper opens the debate: Olympics or Classic

JUMPED THE FIRST controversy in the World Baseball Classic. Well… I correct, the first one during the competition. There were others behind. The insurers’ refusal of several stars to play stands out. But this time it was an American who was the axis of the controversy. Bryce Harper is the man, a baseball player from cap to spikes. One of those that you always want to have on your team. In short, the Team USA first baseman wants to represent the United States at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games and declared at a press conference that “the World Classic “It’s great, but it’s not the Olympic Games.” Imagine yourself, in the middle of the Classic and dropping that pearl! It’s your opinion and it’s respected, even if you don’t share it. Already the colleague of AM850 Juan A. Recio dedicated a verse to him; I don’t plan to repeat it. I just didn’t want to miss the opportunity to let Harper know that baseball in an Olympics so far is like multiplying by zero. I don’t know about the future, but in the Olympic editions in which it participated as an official sport, the accounts of the organizers and the IOC should not have been good enough to encourage its permanence within the program. Coincidentally, there have been six official baseball tournaments in the Olympic Games (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2020) and six World Baseball Classics (2006, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2023 and 2026). And it is no secret who grew and consolidated. For me, the Olympic Games are great, but they are not the World Baseball Classic.

2. Italian pitcher is moved to tears

SAM ALDEGHERIItaly’s starting pitcher against Brazil, places the World Baseball Classic. You just have to listen to how his voice breaks. The emotion, his tears when telling how he feels after a performance of 4.2 scoreless innings reveal the reach and impact that this event, whose puberty is still visible, is having. “It’s incredible. I was watching the World Classic in a restaurant last time. Being here today, all the sacrifice it took; It’s just amazing. It means everything to me,” said the left-hander who belongs to the Los Angeles Angels and debuted in the Majors in 2025. There are people out there who don’t like or minimize the World Baseball Classicbut MLB got it right when it decided to create it.

3. It wasn’t Obando or Baker, who was to blame?

NICAS FANS were about to achieve the feat of winning their first game in a World Baseball Classic. As close as one strike away from victory and with no man on base. But everything collapsed. Single, double and a decisive home run by Ozzie Albies shattered the illusion. The culprit? Some blame manager Dusty Baker. They say he should have transferred Ozzie Albies with the first base empty to throw to Didi Gregorius who was 0 for 4. Others, that Obando should not have opened with a fastball to the center against an aggressive hitter like Albies, known for punishing first pitches. And there is another school of thought on social media that points to the person in the video. Just look at it and then tell me…

4. Three years later, Najer Victor imitates Duque Hebbert

DURING THE CLASSIC BASEBALL WORLD CUP In 2023, 21-year-old Nicaraguan Duque Hebbert struck out Juan Soto, Julio Rodríguez and Rafael Devers. That feat went around the world and earned him a signature with the Detroit Tigers. Three years later, 24-year-old pitcher Najer Victor, who plays for Great Britain, did something similar. They were not the same names. Not even the same team. The coincidence is that they are all star hitters in the Major Leagues. Victor retired Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper and Gunnar Henderson through strikes in one inning and then, opening the next, dominated Roman Anthony in the same way. Unlike Hebbert, Victor has a professional contract with the Los Angeles Angels organization. He was born in Philadelphia in 2001 and played in 2025 High Class A and Low Class A. He pitched a 4.87 ERA in 40.2 innings, striking out 65 and walking 26. His record was 1-6 with a 1.475 WHIP. Let’s be honest, their numbers are bad. Although turning off such a batch of power could be the injection of adrenaline necessary to reverse his present when he returns to the Los Angeles team for spring training. Who knows, maybe we’ll see it this year in MLB?

5. Team Rubio and Puerto Rico, a perfect and unique combination

I ALWAYS COMMENT to my colleagues that the Parliaments of Cuba and North Korea are the only places where unanimity is unquestionable. I’m going to start reconsidering it. There is another “place” where unanimity is real, palpable. But above all… spontaneous and transparent. And it is not reduced to a physical place, it transcends spatial limits. You can notice it every time there is a World Baseball Classic. Team Rubio does not have the cachet of the Dominican Republic, the power of the United States or the discipline of Japan; However, he connects with his audience to such a point that things like this happen, which give you goosebumps. Today that phrase is valid that a picture is worth a thousand words.

6. A phrase with a thousand readings

CUBA IS NOT GOING to win the World Baseball Classic. Here I explained my reasons. I add another: Draftkings Sportsbook pays +10,000 for Cuba’s victory. I translate it for neophytes in these betting topics. For every $100 you bet you receive 10 thousand coconuts. But this entry is not about betting, it is about the atmosphere within the group. At least, that’s what is shown from the outside. Yoan Moncada, third baseman for the Los Angeles Angels and one of two (Yariel Rodríguez) active major leaguers on the roster of the largest of the Antilles, said at a press conference that “no matter what happens, we came to have fun.” Will this apparent harmony have to do with the absence of the officials who did not receive the visa?

7. Compliment from an American to Latin players and fans

THAT THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC have an annual frequency, it is not going to happen. It would not be healthy for the players, let alone for the owners, nor for the insurers. But in each edition, Latin players and fans show American fans that baseball is far from a boring game. Here’s a phrase that, scrolling through Instagram, I found and couldn’t leave it out: “I want to say to the Dominicans, to the Latinos out there, thank you for showing us again, what you do every three years with the WBC, that baseball should and can be very entertaining and fun to witness.”

8. The most meme trending of the World Classic

AT 33 YEARS OLD Manny Machado never stops surprising with his catches. This is what he did, for the umpteenth time, during the match against Nicaragua. He spoke with the glove and showed off the power in his arm. His performance made headlines and occupied an entry in La Novena yesterday, but today I couldn’t turn my attention to this meme, which does not mock, but rather defines it.

9. Juan Soto and what happened here?

SIMPLE, THE BALL PLAYER Dominican Juan Soto seems to have imitated Cristiano Ronaldo, who did something similar when starting a press conference at Euro 2020 in Budapest. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr. seem to have misunderstood Soto. Did he do it on purpose? Was it a joke? Surely in a short time we will know.

David Mitchell
David Mitchell

As a passionate sports journalist with over a decade of experience, I strive to uncover the heart and soul behind every game. Supported by a dedicated team of fellow enthusiasts and storytellers, I am committed to delivering insightful and engaging content that connects fans worldwide. Together, we celebrate the victories, challenges, and unifying spirit of sports through every article we craft.