Swing The Damn Bat!

The United States defeated the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinal 2-1. A great game on a grand stage and all anyone should be talking about is how both teams' pitching staffs silenced two talented lineups.

But noooooo. Instead we have to talk about Geraldo Perdomo getting called out on strikes to end the game on a pitch that was probably low.

My take? (See what I did there?) Perdomo had NO BUSINESS taking that pitch with two strikes and two outs in the bottom of the ninth. You have to at least flick that pitch foul. Hell- even a swing a miss is more respectable than taking a close pitch and complaining when the call doesn't go your way. My father once told me: "Never put your nuts in someone else's hands and dare them to squeeze." Wise words. If only Perdomo grew up with my dad.

I've been assistant coaching my son's travel baseball teams in one form or another since he was 10. The number one most absolutely frustrating thing to get across to these kids is that you have to expand your strike zone with 2 strikes. Otherwise you're leaving fate in the hands of the umpire who is, among other things, human. The memories of repeating the same phrase and philosophy and nauseum to those kids is why when Perdomo starting reacting to the strike 3 call, I stopped feeling sorry for him.

You simply cannot let that pitch go by in that situation.