Inexperienced US will play for bronze
BEIJING - For the United States baseball program, perhaps a break from Olympic competition is in order.
Though the US won a gold medal in the 2000 Games, the program has a long way to go to develop the talent, depth, and chemistry that international teams possess.
Like their counterparts on the softball diamond, baseball has been eliminated as an Olympic sport for 2012, though both are working toward reinstatement in 2016.
But for these players, the end of playing in the Olympics has a much different tone than for the softball players, who have been together for some time.
The US baseball team is comprised of journeymen and some rising minor leaguers who are thrown together for about a three-week period to face what amounts to international professional teams.
Following their 10-2 semifinal loss to Cuba last night, the Americans were more reflective than emotional, a toll the softball team felt following its loss to Japan in the gold medal game Thursday.
"[The Cubans] have been together. These guys play together," said second baseman Brian Barden, who plays in the St. Louis Cardinals system. "We've had two weeks to come together and learn each other. It's not an excuse. I don't know how to explain it. These guys know how to win."
The Americans, 5-3 in the tournament, stayed close with the veteran Cubans, but in the end, Cuba's chemistry and talent won out.
The scrappy Americans trailed, 4-2, entering the bottom of the eighth inning, but Cuba scored six runs on the strength of two three-run homers to put away the game and move on to face South Korean for the gold medal. South Korea defeated Japan, 6-2.
The Americans take on Japan today for the bronze medal.
The world has been catching up to America in basketball. Could the US take a similar route in baseball, maybe even add a couple a star major leaguers to a young and developing program?
"I don't think the owners are going to let them play this late in the season," said catcher Lou Marson, who is in the Philadelphia system. "I don't think [the Phillies] want [Ryan] Howard or [Jimmy] Rollins out of their lineup."
With the formation of the World Baseball Classic, US manager Davey Johnson doesn't think there is a need for major leaguers to participate in the Olympics. Johnson believes the US program is capable of beating the likes of Cuba.
"We held our own in this tournament," said Johnson, who won a World Series managing the Mets in 1986. "It is very difficult for us. If [players] have the potential to play in the big leagues, they get called up. Major League Baseball is big business. [But] we can compete on the world stage any time."
There were some bright spots for the Americans.
Stephen Strasburg, a 20-year-old from San Diego State University who projects to be the top pick in next year's draft, allowed three runs and six hits in four innings. The only collegian on the US squad, Strasburg struck out five, displaying his high-90s fastball.
But the veteran Cubans got accustomed to his heat and the second time around the order, they got to Strasburg.
Cuban first baseman Hector Olivera hit a run-scoring triple, then scored when Barden's throw skidded past third baseman Mike Hessman to give Cuba a 2-0 lead.
"[Strasburg] has a great future," Johnson said. "I have seen a lot of young pitchers trot out. He's got good command and great stuff. A couple of pitches that were up got hit hard. Under normal circumstances, I would probably throw him 130 pitches."
The Americans got one back in the fourth inning on Matt Brown's sacrifice fly. However, in the bottom half, Alfredo Despaigne homered to make it 3-1.
The US scored an unearned run in the fifth off Norge Vera (2 runs in 6 innings), and Cuba responded with a run in the sixth, but the fireworks began in the eighth.
Alexei Bell launched a deep, three-run homer to left-center that pushed Cuba's lead to 7-2. He stood at the plate admiring his work, Manny Ramírez-like, after flinging his bat to the side.
"He stood there for a couple of seconds," Marson said. "It was bad. He hit it hard, though."
Three batters later, Ariel Pestano added a three-run shot to seal it for Cuba, which hit four homers.
"International is quite different from American baseball," Barden said. "These guys don't really give you much to hit. These guys are solid pitchers, the best I've seen in a long time."
Gregory Lee Jr. can be reached at glee@globe.com 