Abbott: Classic Not a U.S. Failure

Although the United States did not qualify for the final four of the World Baseball Classic, a U.S. Olympic standout says America’s performance should not be a source of national humiliation.

“I don’t think it’s an embarrassment,” said former Angel Jim Abbott, who pitched the complete game that gave the U.S. the Olympic gold medal in 1988, when baseball was still a demonstration sport. “The U.S. team is going to get every team’s best shot. That’s the team that is a measurement of how far other nations have progressed. A victory over the U.S. is a validation for the way they approach the game.”

Several American stars declined to participate, but Angel reliever Scot Shields said the U.S. team should have no trouble recruiting next time around, once he and his U.S. teammates share the excitement and enthusiasm surrounding the event.

“Every single one of those guys was happy to be there and glad they joined,” said Shields. “The word will get out to other guys -- this is something you want to do.”

Pitchers Kelvim Escobar and Francisco Rodriguez each said he can’t wait to play for Venezuela again. Escobar and the Angels informally agreed he could participate as a starter, but Escobar pitched in relief in an elimination game and said he volunteered to do so.

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Preston Gomez, born in Cuba 82 years ago, plans to attend the WBC final to cheer for his home team.

“When those guys get back to Cuba, they’ll be national heroes,” Gomez said. “Nobody expected they would get this far. If they can win, my God.”

Gomez, a special assistant to Angel General Manager Bill Stoneman, left Cuba and played for the Washington Senators in 1944. Fidel Castro took power in 1959.

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Jose Mota will trade in his microphone and polo shirt for a coat and tie tonight. The Angel broadcaster is a co-producer of “The Republic of Baseball: The Giants of the Dominican Game,” a film that premieres tonight in San Diego, in conjunction with the WBC finals.

The film traces the history of Dominican baseball through portraits of its greatest players. In one scene, Juan Marichal and Manny Mota -- Jose’s father -- return to the field where the son of former Dominican strongman Rafael Trujillo used to watch their every move.

By producing the film, Mota said he hopes to share the story of Dominican baseball with the world, much as “Buena Vista Social Club” told the story of Cuban music. Screenings also are scheduled for San Francisco, New York, Washington, Boston and Santo Domingo.

In other movie news, with the Angels playing in Tucson on Saturday, their spring home turned into a Hollywood set. With Tempe Diablo Stadium as the backdrop, David Spade, Rob Schneider and Jon Lovitz filmed promotional interviews for “The Benchwarmers,” a baseball-themed comedy that opens April 7.

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Casey Kotchman drove in three runs and Edgardo Alfonzo two in a 9-6 victory over the Colorado Rockies. Pitcher Ervin Santana drove in two runs as well, but he gave up four runs and 10 hits in five innings.