March 18 (UPI) -- Mark DeRosa wants another shot to manage Team USA, hoping to avenge a second consecutive World Baseball Classic finale setback, he told reporters.
DeRosa made the comments in his postgame news conference after Venezuela beat the Americans 3-2 on Tuesday in Miami. Japan beat DeRosa's squad 3-2 in the 2023 finale in Miami.
"It would be 100% yes to do it again," DeRosa said when asked about his desire to return. "I'd love to get over the finish line. Not only is it two times, but 3-2 both times. Why? If you saw how hurting the guys were in that locker room right now, you'd know why.
"For some reason, this WBC has become a tidal wave of emotion for a lot of guys. You get them in the room, representing their country, coming together for 2 1/2 weeks. The buy-in, it's infectious in there. Special group to be a part of. Proud of the way we represented the USA."
DeRosa was heavily criticized throughout the tournament, including for a blunder in which he erroneously said the Americans punched their quarterfinal ticket before they actually did so.
