Team USA's Mark DeRosa sought Coach K's advice ahead of WBC

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Team USA manager Mark DeRosa is leaving no stone unturned in his preparation to manage one of the favorites to win the World Baseball Classic this month. He even sought advice from another coach who has had some experience dealing with a team of All-Stars.

«I talked to Mike Krzyzewski before I came out here because he had the Dream Team and he did that „Redeem Team“ on Netflix — and I watched it,» DeRosa said of the legendary former Duke men's basketball coach who also led the men's national team to three straight Olympic gold medals. «He said, 'Get them to understand, you're not playing for the United States; you are the United States.'

»I thought that was a powerful message for these guys."

DeRosa, 48, spoke to reporters before an exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.

He will be a first-time manager when Team USA takes the field on Saturday against Great Britain in Round 1 of the tournament. The squad's first workout was on Tuesday, as players left their spring training camps this week in both Arizona and Florida.

«To address them was one of the highlights of my life,» DeRosa said.

DeRosa's biggest challenge might be filling out the lineup card for a team littered with World Series champions and All-Stars.

«You don't want to offend anyone,» DeRosa said with a smile. «There's not a wrong answer, really. We vetted it a million different ways. Tried to split up the lefties and righties.»

Team USA is led by Mike Trout and Mookie Betts and includes 2022 National League MVP Paul Goldschmidt, along with his St. Louis Cardinals teammate Nolan Arenado.

DeRosa admitted getting pitchers to participate wasn't as easy a task. Some of the top arms, such as Max Scherzer and Justin