Street no rookie in pitching for USA
US National Team veteran excited to represent his country
By Mychael Urban / MLB.com
ADVERTISEMENT
Street's success while wearing the red, white and blue was among the factors that led USA Baseball, in an announcement made Tuesday afternoon by general manager Bob Watson, to include Street on the United States' 30-man roster for next month's World Baseball Classic.
After being named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2002 College World Series as a freshman at the University of Texas, Street posted a 1.26 ERA over 13 games for Team USA. The following summer, after again leading the Longhorns to the CWS, he went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and tied a national team record with seven saves in 14 appearances.
"That definitely played a role in it," Watson said on a conference call. "He's pitched in some big games for his country."
Street is the only Athletic on the roster, which won't become official until the team gathers in Phoenix for its first workout on March 2. Third baseman Eric Chavez is on the 60-man provisional roster, and according to Team USA manager Buck Martinez, has enthusiastically volunteered his services in the event of an injury.
The third basemen on the 30-man roster are Chipper Jones of the Braves and Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees.
"Eric was very interested in playing," Martinez said. "I spoke to him, and he told me, 'I'm here to help out if you need me.' He was nothing but 100 percent committed to this."
At 22, Street is the second-youngest player named to the squad, but the poise he showed after taking over as Oakland's closer in May of last season alleviated any concern that he might be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the inaugural WBC.
A 2004 draftee who went to Spring Training last year as a non-roster invitee, Street played a huge role in helping the A's climb from 15 games under .500 in late May to the top of the American League standings in mid-September. He went 5-1 with a 1.72 ERA and 23 saves in 27 chances, and he converted all 18 of his save opportunities after the All-Star break.
"With the kind of year he had and the experience he got," Watson said, "I think he will do just fine."
Despite being one of the best young closers in the big leagues, Street isn't a lock to work any ninth innings in the WBC. Also on the U.S. roster are fellow closers Billy Wagner of the Mets, Joe Nathan of the Twins, Chad Cordero of the Nationals, Brad Lidge of the Astros, Brian Fuentes of the Rockies and Todd Jones of the Tigers.
Street, however, figures to be in happy-to-be-here mode when the star-studded U.S. team, which opens WBC play March 7 against Mexico in Pool B action at Chase Field, takes the field.
"When I called him," Martinez said, "his reaction was, 'I was hoping you were calling about this.'"
Mychael Urban is a national writer for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
