Sogard brings MLB pedigree, new socks to Czech team 

TOKYO — When the Czech Republic took the sector for the primary time in World Baseball Classic historical past in a dramatic 8-5 win on Friday afternoon, there have been two noticeable modifications from the workforce that certified in Regensburg: First, there was former MLB infielder Eric Sogard within the lineup. It’s the primary time in Czech National Team historical past {that a} Major Leaguer has suited up for the workforce.

“Eric is a special guy,” supervisor Pavel Chadim stated. “He’s a great guy. And if you have a combination of so much experience from MLB and such a good guy, like, man, that’s great for the other players. He’s one of the leaders of our team now.”

And the second distinction? The workforce has some model new striped socks courtesy of their new, extraordinarily fashionable second baseman.

“MLB fans around the States know I always wear my pants up and always have have socks that are somewhat special — you know, stripes or stirrups or something,” Sogard stated. “I thought that would be a good way to do something to bring to the team here, bring my part of what I like in my game. I know there’s quite a few guys who wear their pants up as well, so I figured hey, let’s bring socks for everybody. If they want to wear them, they can wear them and we can look good together.”

That spirit of togetherness is one thing that units the Czech workforce other than a few of the others within the match. Only 10,000 folks play the game within the nation and a lot of the workforce have performed for the nationwide workforce and within the Czech Baseball Extraliga collectively for years — if not many years. It might be tough for a newcomer, even an MLB participant like Sogard, to search out his match within the clubhouse.

“I learned from day one how hard these guys work, how hard they prepare and how much they love the game,” Sogard stated. “It’s been great for me to be able to jump right in and join them. They’ve greeted me with open arms — especially for me not playing the last year and a half, it’s been really helpful the way they brought me in to get comfortable, be with them and get prepared.”

Sogard’s presence on the workforce has added one other dimension to the lineup, as effectively. In addition to his stable protection at second base, his bat-to-ball abilities allowed supervisor Pavel Chadim to strive the hit and run a number of instances in Friday’s win in opposition to China with out worrying about him putting out.

“It’s awesome to have a guy on the team who has got 10 years with Major League experience,” veteran first baseman Martin Mužík stated. “We all can learn from him, his movement on the field.”

But Sogard’s influence on the workforce goes past what he brings on the sector. He could have simply been with the membership for just a few days, however he is already develop into an essential teammate and member of the clubhouse.

“What I love about him is he’s always smiling,” Mužík stated. “He pops out, he breaks his bat, he strikes out — he comes in the dugout smiling, as if nothing happened. Not everybody is like that.”

That angle made him a fan favourite throughout his huge league profession. He was generally known as “Nerd Power” for his signature spectacles and “The Face of MLB” for a Twitter competitors that just about noticed him defeat David Wright. Mention Sogard on Twitter and to today, folks will reply that he is “The Face of MLB,” regardless of it occurring practically a decade in the past — a lifetime in web phrases.

“That was the Oakland fans taking over Twitter for that ‘Face of MLB’ run,” Sogard remembered. “It just shows the passion of the fans in Oakland and how much they enjoy the game that they have that power to make me a finalist there.”

After going 2-for-5 and serving to the Czech workforce decide up its first ever World Baseball Classic victory, the person who has added a 3rd nickname to his arsenal — his new teammates name him “Sogi,” — is trying ahead to the problem of dealing with Japan on Saturday evening.

“The Japanese team is one of the best in the world, if not the best,” Sogard stated. “I know for a lot of [my teammates], it will be their first time competing against the best, but I’m very excited for them. I’m excited that they will compete and they will have fun and they will surprise people while they do it.”