A Classic Finish. 2013 is next episode.

Japan sucessfully defended its title with a thrilling 5-3 extra innings victory against their Asian nemesis of Korea. What a great way to finish this second edition of the WBC. Although my team of Venezuela lost in the semis, I'm proud of the way my countrymen made it that far. I have to give some kudos to team Korea. They are, for me, the best team that has played in both of the WBC. And they have the record to prove it too, having gone 12-4 combine in the last two events. Japan gets the gold though, winning the game that mattered the most: the final. The Japanese at the end came through with a slurry of slap-hits to take the game in extra after the Koreans tied the game at 3 in the ninth innning. The hit of the game belonged to outfielder and Japanese sensation Ichiro Susuki. The 35-year-old Mariners right fielder snapped the 3-3 tie with a two-run single on an eight-pitch at-bat against Korean reliever Chang Yong Lim with runners on second and third and with two outs in the 10th. Japan pitcher Daiseku Matzusaka won the MVP for the second Classic in a row. Dice-K posted a 3-0 record with a 2.45 ERA in the tournament, winning all three of his starts, including his victory over the United States in the semifinal on Sunday. Way to go Japan.

On a different angle, I was also thinking about what Selig said in regards to expanding the current format of teams in the WBC from 16 to 24 for the 2013 edition. I started going through the possibilities of what other baseball countries can be added and I was able to come up with a few. Since there has to be 8 more teams added, here is my list: Nicaragua, Colombia, Germany, Britain, Russia, Thailand, Phillipines and New Zealand. With the new teams we are going to need a couple of more Pools which it could be played in Europe and Oceania much like the Asian pool in the last two tournaments. Nicaragua and Colombia would be added to the Latin American bracket. It will be a true World Baseball Classic. This is kind of what I have in mind for the first round:

Pool A-Japan, China, Thailand, New Zealand (played in Asia)

Pool B-Australia, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Phillipines, Korea (played in Australia or N.Z.)

Pool C-Italy, Britain, Russia, Germany (played around Europe)

Pool D-Netherland (Antilles), Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic (Played in Central America)

Pool E- Venezuela, Colombia, South Africa, Panama(Played in South America)

Pool F-United States, Canada, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico (Played in North America)

The teams and the stadiums would be alternated for each Classic. Anyways, let me know what you think.

Que paso Cuba?

Team Cuba was knock off the World Baseball Classic by Japan 5-0. What happened there? This is a team that has never finished lower than third in international competition dating back to 1951! According to statistics supplied by the World Baseball Classic organizing committee, it's the first time since 1951 that Cuba didn't secure a least a finals berth in one of four major international tournaments: the International Baseball Federation World Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, the Olympics and the Classic. It broke a streak of 40 consecutive trips to the finals in those four events. I'm sure nobody is shedding a tear. This is reminiscent of the New York Yankees failing to make the playoffs last year after a 13 years run. Japan is now 3-0 against Cuba in Classic play, including two shutouts wins in this Classic. How odd.

The final four teams are now set though, with Japan now joining Korea, Venezuela and the U.S.A. There will be another round two game tonight to determine the pool winner with a fourth game between the Asian powerhouses of Japan and Korea (Korea has the advantage 2-1 so far). The winner of that game will then play a hobbled U.S team, who might miss one of their biggest threat in Kevin Youkilis due to a sore left ankle, for a spot in the final. Venezuela will play the loser in the other semifinal. Who do you think is going to win it all????