"Coulda Been a Contender...."

Good afternoon,

So, there I was last night, watching ESPN Tv, taking in the scenes of the great thing that is The World Baseball Classic. I've wondered about the American Championship Series of Baseball, and why it is called the "World Series", when no other baseball teams from around the world compete in it, nor do they compete in the regular season that leads to two teams making it to the top honor of the game within our country. Nothing against the World Series though, shoot, I watch it every year, even if my favorite team, The New York Yankees, decide to take a year off (err... I mean... uhh... this is difficult to say... even if the Yankees don't make it to the Series. Whew!... I sure don't want to say that too often *LOL) Anyhow, the game last night was between the United States vs. Mexico, for true international baseball (WOOHOO!), both teams fighting it out for advancement to the Semi-finals of the tournament, our "dream team" against their dream team. How cool is that? Take my word for it, it was pretty cool.

But what happened? Our team was eliminated from competition by Mexico, who won the game with a score of 2-1, a surprise win by an underrated underdog of a team, over a team who seemed to file into the ballpark with a swagger. Yes, us, our team was expected to run roughshod over the competition. Though when the game was over, and all was said and done, droopy faces abound amongst the players, disbelief shown by the shaking of heads in an emptying dugout and the stands, while the underdogs jumped, and cheered, and celebrated midfield. Sure, my love for the game had me feeling a sort of happiness for Team Mexico, who had been getting less than their fair share of respect from the world sporting press, even from the announcers of the game, but why are our guys once again winging their way home, while some other team is making their way to the championship? That's a question worth looking into before the next incarnation of the World Baseball Classic in a few years. Was it overconfidence by the big payroll stars on our team roster? Maybe. Was it the apparent "dream team curse" that has plagued U.S. sports in international competition? Probably. Was it half speed play that seems to take place when a team considers something to not amount to much more than an exhibition game? Possibly. Was it just the way the ball happened to drop, and it didn't drop in our favor? Definitely. With all of the talk of it being such a shame that we, the host country, and birthplace of baseball, didn't advance to the Semi-finals nor the Finals, I can't help but wonder where is the shame? Sure, I was disappointed that I wouldn't get to see Team USA vs. Japan in the Finals Championship, but those who have read anything I've ever written on here know how much I respect the notion of an athlete, or anyone for that matter, who would wear the colors of our country with the hope of representing this great nation of ours. I applaud their effort, and smile when I think I could now have a story to be able to tell my kids or grandkids in the distant future, as I don't yet have kids of my own, about how ol' gramps saw the very first World Baseball Classic. I sure hope they'll care to hear about such a story. As long as our team played their best, which I believe they did, then there is honor in that, regardless of the outcome of any game, so where's the shame I keep hearing mentioned in various publications? There's no shame in what our team attempted, they should all hold their heads held high, smile when they think of the opportunity and experiences gained, and marvel at the way the great sport of baseball has taken root in other parts of the world, even to the point of excellence. Such a thing is truly great.

Unfortunately, in an odd sidenote, there's a story about an umpire from our country seemed to relish in his ability to reverse proper calls on the field of play in a way that would prove to be suspiciously favorable to our team. The official first made a bad judgement by reversing a good and proper call made by another umpire, nearly sparking an international incident during the game between Team USA vs. Japan, later doing much the same when he reversed a proper call made by yet another umpire in the game between Team USA vs. Mexico, which cost Team Mexico a home run. I don't know what to say about that person, except for the fact that he did it with a smile and a shrug of his shoulders at the reaction from the crowd, who were cheering for their team of choice just moments before, until they united to give a resounding "BOOOO!". Thankfully, the notion of fair play is still alive and well, I was proud of my fellow Americans for recognizing a bad call when they see it, and not wanting to gain favor or win a game in such a way. Shoot, fair is fair in my opinion. Meanwhile, up in the press booth, the announcer had a rare opportunity to get a reaction from the Commissioner of Baseball himself, Bud Selig, at the exact moment of an unfolding controversy. Bud didn't have much to say, but facial expressions showed he wasn't exactly pleased, looking slightly uncomfortable about being put on the spot. If I could say anything to Bud, or to anyone in a decision making process in organized ball, I'd say get rid of this umpire, either he proved himself incapable of rendering the correct call in a timely manner, had incredibly bad judgement, failing vision, or had some other sort of agenda, whichever way, in my opinion (for whatever that might be worth) he should be out. Though, I did happen to heard rumor around the internet that he wasn't a Major League umpire at all, and if not, what the heck was he doing out there? Shouldn't the first ever World Baseball Classic deserve the very best? I say it should, or else the organizers of the tournament will continue to open themselves up for questions such as these, and suspicion from those who would compete in future tournaments. C'mon now, just do the right thing.

For anyone interested, check out the two remaining games on ESPN Tv, March 18th @ 2pm (central) for Cuba vs. Dominincan Republic, and at 9pm (central) for Japan vs. Korea, should be great games with lots of national pride at stake. Could it all be leading to a showdown between Japan vs. Cuba? Imagine that game! Ohhhh, it's the stuff that baseball dreams are made of, and I love it so.

**Update**

Team Cuba beat the Dominican Republic's team of all stars 3-1, to advance to the Finals.
One of the very best games I've ever seen, incredible pitching, fielding, and play. I was impressed by Team Cuba's confidence on their field, and their pitching was just precision. All of that by a roster of players who will never have a chance to play in the Major League, due to the politics of our our nation and theirs. I abhor communism, but the Cuban Baseball Team sure gained my respect. During the game I couldn't help but wonder what, if anything, happens to the members of that team if they were to not do well, make an error, etc. I dunno, but I would hope that their excellence in play gave the Cuban people (not their leaders) something to smile about.