Cuba Beats Dominicans, Head To Final

The news that Cuba beat the Dominican Republic and will head to the final game facing Japan in World Baseball Classic came as a shocker to me.  But allow me to be among the first to admit when they are wrong.  Did I like that they won?  No.  Do I accept that it wasn't as unlikely as I thought?  Certainly.  Are they really this good?  No doubt about it.  Am I starting to sound like that annoying guy that asks himself lots of questions and then answers them?  Apparently so.

When looking back, I should have paid more attention to the fact that if nothing else, this Cuban team has a familiarity and cohesiveness among the players more than pretty much all the other teams.  Teams like the USA and the Dominican Republic were made up of many players from a lot of different US baseball clubs.  Their first chance to work as a team came in this contest.  The Cuban team has been around a while.  They know each other well and what's more, know how to win together.

However, I have to wonder how in the heck Ortiz, Pujols and Beltre could not string together enough hits to win the game. I mean Pujols and Big Papi are the two most clutch hitters in baseball.  That is truly amazing to me.  It just doesn't happen.  But somehow, it did.  Perhaps again we see that the lack of a cohesive team played a role.  One with many stars and the other with somewhat unknowns in which each single member combines to form a stronger whole.  It's a reality in MLB that the team beats the star player - see the mid-90's Yankees vs. the Yankees (and Mets) of now as examples of each.

Now, what do I want to happen in the final game? (Here he goes again with the questions...)  I have to admit that this Cuban team could very likely win.  However, the Japanese team ain't too shabby, and beat an apparently good Korean team to get there.  I'll be rooting for Japan, to be sure. But I have to admit, as much as I despise Fidel Castro, the man knows and loves his baseball.  It is a joy to watch the kind of talent that they have in Cuba.  It's just a shame that these great players don't get the chance for freedom like their opponents have.  And one more question?  Will we see any defections this time around?  Who knows.  But Go Japan!  And grudgingly, congratulations to the Cuba players.  That is all.

Comments

[stnylan]

Well let's hope that Japan keeps it figured out on the day.