Banzai Nippon!

Photo: Chris Carlson/AP

Congratulations to Team Japan for winning the first World Baseball Classic. Cheers to Cuba for making it to the final by defeating a powerful Dominican team stocked with MLB all-stars. Jeers to Team USA for not even making it to the semifinals. (Maybe next time more American stars will participate? We looked bad at our own game, people! Eliminated by Mexico?! ¡Por favor!) And mad props to the Koreans, who ended up with the best record in the tournament but couldn't get a third win against the Japanese to advance to the final. The Puerto Rican and Venzuelan teams also did well, as expected.

Overall the tournament was a smashing success, and I thouroughly enjoyed watching some great games featuring players we'd never get to see otherwise. The crowds at Estadio Hiram Bithorn (named after the first Puerto Rican major leaguer) in San Juan were rockin'. I'm going to try my best to attend some games there at the next Classic. See you in 2009, and ¡aquí se habla beisból!