WBC ELITE EIGHT

BRACKET POSTED ON BLOG SITE "MIKE IS BORED"



The final eight teams in the 2009 World Baseball Classic were fairly predictable from the start minus the Dominican debacle. The Dutch play the role of Cinderella which, I suppose, is somewhat appropriate.

Cuba, Japan, Korea and Mexico will do battle in one Pool group.

I like Cuba to defeat Japan and advance to the Finals.

Puerto Rico, United States, Venezeula and the Flying Dutchmen compete in the other Pool.

Here I like Puerto Rico to defeat Venezeula and advance. The U.S. has the strongest team on paper. But as we all know, games are not played on paper--except for the greatest game ever invented, Strat-O-Matic baseball--they are played on grass, or inside domes or something.

Anyway, in a Puerto Rico vs. Cuba final, I would go for the Amazing Castros, plus or minus a defector or two. So the trophy sits on the bus in the seat assigned to the defector, who will be sunning himself on a beach in Nicaragua and listening to Scott Boras whispering sweet dollars in his ear.