[xdavidwattsx]

People will probably care about the WBC when they play the games in November. That's right after the World Series, when baseball viewership is at an all time high, and also well before spring training which gives their favorite players several months to heal should they get injured playing in the WBC.

Until then, death to the WBC and Selig!

[Wizard of Os]

Cheers, all.

Empire, in answer to your question, yes. Someone can beat the Dominican Republic: Korea. These guys look unbelieveable right now, in my opinion had slightly stiffer competition in the second round, and have essentially handily beaten all comers.

Would you care to make it interesting? Say $1, payable through PayPal, should it be DR v. Korea?

[EmpireWF]

Os, I was talking about Cuba. Since they are the reigning Champs of Baseball on the international stage...can anyone beat the defending champs?

Why is Korea undefeated so far? Have they hit so well or is it their pitching?

[Wizard of Os]

Again, i'm embarrassed. I will, however, go $1 on Korea over Cuba. Anybody want the Dominican Republic?

What's Korea's secret?

Well, the simplistic knee-jerk reaction is Seung Yeop Lee's hitting clinic -- he's got five dingers and 10 RBI, including both RBIs with his first-inning tater in the 2-1 victory over Mexico. As though his stats weren't enough, Seung Yeop made history by scoring the very first run of the entire competition, thus all-time; if the WBC had an MVP (and why the bleep doesn't it?), it would be Seung Yeop.

But it's hardly Seung Yeop against the world; the pitchers are holding the opposition to .180. The team has yet to make an error. Chan Ho Park is threatening to occupy space in baseball lore with three saves in four appearances and an ERA of exactly nil point zero nada. Reliever mate Seung Hwan Oh has one save and also has a goose-egg ERA.

Korea is simply clicking, peaking at the right team. Baseball is a game of streaks, and only a small streak is necessary to win the WBC.

Cheers.