Mexico May Have Saved America
CANADA ON BRINK OF ELIMINATION



Little makes sense in this Pool B of the World Baseball Classic. Team USA defeated Mexico 2-0 a few days ago, Canada stunned Team USA only two days ago and yesterday, Mexico routed Canada. Will the real contender for Pool B please stand up?

Instead of helping eliminate America with a loss to Canada, Mexico's Jorge Cantu homered and drove in three runs whilst Esteban Loaiza allowed a run in five-plus innings as Mexico defeated Canada 9-1 to leave the U.S. team a win away from reaching the second round. A win over South Africa no less, one of the weakest teams in the Pool, of course, the same team that nearly upset Canada three days ago.

But that's not even the tantalising bit, is it?

No, the tantalising bit comes when Living Legend Roger Clemens makes his WBC debut today against the pesky South Africans.



But here's what you've got to either love or hate about Clemens. He plans on going head-hunting against the enemic South African lineup:

"I'm going to pitch inside," said Clemens, humorlessly, seeming perplexed by the suggestion that he might go easier on the overmatched South Africans.

If the game South Africa and Team USA both had against Canada are any indication, this isn't going to be the walkover people expect so Clemens' mentality might be a blessing. But chances are, taking a South African team seriously is only going to be mean America is going to crush them. Gotta be, right? I mean how many Major Leaguers are from South Africa....

Venezuela Advances


Francisco Rodriguez embraces Henry Blanco after a game-ending strikeout

Not surprisingly, Venezuela advanced to the next round with a victory over the beleaguered Australian team. That they "only" won 2-0 is the surprising part. However perhaps the Vennies, as Sports Amnesia likes to dub them, will be more formidable than expected in the latter rounds. They allowed only three total hits in consecutive shutouts over Italy and Australia the past two nights.

Not that Italy and Australia hold a Murderer's Row, either of them, but two consecutive shutouts are what they are. It still isn't easy; lapses in concentration, boredom, etc.

"It’s a great feeling," said Minnesota Twins ace Johan Santana, who will start Venezuela’s second-round opener Sunday against the winner of Friday night’s game between Puerto Rico and Cuba.

Yesterday, the Vennies threw Angels' fireballer Kelvim Escobar on the mound. Dazzling with a 96 mph fastball, Escobar struck out five in 4 2-3 innings for the win.

With the victory not only the Vennies but also the Dominican Republic (2-0) and playing tonight, advanced to the next round setting up some quite intriguing matchups of Latino teams.

Commies 11, Dutch 2


(Laughing it up during an easy victory, Team Commie second baseman Yuliesky Gourriel, left, hugs centerfielder Carlos Tabares, right, after scoring on a single by Ariel Pestano in the seventh inning against the Netherlands.)

No shocker here, even if we don't know many of the players on either side. Cuba's victory over the Dutch mean they too advance to the next round but not before they face their first real test of the tournament, the first litmus test: against a star-studded Puerto Rican team.

According to MLB propaganda:

Cuba second baseman Yulieski Gourriel, arguably the highest regarded prospect in the country, has been the most recognizable face of a mostly anonymous Cuban squad, and he's done it with style.

Gourriel went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a home run against Panama. Against the Netherlands, he hit a home run in his first at-bat to give Cuba a 2-0 lead, and finished 1-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored and one RBI.

His style on defense has turned more than a few heads, and his humble yet slightly mischievous demeanor has won over fans from the three other countries participating in the event. Panama pitcher Bruce Chen, a starter with Baltimore, went as far as to say his team would have won had it not been for Gourriel's presence.

The secret is out. Puerto Rico knows of Gourriel, as do the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, the teams predicted to take the top two spots in Pool D in Orlando and advance to Puerto Rico for the next round. But opponents have more than Gourriel to worry about."

Not to be outdone, the USA took the opportunity to accuse Cuba of human rights abuses - what? Just because they don't hide it behind the hollow cheer of the "War on Terrorism" it's bad?

Republica Dominicana 8, Republica Italiana 3


The Monsters yuck it up

Mike Piazza is certainly doing very little to prove he still belongs in the Major Leagues - in fact, you might make the argument that Team USA actively encouraged him to play for Italy, simply because he's washed up and playing for a second rate team like Italy (or the Padres) is where he belongs.

Piazza's meagre contribution to Italy's performance in the WBC to date: 1 hit in 11 at-bats.

Meanwhile, the "real" Dream Team, the Dominicans, continued blazing a trail to an undefeated first round with a simple victory over an overwhelmed team.

Adrian Beltre homered for the third time in two games to pace Thursday’s victory. Albert Pujols and Moises Alou also homered to help the Dominicans improve to 2-0.

After leaving Our Beloved Mets to play for the Dominicans, shortstop Jose Reyes finally got some playing time when Alfonso Soriano was rested. He went 1 for 5. You have to wonder if, not starting for the Dominicans is as good for early season development as starting for the Mets every day but what the hell, he's still a kid and wants his shot.