People make a big deal about these huge upsets and it's all a bunch of crap. I can lob 27 74 MPH fastballs over a plate and throw a perfect game to major league hitters. It's very, very, very unlikely, but it can happen and it's nothing against he major league hitters.

Now if the US lost to South Africa, that would be another thing, although I think if the two teams played 100 times, SA would win at least once. South Africa is basically a Division II college. At best.

The only bad pitching for USA was from Dontrelle Willis basically. He lost two games by himself. Buck Martinez lost the other ones. I didn't notice too much bad defense. It was basically the hitting that wasn't there for team USA. And the managing of course, but what do you expect with Buck Martinez?

Maybe it doesn't prove something on a statistical level, but I don't think most of the people in the countries involved care about what is statistically significant, or what is dumb luck.  We weren't really out to prove that U.S. baseball is the best baseball in the world, which is a statement that no one will really dispute, even now.    

While I agree that it was silly to think the US would go 8-0, it was evident that Dontrelle Willis wasn't ready, and that Buck Martinez shouldn't coach because he orders Michael Young to bunt.

You're right that you can't conclude one nation's baseball is better than another's from this contest.  

But I think we do have a healthy measure of respect, more than before at least, for Korean baseball.  

And I think that for some of the countries, one game does make a difference, if not for proving a point, at least for pride.  I'm not knocking your patriotism or anything - it's simply a byproduct of the tournament format.  

Personally, I think the tournament is a huge success.  Even if Damon and Derrek Lee have balky shoulders, no one tore a labrum (yet, knock on wood), and the games have been extremely exciting.

That said, this tournament is contained entirely within a two week span and provides some high tension baseball. From an entertainment perspective it's great. This is like the olympics. Sometimes a speed skater no one expects to win gets the gold. They all train for four years just for one race where the most accomplished and talented athlete could get unlucky and not even finish on the medal stand.

If you can accept it for what it is and not dwell on what it isn't, the WBC is entertaining baseball. I will admit the tiebreakers are a joke though...

I do not think this tournament is intended to show which country has the best baseball.  It is merely a tournament, much like any other.  To find a champion, OF THAT TOURNAMENT.  

Regarding the tie-breaker situation.  What else do you want the WBC to do?  if teams are tied, should they play additional games and completely screw up the schedule?  This needs to be started and stopped at the appropriate times due to MLB scheduleing concerns.  Everyone knows the rules going into the tournament, so no whining can occur.(except by Team Japan had the US team beaten Mexico).

Speaking of the umpiring, who the @$%#! is Bob Davidson?  I understand the missed call on the tag play in the Japan/USA game.  While it was inncorrect, a logical person can see how he could have missed it.  But a ball hitting more than 10 feet up the foul pole, and he thinks it hit the wall?  come on...

My point here is this, lets all stop worrying about Team USA losing.  Its just a tournament.  Next time out, Team USA can try again.  Also, I wouldn't say that USA baseball is the best in the world.  The Cubans look good, and the Dominicans certainly have a lot of good players too... and we haven't touched on the Koreans and Japanese teams....

The tournament was set up for the Americans to advance to the finals, much like the Canada Cup is always set up to favour the Canadians.  The Americans have home field advantage, a favourable schedule and have certainly enjoyed the dubious umpiring.

Say what you like, Japan has played much better than the US so it's good to see them advance.

The US sent a second rate team, coached by a bad broadcaster and failed manager.  It's record reflects the quality of its team.

I've caught a few of the games and it's exciting quality baseball.  The last round of games in the second round were great to watch.

If you had tickets to the Yankees and Devil Rays and Tampa Bay won 12-0, if you thought it was a complete fluke, then why even watch the game?  Why not appreciate the competition and the game for what it is.  

If Team A beats Team B in the World Series 4 games to 3, does that mean Team A is really better?  

The College World Series in Omaha shares similar aspects of the WBC.  I don't see anybody complaining about sample size after their favorite school is finished after losing 2 games during the opening round in Omaha.  

Many amateur baseball competition decide championships in the very same way as the WBC.

When MLB got rid of the true pennant race and introduced the wild card, the sample size aspect was eliminated from baseball a long time ago.  Prior to 1969, the World Series was a true sample size championship.  

GregJP, just enjoy the competition for what it is.  Who cares if Korea is playing over their heads?  When teams get behind the white lines, it doesn't matter what the rules are, you play to win.

I'm not bitter at all about the USA losing--I think it's great to see that on a given day a David can defeat a Goliath just by bringing it with everything they have.  My favorite things to see in this have been guys like Gourriel and Lee Seung Yeop.

One last point--I think it is interesting the way the US team was constructed.  The lineup and pitching staff were stacked, but like the Yankees of recent years (as compared to the Yankees of the late '90s) they sort of reflected the USAs individualistic nature as opposed to the cohesive unit fielded by, for example, Cuba.  One thing this tournament has shown is that the teams that either have experience playing together or that are somehow able to jell more quickly, do better.

That's unfortunate.  Aside from Lee and Damon having balky shoulders, it seemed like a fairly injury-free tournament for major leaguers.