Team USA Eliminated From World Baseball Classic... Again

With the elimination of Team USA in the World Baseball Classic last night to Puerto Rico, America's finest is finishing yet another international baseball classic nowhere near first, and for the second time in three years - failing to reach even the semi-finals.

This tournament's defeat is the result of the Dominican Republic's ninth inning three-one victory on Thursday night and after squashing our territorial competitors earlier in the week, failing to successfully come back last night in a bitter four-three loss, capping our third consecutive failure in the Classic.

The 2013 semi-finals include two-time champion Japan, 2006 fourth place finisher the Dominican Republic and two newcomers - Puerto Rico, and Europe's first semi-finalist, the Netherlands. The two game semi's, followed immediately by the championship game, will take place tonight through Tuesday and at three days end, atop the baseball world will sit one nation.

While my money is on the reigning champions from Tokyo to once again claim the baseball world's triumph, my personal hope is the Netherlands can somehow scrap together a victory over the undefeated Dominican Republic and upset the baseball universe, but I guess we shall have to wait and see.

What say you?