Cuba Eliminated From World Baseball Classic and Fidel Is None Too Happy

Japan just has Cuba's number I guess.

On Wednesday, for the second time in four days, Japan shut out Cuba in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Japan's 5-0 victory eliminates Cuba from the World Baseball Classic and for the first time in more than 50 international events (including the Olympics) the Cuban did not finish first or second.

Japan also defeated Cuba in the final of the World Baseball Classic in 2006.

Needless to say, Fidel Castro is none too happy:

First he blames those responsible for running the tournament:

What was important for the organizers was to eliminate Cuba, a revolutionary country that has heroically resisted and has not been able to be defeated in the battle of ideas. Nevertheless, one day we shall again be a dominant power in that sport.

If you think it is embarassing for the Dominican Republic to lose to the Netherlands it is simply unacceptable to Castro when Cuba doesn't win in international competition. Castro writes, "I should point out that the leadership of the team in San Diego was very poor."

It is worth noting the team doctor is Fidel's son Antonio who is far more than the team doctor.

I would not be surprised if some members of the Cuban team end up seeing the inside of a prison cell.

The final four in the WBC are the United States, Japan, Korea and Venezuela (you would have thought Fidel would have been happy there was socialist representation. Then again even Fidel thinks Venezuela is no match for either the Japanese or Korean team.) Korea and Venezuela square off tomorrow night while the U.S. faces off against Japan on Sunday with the final to be determined on Monday.