First the Dutch, now the Puerto Ricans.

What an upset.

That’s right, while you were busy ogling pictures of A-Weird ogling himself, Team U.S.A. was busy dogpiling to celebrate their 3-1 victory over Puerto Rico.  That is, according to David Wright, anyway, who was the hero of last night’s game.  Dee Dubs commented, “I never thought that we’d be dogpiling in March, but it was pretty special and something I’ll always remember.”

Ah, yes, one doesn’t soon forget his first March dogpile.  Hold on to that memory, Dee Dubs, and count yourself lucky.  There is no guarantee that you will ever again feel that kind of magic.  Unless, of course, you get yourself a wallet-sized copy of the A-Weird make-out picture to carry around with you.

In winning the contest against Puerto Rico, the U.S. have not only secured a spot in the semifinals, but they have eliminated the commonwealth from the race.  And on behalf of commonwealthers everywhere, let me just be the first to say, “Ay, que lastima!”

But wait.  It wasn’t all bad.

Our Koreans friends were able to pull out a win in last night’s game against the Japanese. In addition to the fact that their victory assures them a spot in the next round, it also leaves them with a 2-1 record against the Japanese in this year’s Classic.  And what better way to say, “Occupy this.  Oh, and yeah.  We’re better than you are at baseball.”

Korea’s 4-1 victory was, in part, the result of two careless first-inning defensive plays by Japanese second basemen Akinori Iwamura. When asked how he felt about the plays, Japanese manager Tatsunori Hara commented, “Let’s just say that the out was what was wanted.”

Pay attention, folks.  Cutting edge baseball analysis happening here.

The Japanese, however, are not out of the race just yet.  Tonight, they will play the Cubans who have kept their own hope alive by knocking out the Mexicans.

Moment of silence for Jorge Cantu.  I’m gonna miss that guy.

So the Japanese and Cubans will be battling it out for the fourth and final slot in the semifinals. (The Venezuelans have secured the third slot.)  It’s a familiar pairing.  The Cubans and Japanese met in the Classic Finals in 2006.  We all know how that ended; the Japanese won creating a worldwide stir and gaining international respect and admiration.

Actually, not true.  Sadly, I am like one of three people who actually follow the Classic.

However, the competition is undoubtedly more important on the global stage than it is domestically, where people tend to see it as that thing interfering with spring training.  And given that Cuba and Japan fancy themselves baseball playing giants, tonight’s game is bound to be an upset somewhere. Not on the scale of the Dutch elimination or anything.

But, well, no one saw that one coming.