Brace yourselves.  It happened.

The baseball gods (in whom I don’t believe–See Principle of Separation of Church and Sports) have graced this Classic with just the kind of drama and intrigue that was necessary to make it deeply compelling to people everywhere.  Well, Korean and Japanese people everywhere.  Not to mention me.  Though, I am of course, part Korean despite the fact that the world refuses to acknowledge me as such.

On Saturday, the Koreans kicked the kimchi out of Venezuela 10-2 ensuring their spot in the final.  Yesterday, Japan beat up on the U.S. 9-4 so they will also be making their way to the final round of this thing.

The historic battle for Dokdo begins, and may the best country win.

The world, of course, also refuses to acknowledge that this is a battle for Dokdo.  However, anytime the Japanese and Koreans meet in competition, it’s sort of always a battle for Dokdo.  If not legally, than symbolically.  Which is more important I think.

(The world obviously refuses to acknowledge that symbolism is more important than legality.  More often than not, I’m on a different page from the world.)

I realize that when I talk about the Korean-Japanese baseball final in terms of its political significance, I may sound as though I am in breach of the Principle of Separation of  Sports and State. Let me just clarify one important point.  This is a principle that doesn’t apply in international athletic competitions. International sporting events were created in order for countries to prove their superiority over other countries.  It would be impossible to keep old historical and political rivalries out of it.  Perhaps, I am perverse because I take such pleasure in this phenomenon.  But I guess I just feel like if rivalry amongst nations is going to exist, what better place for it to play out than on the baseball field?

That’s just me, though.  I’m sure the good people at MLB wouldn’t have minded Team U.S.A in the mix.  After all, the good people at MLB are probably more preoccupied with the ratings for this thing than they are with any concerns about who can lay fake claim over a bunch of fairly unimportant but politically charged islets in the Sea of Japan.  I’m sure right about now Bob DuPuy is thinking, “Hell, if it was going to be an Asian competition, why not China?” I mean, talk about a seriously large TV viewing audience.

Of course, the Chinese stink, so that was never in the tea leaves.

Anyway, it all boils down to tonight. One game, one winner.  A couple weeks back Jorge Cantu told us that the Japanese and Korean teams were pretty much the same.  We laughed at his ignorance.  Yesterday, we got insight from a player a little less apt to generalize and that player was Korean outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, who said, “Korean players and Japanese players are excellent.  There is little difference between the two.”

Dag.  Have a little self-respect, brother.

All right.  If there’s one thing I will give everyone who refuses to draw a distinction between Japan and Korea it’s that both teams have rock solid pitching staffs.  Tonight, the Korean’s are planning to go with Jung Keun Bong (2-0, 0.66 ERA in the Classic).  The Japanese will go with to Hisashi Iwakuma (1-1, 0.73 ERA).

Regardless of the outcome, it should be a game worth watching.  Because if there’s another similarity between those two teams, it’s that they both play solid ball.

Tommy Lasorda, for one, can’t wrap his brain around just how solid that ball really is.  Shocked that Japan (the reigning WBC champion) should have beat out the States (eliminated in Round 2 of the 2006 Classic) for a spot in the finals, he commented, “We taught these people the game.”

And apparently “these people” have taught Lasorda nothing about humility.