I like the World Baseball Classic, it will further internationalize a great game and could be yet another instrument of American cultural imperialism of which I heartily approve. The tournament format is required given the number of teams involved and the time commitment required of many Major League baseball players.
However, the dependence on tie-breaks to which the US team became exposed due to an improbable loss to Canada is silly and antithetical to a key fundamental of baseball. One of the great features of baseball is that there is no clock. No time-limit that helps a team who has a lead. You HAVE to get 27 outs. Another is there isn't arbitrary rules like goal differential. You HAVE to win 3 of 5 or 4 of 7.
The US would have been eliminated despite its 2-1 record if Mexico had failed to score more than 2 runs in its win yesterday against Canada due to a calculation of runs allowed. A better solution, though it might lengthen the tournament, would be a 'playoff' game between the US and Canada if those two were vying for the last spot.
Just sayin'.
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