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SoreArms
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For a team that wasn't guaranteed to be anywhere near the World Baseball Classic when it began, Cuba sure has come a long way.
Two months ago, the Cubans were unsure the U.S. Treasury Department would grant them a license so they could participate in the inaugural tournament. Now, they're one win away from accomplishing what 14 other teams were unable to do: win the whole thing.
To do so, the Cubans must beat Japan, who topped Korea, 6-0, in the second semifinal game on Saturday.
Reaching the finals in international competition is nothing new to the Cubans. Monday's finals mark the 37th time they've advanced to the championship game, spanning years of Olympic participation, World Cups, Intercontinental Cups and now, the inaugural World Baseball Classic.
It's not hyperbole to say that Monday's World Baseball Classic finale at PETCO Park against Cuba may be the biggest game in Japanese baseball history. Certainly, this will be Japan's biggest game against Cuba in international play, although certainly not its first game against the Cubans on the global front.
The only time Japan has played for the gold medal in the Summer Olympics, it was against Cuba in the 1996 Atlanta games. But the Japanese had to settle for the silver, losing 13-9. In 2000 at Australia, it was Japan against Cuba again in the semifinals, and again the Japanese lost, this time, 3-0. In those Olympics, Japan also lost the bronze medal game to Korea, and the U.S. won its only Olympic baseball gold medal by defeating Cuba.
Since baseball became a medal sport in 1992, the Japanese have won one silver and two bronze medals.
Two months ago, the Cubans were unsure the U.S. Treasury Department would grant them a license so they could participate in the inaugural tournament. Now, they're one win away from accomplishing what 14 other teams were unable to do: win the whole thing.
To do so, the Cubans must beat Japan, who topped Korea, 6-0, in the second semifinal game on Saturday.
Reaching the finals in international competition is nothing new to the Cubans. Monday's finals mark the 37th time they've advanced to the championship game, spanning years of Olympic participation, World Cups, Intercontinental Cups and now, the inaugural World Baseball Classic.
It's not hyperbole to say that Monday's World Baseball Classic finale at PETCO Park against Cuba may be the biggest game in Japanese baseball history. Certainly, this will be Japan's biggest game against Cuba in international play, although certainly not its first game against the Cubans on the global front.
The only time Japan has played for the gold medal in the Summer Olympics, it was against Cuba in the 1996 Atlanta games. But the Japanese had to settle for the silver, losing 13-9. In 2000 at Australia, it was Japan against Cuba again in the semifinals, and again the Japanese lost, this time, 3-0. In those Olympics, Japan also lost the bronze medal game to Korea, and the U.S. won its only Olympic baseball gold medal by defeating Cuba.
Since baseball became a medal sport in 1992, the Japanese have won one silver and two bronze medals.
