The Mets will get another key player back, Francisco Rodriguez, now that Venezuela has been eliminated. Luis Sojo's decision to start Carlos Silva over Felix Hernandez blew up in his face. The much more athletic Korean team scored five times in the first with ex-Yankee Bobby Abreu making a costly error, dropping a fly ball. Korea plays fundamentally sound baseball. Venezuela made a humiliating five errors.

K-Rod was spectacular throughout the tournament. His intensity level is beyond Joba Chamberlain. His willingness to take the ball is Mariano Rivera-like, and his desire to win is off the charts.

When the Angels were battling the Red Sox in October, I wrote the Mets had to make signing K-Rod their top priority. Now that I've seen him in action here in the WBC, I'm more convinced than ever that K-Rod will be a difference-maker in the NL East.Even though he has lost some velocity through the years, his ability to adapt and adjust is what separates him from other closers.

Tigers infielder and Venezuelan teammate Carlos Guillen put it best after K-Rod closed out the win over Puerto Rico last Monday. "Nobody wants to face K-Rod," he explained. "Everybody knows in the whole world who is K-Rod."

K-Rod had three saves and a 0.00 ERA in the WBC. He struck out eight batters over 5" innings.

Team USA plays Japan tonight. Japan has had the best pitching in the tournament. Daisuke Matsuzaka starts against Roy Oswalt. In two games against Japan, Cuba did not score a run. In Cuba's other four games it scored 36 runs and mashed 11 home runs.In any language, it always comes down to pitching, pitching, pitching.

New York Yankees News News » Hey GMs, WBC isn't going anywhere
Hey GMs, WBC isn't going anywhere
LOS ANGELES - As South Korea crushed Venezuela, 10-2, last night at Dodger Stadium in the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic, Bud Selig came out with his own strong message for major league GMs. Stop whining and get onboard the WBC Express. "I know we have some GMs that are somewhat reticent. I'm going to be as kind here as I can. I'd like to really tell you what I think, but I won't. I need to work on some of them," Selig said when asked by The Post about the situation. "Look, the clubs hear this all the time, but I'm going to say this as directly as I can: This is a time in life where I know how important your individual club is, this is a time to put the best interests of the game ahead of your own selfish, provincial interests." MLB Spring Training Kernan: Wright has his day Sherman: Joba is Plan B for closer Devils' Brodeur hits milestone More from The New York Post