USA

After a disappointing 5-2 loss to Mexico (box score via MLB.com) in its World Baseball Classic opener on Friday night, Team USA needs Brandon Phillips and Giancarlo Stanton to step up in order for the team to advance.

Now, at my favorite time in the sports calendar, I often reflect upon the amazing nature of sports. It is something that can be totally unifying, and at the same time, completely divisive.

Some people quite literally live and die on the success of their teams.

It is something that transcends all of the normal boundaries that are set for us in life. A young man can grow up on the streets, but die a hero to his country because he excelled at a sport.

While many of us take this day as an extra day off of work, and a reason for a BBQand a great reason for a get together with friends and/or family, let’s not forget what today is really about. 

Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country.  The men and women who have given their life in the name of freedom and patriotism. 

Dear America,

The World Series should no longer hold that title. For the title "World Series" implies the whole world.

So why are the World Series Champs called the World Champions?

Because MLB teams are the best, right?

Wrong.

The days of American baseball dominance have long been over and it has taken until now to prove it.

By defeating Korea for their second straight World Baseball Classic championship, Japan has a legitimate claim to call themselves the World's best baseball nation.

As we look back at the second annual World Baseball Classic, their are many great memories.  This year's tournament was definitely one to remember.  With major upsets, ninth inning comebacks, and great international rivalries, this tournament was so jam packed with action and drama.

The Korean WBC team only has one MLB player compared to Venezuela’s 22 and Choo Shin-Soo from the Cleveland Indians made sure it didn’t go unnoticed hitting a three run homer in the first inning off Carlos Silva. Silva gave up seven runs in 1.1 innings sealing Korea’s  position in  the finals on Monday with a 10-2 victory. Venezuela set a record committing five errors, the most ever in a single WBC game.

Just to let everyone know, we're going to be doing a live blog of tonight's World Baseball Classic match up between the United States and Japan. The game begins at 8:00 eastern and we'll begin our coverage at 7:30. We heavily encourage our Bleacher Report readers to head on over to our main site, www.sixtyftsixin.com and join us in discussion and the drama of this game. Hope to have you there with us.

According to Brian Hoch of MLB.com, Phil Hughes was among six Yankees who were assigned to the minor league camp today. The others were Anthony Claggett, Steven Jackson, Humberto Sanchez, Sergio Mitre, and Jason Johnson.

The World Baseball Classic has taken many players around the major league away from their teams this spring and in some cases it has been viewed as a very negative thing. For Mark Teixeira that was not going to be an issue during his first spring training with the Yankees.

Team Puerto Rico reminded me of the 2008 Mets in the way they lost to Team USA.

Team Puerto Rico was leading Team USA 5-3 going into the bottom of the ninth inning. Pedro Feliciano reminded me of last year, and to most Puerto Rico fans, it wasn't good. He did not have good command and put himself in a hole.

The Puerto Rican team had a chance to get out of it with a double play, but Carlos Delgado was pulled off the bag. It was all downhill from there.