Get Your Duckets Now (Well, Not Now But Once They Go On Sale)

Early word from MLB has Chavez Ravine as the site for the 2009 World Baseball Classic Semis and Finals. I was lucky enough to be in attendance for the USA vs. Japan game in 2006 and it was probably the second-best baseball game I’ve ever been to (behind only Game 3 Yankees-A’s ALDS in 2002, the game where Jeter did “The Flip” to Posada at the plate). Our tickets were near the right-field foul line, and we were literally surrounded by rabidly insane Japanese fans on hand to cheer on Ichiro, Fukudome, Matsuzaka, Yu Darvish, et al. It was a surreal experience hearing choreographed cheers for the Japanese stars, and you really can't ask for a better-behaved group of fans.

The U.S. team is expected to begin pool play against Venezuela, Canada and Italy in Toronto. Fear those Italians. Good times people, good times.

In other news:

The Dodgers aren’t getting home field advantage for the World Series.

Saito-San figures to be out for the foreseeable future, Dodger fans are going to get a glimpse of JB entrenched in the closer role for the first time.

Back in action tonight on the road against Arizona.