Just an update on yesterday’s post on globalization and the World Baseball Classic. Team USA was eliminated from the tournament by a more lightly regarded Team Mexico, 2-1. American players were left shaking their heads in disbelief.

American star Alex Rodriguez summed it up,

It was shock. You almost feel like you have three, four more innings to play and the game is over. They made a 6-4-3 double play and it’s time to go back home. It doesn’t seem fair, but they beat us plain and simple in the field.

The semi-final round will pit undefeated South Korea against Japan, and Cuba against the Dominican Republic.

America’s pastime has become the world’s…

• What other American pastimes … or businesses… have been (or are at risk of being) co-opted by "outsiders?"
• Why do you suppose Mr. Rodriguez reacted to his team’s elimination with an emotion of "unfairness" when Team USA was beaten "plain and simple in the field" by Canada, Korea and Mexico?