Good. It would have been less fun with Japan sitting out.

Part of the reason that the NPBPA gave in was due to a "Samurai Japan" plan that the NPB is planning. In essence, they want to start using the National Baseball Team much like how many countries operate their National Soccer Teams, having more-or-less constant games with participation in friendlies and such. The WBC basically told them that they'd be able to keep all of the money from stuff involving the Japanese national team, so long as it didn't have a WBC logo on it.

Japan are two-time defending champions. It would have been a disaster for the integrity of the competition if Japan had sent a substandard team, or no team at all.

Champions Japan end WBC strike threat

D Matsuzaka ended being a strike threat years ago...

D Matsuzaka ended being a strike threat years ago...

The WBC has been played twice. The same player has been named MVP of the WBC both times. Guess who?

Bob Hope?

That's right - Frank Stallone.

In the 2009 edition his patriotism got the better of him and he he kept certain facts about his health secret, if I remember correctly. After all, the Japan-Korea rivalry makes the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry look like a schoolyard game of rock-paper-scissors.

You guessed it - Octavio Dotel.

In this case, it has nothing to do with Frank Tanana.