I only watched the middle innings last night but the game between Cuba and Puerto Rico was one of the best baseball games I have ever seen with all the drama and skill you would have seen in a classic Canada v. Russia hockey series in the good old days when we had mutually assured distruction to keep us safe:

Cuba manager Higinio Velez was not around to see it all, but he probably would have liked what his red machine did Wednesday night. In fact, he would have loved it.

Cuba topped Puerto Rico, 4-3, to join the Dominican Republic and Korea in the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic in an emotional game filled with passion and close calls. Velez was ejected in the seventh after arguing a call at second base, but even the no-nonsense manager would have to smile after the victory.

Velez freaked out after his captain and second-baseman, Eduardo Paret, was not awarded an out after turning a double play when, you know, he pulled his foot off the bag on millisecond before getting cleated. I have seen out awarded for being a foot above the base, for being within view of the base, for later being able to identify a base in a line-up of photos. Velez was right to freak and it was most entertaining as he had to freak through a nice translator lady. The no out call made it 4-1 in the seventh but with no outs and two on. The Puerto Rican home crowd was going crazy and the Cuban bench gathered close to third than the dug-out. But on the next play the double was turned clean and stylishly making 2 out. Then a long hit to the outfield bounces in front of the centerfielder. 4-3 and Pudge Rodriguez comes flying aroung third as fast as a guy called Pudge can run. At that moment the most perfect relay in the history of relays from center was executed and the catcher for the Detroit Tigers was picked with a foot to spare by three Cubans connecting the dots with a baseball.

The best thing about the Cubans is how they do not play like pros. They cat-call jokingly to the other bench, they look a little slobby, they snap at each other like guys who will shout at each other at the Pictou Legion after the game. They look like the best senior team ever. They play the Dominican Republic Saturday.