World Baseball Classic creates a new, angry Ichiro

In a game with the intensity of a World Series Game Seven, Korea beat Japan 2-1 last night to secure a spot in the World Baseball Classic semifinals. Ichiro didn't take the defeat lightly, showing emotion on the field for the first time we've ever seen.

Before the Classic, Ichiro expressed a desire to demonstrate to Korea that they couldn't beat Japan for thirty years. But, as a fan's sign in Angel Stadium put it:

30 Years? It only took us one week!

Korea beat Japan 4-3 in first round play, and now beat them again.

Ichiro was pissed--he shouted at himself after striking out against Chan Ho Park, and in the dugout after the loss.

He was at his most expressive in the pivotal 8th inning, when Korea scored its two runs.

Ichiro had a chance to catch a foul pop in the rightfield stands. He stumbled while climbing the wall, and, after the ball fell in the stands, stood up and shouted something to himself. Then he turned toward the fans and shouted at them!

It was a dramatic and jarring display from the normally stoic Ichiro--the modern-day equivalent of Dimaggio kicking the dirt in the 1947 Series.

Japan could get one more shot at Korea, but only if Mexico beats Roger Clemens and the U.S. today. Oliver Perez starts for Mexico, which, due to the bizarre tiebreaker, can only advance if they beat the U.S. 3-0...in 13 innings. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. The game's at 4:30 on ESPN.