The WBC Final Four is here. In a righteous world, who should Yankee fans root for?

And so, here we are... May I have the envelope please... 

After a year of hype, a month of dicking around, and two weeks of play, four countries - four teams, four narrative - remain in the World Baseball Classic, which remains ex-commissioner Bud Selig's third greatest life legacy. 

For the record, here are Selig's first two: 

1. The perennial, mustard-stained statue of him in Milwaukee, unveiled to a gasping world in 2010. It'd be interesting to stick the Selig monument next to the one of George Steinbrenner in the lobby of Yankee Stadium and see which draws the highest volume of condiments. 

2. The destruction of the Yankees, who stood for a century as the team every American loved or hated. After all, they were New York, a city of rudeness, ethnicity and big money, and the Heartlands rejoiced in Yankee failures. Selig's luxury tax eventually crushed Hal Steinbrenner's willingness to spend for free agents, though it failed to save a plantation structure that allowed owners to - as the ads say - "only pay for what you need." 

The funny part here is that the fall of the Yankees didn't help small market teams at all. The Dodgers simply took over, with a more efficient system of money, Hollywood hype and international stars, mostly from Japan. It's a money machine that Selig must still love, as he spins. (Note: There is also the Mets, who easily became the Yankees of the East.) 

But, but BUT... I got sidetracked. This is about the final four of the WBC. 

Who should Yankee fans support?

For me, here are the teams, in order of our rightful support.... 

1.Italy. This is our team. For starters, manager Francisco Cervelli - still a Yankee in his heart. Note to Cashman: Sign this guy. When the time comes to ditch Boone - I'd say, mid-May? - here's our replacement. Also, there are no Yankee nemeses on this team. The closest we get is Greg Weissert, the de facto closer, who we traded to Boston for "Face Plant" Verdugo. Let him waste his bullets in the WBC. 

Most of all, we owe Italy, big time, for beating Mexico, allowing the USA to make the second round and avoid baseball's biggest botch since Mr. Buckner.  

2. Venezuela. I'm thinking of Gleyber, of course. You barely recognize him with the Klondike beard. To me, he's still a Yankee, always will be. After Gleyber, nobody on this roster bothers me. There's also the geopolitical scene, still unsettled. I suspect this country, overall, could really use a win. 

Not sure how a WBC victory would affect things, but everything in this world is connected. That butterfly flapping its wings in China, it'll arrive in NYC in October.

3. Dominican Republic. It's full of ex-Yanks, shoulda beens and traitors. For starters, Juan "Luxury Box" Soto and Vladimir "I'll Never Be a Yankee/Check that, I'd Be a Yankee If They Paid Me/No, I'll Never Be a Yankee" Guerrero Jr. And Manny Machado, who wanted to play in the Bronx, but Hal wouldn't even make a bid. And Austin Wells (which I don't understand.) 

The only reason to root for this team is the hunger factor. If Soto leads his country to the WBC trophy, he'll be more arrogant than ever - and maybe less hungry - to bring one home to the Mets. 

4. USA. Honestly, after Aaron Judge, who cares? When I watch, I channel hop around the innings when Judge isn't coming to bat. I root for him. I root for the fans who root for him. Judge remains the great incentive to support Team America. (There is also David Bednar and Tim Hill - and either could be called upon in a situation that could define his career - but, overall, meh.)  

But really, it's all about Judge. Over the last two weeks, he has shown himself to be baseball's greatest star. Yank fans should fear the possibility that Team America's win in the WBC might be the only championship in Judge's magnificent career. 

Well, I don't want it. I don't like sharing him with Redsock fans. YOU CAN'T HAVE HIM, AMERICA! JUDGE IS OURS. AND HIS GREATEST MOMENTS NEED TO HAPPEN IN OCTOBER, NOT MARCH. 

So, altogether now, Let's Go Italy.