Lin and Yankees Go Their Separate Ways...

According to news reports in Taiwan, the Yankees have determined that their contract with Tzu-Wei Lin was invalid.   Supposedly, his father had signed off on the contract, but TW Lin's signature was nowhere to be found.  Yankees Sr. VP of Baseball Operations Mark Newman confirmed that the deal was never finalized.   
  
This leaves Lin with the opportunity to continue his HS career, avoid potential problems with his HS and amateur governing baseball bodies, and also perhaps seek greener pastures in the near future (when he graduates from HS).   The rumored $600 K offer from the Twins and ~$500 K offers from the Braves and Pirates greatly exceeded the $350 K (+ $64K for school) offer from the Yankees.

The drama has also casted a shadow on Lin's reps - Octagon (for helping Lin to consider signing a contract before his HS graduation and also for taking an inferior financial offer from the Yankees).




*Deja Vu - The boys from Kaohsiung won their consolation game at the LLWS on Sunday after a crushing defeat in extra innings the day before to Japan.   Similar to 2007 during LLWS play, Japan rallied from behind to tie things up in their last AB and then win in extra innings.   Hat tip to Japan on winning the LLWS.


*The minor league season is coming to a close.   Overall, the season has been a disappointment (injuries to CJ Lo and CL Hu, the dreadful debuts of several minor league farmhands - particularly with the Pirates, and poor performances from minor league veterans) save a few bright spots (CH Chen, CH Lin, CC Lee, CH Chiang, etc.).   First year players - ZF Pan (.331 BA) and PC Chen (.292 BA, 10 SB) did manage to hold their own offensively.
Over in Japan, TH Lee has been impressive at the plate as well (.303 BA, 9 HR) while Yi-Hao Lin (3 W's, 2.93 ERA) has begun to fulfill some of the promise he once exhibited as a 15 year old.

Enjoying the Ride......2010 Asian Youth Champs

The Youth NT won the 2010 Asian "AA" Youth Championships by defeating Japan 3-0 in the championship game.   Starting pitcher Hua-Ching Lin picked up the W and tourney MVP honors after shutting down Japan for 7 innings, allowing only 1 hit while K'ing 4.  IF Hao-Chen Chen earned the BA title in the tourney.


*Their Little League brethren will also face Japan in the International Championship Game of the LLWS on Saturday at 10 AM Pacific on ABC.


*Pending further investigation, Tzu-Wei Lin may not be able to participate in any more HS games if his contract with the NYY is valid.    Also his HS team (Kao-Yuan HS) and coach would be barred from tourneys for a one year period.  NYY local scout Ken Su was to meet with  Kao-Yuan HS baseball program director Cheng-Hsien Yu to help clarify the situation.


*The CPBL is considering adding a 5th team to the league from across the Strait.   If it happens, wow!

Brief Update on TW Lin...

The latest reports in Taiwan on Tzu-Wei Lin are stating that Lin wants to void the contract he signed with the NYY.   The CTBA also wants the contract voided.  It is yet to be determined what the NYY will do.

The Smoking Gun.....Tzu-Wei Lin Signs with Yankees

First off, I apologize for the long layoff - a much needed vacation helped to rejuice my batteries.  For those with young children, I highly recommend Carnival Cruise Lines - they have an excellent program for kids.

Ok, on to some recent news:

1)Kevin Goldstein has broken the news that 16 year old Tzu-Wei Lin has signed with the Yankees for $350 K.  The news comes as a surprise for two reasons: 1) the kid signed before his HS graduation  2) he could've received a lot more coin signing with another team (rumored to have received multiple better offers - with offers rumored to be as high as $600 K from one particular MLB club)  
However, one can speculate that Lin's reps - Octagon and their close ties to NYY local scout Ken Su probably had something to do with Lin's signing with the Yankees. 


2)The youth NT is 2-0 at the Asian "AA" Championships.  


3)A 45-man preliminary roster was announced for the upcoming Intercontinental Cup and Asian Games.  Hong-Chih Kuo headlines a large contingent of overseas players that include:
-HC Kuo (Dodgers)
-FT Ni (Tigers)
-HW Chen (Cubs)
-CJ Lo (Astros)
-CC Lee (Indians)
-CL Lo (Rockies)
-WY Chen (Dragons)
-YH Yang (Hawks)
-CL Huang (Giants)
-YH Lin (Giants)
-MC Hsu (Lions)
-YC Hsiao (Tigers)
-CH Chen (Indians)
-CL Hu (Dodgers)
-YC Chen (Pirates)
-TH Lee (Hawks)
-CH Lin (Red Sox)
-KH Lo (Mariners)
-WC Lin (Tigers)
-TK Yang (Fighters)


4)Congrats to Chung-Ching Jr. LL from Taipei City on winning the Junior League Baseball World Series.  It looks like there's another Tzu-Wei Lin to keep an eye out for.


5)At the LLWS, Taiwan is currently 2-0.  (18-0 W vs. KSA - Box/Recap) (23-0 W vs. CANADA - Box/Recap)


6)CH Chen continues to stroke the ball well at A+ ball - homering again tonight.  Che-Hsuan Lin was selected the best defensive OF in the Eastern League by BA.

PONY Score Updates....

*Palomino WS:  Taiwan lost its opening game to Lynnhaven, VA 7-1 on Friday.  The team then beat Puerto Rico 10-4 on Saturday, keyed by Meng-Chieh Kan's grand slam home run.    The team was eliminated from the tourney in a 13-11 rematch loss to Lynnhaven, VA today.



*Bronco WS: Taiwan is 2-0 so far in pool play, defeating Chambersburg, PA 9-2 Friday and Mexico 8-1 Saturday. 



*3B Wei-Chih Chen made the 2010 WUBC All-Star Team.

6th at the WUBC....

*The collegiate NT finished 6th at the 2010 WUBC after losing 15-14 to Canada.   Box / Stats



*The Bronco World Series kicks off today for Taiwan.    Roster
8/6 - vs. Chambersburg, PA
8/7 - vs. Kino, Sonora, Mexico
8/9 - vs. Monterey, CA
8/10 - vs. Tamiami/Leon Medical Centers, FL
- Top 2 from each bracket play in the semis on Wed. 8/11



*The Palomino World Series also starts today for Taiwan.  Representing Taiwan (the team is from Taichung and not Taipei as indicated on the PONY website)  is another squad from Shi-Yuan/Gao-Nong HS.
8/6 - vs. Lynnhaven, VA (double elimination format - lose 2 and you're out of the tourney, except for the championship game)
The two other teams in Taiwan's bracket are: Colton, CA & Gurabo, P.R.



*The 2010 Asian "AA" Youth Championships are around the corner.   The tourney will take place in Bangkok, Thailand. The youth NT's schedule is as follows:
8/22 - vs. Hong Kong
8/23 - vs. Indonesia
8/24 - vs. Thailand
8/25 - the semis take place with the top two seeds in each pool playing each other (#1A vs. #2B and vice versa)  Taiwan was fortunate that Japan and South Korea are in pool A together alongside China and Sri Lanka;  however this also means that the team most likely will have to face both Japan and South Korea (in the semis and finals) in order to win the tourney.




*The LLWS doesn't start until 8/20.  Taiwan's first game is on 8/21 against Saudi Arabia - the MEA champs.
Regarding the Junior League World Series, Taiwan will face Guatemala in its opening game on Sunday August 15th.




*Coolin' Down:  Red-hot reliever Chen-Chang Lee has been quietly putting together a nice season in AA ball.  Lee was recently placed on the DL with an oblique strain.




*Yi-Hao Lin is now on the Giants' regular roster and has a new contract.




*The star of the world junior championship squad, Tzu-Wei Lin has a bright future ahead of him.   At 16, he's a world champ, the WJC tourney MVP/most outstanding defensive player/tourney All-star 3B, and owned the highest BA in the tourney.   He's apparently being represented by heavyweight - Octagon (rumor has it that he signed with them - with the assistance of the Yankees' Ken Su, during his last HS tourney).




*Taipei County has established a baseball program at Ying-Ke Vocational HS.  The head coach will be former 1B/LHP Chuan-Chia Wang.   This is important news as Ying-Ke becomes only the 3rd HS baseball program (including Ku-Pao and Sioufong (Hsiu-Feng) HS) in Taipei County - which is the most populated locality in Taiwan.





*See how Wei-Ta Su and Jung-Hao Hsieh are faring in Alaska.

2010 World Jr. Champs!!!!

It's been over 25 years since the island won its last and only world junior title.
Congrats to the 20 young men on an unforgettable showing in Thunder Bay!