Lin vs. Chen

In CPBL action, the CPBL's top concensus pitcher En-Yu Lin faced off against the most potent lineup in the CPBL - the LA New Bears. Lin came out victorious while throwing a complete game shutout as the Cobras blanked the Bears 4-0. Facing off against the league's highest paid player and former Dodger, Lin K'd Chen twice. Lin was clocked at a high of 92 mph. Read more here.

In other CPBL news, Tai-Shan Chang has set the career HR record as he hit his 11th dinger of the season. Read more here.

Yanks - BoSox on ESPN Monday....

Wang's start on Monday vs. divisional rival Boston will be televised at 4:00 pm Pacific. Wang's last ESPN appearance was also against the Red Sox in which he only lasted 5 innings and received a no-decision. Let's hope he has a better showing this time around.

Sunday NPB scores:
Lin pinch hit in the 5th inning and flied out as his team won 5-3 over the Buffaloes. Box

Hsu pitched the 5th inning for Seibu and gave up 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 walk, and had 1 K. Seibu lost to the Yokohama BayStars. Box

US minor league action:
Kuo pitched 2/3 of the 8th inning for Vegas and stuggled, giving up 3 hits, 1 HR, and 1 earned run.
Box

Hu went 1-4 for Jacksonville and committed only his 2nd error of the season. Box

Inland Empire won a close game 5-4, but Chen was held hitless again. Chen went 0-3 with a walk and a run scored. Box

Lansing won 11-8, but starting pitcher Cheng stuggled in his 4 innings of work. Despite only giving up 3 hits, Cheng walked 5 batters, allowed 3 earned runs and received a no decision. Keng pitched in relief, going 2 innings, giving up only 1 hit while striking out 2 batters. Box

Game Results....

Sat. NPB results:
Yang faced 1 batter, walked him, and was then pulled. Yang's Hawks were demolished by the Yakult Swallows. Box

Sat. minor league results:
Hu went 2-4 at the plate, with a walk and a run scored. His team lost 4-3. Box

Chen had another hitless night. He was 0-5. Box

Wu went 1-3 with a sacrifice, but was also caught attempting to steal his first base of the season. Box

Cheng will start tomorrow for Lansing against Fort Wayne.

Friday Night Lights....

A handful of minor leaguers in action Friday:
In Jacksonville, Hu went 1-5 as his team lost 4-3 in extra innings. Box

Chen's 66ers also lost by a 4-3 score. Even though Chen was 2-5 at the plate and stole his 16 base on the season, he was thrown out trying to steal home in the 1st inning - that was costly for his team. Box


Chien-Ming Wang will face off against Red Sox ace Curt Schilling on Monday. Should be a great challenge for Wang.

Yang Promoted.....

Yao-Hsun Yang was activated by the Softbank Hawks on Wed. Yang, a LHP, made his pro debut in Wed's game vs. the Yomiuri Giants. He pitched to one hitter in the 8th inning. Box

In Thursday's NPB action, Lin made a pinch hit appearance for the Tigers in the 7th inning and grounded out. Box

MLB.com is reporting that Chin-Hui Tsao has been throwing bullpen sessions. Despite good individual sessions, Tsao's recovery afterwards hasn't been going well. For more read here.

Minor League Action:
The Jacksonville Sun's offense broke out in a huge way. In a 19 hit attack, the Suns won 13-2. Hu also had a huge night as he went 4-6 with 2 doubles and 3 runs. Box

Inland Empire also won tonight, as Chen was 1-3 with a walk. However, Chen was picked off at first base and was caught stealing 2nd in the same sequence. Box

Keng finally got some innings, as he pitched 1 scoreless inning for Lansing tonight. He had 1 K.
Box

I've added a few new links: JapanBaseballDaily.com is a great English language resource for game recaps and news on what's going on in the NPB.
Also, 2006 Japanese Professional Baseball, recaps games as well as gives boxscores for games in the NPB.

Wang Wins 3rd in a Row....

The month of May has been good to Wang: 4 starts - 3 wins and 1 no decision, along with a 2.67 ERA. Wed's game vs. the Rangers was no exception. Wang went 8 innings, giving up 3 runs - 2 earned on 6 hits to win his 4th game on the season. Again, Wang pitched well through the first 7 innings, although some defensive miscues did cost Wang a run in the 4th. In the 8th, Wang began to fatigue as he gave up a double and then a HR before finishing the inning by getting 2 more ground outs. Rivera closed out the game for Wang in the 9th and the Yanks won a close game 4-3, one night after staging a huge comeback in a wild shootout 14-13.

Game Recap

In an article written recently on Wang, there is an interesting quote from Wang: " I don't think of myself really as a star. I'm just a pitcher. There are a lot of better ballplayers back in Taiwan."
Wow, Wang is being super modest here, but I can't think of one single ball player still in Taiwan who has the cajones or talent to match Wang. I wonder who Wang was referring to (maybe Chin-Feng Chen)?
Despite all the hype that Chin-Hui Tsao and Hong-Chih Kuo received, Wang has quietly become the best pitcher in all of Taiwan. With all 3 suffering serious injuries at some point in their careers, it is refreshing to see Wang and Kuo - to a lesser extent, do well.
Mariner scout Jamey Storvick was right on the money about Wang when he wrote this article 6 years ago.

In the minors, Hu got the night off for Jacksonville.

Another rare hitless night for Chen in A+ ball. Chen was 0-4, but did manage to steal his 15th base on the season. Box

Lo took his 1st loss of the season for Modesto. Lo pitched 5.2 innings, giving up 10 hits - 1 HR, 6 runs - all earned, with 3 walks and one K. Box

Wu went 0-2 in a rain shortened game. Playing catcher, Wu also allowed 3 stolen bases. Box

Updated 5-17-06

Wang Set to Go Tomorrow....

Wang will start for the Yanks on Wed. against the Ranger's Kameron Loe. Read more on the matchup here.

In the NPB, Lin made an appearance as a pinch runner and scored the winning run in the 12th inning for the Tigers. Box

Hsu pitched 2 innings for Seibu, giving up 2 hits, 2 runs - 1 earned via a HR allowed, and also K'd one. Box

In the minors, Hu went 1-6 at the plate with a triple and a RBI as his team lost in a shootout. Box

Inland Empire was shutout 2-0, but Chen managed to go 1-3 with a walk. Box
With his smoldering start at Inland Empire, carried over from a good showing at the WBC, Chen is finally starting to receive some recognition. An AL scout gave his take on Chen's abilities:
"He's a fun guy to watch. I'm not sure how his power is going to develop, but he's got enough for second base. He can run and field, too.
He's got some physical tools. He's a little bit like (Tadahito) Iguchi in Chicago, if you replace his speed with a little more power. Chen is a good ballplayer and when he shoots one in the gaps, he can really run."

Cheng took his 3rd loss on the season in a tough pitcher's duel to Burlington's Carlos Rosa. Cheng pitched 6 innings, giving up 3 hits - one being a HR and 2 earned runs. Chen K'd 8 and walked 1 in the game. Box

Monday Updates....

The Dodger prospects represented themselves well tonight.
In AAA, Kuo pitched 2.0 innings in helping to preserve a 4-3 lead for Vegas. Kuo gave up 0 hits, 1 walk, and had 3 K's. Box
Hu went 2-3 with 2 walks, a run scored, and stole his 6th base on the season, as his team won 4-0. Box

After failing to get a hit last night, Chen redeemed himself in a big way with a 3-5 night at the plate, with 2 runs scored, and a RBI. Box

Wu went 0-3 in a 7 inning loss to Dayton. Box

CHUNG-SHOU YANG UPDATE:
Through 5/14/06, Yang has played in 26 games while improving his average to .316 with 2 HR's and 8 RBI's on the season. Yang has settled in at the 3 spot in the lineup for the Fighter's nigun team.

Where Have you Gone......Player Updates.......

There's been some pretty damned good players that the Taiwanese senior and junior NT has produced over the years.

The most successful ones, we hear about all the time and are probably playing overseas in the US or Japan.
Then there are those players who shine brightly on the world stage, only to see their star fade into oblivion. I'll review some of the lesser known players who have burst into the spotlight in the past 10 years or so.

FORMER JUNIOR NT PLAYERS:
First kid: Sheng-An Kuo
Kuo was a member of the 2000 Pony League World Series Champs. Kuo was a key 2 way player who starred along with teammate Ching-Lung Lo. Kuo's manager at the time, Hsi-Chien Chang, gave Kuo the ultimate compliment when he said that Kuo was a legitimate MLB prospect - as a pitcher. Chang's credibility came from the fact that he had also coached Hong-Chih Kuo and Chien-Ming Wang when they were youngsters.

Moving forward one year, Kuo's teammate Lo is signed for a $1.4 million signing bonus by the Colorado Rockies. Kuo continues to play domestically in high school and is selected to the 2001 youth NT and then later the junior NT in 2004.
Today: Kuo plays for Dahan College in Taiwan's men's amateur senior circuit. Kuo's stats through the 5th week of the 2006 Men's Spring Tourney: 0 Wins - 2 Losses, 6.05 ERA, 19.1 IP, 4 K's, 7 walks, 13 ER allowed.

Second kid: Chen-Nan Lee
Lee is a member of the prospect packed 2001 junior NT. However in 2001, Lee is the brightest star of a class that includes: Ching-Lung Lo, Chi-Hung Cheng, Yung-Chi Chen, Ching-Lung Hu, Yao-Hsiung Yang - guys who will eventually sign to play in the US or Japan. In the 2001 Asian Youth Baseball Championships, Lee is the starter in the championship game versus arch-rival Japan. Lee pitches a complete game 2 hit shutout to wrap up Taiwan's first ever championship in this event. A 2 way player, Lee leads the Asian Junior Championships in RBI's, HR's, and ERA.

The following year, Lee is elected to the junior NT again, this time on the world stage. Lee helps lead his team to a silver medal, falling to Cuba in the gold medal game. Lee hits .310, with 1 HR and 5 RBI's, while also pitching 7 innings against top competition. From that team, Chao-Kuan Wu is signed by the Mariners, Ching-Lung Hu is signed by the Dodgers, Wei-Yin Chen is signed by the Chunichi Dragons, and Po-Hsuan Keng is signed by the Blue Jays. Despite his good showing the past 2 years internationally, Lee is not signed.

Today, the 21 year old is playing strictly as a pitcher for the MeiFu Giants on the Men's senior amateur circuit. Through the 5th week of the 2006 spring tourney, Lee was 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA in 6.1 IP with 7 K's, 4 walks, and 3 ER given up.


Third and Fourth Kids: Shen-Fu Tsai & Hsin-Tsung Wu
Tsai is a member of the 2003 youth NT that wins a silver medal on the world stage, losing only to the US in the gold medal game. Tsai cracks 3 home runs in that tourney and is the feared slugger on that team. Tsai's teammate - Chih-Hsien Chiang is the other star positional player for CT. Wu, who was armed with a 90 mph fastball at the time, is also a member of the 2003 youth NT. During that tourney, he is the winning pitcher for CT against youth power house Cuba and along with Tsai, is a physically imposing player - standing around 6'3".

Fast forward to today: Chiang is widely considered Taiwan's best high school hitting prospect and is signed by the Boston Red Sox in 2006 for a hefty $375 K signing bonus. Tsai, who is considered too lazy and slow by scouts, is currently playing for Kai Nan College on the men's amateur circuit. The 18 year old is doing well - hitting .400 with 10 hits in 25 AB's with 2 RBI's and only 3 K's in the 2006 spring tourney. Wu on the other hand, suffered from arm injuries and is still in the process of regaining arm strength. Wu is currently pitching for the Taiwan Electric Company on the men's amateur circuit. Through 5 weeks, Wu is 1-0 with a 3.63 ERA, and 13K's/14 walks in 22.1 IP in 2006 spring play.

FORMER SENIOR NT MEMBER:
* Chang-Wei Tu - At one time was considered to be the best amateur pitching prospect on the island. Tu leads the men's NT to the 2003 National Baseball Congress World Series Championship. A finesse pitcher, Tu was voted the MVP of the tourney. Despite all the hype he gathered from his success in the 2003 NBC games, Tu was not signed by any overseas teams. Tu did manage to make the 2004 Olympic roster for CT. After the Olympic Games, the ChinaTrust Whales drafted Tu with their top pick in 2005. In his rookie year, Tu went 3-4 with a 3.00 ERA. In 69 IP, he had 34 K's. This year - 2006, Tu is struggling with a 4.46 ERA and a 1-2 record through 5/15/06.

More on the Shidax signings....

Thanks to Frank, the 2 kids who were signed by Shidax are P Chia-Jen Lo and OF Chien-Yu Kuo. Read more here.

Lo recently turned 20 years old (DOB: 4/7/86). He stands 5'10" and weighs 160 pounds. The righty was selected to the 2004 Taiwanese Junior NT. His stats for the 2004 World Junior Championships can be found here. Recent BoSox signee Chih-Hsien Chiang was Lo's teammate that year. Currently Lo is playing for the MeiFu Giants in the men's amateur spring 2006 tourney. Lo has pitched in 4 games, completing 5 innings, giving up 5 hits, an earned run, with 4 K's and 1 walk. His ERA was 1.40 through the first 5 weeks.

Chien-Yu Kuo is a 21 year old (DOB: 9/24/84) OF with a storied amateur career. Kuo was elected to the 2002 Taiwanese Junior NT and performed extremely well on a prospect laden team. Kuo's teammates on the 2002 junior NT included: Ching-Lung Hu of the Dodgers, Chao-Kuan Wu of the Mariners, Wei-Yin Chen of the Dragons, Po-Hsuan Keng of the Blue Jays, and current amateur pitching standout - Sung-Wei Tseng. During the 2002 World Junior Championships, Kuo hit over .400 (.406), tied for the team lead in HR's (4 - with Hu), and was second on the team with 10 RBI's. Click here for more of Kuo's 2002 World Junior stats.

I think that this is great exposure for these kids and will give them a better opportunity to get scouted by the NPB.

The Streak Ends....

Yung-Chi Chen's 18 game hitting streak came to an end Sunday. It was the longest hitting streak in the Cal League this season. Chen went 0-4 with 2 RBI's in today's game. Box

Hu also went 0-4 for Jacksonville today. Box

Sunday action in the NPB: Hsu pitched 0.2 innings for Seibu, giving up 1 hit, 0 runs, with 1 walk and 1 K. Box

I didn't know this, but JapanBaseballDaily.com is reporting that the Shidax Industrial League baseball team has signed a Taiwanese pitcher: Ra Kajin. The Shidax team also has a Taiwanese OF: Kenyu Kaku. Does anyone know what these 2 guys' names are in Chinese?

Cal League - Redux with Chen?

Well, it's early in the season, but another Chen is at or near the top in several categories in the California League. Back in '99, Chin-Feng Chen was also playing in the California League - with the San Bernardino Stampede - now known as the Inland Empire 66ers. Chen went on to win the MVP of the league that year. Fast forward to 2006, Yung-Chi Chen is quietly tearing things up with the Inland Empire 66ers. As of 5/12/06, Chen was in the league's top 2 in BA (.356), runs scored (26), and stolen bases (14). Tonight, Chen was 1-4 with a double, 2 runs scored, a sac-fly RBI that ended up winning the game for his team, but also committed his 4th error on the year. Box

Hu finally put together back to back impressive performances at the plate. Hu was 3-5 with 2 runs scored and a sacrifice. Hu scored a key run in the 11th that helped his team to win 6-5 in extra innings. Box

Wu got in some PT as a catcher for Wisconsin in one game of a doubleheader. Wu K'd twice in 2 AB's. Box

King of the Hill....

Well, as you all might know by now, Chien-Ming Wang had his best performance on the young season against the A's yesterday. Wang pitched 8 innings, giving up 3 hits - all singles, 0 runs, with 2 walks and 0 K's. The key to Wang's success was his consistent sinker - getting multiple ground ball and double play outs, as well as some great defense behind him. Wang's performance received rave reviews from opponents and teammates alike:
"He's one of the toughest pitchers we've faced this year. He's got so much movement on his fastball." - A's 2B and leadoff man Mark Ellis
"Wang was the star of the day. He threw the ball incredibly; the best he's thrown all year." - Alex Rodriguez
"It was a great pitching performance." - Johnny Damon

Box
Recap 1
Recap 2
More

In the NPB, Lin went 0-1 in Friday's game and was 0-3 in Sat's game - OMG, He actually started!!!

In Friday minor league action, Kuo pitched 1.2 innings of relief for Vegas, giving up 2 hits, a walk, 0 runs, and had 2 K's. Box

Hu finally got his bat going for Jacksonville as he had his first multi-hit game in a long time. Hu was 2-4 with 2 doubles and a walk. Box

Chen is smoking hot for the 66ers. He was 2-4 with a walk, 2 runs scored, and stole his 13th and 14th bases on the season. Box

Faceoff....

"Dragon" Lo faced off against Y.C. Chen's IE 66ers tonight. Lo had his second impressive performance in as many starts. Despite leaving the game after the 5th inning, Lo had a 4-2 lead. His reliever blew the lead and Lo was credited with a no-decision. As for the two former junior national teammates, the matchup went down like this:
1)Chen singled in the 1st inning off Lo and ended up scoring later in the inning
2)In the 3rd inning, Chen reached base on an error
3)In Lo's last inning, Chen singled and stole 2nd base off of him

It looks like Chen got the better of Lo tonight; however Lo pitched well enough to win the game.
Lo's final stats: 5 IP, 2 R - 1 ER, 6 hits, 2 walks, 2 K's.
Chen's numbers: 2-4 with a walk, a run scored, and his 12th SB on the season.
Box

In AA, Jacksonville lost 4-3 in extra innings. Hu went 1-5 with 2 K's. Box

Tomorrow's game against the A's just got that much harder for Wang with news outta NY that Matsui fractured his wrist tonight and will be out of action for several months. No Sheff, No Matsui - someone will have to pick up the slack for all of that firepower lost.

Today's News.....

Over in Taiwan, Chin-Feng Chen was back in action. Chen had been out ~ 2 weeks with an abdominal strain injury. Chen went 2-4 in his return with 2 SB's. NEWS

In Japan, Hsu pitched his 3rd game in 4 days. Hsu faced off against Yakult again and fared better. He pitched the last 2 innings, giving up only 1 hit - a solo HR, while K'ing 2. Box

Meanwhile in MLB news, Chien-Ming Wang is scheduled to face off against Barry Zito of the A's in the opener of the home series for the Yanks on Friday. Wang faced off against the A's earlier this year and received a no decision. This will be a tough matchup for Wang.

In the minors, Kuo pitched to one hitter in the 8th inning and got the batter to fly out. Box

In Jacksonville, Hu went 1-2 with a walk and a sacrifice. Box

Yung-Chi Chen continues to swing a hot bat for Inland Empire. Despite his team's loss in extra innings, Chen was 2-5 at the plate with a double, a RBI, and a walk. Chen was caught trying to steal a base in the first inning, but later redeemed himself by stealing his 11th base of the season in the top of the 9th inning. Box

Minor League Hi/Lo-lights.....

Despite going 0-4 in today's game down in Jacksonville, Hu did manage to score 2 runs and had a walk. Hu's offensive woes aren't as bad as they seem. Sure, a .230 BA is nothing to be proud of, but when you closely scrutinize Hu's stats, Hu is only K'ing once in every 6 AB's. Also he's managed a good walk to K ratio of 19 / 20. With that being said, Hu's ticket to the big leagues isn't his bat; it's his glove. Kim Ng, Dodgers VP and Assistant GM, is obviously a big Hu fan. She was quoted today as saying that "Hu and Abreu could be the best double-play combination in the Minor Leagues today."

In A+ ball, Inland Empire and Modesto are facing off. In all likelihood, we will see Yung-Chi Chen face off against Ching-Lung Lo in the next few days. As for today's game, Chen was able to keep his hitting streak alive. After starting off 0-3, Chen doubled in his last at bat, stole his 10th base on the season, and scored an insurance run for IE. Box

In A ball, Wu was 0-3 in his team's 4-2 win. Wu played defensively behind the plate tonight.

Cheng, seeking his 6th win on the season, got a big reality check tonight. Cheng got rocked for 6 earned runs in 4 innings. Cheng took the loss despite K'ing 5 and walking none. Box

UPDATED Below:
Kuo pitched in Vegas tonight. Kuo came in the top of the 8th inning with the game in hand - Vegas was up 11-7 at that point. Recap of the 8th inning:
1) First batter reached first on fielding error by 1B
2) The next batter doubled, advancing lead runner to 3rd
3) The third batter walked
-Kuo is in pretty deep sh*t at this point - Bases are loaded
4) Kuo then settles down and K's the next 2 guys
5) With the bases full, Kuo walks the next batter, plating an unearned run - see 1)
6) Kuo is pulled from the game for Lance Carter
7) Lance Carter gives up a grand salami to the first hitter he faces - Kuo is charged with 4 runs, none of them earned
8) Game over - Vegas swallows a tough loss after blowing a sizable lead

Kuo's line for the night: .2 IP / 1 HIT allowed / 4 RUNS allowed - 0 earned /2 WALKS / 2 K's

Hmmm, sound familiar? What happened tonight to Kuo was like deja vu during his brief outings in LA - demonstrating command issues and having the ball taken out of his control only to have the guy relieving him, not bail him out.

In Japan, Hsu pitched again, this time against the Yakult Swallows. Hsu didn't fare much better this time around either. He went 2 innings, gave up 3 earned runs - on a 3 run shot, and saw his ERA balloon to 11.25. Box

Lin had a pinch hit appearance against the Lotte Marines and flied out in the 8th inning. Box

Slow night....

Hu was the only man in action tonight. His Jacksonville Suns won 9-1. Hu went 1-4 with a walk, a RBI, and 2 runs scored.

Cheng will be in action for Lansing tomorrow. He puts his 5-1 record and 1.84 ERA on the line against Kane County.

Wang Wins # 2 and the Return of the "Shoe"

Wang won his second game of the season over the Texas Rangers. Wang pitched 6 innings, giving up 3 earned runs on 7 hits. Wang pitched well until the 6th inning when he got tagged for 3 hits and 2 runs. Despite his troubles in the 6th, the Yanks offense was able to spot Wang a comfortable lead throughout the game. Read here for game recap and here for box score.

Ming-Chieh Hsu pitched in his first NPB game of the season. Hsu, who only appeared in 4 games in all of 2005 for the Seibu Lions while recovering from a shoulder injury, had been performing well for the Lion's ni-gun team this year. Hsu pitched 2 innings against the Hawks and gave up 2 earned runs on 4 hits. Box

In AAA, Kuo picked up his first save for Vegas as he went 1.1 innings and K'd 1. Box

In AA, Hu's team got blanked 11-0. Despite going 1-4 with a walk, Hu actually improved his average to .237. Box

At the A+ level, Chen continued his hot hitting streak by going 2-5 with a RBI. Box

Clutch Performances.....

In AA action, Hu went 1-5 at the plate with a run scored. Box

At the A+ level, Chen continues to swing a hot bat. Not only did Chen go 2-4 at the plate, but he also came up with a clutch single that plated 2 runners and broke a 2-2 tie. Chen also collected his 9th stolen base on the season. Box

In A ball, Wu was the hero tonight for his ballclub. Wu smacked a 2-out RBI triple to plate the winning run for Wisconsin. Wu played at 1B tonight and was 2-5 with a double and a triple. Box

CPBL Roundup...

I usually don't cover too much on the CPBL, but thought that this would be a good time to run down on how some of the notables are doing over there.

First of all, team standings through 5/5/06
1)Bears 14-10
2)Bulls 12-12
3)Elephants 12-12
4)Whales 12-12
5)Cobras 10-12
6)Lions 10-12

All in all, pretty even competition in the first half of the season.

Now for a brief round-up of notables (through 5/5/06):

BEARS:
Chin-Feng Chen .338 5 HR's 12 RBI's - currently out with abdominal strain
Chih-Sheng Lin .256 2 HR's 14 RBI's

BULLS:
Tai-Shan Chang .364 8 HR's 20 RBI's
Chien-Fu Yang 2W-2L 4.66 ERA 38.2 IP/28 K's

ELEPHANTS:
Chih-Yuan Chen .239 2 HR's 10 RBI's

COBRAS:
Chia-Hsien Hsieh .247 6 HR's 19 RBI's
En-Yu Lin 3W-2L 1.47 ERA 43 IP/40 K's

LIONS:
Wei-Lun Pan 4W-2L 2.21 ERA 53 IP/36 K's

For more coverage of the CPBL in English check out these links:
JapaneseBaseball.com - Around Asia MSG Forum
TaiwaneseBallPlayers.com - Discussion Forum
TaiwanNewsOnline
TaipeiTimes

5/5/06 Recap....

The Hanshin Tigers won 13-11 in a 22 hit parade by the Tigers hitters. However, W.C. Lin only managed a pinch hit appearance in the 8th inning and K'd. Lin is hitting .357 on the season (5-14) with 3 RBI's, not too shabby when you consider the fact that he's only getting 1 AB a game. Box

In the US, Chin-Lung Hu was 0-4 in Jacksonville's extra innings loss. He did walk twice and stole his 5th base on the season. Hu is hitting .238 on the season with 0 HR's and 3 RBI's. Box

In A+ ball, Ching-Lung Lo easily had his best performance on the young season. Lo pitched 7 innings, gave up 1 earned run on 4 hits (solo HR given up in the 7th inning), with 4 K's and only 1 walk. More impressively, Lo was able to emulate Chien-Ming Wang's ability to keep the ball on the ground. Lo had 13 ground outs vs only 3 fly outs, and of course the 1 home run. Lo is now 3-0 on the season with a 4.50 ERA. In 30 IP, Lo also has 15 K's/7 walks/and given up 3 HR's. Box

Yung-Chi Chen continues his hot hitting ways in A+ ball. Through 8 innings, Chen is 2-4 with a triple and 2 RBI's. Chen's RBI triple was key in breaking a tie. Chen also stole his 7th base on the season. On the young season, Chen is hitting .333 with 2 HR's and 15 RBI's.
Box Game Log

Finally, Chao-Kuan Wu got another opportunity to play an entire game as he was behind the plate for Wisconsin. Wu was 1-4 with a run scored; despite allowing a passed ball, he also threw out a runner trying to steal 2nd base. For the season, in limited action, Wu is hitting .216 in 37 AB's with 0 HR's and 6 RBI's. Box

5/4/06 Recap...

Chien-Ming Wang will pitch on Sunday for the Yanks against the Texas Rangers. His opponent on the mound will be Robinson Tejada (1-0, 3.60 ERA)

In Jacksonville, Hu went 1-4 with a walk. Box

IE's Chen also went 1-4 in his team's loss. Box

Wed. Night Recaps...

After an auspicious start in Las Vegas, Kuo was credited with his first win in a relief role. Kuo pitched a perfect 8th inning and K'd the side. Box

Inland Empire rapped out 23 hits as a team, however Chen was only 1-6 at the plate. Chen did plate 3 runners with a double. Box

In Japan, Lin pinch hit in the 7th inning and K'd. Box

Card of the Month: W.C. Lin 2003 BBM

Did You Know? Lin was a member of the 1991 Little League World Series Champs from TaiChung, Taiwan. Lin also hit a grandslam in the championship game.

FYI, I picked up this card from Prestige Collectibles for a reasonable price. Prestige sells mostly Japanese baseball cards - so any Taiwanese player who's been in the NPB probably has a card.

TNT coming to the US....

The Taiwanese NT will be here in the US in July (4th to the 12th). The NT will play the US NT along the Atlantic Coast - in RI, SC, and NC. Check schedule here.

Minor League updates: Hu went 0-5 in his team's loss. Box

Chen went 2-4 with 2 key runs and a stolen base in his team's 4-3 win. Box

Cheng won his 5th game on the season by giving up 1 earned run (via a solo HR) in 5 innings pitched. Box

Tough Day.....

Wang faced off against the Sox and didn't have his best stuff tonight. With problems locating his pitch in the first inning, Wang was lucky to get out of the inning with only one run being given up. A defensive gem by Bubba Crosby saved Wang 2 runs in that first inning. In between the first and fifth innings, Wang pitched better, getting ahead in the count on most of the hitters. In the 5th inning, the Sox got to Wang for 2 more runs. Bottom Line: 5 innings pitched, 4 batters walked, 0 K's, 3 earned runs - a no decision for Wang. Wang was clocked between 90 to 95 mph on his fastball. Box

As reported earlier by Anony and Frank, Kuo was demoted by the Dodgers to AAA - not surprising, considering Kuo's struggles with his command of late. Article on Kuo's demotion.
Speaking of Kuo, his command struggles continued at AAA today. Kuo pitched 1 inning, gave up 2 walks, and an earned run. Of the 10 pitches Kuo threw, only 2 were strikes. Box

In Japan, Lin K'd in his only pinch hit appearance in the 8th inning. Box

In AA, Hu went 1-6 at the plate. Box Article by the JacksonSun on Hu

In A+ ball, Chen went 2-5 at the plate with a double and a run scored. Box

In A ball, Keng took his first loss of the season in a 7 inning game. Again control was an issue for Keng. Box

Wu went 0-3 with a RBI for Wisconsin in a 7 inning game. Box

Wang on ESPN tomorrow....

Wang will face off against Boston's Tim Wakefield in the opener of the series. This game/series should be a dandy. ESPN will carry this game at 4:00 Pacific.


In the NPB, W.C. Lin had a pinch hit appearance in the 8th and whiffed. Box

Rakuten Eagles pitcher Y.C. Lin, who was sent down to the minors earlier this week, was diagnosed with an inflamed elbow and will be out of action for a few weeks. Not a good sign.



Another day in the minors - Hu went 0-4 at the plate, but managed a walk and his 4th stolen base on the season. Box

Chen managed to go 1-4 today with a run scored. Chen kept pace with Hu in the SB department by swiping his 5th base on the season. Box

Modesto won it's game in extra innings, but starter Lo was not involved in the decision. Lo went 6.0 innings, allowing 4 earned runs. He walked one, K'd 3, but also gave up a 2-run jack.
Box

Hu's Hot.....

Hu had a great day at the plate. He had the only multi-hit game for his team. Hu was 3-4 at the plate with a walk, a run scored, and his 3rd stolen base on the season. Box

Chen had another good hitting night as well. He went 2-4, with a RBI triple and scored 2 runs. Box




Lin walked in a pinch hit appearance in the 7th inning. He eventually would score a run in the same inning. Box

Friday Night Action....

Hu went 0-4 in his team's 3-2 loss today. Box

Y.C. Chen continued his hot hitting ways with another 2-4 night and stole his 4th base on the season. Box

It is interesting to note that the Hawaiian Winter Baseball League is being revived. A historical stomping ground for US and Japanese minor league prospects, the Hawaiian Winter League will begin in October of this year after an eight year hiatus. There are plans to include Taiwanese baseball prospects as well. Read more here.

Thursday Games...

In the NPB, Lin got his token pinch hit plate appearance and made the most of it with a RBI single in the 8th inning. Box

In other NPB news, Ying-Chieh Lin was demoted by the Rakuten Eagles to their minor league team. That leaves Wei-Chu Lin as the only Taiwanese player on a NPB roster.

In AA, Hu had his first multiple hit game in a lil while. He was 2-5 in his team's win. Box

In A+ ball, Chen got the night off.

Cheng won his 4th game of the season in A ball. He went 5 innings, giving up 0 earned runs with 3 K's, but 3 walks. Box

Chung-Shou Yang Update.....

Yang is playing for the Nippon Ham Fighters Ni-Gun (minor league) team in the Eastern League. Yang has been hitting out of the leadoff or 3 spot in the lineup and is playing SS defensively.

Statistically, including the result of today's game, Yang is hitting .267 with 2 home runs and 4 RBI's through 17 games.

ND for Wang....

Wang bounced back from his last start and pitched well in tonight's game against Tampa Bay. After a rough start in the first 2 innings, Wang settled down and shut down the Rays for the next 5 innings. In 7 innings, Wang gave up 2 earned runs on 3 hits, with 3 walks and 3 K's. Wang's starting counterpart - McClung struggled with his command, walking 7 batters in 5 IP, but the Yanks could not make him pay for his mistakes. Wang left the game in a 2-2 deadlock. The game was eventually won in extra innings, with closer Mariano Rivera giving up the game winning runs in the 10th. All in all, a much needed solid performance by Wang. Box Recap


In the minors, Chen had another 2-4 night with a key run scored and his 3rd stolen base on the season. Box

In A ball, Keng was charged with a blown save, when he gave up the game tying run in a relief situation. However, Keng was not charged with any runs as he inherited the runner in scoring position from the starting pitcher. Keng went 2.2 innings, struck out 3, and walked 1 batter. Box

Wu was 0-2 with a walk for Wisconsin as his team won 7-3.

Kuo takes 3rd loss on the season...

Kuo pitched the 14th inning for the Dodgers, struggled with his command, and gave up the winning run on a sac-fly to run his record to 0-3 on the season. Box Despite an outstanding spring preseason showing, Kuo has been erratic with his control lately. In 13 innings pitched so far, Kuo has walked 15 batters!

In AA ball, Hu went 0-4 in his team's loss today. Box

In A+ action, Chen was 2-4 with 2 walks, as his team won a thrilla in extra innings. Box

Lo pitched well for Modesto but had a no decision in another extra inning game - 5 innings, 2 earned runs, 2 K's/1 BB. Box

In A ball, Wu got PT as the DH and was 1-3 with a RBI. Box

In Japan, Lin had a pinch hit appearance in the 6th inning and grounded out. Box

Monday Night Notes...

Chien-Ming Wang is scheduled to start on Wed. vs. the Tampa Bay Devil Ray's Seth McClung. Seth has been horrible this year, with an ERA of 10.90 and 3 losses to his name. However, Wang was 1-3 against the Devil Rays last year. Tampa Bay hit .337 against Wang in those 4 games. This game could get ugly from a pitching stand point of view. However, this is a great opportunity for Wang to pick up victory #2 as long as he gets some offensive support from his team.

Ching-Lung Hu was the only minor leaguer in action tonight. He went 1-4 from the leadoff spot and scored a run as his team won 9-4.

Game Recaps for Sunday.....

Over in Japan, Y.C. Lin was the hard-luck loser to the Seibu Lions when he gave up a 2 run homerun, proving to be the difference in the game. Lin only gave up 2 hits over 5 innings, however he struggled with his command, walking 6 batters. Final score: Seibu 2-Rakuten Eagles 0

W.C. Lin got another pinch hit appearance in the 9th inning for his team, but K'd. Box

In the Majors, Kuo got the opportunity to show what he could do in back to back games. After a scoreless 7th inning, Kuo ran into problems in the 8th. Kuo gave up a leadoff single to Chad Tracy who then advanced to 2nd on a fielder's indifference rule. Kuo walked the next batter - Gonzo. The following hitter then grounded into a double play - advancing Tracy to 3rd. Kuo finally walked Shawn Green and was then pulled from the game. Kuo's relief, Baez subsequently gave up a single and a double plating both runners that he had inherited from Kuo. Kuo was charged with 2 earned runs in 1.2 innings of work. Box

In the minors, Hu DNP as his team was involved in another 1-run game that they won.

Y.C. Chen jacked his 2nd homerun on the season as he went 1-4 at the plate. Box

Wu played 1B tonight for Wisconsin and managed a 1-4 night. Box

Saturday Action...

Kuo pitched a scoreless 6th innings for the Dodgers vs. the Diamondbacks. Facing the heart of the D-Backs order, Kuo did have some command issues. But after getting the leadoff hitter to ground out, he gave up a bloop double to Tracy. Kuo then walked Gonzo. Tony Clark grounded into a fielder's choice. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, Kuo K'd Shawn Green to end the inning. Kuo's fastball was clocked between 89-91 mph. Box

In the minors, Hu went 1-2 with a double. He only played 4 innings. Hopefully he's ok. Box

Cheng won his 3rd game of the season, but continued to struggle with his command. Cheng pitched 5 innings, giving up 2 earned runs on 7 hits. He K'd 3, but walked 4 batters while also uncorking a wild pitch. Pitching in relief of Cheng, Keng gave up his first earned run of the season when he gave up a solo shot in the 8th inning. Keng went 3 innings, giving up that 1 earned run, and struck out 2. Box

Wu got some PT as a catcher today. Although he was charged with a passed ball, Wu flashed a potent bat with a 2-4 performance at the plate. Box

Wang Loses to Orioles....

Wang earned his first loss of the season, with a forgettable outing. Wang pitched 5.1 innings, and gave up 6 earned runs on 8 hits and 2 walks. Kris Benson wasn't much better, but he was credited with the win. Box Wang will need to bring his "A" game next time out, as his #3 spot could be jeopardized with another poor performance.

Jacksonville won today. Hu broke out of a mini-slump, managing to go 1-2 with a RBI, 2 walks, and a stolen base. Box

Hitless Nights....

In NPB action on Wed., Lin got a pinch-hit AB in the 7th inning and K'd. Box

Y.C. Chen is back in action. Not sure if his wrist is still bothering him, but he's currently 0-4 with 2K's in the 11th inning. Box

C.L. Hu went o-5 in his team's win today. Hu K'd twice as well. Box


**Update: Chen breaks up the hitless streak on the night with a game winning RBI double in the top of the 12th inning.

Kuo Update....

Kuo got into Wed.'s game against the Cubs in the 7th inning. Kuo pitched that one inning, giving up a leadoff walk before settling down and retiring the next 3 batters - one via the strikeout. Kuo's ERA falls below 5.00 for the season. Box

In the minors, Hu stroked a single in 4 AB's and swiped his first base of the season, as his team outslugged the Carolina MudCats 9-1.

Lo struggled in his outing today against the Lancaster JetHawks. Lo was lucky to get a no-decision as he only went 4 innings, giving up 4 earned runs, a home run, and 2 walks. Hmmm, how much longer do we have to witness these lackluster performances before we officially label Lo a bust?

Wu had another token appearance today as a DH for the TimberRattlers. He was 1-4.

Keng continued to shine for the Lansing Lugnuts as he pitched 3 scoreless innings and racked up 3 more K's. I found these pretty cool photos of Keng in action (with Lansing) - check it out.

Lastly, Chien-Ming Wang is scheduled to start the Yanks homestand opener on Friday against the Baltimore Orioles. He faces off against Kris Benson.

Slow Tuesday....

Ching-Lung Hu went o-3 tonight as his team lost to the Carolina MudCats. Box

Wei-Chu Lin smacked a pinch-hit single in the 8th inning in his team's loss to the Chunichi Dragons. He's hitting .571 in limited action this year. Box

Cheng Wins....

Cheng won his second game on the season with a 7 K performance, 0 earned runs allowed in 5 innings pitched. More importantly, Cheng only gave up one walk, although he did throw a wild pitch. If Cheng can continue to show better control of his stuff, we'll probably see Cheng jump up to High A with the Dunedin based team some time this season. Box

Hu went 0-4 in his game today, although he did draw 2 walks. Hu is still hitting over .300 for the season. Box

Yung-Chi Chen did not play today. Chen reaggravated a wrist injury that was bothering him in spring training in the 2nd game of a double-header played on Saturday. His status for return is listed as day-to-day.

Status Kuo and Wang Wins!!!!

Chien-Ming Wang easily had his best performance on the young season by winning his first game of the season against a hot Twins team. Wang went 7 innings, K'ing a career high 8 batters and gave up only 1 earned run. Box and NY Times Recap

Kuo pitched the last 2 innings against the Giants. Kuo pitched a shutout, giving up 1 hit, one walk, and had 1 K. Box

In the NPB, Ying-Chieh Lin was fortunate to get a no-decision as he got shelled by the Orix Buffaloes. Lin went 4.1 innings, gave up 5 earned runs on 2 HR's, and managed 3 K's/1 walk.
Box

Only one game of note in the minors; Hu continued to swing the bat well as he went 2-3 at the plate, with a double, a sacrifice, and a RBI. Box

4/15/06 Recap...

Hu had a great game tonight going 4-5 with 2 runs scored to bring his season average to over .300.
Box

Y.C. Chen went 0-4 combined in a double-header. Box Scores: 1 2

Keng pitched 3 scoreless innings with 2 K's to keep his season ERA at 0.00. Box

There was finally a Wu sighting in Wisconsin. However, he went 0-4. Box


Wang is scheduled to start tomorrow against the Twins Brad Radke. Work that sinker man!

Kuo 0-2

Kuo pitched in last night's game and got his chance to face Bonds again. Unfortunately things didn't go Kuo's way, as he took the loss last night to drop to 0-2 for the season. After a scoreless 8th inning, Kuo ran into some problems when after he gave up a leadoff bloop single to Vizquel, he threw a wild pitch that allowed Vizquel to advance to 2nd. Steve Finley advanced Vizquel to 3rd on a ground out. Up next came the great Barry Bonds. Unfortunately, with only 1 out and first base open, Kuo was given the signal to intentionally walk Barry. That was all she wrote for Kuo. Closer Danys Baez came in for Kuo and gave up a sac-fly to Ray Durham, scoring Vizquel. Kuo was charged with the run and the loss. Tough loss for Kuo. Box

Blame it on the Rain!

Well, it looked for a while like the Dodgers/Giants game was going to be postponed. The rain will not stop here in L.A.. The game has finally gotten underway. I look forward to a Bonds-Kuo rematch, with better results for Kuo this time around.


In the minors, Hu got in the game late today but still got in 3 plate appearances since the game went into extra innings. Hu was 1-2 with a walk. Jacksonville won the game in 12 innings. Box

The IE 66ers are locked into another tie late in the game. Chen is 1-4 with a RBI, 2 runs scored, and a SB. Follow the game here. Box

Lo is in line to pick up his second win of the season as he leaves the game with his team up going into the 8th inning. Lo started the game, went 5 innings, gave up 2 earned runs, K'd 2, and walked one. Check out game log here. Box

Ying-Chieh Lin is scheduled to start for the Eagles against the Orix Buffaloes tomorrow. Hopefully he pitches well enough to get his first NPB win on Saturday.

Edited: 4/14/06

Odds and Ends....

Joe Torre commented on Wang's struggles of late, stating that he still has confidence in Wang's abilities. Based on these comments, I feel more comfortable with Wang's status as the #3 starter with the Yanks.

In Taiwan, I was surprised to hear that a home-grown CPBL pitcher was clocked at 95 mph in a game on Tuesday. Wei-Lun Pan, the 24 year old pitcher for the President Lions, was one of 4 Taiwanese players featured recently in Upper Deck's World Baseball Classic product(SEE ABOVE). The 3 three other players featured in their NT uniforms are Ching-Lung Hu, Yung-Chi Chen, and Chia-Hsien Hsieh.

In Japan, Wei-Chu Lin continues to see time off the bench. Lin pinch-hit in the 7th inning against the Dragons and K'd in his only AB. Box

In the US, Hu's Jacksonville Suns finally won a game as Hu chipped in with 2 RBI's on a 1-5 performance. Box
In the day's only other action featuring one of our boys, Yung-Chi Chen came through with a clutch 2 out RBI in the bottom of the 8th inning to help IE tie their opponents. Chen is currently 2-4 with a RBI. Box Follow the game here.

Kuo charged with loss.....

The Dodgers fell to the Pirates today. With the score tied 5-5 going into the bottom of the 7th inning, Kuo gave up a 2 run shot to Craig Wilson. Kuo went 2 innings, giving up the 2 earned runs, and also walked 2 batters. Box

In AA, Ching-Lung Hu went 1-4 again, as his team lost.

In A+ ball, through 6 innings, the IE 66ers are up big on their opponents. Chen is currently 1-2 at the plate. Follow the game here. Box

Wang roughed up in home opener...

Chien-Ming Wang was fortunate to get a no-decision today, as his team came from behind to pull out a win against the Royals. Wang struggled with keeping his sinker down today, and was tagged with 5 earned runs in 6 innings pitched. He also gave up a HR to Reggie Sanders. Box Score The most frustrating part about Wang's performance is that in both games, Wang has gone into the 4th inning with a comfortable 4-0 or 4-1 lead, before having that one lousy inning.

Elsewhere in the minors, Hu finally got a hit as he went 1-4 today. Box

Cheng and Keng took the mound together again today for Lansing. Despite a fairly decent performance from both players, Cheng took the loss as he started the game and went 4.1 innings, giving up 2 earned runs, while K'ing 7 and walking 2. Keng relieved Cheng and pitched 2.2 scoreless innings while K'ing 2. Box

Wisconsin found a way to get Wu in the game today as a DH. Wu went hitless in 5 AB's, but managed to get a RBI on a sac-fly and also stole his first base of the season. Box

Entering the bottom of the 9th inning, Chen was 0-3 in a scoreless game vs. the Lancaster JetHawks. Follow Game Log here. Box

The Dynamic Duo Update....

Not too much going on Monday..........

A day after getting one hit by the Chattanooga Lookouts pitching staff, the Jacksonville Suns only got 2 HITs against the Lookouts tonight! Nonetheless, the Suns actually won this game 2-1. Ching-Lung Hu went 0-4.

Over in the California League, Chen's IE 66ers were taking on the Lancaster JetHawks. Chen got off to a rough start in the game (through the first 5 innings), K'ing twice and was charged with a fielding error, which lead to an unearned run for the JetHawks. Chen came back with a vengeance, as he popped his first HR of the year (a solo shot in the 6th) and then singled and scored in the 7th to break a 5-5 tie. Box Score

Wang to pitch Home Opener for NYY...

Quite an honor, and I guess with a lil luck the way the rotation worked out - Wang will pitch Tuesday in front of the Yankee faithful against the KC Royals Joe Mays. This is a good opportunity for Wang to pick up his first "W" of the season against a team they should beat.
Game Preview

Sunday Recaps.....

Kuo got into Sunday's first game of a doubleheader vs. the Phillies. Kuo pitched 0.2 innings, K'd one-time Phillies top prospect Ryan Howard, gave up an intentional walk to Burrell, and also threw a wild pitch. Box Score

In the NPB, Lin got a pinch hit appearance in the 6th inning vs. the Yokohama BayStars and K'd in his at-bat. Box

Busy day in the minors today for our boys.
1)Hitting lead-off and again playing 2B, Y.C. Chen helped power the IE offense with a 1-3 effort and driving in 2 RBI's with a double and sac fly. Box
2)Hu went for 0-3 as his team got ONE HIT by the Chattanooga pitching staff. Pretty impressive if you consider the offensive lineup the Suns have. Box
3)C.L. Lo was credited with a win today in one half of a doubleheader played between Modesto and Stockton. In 3 IP, Lo gave up 2 earned runs and had 2K's and a walk. Box
4)P.H. Keng pitched 2 innings of shut-out relief for Lansing. He had a K and gave up a hit. Box

Saturday Happenings.....

Ying-Chieh Lin figured in another no-decision in the Eagles loss to the Lotte Marines - the NPB defending champs. Lin pitched 5.1 innings and gave up 2 earned runs on 4 hits. Lin has held his own against 2 of the better offensive ball clubs in Japan - the Hawks and Marines. Hopefully, his team can start supporting him with more offense.

In the US, Yung-Chi Chen had a magnificent 2006 debut for the IE 66ers. Chen went 4-5 with 2 doubles, 2 RBI's, had a stolen base, and assisted in 2 double plays. What a night for Chen, who surprisingly played at 2B tonight.

***Update: Thanks J for getting me up to speed on Wu's performance.

Wu also had his debut tonight. Box Score

Friday 4/7/06 Minor League Notes....

Ching-Lung Hu continued his hot start with the Jacksonville Suns. Hu went 3-4 with a double, 2 walks, and scored 2 runs. Box

Good Friday........(one week early)

Good performances all around by a couple of Taiwanese pros.

Kuo pitched 2 perfect innings against the Phillies today, K'ing the 1-4 hitters for the Phils, including Jimmy Rollins and Bobby Abreu. I didn't get a chance to catch the game earlier on FSN, but will watch the replay tonight. Read more here. Kuo got his first official AB as a ML - and got a lil taste of his own medicine with a K. :)

***Updated*** I saw the game and Kuo had some nasty stuff. Kuo's fastball was clocked between 91 and 95 mph. He was throwing his breaking balls (clocked around 83 mph) for strikes. For the most part, Kuo had good command and control of all his pitches. Kuo set up a few of his K's with a nice breaking ball before K'ing his victims with the heater high and away. Great stuff from Kuo tonight!!!

W.C. Lin had another role as a pinch hitter in the 8th against Yokohama. Lin came through in a big way with a pinch hit single RBI. Lin would later come around to score in the inning. Box

Congrats to Frank!

Frank who runs the Frank'sFieldofDreams website, was hired by the Red Sox to be the interpreter for the Taiwanese players in their organization. Frank is currently with TJ Yeh in Florida as he prepares for his upcoming season in the Gulf Coast Rookie League.

I couldn't be happier for Frank! Congrats man!

*edited 4/9/06

Minor League Season Underway!!!!

It was opening night for a lot of minor league ball clubs tonight.

Debuting at Jacksonville, Ching-Lung Hu had a good start, considering the fact that his team only had 4 hits total! Hu went 1 for 3 with a walk while hitting out of the 2 hole. Boxscore

Cheng and Keng got off to a great start for the Lansing Lugnuts. Cheng started the game and pitched 5 innings, giving up 1 earned run, while K'ing 5. Keng relieved Cheng and pitched 3 scoreless innings, giving up only 1 hit, with 3 K's. Cheng was credited with the win. Boxscore

Yung-Chi Chen DNP in the IE66er's debut.

Chao-Kuan Wu DNP for the Wisconson Timber Rattlers.

Wed. Recap...

Wang earned a no decision in Wed.'s game vs. the A's. Wang started smoothly, pitching effectively in the first 3 innings. However, after a fielding error by Jeter, Wang seemed a bit shaken and eventually gave up 4 runs (2 earned) over the last 1.2 innings he pitched. Recap Boxscore

In Japan, W.C. Lin got 2 meaningful AB's against the Hiroshima Carp and made the most of them as he doubled and singled in those plate appearances while plating his first RBI of the season. Box

Where You At.......in 2006???

Ok, someone posted a question regarding where all the minor league Taiwanese kids will be playing this year on the Taiwaneseballplayers.com discussion forum. So I did a little research, and this is what I found:

1)Ching-Lung Hu - will start the year in AA as the starting SS with the Jacksonville Suns
2)Yung-Chi Chen - will start the year in A+ ball with the Inland Empire 66ers
3)Ching-Lung Lo - will start the year in A+ ball with the Modesto Nuts
4)Chi-Hung Cheng - will start the year in A ball with the Lansing Lugnuts
5)Po-Hsuan Keng - will start the year in A ball with the Lansing Lugnuts
6)Chao-Kuan Wu - will start the year in A ball with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
7)TJ Yeh - will start the year in rookie ball with the Gulf Coast Red Sox
8)Chia-An Huang - MIA - will we ever see this kid play ball again??!!
9)Kuo-Hui Lo and Yen-Feng Lin will probably all be assigned to short season A ball or rookie ball

I'll keep this updated once the minor league season gets underway this week!!!!
Updated: 4/8/06

Wang to face off against A's Haren....

Wed. night. Should be a good one! Link

Big game jitters....

Kuo struggled with his command on opening day for the Dodgers vs. the Braves. Kuo only pitched 0.2 innings, but after getting the first 2 batters out, Kuo walked the next 2 hitters. Brazoban then relieved Kuo and promptly gave up a double, plating the 2 runners Kuo had walked. Hence, Kuo got tagged with 2 earned runs. Box

Card of the Month: C.S. Yang - 2006 BBM

"He's a full-tool package player. He carries himself very well. The ball comes off his wooden bat much better than I anticipated it would at the professional level." - Nippon Fighters Manager Trey Hillman on Yang

Tough no decision for Lin....

Saturday, Lin pitched a gem of a game against Sadaharu Oh's SoftBank Hawks. Lin pitched 8 scoreless innings, giving up only 3 hits, and was in line for the win, when reliever Koyama blew Lin's 1 run lead. Boxscore

SI showin' our boys some love...

Well, I got my SI yesterday in the mail and whaddya know? The '06 Baseball Preview issue (4/3/06) had a couple of pieces on 2 of Taiwan's finest. See above.

Wang was selected by SI as one of the "20 people to watch for in 2006." Great compliment by SI. This is a good issue to own!

Wang named #3 starter.....

for the Yanks by Manager Joe Torre. Wang will be slotted behind the "Big Unit" and the "Moose."
As for Friday's game, Wang had an ok performance, going 4 innings, giving up 3 earned runs on 7 hits.

In the NPB, the Hanshin Tigers officially got their season underway on Friday. Lin got a pinch hit at bat in the 9th inning and grounded out.

Kuo pitched against the Angels today and gave up his first earned run of the spring. Tim Salmon hit a solo shot off Kuo. Kuo pitched 1 inning with no K's. The streak had to end some time.

The joke's on Hu?

Check out this funny actual conversation between Kuo and his teammate Kenny Lofton. I didn't know that Hu was still in Vero. Hopefully he doesn't have to start this season in A ball again.

Wang is scheduled to pitch Friday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Hopefully he feels no ill effects from the contusion he received on Sunday.

Kuo can do no wrong....

Kuo pitched a 1-2-3 5th inning against the Washington Nationals today. After getting the leadoff hitter to ground out, Kuo picked up 2 more K's against Damian Jackson and Nick Johnson. If Kuo pitches like this in the regular season, I can't see why he wouldn't be a top candidate for NL ROY.

In Japan, W.C. Lin made the Tigers ball club. Although he won't be a regular in the starting lineup, he at least joins Y.C. Lin of the Eagles as a bonafide NPB player. If C.C. Chang can regain some of his lost velocity, he would be a valuable contributor for his Lions team.

The Yang brothers and W.Y. Chen will all begin the season on their respective NPB farm teams.

Kuo: Top Dawg!

The Dodgers named Kuo the top rookie in camp this spring, by awarding him the Mulvey Award.
Kuo's performance (0.00 ERA in 10 IP, with 12 K's) was quite impressive, considering the fact that he had a disappointing showing in the WBC. All in all, the preparation and participation in the WBC probably helped Kuo bring it all together in time for spring training.

Kuo makes Opening Day Roster?

The official website of the Dodgers has reported that the team has cut several bullpen candidates.
Kuo was NOT one of them. Yea!!!! 2 of Kuo's primary competitors: left handed relievers Kelly Wunsch and Tim Hamulack were either reassigned or optioned to AAA. Kuo is almost a lock to make the team, as he is the only LHP among his penmates.

Should Kuo make the team, he would join Wang of the Yanks as a ML regular. If Tsao can make a full recovery, then we might see all 3 in the Majors come June/July. Can't wait!

Sunday Roundup and Red Sox Signings Updates....

The news out of Taiwan is confirming that the Boston Red Sox have signed 2 high school kids. In a follow up to an older post, the Sox signed two infielders: Chih-Hsien Chiang and Chih-Hsiang Huang. Earlier speculation had the Red Sox signing a HS pitcher: Wang-Yi Lin. Not too sure which signing (Huang or Lin) is correct, but the Chih-Hsien Chiang signing is confirmed. Chiang received a $375,000 signing bonus, while his high school teammate Huang received a $100,000 signing bonus. In addition to playing together at San Ming HS in Kaohsiung - Taiwan, Chiang and Huang were selected to the 2005 junior national team.

Vital Statistics:
Chih-Hsien Chiang: DOB 2/21/1988, Stands 6'1" tall, Weighs 180 pounds
Chih-Hsiang Huang: DOB 11/18/1987, Stands 6'0" tall, Weight 172 pounds

The Red Sox will allow the two 18 year olds to finish HS, before embarking on their journey to the US. The Sox other signing, DJ Yeh, has already reported to minor league camp for spring training.

The NY Yankees received quite a scare today when Chien-Ming Wang was nailed on the knee from a ground ball comebacker. Before leaving the game, Wang had gone 2.1 innings, giving up 2 earned runs on 3 hits, while K'ing 3. Reports have Wang's injury diagnosed as a contusion.

The NPB season has begun. Y.C. Lin pitched the season opener for the Rakuten Eagles against the Nippon Ham. Lin was greeted rudely in his debut as he was shelled for 4 runs on 6 hits in 4.1 innings pitched and took the loss.

The streak continues....

Kuo pitched 2 more shutout innings on Sat. against the Cardinals. He also picked up 3 more K's, giving him 12 K's in 10 IP this spring. Kuo is doing all that he can to earn that last bullpen spot against Franquelis Osoria.

There's been a Tsao sighting. On Friday, Tsao tested his shoulder and threw 25 pitches . Tsao is hoping to get back to the parent club by his next birthday - June 2.

In his last preseason game b4 the start of the NPB season, Lin K'd in his only at bat. Lin's preseason BA stands at a paltry .256.

In the CPBL, as Maos has reported, Chen cranked his 2nd HR to help his club win 3-2 over the Lions. In other action, the CPBL's top pitcher - En Yu Lin pitched a dandy of a game against the Sinon Bulls - a complete game 1 hitter.

Kuo takes loss....

On Wed. Kuo gave up his first run, in a 2-1 loss to the Mets. However, since the run was unearned, Kuo's spring ERA still stands at 0.00. Kuo is still in the running along with Kelly Wunsch to fill the 2 left-handed reliever spots in the Dodgers rotation.

Over in the NPB, Lin went hitless in 3 AB's over 2 games. Check box scores here(Wed.) and here(Thurs.).

In Taiwan, as Maos reported earlier, C.F. Chen finally cracked his first HR in CPBL play. Read more here.

Baseball America ranked the top WBC prospects under 25 years old based on their play in the WBC. Hu was ranked #4 overall behind some impressive candidates. Hu held his own (0 K's) against 4 MLB pitchers from South Korea and 1 future ML in Matsuzaka of Japan. He also played tremendous defense.

Based on the Asian bracketed games that I saw, I'm surprised that Nishioka of Japan wasn't mentioned. His game and skills are impressive for someone who is only 21 years old.

Tuesday News....

Pitching in a minor league game for the Yanks, Wang got rocked in a forgettable outing.

Kuo continued to shine for the Dodgers, as he pitched another scoreless inning against the Marlins.

In Japan, Lin got a pinch hit appearance against the Orix Buffaloes and grounded out.

Congratulations to Japan on winning the WBC! Goes to show that solid pitching, small ball, and a lil luck are recipes for success. Despite losing to Japan, South Korea had an outstanding tourney. Heck, they beat the WBC champs 2 out of 3 games. Hopefully, Taiwan can learn from their Asian counterparts and improve on this year's showing.

NPB results.....(Sun/Mon)

Sunday, Lin went 0-2 for the Hanshin Tigers as he DH'd vs. the Hiroshima Carp. Box

In other Sunday NPB action, Y.C. Lin got smacked around as he gave up 4 runs (3 earned - 1 via a solo shot) in 4 IP against the Yakult Swallows. Box

C.C. Chang pitched 1 inning for the Seibu Lions today. He struggled with his command and issued 2 free passes and an earned run in his short stint against the Rakuten Eagles. Box

Dodgers in Action....(Saturday)

The Dodgers won 3 to 2 over the Tigers. The 2 Taiwanese kids represented themselves well. C.L. Hu started at SS and in 4 AB's, managed to get a hit (single). Defensively, Hu was in on a DP as well. Kuo pitched in the 7th and 8th innings, and was simply dominant. Kuo racked up 4 more K's and continued his scoreless streak. Box/Recap

MLB article on Kuo's K's

In the NPB, W.T. Lin got a pinch-hit appearance in the 9th. He K'd. Box

If you're interested, the CPBL 2006 season is officially underway. The Cobras beat the Bulls 11-6. Read more here.

Wang vs. Astros

In his 3rd preseason outing, Wang started and went 4 innings vs. the Houston Astros. Despite giving up 2 unearned runs on 5 hits, Wang had some difficulty with his command as 20 of his 50 pitches were out of the strike zone. Even so, Wang gave up no walks, had one K, and induced numerous ground outs. Box/Recap

Over in Japan, Lin continued to flash a hot bat as he went 2 for 4 with 2 singles in the Tigers 1-0 loss to the Hiroshima Carp. Box

Kuo Streakin'.........

Hong-Chih Kuo continued his scoreless steak by pitching the 8th inning against the Braves today. Kuo gave up 1 hit, 1 walk, had a wild pitch, and surprisingly - had no K's! Box

W.T. Lin is starting to heat up for the Hanshin Tigers. On Monday, Lin doubled in his only at bat in the 8th inning against the Yomiuri Giants. Tuesday, Lin got another token at-bat and again singled in a run in his only plate appearance vs. the Nippon Ham Fighters. Finally, today against the Seibu Lions, Lin managed to continue his hitting streak by singling in his final AB to raise his spring average to .296 .

On Tuesday, Chunichi Dragons pitcher W.Y. Chen pitched 3 inning in relief of starter Hirai and was shaky in his appearance. Chen gave up 2 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks. He did manage 3 K's though.

C.L. Hu got his first RBI of the spring with a sac fly against the Red Sox on Monday. Hu K'd in his only other AB. Box

Wang: SBD....

This article from the NY Post elaborates on the "Silent but Deadly" monikker given to Wang - a man of few words who believes in action speaking louder than words.

Kuo pitched a scoreless 9th inning vs. the Houston Astros today. Kuo continues to impress in his push for a roster spot on the parent team. LA Dodgers Manager Grady Little has hinted that Kuo has the potential to be a solid starter for the ball club. Assuming that Kuo stays healthy, let's not forget that Kuo started off his pro career as a starter. It will be interesting to see how the Dodgers use Kuo this year.

Sunday Action in the NPB...

W.T. Lin went 0-3 as a DH in the Tigers 5-3 win over the Yomiuri Giants.

C.C. Chang started for the Lions against the Baystars and pitched 4 innings of shutout ball. Despite only giving up 2 hits and K'ing 3, he also walked 4 batters.

Second time around was a charm for Y.C. Lin. Lin started for the Eagles and pitched 5 innings against the Chunichi Dragons. He gave up 1 earned run on 3 hits, while striking out 3.

I love YouTube!!!

I found this great video of Taiwan vs. South Korea in the 2003 Asian championships.
YouTube has other videos on Taiwan Baseball as well; check it out!!

Today was a good day....

For Taiwanese ball players......

After a forgettable outing last time out, Wang had a much better performance today against a split-squad ATL team. Wang pitched a scoreless 3 innings, giving up 1 hit with 4 K's/0 walks. Box/Recap

Hu played in Sat.'s game vs. the Washinton Nationals. Hu had 2 plate appearances and managed another single. Box/Recap

In the NPB, OF Lin came off the bench vs. the Yakult Swallows and singled/walked and scored a run in his 2 plate appearances. Wei-Yin Chen pitched 1 scoreless inning and was credited with the 1-0 win over the Rakuten Eagles.

Preseason news....

Kuo pitched a perfect 1.1 innings against the Detroit Tigers today. He K'd 2 in his outing.
Box

Yesterday, Lin went 1-3 for the Tigers vs. the Fukuoka Hawks in the NPB. Lin singled and scored a run in the 2nd inning. Interestingly enough, the Tigers have been experimenting with Lin by playing him at first base. Lin has not played that position since grade school.

Chih-Chia Chang, recovering from a previous injury, has lost a few miles off his fastball. Chang, who used to throw in the low 90's to high 80's, has only been clocked at a high of 85 mph this spring.

ST updates...

In the Dodgers 9-3 win over the Orioles today, Ching-Lung Hu, singled in his only AB and was in on 2 double plays. Box

Kuo pitched a perfect 8th inning for the Dodgers yesterday, helping the Dodgers to beat the Cardinals 3-1. Box

In the NPB, Lin went 0-3 against the Rakuten Eagles Feb. 7th, but followed up with a 1-4 (double with RBI) effort against the Nippon Ham today.

Wang Shelled.....

In his first preseason start against the Blue Jays today, Wang went 2 innings, gave up 3 earned runs on 6 hits and 2 home runs (to Troy Glaus and Eric Hinske).

Box Score