Pics from Friday's Game 8/5/05 - Part I

The path leading to Dedeaux Field - named after a famous alumni

Self explanatory

There were a number of scouts in attendance with their radar guns handy

More on the Brewers Blue team

A full roster can be found here. Almost all of the players who played yesterday are going to be HS seniors this upcoming school year, with the exception being Robert Stock, who will only be a HS junior in the fall. With that being said, the 4 kids who did manage to get a hit against older competition were: #6 Kyle Smith (2B) with a single, #33 Devin Shepherd (RF) with a hard single, #23 Travis Tartamella (DH) with an infield single, #10 Justin Jacobs (3B) with an infield single. Devin Shepherd and Chad Gross (1B) are both imposing physical specimens. #13 Robert Stock (DH) , the youngest guy playing on the field, only had 1 AB, but managed to hit a ball to the deepest part of CF for a long out. #21 Hank Conger (C/3B) also showed good power with another long fly out to the warning track. All in all, these HS kids were pretty impressive since they were using wood bats. Pitching wise, #36 Josh Raven was very impressive in 2 scoreless innings, giving up 0 hits/runs, 0 walks, and 2 K's. #19 Fabian Williamson also pitched well in 2 scoreless innings, striking out 4, walking 1, while giving up 1 hit.

Look for a number of these kids to star at the next level, collegiate or pro.

Friday Game Recap: CT vs Milwaukee Brewers Blue Team

Chinese Taipei played a split squad Area Code Team made up of some of the top HS kids from California - known as the Milwaukee Brewers Blue team. The game started 8/5/05 at 2:30 PST at USC's Dedeaux Field. In attendance were a handful of scouts to check out the HS kids and maybe a few of the CT players. Chinese Taipei was slotted as the home team. CT was able to win a full 9 inning game by the score of 2 - 0, on 8 hits and 2 errors. The Brewers Blue team was able to muster together 4 hits. The line up and stats for CT is as follows:

7 Chen Yu Chung (CF) In 4 AB's had 0 hits, 1 walk, a sacrifice bunt, and K'd once
8 Chih Yao Chan (RF) In 4 AB's had 2 singles, and a run scored
25 Yin Chuan Lin (3B) In 4 AB's had a double - RBI, K'd once
52 Kuo Hui Lo (DH) In 4 AB's had a single - RBI, K'd once
45 Chun Yu Kuo (1B) In 4 AB's had a single
11 Ying Chieg Liao (LF) In 3 AB's hitless
5 Chiang Ho Chen (2B) In 3 AB's had 2 singles
22 Chih Horng Chen (C) In 2 AB's hitless, K'd once
21 Ko Chien Lin (SS) In 3 AB's had a single, K'd once

99 Hong Wen Chen (SP) Pitched 6 strong innings, 0 runs, 1 hit, 3 K's, 0 BB's, 1 hit batter

10 Kuan Yi Yang (C) Substituted for #22, had 1 AB - grounded out - showed good defense, threw out runner trying to advance to 2nd base
59 Yuan Chin Chu Pinch hit in the 9th inning - flied out
16 Chun Wun Chiou Pinch hit in the 9th inning - K'd
15 Chuang Hsun Tu Pinch hit in the 9th inning - K'd

61 Chia Min Tseng Relieved #99 in the 7th inning, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 BB
62 Chun Yan Tseng Relieved #61 for 8th,9th innings, 0 runs, 3 hits, 1 K, 1 BB

Friday's Goodbye Game....

Well, Chinese Taipei played it's last game in it's 2 week US tour today at USC's Dedeaux field. There were a ton of scouts there checking out CT's opposition: the Area Code Milwaukee Brewers Blue team. Because of a busy schedule tonight, I will post game recap and photos tomorrow. Come back and check it out!

My thoughts on the IOC and CPBL scandal...

The IOC's decision to can baseball for the 2012 Olympics is a direct slap in the face to the US. In the IOC's effort to undermine America's dominance at it's own games, it has failed to recognize the globalization of the game and the fact that the US didn't even qualify for the 2004 Olympics!


Baseball is played all over the world in regions from North America, Central America and the Caribbean, to Asia and Oceania. It is a growing sport that has seen the world's most populous country, China quickly establish a more competitive program in a matter of a few years.


What are the implications of the IOC decision on Taiwan baseball? Well, the most important result is the fact that funding for the development of CT's national team will be cut. Less money being spent on player development, equals the possibility of a decline in the current and future talent pool. Add to that the gambling scandal going on in the CPBL, and you have the potential for a decline in the sport's popularity. Once you lose the fans' trust, it's always hard to win back their support again. It would be a damned shame to see the progress that has been made by the current crop of aspiring baseball players here in the US, take a few steps backwards.

Big Props.....

Big Props to the Seattle Mariners for recognizing the potential and talent in Taiwan by having the only full time MLB scout - Jamey Storvick, based outta there. I hope the signings (4 kids so far) pay off in the future for the organization. A great way to follow how the kids from Taiwan are doing is to check out Mariner Minors, a very informative and updated daily website that reports on the everyday stats/transactions/news in the world of the Mariner's minor league system.

Baseball World Cup 2005

The current CT team that is touring the US might make up the majority of the roster for the upcoming World Cup in Holland. Lo is almost a certain lock to make the team. However, the CTBA is mulling the possibility of adding a few pros from their domestic league. In the last two World Cups, Taiwan has sent a team comprised mostly by professionals in 2001 and a predominantly amateur team in 2003. One player who has been invited to join the World Cup team is newly signed Yomiuri Giants pitcher Chien-Ming Chiang. The 20 year old would be a nice addition to the current pitching roster.

Stay tuned.....

I will try my best to make Friday's game vs. the Area Code Team and report on the 411 there.

If anyone has any suggestions or comments on my blog content, I'd love to hear from you. You can leave comments on the blog or email me at: thetaiwaneseterror at yahoo dot com. The at and dot were spelled out to avoid getting spam mail.

Pics of Chinese Taipei team!

Team Photo!

Starting Pitcher and Catcher have finished warmups

Coach rallying the troops

Pitcher - Yi-Che Huang

Fan appreciation Pic

You can't go to a Chinese Taipei game without some rabid fans and our beautiful flag!

Rod Dedeaux and me!

Well, here it is: my chance to hang out with an icon in the college baseball scene. Mr. Rod Dedeaux was gracious enough to pose with me as well as answer some questions I had for him. Even though he has aged physically, his mind is still sharp as a tack! Based on my conversation with him, I think Mr. Dedeaux had a big hand in helping the Chinese Taipei National team find some competitive games here in the US in preparation for the Baseball World Cup going on this September 2005 in Holland.

I'll be back!!

I'll post some more pics of the entire CT basball team, a couple more pics of Lo, some of the signed baseballs I got, and a pic with Mr. Rod Dedeaux and me later. Stay tuned!

Pic of Chia-Min Tseng - CT pitcher

This kid is the tallest player for Chinese Taipei. The dude is 6'3"! Kuo-Hui Lo is the next tallest guy at 6'2". Tseng is a very friendly guy and easy to talk to; I was able to find out from him that Chih-Yuan Chen, star player with the Brother Elephants in Taiwan's CPBL, is his cousin!!!!! You got good genes kid!

7/30/05 Starting Lineup for Chinese Taipei vs. LB Armada/Samurai Bears

Here is the info that I gathered from Saturday's mid day game:

1) # 8 Chih-Yao Chan RF in 5 AB's had 3 hits (all singles) and a stolen base
2) #11 Ying-Chieg Liao LF in 4 AB's had a single and a run scored
3) #25 Yin-Chuan Lin 3B in 4 AB's had a single
4) #52 Kuo-Hui Lo CF in 4 AB's had 2 walks, a 2 run HR, and a 2 run triple
5) #23 Tsung-Han Yu 1B in 4 AB's had a single and a RBI
6) #45 Chun-Yu Kuo DH in 4 AB's had a single-or could be scored reached on error
7) # 5 Chiang-Ho Chen 2B in 4 AB's had a single and a RBI
8) #10 Kuan-Yi Yang C in 3 AB's had a single
9) # 21 Ko-Chien Lo SS in 4 AB's had a single

10) #70 Ying-Feng Tsai Starting Pitcher - Threw a 5 inning no hitter with 3 K's/0 walks
11) #15 Chuang-Hsun Tu C - pinch hit for #10 in the 7th inning - grounded out in only AB
12) #36 Fu-Te Ni Pitched in the 6th inning - i didn't keep track of stats for him
13) #46 Min-Ching Kao Pitched in the 7th inning - i didn't keep track of stats for him either

I didn't keep stats for the 7/31/05 game vs. the Pasadena Redbirds. But I do have Lo's AB's chronicled in an earlier blog post.

For an official team roster please click here.

It also has the stats for the 2 games played between the Chinese Taipei national team versus the USA team made up of collegiate all stars played on July 15th and 16th of 2005 in Taiwan.

7/31/05 Chinese Taipei vs. Pasadena Redbirds

I attended the game today in Pasadena at Jackie Robinson Field - near the Rose Bowl. Chinese Taipei and Pasadena played a 9 inning affair, with Chinese Taipei triumphing 9 - 2. Lo Kuo Hui had a disappointing game compared to yesterday's offensive outburst (see earlier blog posting). In his 4 AB's he had 1) a flyout - sac fly scoring a runner from third 2) struck out looking - he was facing a 6'6 kid from Rancho Cucamonga who was clocked in the low 90's today. From what I was told, the tall pitcher playing for Pasadena had about 25 scouts in the stands with their radar guns zoned in on his fastball. I was informed that his best fastball maxed out at around 95 mph. 3) walked and scored a run 4) popped out to shallow right field.


I found out from the Pasadena score keeper and Mr. Chuck Poehler - who sponsors/owns the Redbirds that the Redbirds are made up of ex-professional baseball players - many of whom have played in the minors as well as aspiring baseball players from high school. Actually today, Chinese Taipei got an opportunity to face Steve Rain, and ex-MLB player with the Chicago Cubs (1999-00) for a few innings in the middle of the game. The highlight of my day was when I got the opportunity to meet Mr. Rod Dedeaux, the legendary USC head baseball coach. I got the chance to ask Mr. Dedeaux on his opinion of the Chinese Taipei team and players. He thought that there were quite a few outstanding players on the CT team in addition to Lo Kuo Hui. Mr. Dedeaux pointed out #11 Ying Chieg Liao, an OF - LF, and #21 Ko-Chien Lin, the SS for CT as 2 kids who caught his eye. Many thanks to the Pasadena Redbirds scorekeeper - sorry I forgot your name, Mr. Chuck Poehler, and Mr. Rod Dedeaux for their input and time!!!


If you are still interested in catching the Chinese Taipei national team in their exhibition tour of Southern Cal, there are still a few games to be played this week. I am only aware of 2 of the game times. They are 1) a 10:00 am game at Dodger Stadium this Wednesday 8/3/05 against a team unbeknownst to me 2) the closing game of the US/So Cal tour at USC's Dedeaux field on Friday 8/5/05 at 3:00 pm against the Area Code Team - which should make for a very competitive game.

The Great Wall and lil ol me

This photo was taken in September of 2002, when I was vacationing in China with my wife and in-laws.

Even more pics of Lo...:)

Lo is standing at the very end (Left side), posing with teammates

Lo handing me his neat penmanship on that ball! Autographed balls in Chinese are so much cooler than in English.

Lo completing his home run trot on the way to the dugout

Pics of Lo

This is Lo in the on deck circle - hacking away

Lo being greeted by teammates after his HR!

I could only get one pic uploaded on the first page. Here's another attempt at more.
PS Please do not use my images without my consent first. Thank you.

Taiwan Baseball (Chinese Taipei vs. Long Beach Armada/Samurai Bears 7/30/05)

Well, I attended my first official Chinese Taipei Baseball Team game today (7/30/05 against the Long Beach Armada/Samurai Bears split squad. The game was played down in Long Beach at Blair Field, home of the LB Armada and Long Beach State 49ers. I first found out about the game online from the LB Armada website.


Being an ABC and the fact that my parents are from Taiwan, I grew up in PA, following little league baseball in Williamsport. My curiosity and interest in Taiwanese baseball - and baseball in general, began then when I realized how talented these kids were at such a young age. As I grew older, I always wondered what happened to these wonder kids. My first researched foray into Taiwanese baseball was from a Sports Illustrated article written in August 19, 1991 titled, "Where Have you Gone Yu Hong-Kai?" Then, with the explosion of the world wide web, I began searching for everything related to baseball in Taiwan. But because I can't read Chinese, my sources were limited to English only sites. What I did find out though from limited resources, was that most of the kids who were good enough played for the national team in different bracketed age groups. The most talented players were usually signed by professional team in Japan - (most famous example - Tai-Yuan Kuo, nicknamed the "Orient Express" who played for the Seibu Lions) while other players were signed to play in a domestic professional baseball league in Taiwan - known as the CPBL nowadays. Finally with the signing of Chin-Feng Chen by the LA Dodgers in 1999, I realized that things had come full circle. These same Taiwanese kids have grown up and are here today to try and realize the American dream: to make a Major League Club.


Ok, now onto today's game. It was a 7 inning exhibition game that began at 3:05 pm PST. Going into the game, I really only knew of one player Kuo Hui Lo - a 19 year OF for the Chinese Taipei Team. This kid was just recently signed by the Seattle Mariners. Lo was easily the most impressive player in the game. He had 4 AB's: 2 walks, a stolen base, a triple, and a home run, while driving in 4 runs. The kid was a stud. The starting pitcher for Chinese Taipei - Ying Feng Tsai wasn't too shabby either, throwing a 5 inning no hitter. Probably the highlight of my day was getting Lo and Warren Cromartie's autograph. Mr. Cromartie, if you don't know is an ex-MLB player with the former Montreal Expos. But he is more well known as one of Japan's great foreign players when he played with the Yomiuri Giants. Warren is the current head coach of the Samurai Bears, an all Japanese team playing in the Golden Baseball League. I have posted a few pics of Lo - # 52. I will try and post more later when I figure out this blogging thing. :) Enjoy!

PS Please do not use my images without my consent first. Thank you.