The son of former Major League All-Star Tim Raines has signed with a team in Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League. Tim Raines, Jr. recently inked a deal to play outfield with the La New Bears after batting .311 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs in 128 games for Tucson in the Pacific Coast League last year. He was released by the Chicago White Sox earlier this season.
Raines played parts of three seasons with Baltimore between 2001 and 2004, batting .213 in 75 games and playing in the same game as his father with the O’s on October 4, 2001.
To make room for Raines, the Bears released Nate Gold, who was hitting .221 in 18 games.
Showing posts with label Taiwan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taiwan. Show all posts
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
FIRST-PLACE SINON DOMINATES BROTHER IN TAIWANESE LEAGUE SERIES
The Sinon Bulls swept a three-game series over the Brother Elephants last week to build a 1.5-game lead over the La New Bears at the top of the Chinese Professional Baseball League standings. Sinon broke out the brooms with an 8-6 win over Brother April 19 as Jian-shien “Ugly” Hsieh capped a seven-run second inning with a three-run homer for the Bulls against Elephant ace Yu-cheng “The Golden Submarine” Liao. Sinon is now 10-5-1, while Brother dropped to 5-13.
Meanwhile, the Uni-President Lions topped the La New Bears, 5-0, April 19 to take the rubber match of their three-game series in Tainan. Lions’ righty Mickey Callaway, who pitched in America and Korea before coming to Taiwan, threw 6.1 innings of shutout ball for the win, scattering three hits and striking out six Bears batsmen. Callaway and the Uni-President bullpen halted the Bears’ Chih-sheng Lin’s five-game home run streak. The Bears fell to 9-7, while the Lions are now 9-8-1.
Meanwhile, the Uni-President Lions topped the La New Bears, 5-0, April 19 to take the rubber match of their three-game series in Tainan. Lions’ righty Mickey Callaway, who pitched in America and Korea before coming to Taiwan, threw 6.1 innings of shutout ball for the win, scattering three hits and striking out six Bears batsmen. Callaway and the Uni-President bullpen halted the Bears’ Chih-sheng Lin’s five-game home run streak. The Bears fell to 9-7, while the Lions are now 9-8-1.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
NEW TAIPEI TEAM UNVEILED AMID SELECTION QUESTIONS
Weeks after Taiwan’s embarrassing performance in the World Baseball Classic, the island nation’s capital city was introduced to its new baseball team, courtesy of its local government. The new Taipei team was formed by city leaders after a federal call to revive the game at all levels.
Taipei mayor Lung-bin Hau was on hand to introduce the 21 players on the new team, which will be led on the field by Ying Chieh Kao, who coached current New York Yankees pitcher Chien-ming Wang. The government had originally planned to pick 25 players for Taipei’s team, but settled on a list of 21 ex-pros, college and high school products. Former dMedia T-Rex player Chu-jien Hsu, who was not selected, claimed he was blacklisted because of rumors he was involved in the gambling and game-fixing scandals that led to the T-Rex being disbanded after last season.
Governments in Taipei and Taoyuan Counties and Taichung City are also forming municipal teams, none of which apparently plan to petition to join the Chinese Professional Baseball League.
Taipei mayor Lung-bin Hau was on hand to introduce the 21 players on the new team, which will be led on the field by Ying Chieh Kao, who coached current New York Yankees pitcher Chien-ming Wang. The government had originally planned to pick 25 players for Taipei’s team, but settled on a list of 21 ex-pros, college and high school products. Former dMedia T-Rex player Chu-jien Hsu, who was not selected, claimed he was blacklisted because of rumors he was involved in the gambling and game-fixing scandals that led to the T-Rex being disbanded after last season.
Governments in Taipei and Taoyuan Counties and Taichung City are also forming municipal teams, none of which apparently plan to petition to join the Chinese Professional Baseball League.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
TAIPEI TO GET NEW PRO BALLCLUB
Given the bad news that has washed over Taiwanese baseball since last summer, fans there got some good news last week when it was announced that the city government of Taipei will establish a new baseball team.
Taipei deputy mayor Wu Ching-chi announced last week that the city would form the new team for the equivalent of $868,000US, with a third of that coming from Taiwan’s cabinet-level Sports Affairs Council. The other two-thirds of the cost would come from donations and Taipei mayor Hau Ling-bin’s second preparatory fund.
Wu said the mayor is responding to Taiwan premier Liu Chao-shiuan’s call to both the public and private sectors to revive baseball after poor showings in the Olympics and World Baseball Classic and a gambling scandal in the Chinese Professional Baseball League that led to the reduction of two teams in the circuit.
Taipei deputy mayor Wu Ching-chi announced last week that the city would form the new team for the equivalent of $868,000US, with a third of that coming from Taiwan’s cabinet-level Sports Affairs Council. The other two-thirds of the cost would come from donations and Taipei mayor Hau Ling-bin’s second preparatory fund.
Wu said the mayor is responding to Taiwan premier Liu Chao-shiuan’s call to both the public and private sectors to revive baseball after poor showings in the Olympics and World Baseball Classic and a gambling scandal in the Chinese Professional Baseball League that led to the reduction of two teams in the circuit.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
KUO MAKES SPRING DEBUT IN “B” GAME FOR DODGERS
The Los Angeles Dodgers are looking to bulk up their bullpen this spring, making Kuo Hong-chih’s first mound appearance in a “B” squad game against the Chicago White Sox more important than usual. The 27-year-old native of Tainan, Taiwan hurled a scoreless inning against the ChiSox last Monday, and said he felt fine. The lefty has had elbow problems the past few years, usually the day after he pitches. Dodgers manager Joe Torre said Kuo’s curveball needs work, but that he was spotting his fastball effectively.
Kuo pitched 80 innings for the Dodgers last year, posting a 2.14 ERA out of the bullpen, but missed the National League Championship Series. He pitched for Taiwan in the 2002 Asian Games, but has since undergone four elbow surgeries.
Kuo pitched 80 innings for the Dodgers last year, posting a 2.14 ERA out of the bullpen, but missed the National League Championship Series. He pitched for Taiwan in the 2002 Asian Games, but has since undergone four elbow surgeries.
TAIWAN OFFICIALS VOW OVERHAUL AFTER EARLY WBC EXIT
On the heels of Taiwan’s surprising two-and-out exit from the World Baseball Classic, baseball officials in that country are promising a complete overhaul to the domestic game. Taiwan’s Sports Affairs Council, which oversees baseball in the island nation, says it will develop new programs in schools, companies and the military, fight against gambling scandals that have rocked the game, and call on the federal government for more help in rebuilding Taiwan’s once-promising baseball fortunes.
Taiwan teams have won 17 Little League World Series, earned medals in two Olympic Games, and won the 2006 Asia Games. However, following a disappointing showing in last summer’s Beijing Olympics Taiwan lost 4-1 to China and 9-0 to South Korea in the WBC. Their next shot for redemption will be at the Baseball World Cup in Prague this September.
Taiwan teams have won 17 Little League World Series, earned medals in two Olympic Games, and won the 2006 Asia Games. However, following a disappointing showing in last summer’s Beijing Olympics Taiwan lost 4-1 to China and 9-0 to South Korea in the WBC. Their next shot for redemption will be at the Baseball World Cup in Prague this September.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
YANKS SIGN WANG TO ONE-YEAR DEAL
The New York Yankees will have new players and a new ballpark in 2009, but the team will welcome Taiwanese pitcher Wang Chien-Ming back into the fold next season. The Yanks have signed the 28-year-old Wang to a one-year contract for $5 million, avoiding salary arbitration for the right-hander.
Wang was 8-2 with a 4.07 ERA in 15 starts for New York in 2008 before his season ended June 17 with injuries to his right foot. He began the year with six consecutive wins after starting the Yankees’ final opener in Yankee Stadium April 1 with a 3-2 win over Toronto. He was 5-0 in April, earning his 50th career win on April 22.
Signed by the Yanks as a non-drafted free agent in 2000, Wang won 19 games in both 2006 and 2007, and his .754 winning percentage since 2006 is second only to Boston’s Jon Lester among major league pitchers during that period. Wang has won more MLB games than any other Taiwanese-born pitcher, and ranks third all-time in wins by Asian-born hurlers, trailing only the 123 victories by Japan’s Hideo Nomo and 117 by Korean Park Chan-ho.
The Yankees have signed first baseman Mark Teixeira and pitchers C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett as free agents, and will move into their new billion-dollar stadium next season.
Wang was 8-2 with a 4.07 ERA in 15 starts for New York in 2008 before his season ended June 17 with injuries to his right foot. He began the year with six consecutive wins after starting the Yankees’ final opener in Yankee Stadium April 1 with a 3-2 win over Toronto. He was 5-0 in April, earning his 50th career win on April 22.
Signed by the Yanks as a non-drafted free agent in 2000, Wang won 19 games in both 2006 and 2007, and his .754 winning percentage since 2006 is second only to Boston’s Jon Lester among major league pitchers during that period. Wang has won more MLB games than any other Taiwanese-born pitcher, and ranks third all-time in wins by Asian-born hurlers, trailing only the 123 victories by Japan’s Hideo Nomo and 117 by Korean Park Chan-ho.
The Yankees have signed first baseman Mark Teixeira and pitchers C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett as free agents, and will move into their new billion-dollar stadium next season.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
TWO TAIWANESE TEAMS TO PLAY IN CHINA NEXT SEASON
The Chinese Professional Baseball League says it will move forward in 2009 with four remaining teams in the wake of this season’s gambling scandal which led to the disbanding of the dMedia T-Rex. The Chinatrust Whales also went under due to lack of funds. The four Taiwanese teams left standing are the champion Uni-President Lions, Brother Elephants, La New Bears and Sinon Bulls.
CPBL teams will play 60 games each in 2009, up from 50 games apiece this year. However, due to the loss of the T-Rex and Whales, the league as a whole will play 240 games, down from 300 in 2008.
Two teams, the Lions and Elephants, will visit Shanghai next March for a series of three exhibition games. The two teams will each play the China Baseball League’s Shanghai Golden Eagles once before facing each other in the finale.
CPBL teams will play 60 games each in 2009, up from 50 games apiece this year. However, due to the loss of the T-Rex and Whales, the league as a whole will play 240 games, down from 300 in 2008.
Two teams, the Lions and Elephants, will visit Shanghai next March for a series of three exhibition games. The two teams will each play the China Baseball League’s Shanghai Golden Eagles once before facing each other in the finale.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
TAIWAN SERIES TIED AT 1-1, T-REX FRANCHISE FORCED TO DISBAND
The President Lions defeated the Brother Elephants, 5-4, last weekend in Game Two of the 2008 Taiwan Series to tie the title set at one game apiece. A crowd of more than 17,000 turned out for the contest as Lions first baseman K.C. Kao went 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple and two RBIs. President's ace pitcher Pan “Du Du” Wei-Lun pitched eight innings and gave up four runs on seven hits, including a two-run homer by Lin Ming-Hsien.
Brother won the opening game 9-3 behind Wang Chin-Yong's two-run homer, three hits including two doubles with two RBIs from Chen Kuan-Jen, and game MVP Wang Sheng-Wei's single and double with a ribbie.
While the playoffs wind down in Taiwan, the league disbanded the dMedia T-Rex franchise after the team was embroiled in game-fixing allegations following their offseason purchase by new ownership alleged to have deep ties with organized crime. The reduction of the T-Rex leaves the Chinese Professional Baseball League with five teams after a year marked by financial problems and low attendance figures. There is some concern among observers that the league may not return in 2009, leaving Taiwan without pro baseball.
Brother won the opening game 9-3 behind Wang Chin-Yong's two-run homer, three hits including two doubles with two RBIs from Chen Kuan-Jen, and game MVP Wang Sheng-Wei's single and double with a ribbie.
While the playoffs wind down in Taiwan, the league disbanded the dMedia T-Rex franchise after the team was embroiled in game-fixing allegations following their offseason purchase by new ownership alleged to have deep ties with organized crime. The reduction of the T-Rex leaves the Chinese Professional Baseball League with five teams after a year marked by financial problems and low attendance figures. There is some concern among observers that the league may not return in 2009, leaving Taiwan without pro baseball.
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