Even if the Los Angeles Dodgers don't beat the San Francisco Giants for the National League West wild card spot, it can still say it was victorious in one race this season.
The Dodgers made Chen Chin-feng (陳金鋒) the first Taiwanese player to reach the US' major leagues ahead of the Colorado Rockies who have Taiwan pitcher Tsao Chin-hui (曹錦輝) in its minor-league system.
The Dodgers introduced Chen at a standing-room only news conference at Dodger Stadium on Monday, attended by team officials as well as Taiwanese diplomats, businessmen and Chinese media.
PHOTO: AP
"I will do the best I can to contribute to the team and help them win," Chen said through a translator.
The 24-year-old Chen, of Tainan in southern Taiwan, is slowly adjusting to the lifestyle and cultural changes of North America.
"The first difficulty I had when I arrived was the language and another is adjusting to American food. But I am doing pretty good with it now," he said.
Chen walked in his first plate appearance on Saturday in the Dodgers lopsided 16-3 win over the Rockies. Tsao pitched this season for the Rockies Single-A farm team in Salem, Virginia.
First impression
Chen scored his first run on a double by another Dodger rookie Luke Allen.
Dodgers senior vice-president Tom Lasorda predicted on Monday that Chen will only get better as he faces major league pitchers.
"He's going to play a vital role for us," said Lasorda.
Asked if he felt more Chinese or Taiwanese, Chen refused to be dragged into a political debate.
"I don't think that is for me to answer. I just want to have fun playing baseball," he said, drawing a loud cheer from the pro-Taiwan supporters at the news conference.
Chen said he tries not to think about the pressure of being the first player from Taiwan in the majors. "The important thing is how I do on the field."
He certainly proved that this season. In 137 Pacific Coast League games with Las Vegas 51s, Chen led his team with 26 home runs, 84 runs batted in.
The left fielder hit .333 and drove in four runs while the 51s were eliminated 3-1 by the Edmonton Trappers in a semifinal playoff series that ended earlier on this month, freeing Chen.
He was a member of the Taiwan team in the 34th World Cup of Baseball, held in Taiwan last year, and led all players with 11 RBIs to help his country win the bronze medal.
Opening markets
The Taiwan market was virtually untapped 36 months ago.
Chen first caught the attention of the Dodgers when he homered off Dodger starter Chan Ho-park in a game against South Korea at the 1998 Asian Games.
Chen signed with the Dodgers in 1999 becoming the second Taiwanese player in the US minor leagues, joining Tan Hsin-min
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Chen's career began quickly as he hit .316 with 31 homers and 123 RBIs for Single-A San Bernardino in 1999.
The next year he struggled in Double-A in San Antonio before having successful off-season surgery to repair a shoulder problem.
Chen isn't expected to play much this season. Heading into Monday's game against the San Francisco, the Dodgers are just one game back of the Giants for the final playoff spot in the NL West.
The Dodgers still have to figure out where they are going to play Chen. Los Angeles is hoping it can shift Chen to the infield where his marginal throwing arm won't be tested so often.
"One of the things we spoke to Chen about was moving him to first base. We love his bat. "He had 26 home runs in the minors and he is a great offensive player," said Dodgers manager Dan Evans on Monday.
The Dodgers have another Taiwan player waiting in the wings who was also at Monday's news conference.
Kuo Hong-chih (
Kuo said the move to North America has been good for his baseball career. "The system is much better over here. I get better coaching," said Kuo.
Wild-card race
Brian Jordan belted a grand slam home run to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7-6 win over the San Francisco Giants that lifted the Dodgers into a tie for the National League (NL) wild card on Monday.
The win also gave them the first game of a crucial four-game series between the two NL West rivals.
Both teams have just 12 games left in the regular season.
Barry Bonds belted a two-run homer for the Giants, his 44th of the season and was walked three times.
The first walk was his 178th of the year, breaking the major league record he set last season.
Jeff Kent and Rich Aurilia also both homered for the Giants, while Tom Goodwin had two hits and drove in a run.
Dodgers starting pitcher Hideo Nomo (15-6) got the win, going six innings and allowing three runs on five hits with six strikeouts and four walks.
Eric Gagne got the last five outs for his 49th save.
San Francisco's Jason Schmidt (11-8) took the loss.
In Miami, Brad Penny led the Florida Marlins past the Atlanta Braves 5-1, ending Kevin Millwood's eight-game winning streak.
Penny (7-6), who also had two hits in the game, allowed one run on four hits with eight strikeouts and two walks on six innings work before Vladimir Nunez and Braden Looper combined to preserve the win.
Millwood (17-7) went five innings, allowing five runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks.
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