Having covered the top-three squads in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) earlier this week, it's time to look at the rest of the league as the Chinatrust Whales, the Macoto Cobras, and the La New Bears get set to do battle this season.
The complete makeover of the Whales starts at the top with the appointment of a new general manager in Lin Ming-cheng (
Former pitching coach Hsu Sheng-ming (
Incoming foreign help for the mound is a trio from the Dominican Republic: Juan Figueroa, Antonio Dario, and last year's opening-day starter Geraldo Guzman. (Guzman did not adapt well and consequently left the Whales after just one month of play). they all have at least AA experience in the American farm system.
Speaking of make-overs, the former Macoto Gida selected "Cobras" as their new mascot and will begin this season with a new look.
Also in the new Cobra uniform is manager Kuo Tai-yuen (
Kuo has his work cut out for him as he attempts to take a team that could not buy a win in the latter part of last season and mold it into instant winners.
His slew of seasoned assistants could easily turn the Cobra locker room into a hall of fame display.
In an effort to tap into the fan base in Northern Taiwan, the Cobras will call Taipei their new home as they move from Taichung into a new facility just outside of Tamshui in Taipei County.
While sound pitching from the foreign pitchers will be important, the top concern will be how to assemble a batting order that has only two reliable hitters in Hsieh Jia-shien (
The former First Securities Agan not only changed their mascot to the Bears, they also acquired a new club owner in La New Enterprise during the off-season. The La New Bears will be headed by former Japan Series MVP Ohda Takushi and his first lieutenant Kato Hajime.
Recently acquired right-hander Dai Long-shui (
Offensively for the Bears, team captain Chen Kai-fa (
Preliminary feedbacks from around the league all point to a vastly improved Bear club after two weeks of pre-season action.
"[The Bears] have definitely improved over the course of the off-season," Manager Lin Yi-tseng (
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