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ABC: Taiwan's ball players aim for Olympic qualification

Medal-round action of the 2007 Asian Baseball Championship will kick off this afternoon at the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium with Taiwan taking on South Korea.

With the right to represent Asia in what could be the final Olympic baseball competition in next year's games in Beijing at stake and South Korean looking to avenge a loss against Taiwan in 2003 that sent Taiwan to the 2004 Olympics in Athens, both squads will certainly give their all to win the all-important opening match.

Leading this year's best-and-bright for the hosts is head coach Kuo Tai-yuan whose gutsy 17-inning outing over a two-game span to beat South Korea and Japan on the same day in the 1983 Asian Baseball Championship will likely remain unmatched forever.

"With the addition of Tsao Chin-hui and Huang Jung-chung, our bullpen has gotten a big boost which wasn't there earlier," Kuo said, referring to the addition of current major-leaguer Tsao (Los Angeles Dodgers) and top La New Bears closer Huang.

They will hope to provide some stability to an overworked bullpen that faltered on several occasions in a disappointing effort during the World Cup last month.

Also bringing his big-league credentials to leadoff for Taiwan will be Hu Chin-long (also of the LA Dodgers), whose fierce hitting and impeccable defensive play at second base will undoubtedly give Taiwan the speed and power that it longs for.

Likely to take the mound for Taiwan in this afternoon's contest will be right-hander Lin En-yu, who pitched well in all three of his games during the World Cup and has benefited from the two-week long break that gave his arm some much needed rest.

"It [the choice of starting pitcher] could be a game-day decision depending on who is most ready," Kuo said.

Should Lin be scratched from the lineup, the burden will probably fall on veteran righty Yang Jien-fu of the Sinon Bulls, who also pitched well during the World Cup last month.

Regardless of the starting pitcher, Taiwan will have their hands full against a strong South Korean outfit that features top lefty Jun Byung-ho (Samsung Lions) and a pair of major-league right-handers in Ryu Jae-kuk (Tampa Bay Devil Rays) and Park Chan-ho (New York Mets).

Backing up Hu with their big bats for Taiwan will be Chen Chin-fong (La New Bears), Chang Tai-shan (Bulls) and Kao Guo-ching (President Lions).

Following today's game, Taiwan will take on the Philippines -- winners of the preliminary competition -- tomorrow afternoon before finishing out the three-game series in the finale against Japan on Monday.
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