The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Taiwanese relief pitcher Kuo Hong-chih returned home yesterday and urged local fans to support Taiwan's beleaguered Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) as it fights ongoing allegations of game-fixing.
Speaking to reporters after arriving at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Kuo voiced support for his good friend Tsao Chin-hui — the first Taiwanese pitcher to play in the US Major Leagues and one of those implicated in the recent game-fixing scandal — saying he believed Tsao did not do anything he should not have done.
“I remain fully supportive of him and trust him,” Kuo said.
He also called on local baseball fans not to turn their backs on the scandal-tarnished CPBL.
“It may take time for the four-team league to resurrect itself and regain momentum. The unswerving support of fans is the most important driving force in the league’s survival,” he added.
As for his own situation, Kuo was in good spirits upon his return home and said he was very pleased to return to Taiwan for a vacation.
The 28-year-old left-hander, who has been beset with injuries throughout his professional career, has become a trusted member of manager Joe Torre’s bullpen over the past two seasons as a middle reliever and set-up man, appearing in a total of 77 games and striking out 128 batters in 110 innings pitched.
Kuo also excelled in the National League Championship Series against the Philadelphia Phillies that his Dodgers lost 4-1. He appeared in four of the five games of the best-of-seven series, allowing only one run while striking out six in four innings pitched.
Kuo was also credited with the Dodgers’ only win of the series, a 2-1 victory in Game 2, but despite his postseason success, he declined to grade his performance, saying he did nothing more than any other teammate.
“Every player wanted to help the team win, and we were all prepared to achieve our goal,” he said.
Although the Dodgers were thwarted in their bid to reach the World Series by the Phillies for the second consecutive year, Kuo said he has not lost his confidence.
“After not winning a World Series ring this year, I will work hard again next year. Every year the goal is the same, to win a ring,” Kuo said.
On reports that the Dodgers coaches would openly welcome another Taiwanese Major League star — New York Yankees right-hander Wang Chien-ming — to join the team, Kuo said it would be perfect if Wang became a Dodger.
Wang’s contract with Yankees expires at the end of the year, and as an arbitration-eligible player, he must be offered a contract for at least 80 percent of his US$5 million contract for last year.
With Wang coming off shoulder surgery and unlikely to pitch before July, the Yankees are likely to balk at that price and release him in the hope of signing him back at a lower number. That would create an opening for other teams.
Still mindful of the 46 games Wang won for the Yankees between 2006 and June last year when he was the manager, Torre might be willing to take a chance on the Tainan native, who will turn 30 next March and who, like Kuo, has been plagued by injuries throughout much of his career.
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