Could this be the Sinon Bulls' year?
The Bulls had a great start to the season, beating the Chinatrust Whales and President Lions in early March.
The Brother Elephants brought the six-game winning streak to an end last Thursday, but the Bulls immediately bounced back on Saturday with a brilliant performance from Tsai Chung-nan, the overall first pick in this year's draft.
Now at 7-3 after 10 games, the Bulls seem confident of going all the way.
League losers
For years the Bulls have been portrayed as a team that could never win, hobbled by its lack of pitching talent.
Founded in 1993 as the Jungo Bears, one of two expansion teams in the Chinese Professional Baseball League that year, the club included many members of the national team that won a silver medal for Taiwan at the Barcelona Olympics.
However, the Bears failed the make the playoffs during the next three years, and the club was sold to the Sinon Group in 1996.
The change of ownership and name provided the Bulls with a short-lived boost.
The team made it to the post-season for the first time in 1998 but lost the Championship Series.
They made it to the playoffs again in 2000, but again lost the Championship Series.
By last year the luck had vanished. The Bulls slumped to 34-51, last in the league.
But the Bulls are expecting this season to go much better.
With their new manager Chen Wei-chung at the helm, the Bulls appear to have found someone they trust and want to play for.
Chen is credited with creating the right chemistry among the players and focussing them on the game.
Veteran players such as Huang Chung-yee and Chang Tai-shan are again displaying their seasoned skills on their power and defensive plays.
Pitcher Tsai Chung-nan, acquired in this year's draft, has given the Bulls's pitching a much-needed boost.
Time to top the table
By lifting the Bulls to the top of the table, Tsai has also tied the CPBL record for consecutive winning games by a rookie and is expected to break it soon.
Every win he chalks up seems to justify the record signing bonus he received on joining the Bulls.
As their former teammate Lin Chung-chiu (now manager of the Whales) said, "No matter how you look at it: Offensively, defensively and the chemistry, the Bulls are indeed the team to beat this year."
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
Liverpool are in advanced talks with former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as they seek a replacement for Arne Slot, reports said on Tuesday. Iraola has emerged as Liverpool’s top target to replace Slot, who was sacked on Saturday last week after a turbulent second season in charge. Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to bring the Spaniard, who left Bournemouth at the end of this season, to Anfield. Sporting director Richard Hughes was heavily involved in hiring Iraola during his time at Bournemouth and is again spearheading the recruitment of the highly rated coach. The Reds are
US President Donald Trump said he would attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday at Madison Square Garden, but said he does not have much sympathy for ordinary basketball fans who cannot afford sky-high ticket prices to do the same. “They can watch it on television,” Trump said aboard Air Force One on Friday as he flew to Wisconsin for an event with farmers, after he was asked about tickets that have climbed as high as US$8,000 each when the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs square off in Manhattan for the first time in the series. “It’s sorta
RSS