Wed, Apr 30, 2014 page19

• Garcia warms up for first match in Taiwan

  • By Paul Huang / Contributing reporter, with AP
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  This week, the EDA Rhinos welcomed Freddy Garcia to their team, continuing the CPBL’s trend of signing former big league players.

  The Rhinos must be hoping that the former MLB player’s wealth of baseball knowledge and experience — amassed through his 156 career wins, an American League ERA title in 2001 and a world championship ring over a 15-year stretch — will help propel them to many wins.

  “The local weather really doesn’t bother me at all since I am from Venezuela and the weather there is pretty much the same as here,” Garcia told reporters in Greater Kaohsiung.

  He wasted no time getting into his new team uniform, making a pitstop at the Rhinos’ players’ quarters in Greater Kaohsiung before taking his place at the bullpen and throwing about 40 pitches on Sunday.

  The Venezuelan has signed a seven-month contract worth up to US$56,000 per month, reportedly topping the amount Manny Ramirez was offered during his three-month stint with the Rhinos last year.

  The club said the signing came about because Garcia was looking for a change, so his agent was seeking opportunities for him outside of the US and “we reached each other.”

  Garcia said he spoke with Ramirez before arriving in Taiwan and heard that the local fans make enthusiastic crowds.

  “For me, it’s the best opportunity to keep pitching,” Garcia said, adding that Ramirez told him “he loved it when he came here last year.”

  “Garcia has shown a strong will to play for the team, we really appreciate it,” Rhinos general manager Hsieh Pin-yu said.

  The South American pitcher is expected to play his first game in Taiwan on Saturday next week in Greater Kaohsiung against the Brother Elephants, who signed former major league pitcher Armando Galarraga earlier this month.

  There were positive developments in the four-team league when Ramirez played 49 games with the Rhinos, throughout which the average attendance at games increased threefold and Ramirez-themed merchandise sold out quickly.

  Ramirez hit .352 with eight homers and 43 RBIs for the Rhinos in three months last season. The team tried to keep the 12-time All-Star, but the 41-year-old slugger wanted to return to his family in New York.

  Given the positive experience with Ramirez, there are now high expectations of Garcia.

  “We invited Garcia to join our team this year hoping to draw more attention,” Hsieh said.

  Even though Garcia is yet to make his debut, the hype surrounding the former major leaguer has already prompted higher ticket sales and the Rhinos are cranking out Garcia-themed souvenirs in an attempt to maximize the economic impact he is expected to bring to the CPBL amid a controversial TV deal that has seen games pulled from cable television channels for the first time in nearly 20 years.

  With six sound pitches in his repertoire, including a nasty slider, a breaks sharp, a late and a splitter that is difficult for hitters to lay off on, Garcia should fit in nicely in his new role as a starter for the Rhinos, who are in desperate need of improving their pitching, which at a team ERA of 4.25 as of yesterday puts them dead last in the league.
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