On the heels of its now infamous losses to China in the Beijing Olympics and WBC, Taiwan’s international rep took another one on the chin this week when it learned it likely will no longer be invited to participate in the Asia Series. Despite putting up competitive teams, The CPBL winners’ presence in the tourney apparently wasn’t helping business any. Sponsor Konami were reported to have lost about 2 million USD during the last go around.
The upcoming series will instead feature a one-game showdown between the winners of the Japan Series and the Korea series. (Translation tool required).
12 responses so far ↓
1 Shinsano // Jun 26, 2009 at 10:42 pm
I commented on Simon’s blog that I’m glad they didn’t scrap the idea entirely…but obviously this is a big step backward. The CPBL should do some soul searching…this is a direct result of the gambling and–at least from my view–the general dysfunction of the league and system, which includes the recent dismal showings in the Olympics and WBC. It’s unfortunate because the Uni Lions accounted for itself very well in the last Asia Series.
2 Jackson // Jun 26, 2009 at 10:52 pm
It might be hard to conclusively show that the CPBL’s woes had much to do with this though. Would the Taiwanese teams in the Asia series have drawn better in Japan if the CPBL were a functional, interesting league? Hard to say.
3 Shinsano // Jun 26, 2009 at 11:24 pm
I meant more indirectly. A few years ago I don’t think it would have been automatic to say the KBO team should play against the NPB team to decide the “champion” of Asia (if even an exibition champ). One might of suggested the CPBL champion would be on equal footing or should still be in the mix somehow. Yet, in a time when the Series was to be paired down, there was no doubt but to drop the CPBL from the entire deal.
Am I reading too much into this? I doubt the CPBL guys care one way or the other.
4 Jeremy Brahm // Jun 27, 2009 at 1:31 am
I think that the Asia Series is a good idea, but with the Chinese team, not even winning a single, it was essentially a three team tournament.
Overall records by league for 2005-2008, pool play
NPB, 10-2
CPBL, 6-6
KBO, 8-4
Take out the Chinese team, (4 wins)
NPB, 6-2
CPBL, 2-6
KBO, 4-4
Head to Head
NPB vs. CPBL, 4-0
CPBL vs. KBO, 2-2
NPB vs. KBO, 2-2
I don’t think that the single game makes sense. I would prefer a three game series at the least.
Also, Konami probably went with the following, South Korea and Japan have played for the final at the WBC, these are the top two teams in the world, and therefore without a doubt the top two leagues in Asia. CPBL you have had some problems financially and with gambling, out you go. China, come back when you get stronger.
5 DJ // Jun 27, 2009 at 2:06 am
It’s all about making for a better, profitable event. This to me says more to me about how Japanese baseball views the KBO–as a worthy league that warrants this kind of promotion–than anything else.
6 Marc // Jun 27, 2009 at 2:30 am
Perhaps they ought to try inviting the Australian National Team instead of the Chinese.
7 FRED KNOWS BEST // Jun 27, 2009 at 7:07 am
or the Dutch. Equally as strange of a choice.
8 Mike McStay // Jun 27, 2009 at 8:12 am
anyway to make it a best of 7. This way it could be a real series instead of a one and done.
9 baekgom84 // Jun 27, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Agreed – if you’re going to just have the one team, bloody well make a series out of it!
10 Jackson // Jun 27, 2009 at 1:53 pm
That was my first reaction too. A one game baseball showdown is pretty absurd.
11 hansioux // Jul 3, 2009 at 10:48 pm
if not best out of 7, at least make it best out of 3…. one game is just dumb….
12 simon // Jul 4, 2009 at 1:30 pm
I think it’s just a way of keeping the Asian club championship format alive through these lean years. Hopefully when the economy recovers (and Taiwanese baseball recovers), it will revert back to featuring 3-4 champions from the region.
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