CPBL 2011 Season Preview

The 2011 CPBL season begins on March 19th. with the Sinon Bulls taking on the Brother Elephants in a rematch of the 2010 Taiwan Series, which the Elephants swept in four games.

This year each team will continue to play 120 games with a first/second half format.

1. President 7-Eleven Lions
Hopes are high this season for the Leos. They were able to grab IF Chen Yung-chi with the first overall pick in the draft. Chen, who wants to be known by his Amis aborignal name, Mayaw Ciro, is returning from the US Minor Leagues. The team also paid cash to acquire legendary IF Chang (Prince of Forest) Tai-shan (.313, 16 HRs, 78 RBIs last season) from the Sinon Bulls. Adding these two to a lineup that already includes OF Kuo Tai-chi (.298, 9, 50) and OF Liu Fu-hao (.279, 10, 59) gives the Lions one of the more potent lineups in the league.

On the pitching side Pan Wei-luen (11-11, 3.19) returns as the ace. In the offseason he was linked to the SK Wyverns but that deal fell through. Sophomore Wang Ching-ming (10-3, 3.83) should take another step up. Daniel Reichert and John Halama will join returnee Jesus Sanchez (3-3, 2.82) to round out the rotation. Fireballer Lin Yueh-ping (1-6, 3.67, 14 saves) anchors a capable
bullpen that includes Lin Cheng-feng (4-4, 2.56) and veteran Kao Chien-san (2-2, 3.35).

After 13 illustrious seasons with the Lions OF Huang Kan-lin announced his retirement to become the team's minor league manager. From 1999 to 2003 he stole at least 42 bases each year.

2. Lamigo Monkeys
The team formerly known as the La New Bears will have 1B Lin Chih-sheng (.312, 21, 79) as their big bopper. C Ling Hung-yu (.303, 8, 66) and OF Chung Chen-yu (.288, 10, 64) will provide support. The team is also expecting big things from IF Kuo Yen-wen, who's returning from the US Minor Leagues.

As for the pitchers it will be returnees Ken Ray (7-8, 2.32), Steve Hammond (2-1, 3.07) and newcomer Adrian Burnside (10-10, 5.34 with the Nexen Heroes in Korea last season) carrying a rotation that includes two promising starters - Wang Feng-shin (7-4, 2.60) and Huang Chin-chi (6-3, 3.50).

After a season in the minors Hung Yi-chung returns as the bench boss for the first team.

3. Brother Elephants (2010 Taiwan Series champions)
Pitchers Carlos castillo (14-5, 2.17) and Orlando Roman (12-7, 3.03) will anchor the rotation. The Elephants expect Yeh Ting-jen (2-5, 3.86) to take another step up and they also hope that Lin (Little Chick) En-yu's injury woes are behind him. Returning from the US Minor Leagues are Cheng Chi-hung and Tseng Sung-wei. Ryan Cullen (8-3, 1.95, 34 SVs) is the best closer in the CPBL at the moment.

2010 MVP IF Peng Chengmin (.357, 8, 65) will carry the load on offense.

4. Sinon Bulls
The Sinon Bulls are the only team in the CPBL that has elected to not employ any foreigners to start the season. The starting rotation will consist of Lin Ying-Chieh (9-7, 2.69), Yang Chien-fu (11-5, 2.33), Lin Chi-wei (10-5, 3.23) and Chang Geng-hao (7-10, 3.44). Yang is currently trying his luck in Japan so his status is still uncertain. The Bulls are also counting on Lin (kokolin) Ke-chien returning to health. Tsai Ming-jin (5-3, 2.82) and Shen Yu-jie (6-7, 2.87) will most likely share the closing duties.

Having lost IF Chang Tai-shan to the Lions the Bulls will definitely struggle with the power game. IF Lin Yi-chuan is their only home run threat (.330, 8, 55).

Liu Rong-hua is the new skipper as Hsu Sheng-ming was demoted to manage the second team.