When I take things for granted, tired but happy last night that in the morning I'd be able to do this blog, I discover that all those good words and catchy phrases were lost - forgotten somewhere during the night.....
When Samsung Lions and Rakuten Eagles management took for granted that they would meet for the Asia Series championship, that there was no reason to bring their starting teams as there was not going to be any competition.....well......they both lost!
Last night, in front of a far more respectable crowd (but still not an attendance worthy of an international sporting match), Nelson Figueroa (remember him, long ago and far, far away in the Majors?) pitched a great game, with the Lions of Taiwan beating 'my' Eagles from Japan, 4-1. That 1 run should not have been: the Eagles base runner was clearly tagged out (from my seat I had a better view than the home plate umpire) but the culture here is such that the Taiwanese manager made a polite, brief protest - quite passive - before sitting down.
Of course, I come from a razzing the umpire tradition and when I yelled out in Chinese: 'Bullshit, can't you see?', the Korean ump, who heard me, apparently understanding Chinese, turned around and gave me a stare......and I became a hero to the Taiwan fans around me, who kept on high-fiving me throughout the remainder of the game.
Thus, tonight, there'll be a good , vocal attendance, as the Canberra Cavalry, this year's baseball cindarella team, plays the Lions of Taiwan for the Asia Series championship.
And frankly, this is the best thing that can happen for baseball in Asia!!!
When Samsung Lions and Rakuten Eagles management took for granted that they would meet for the Asia Series championship, that there was no reason to bring their starting teams as there was not going to be any competition.....well......they both lost!
Last night, in front of a far more respectable crowd (but still not an attendance worthy of an international sporting match), Nelson Figueroa (remember him, long ago and far, far away in the Majors?) pitched a great game, with the Lions of Taiwan beating 'my' Eagles from Japan, 4-1. That 1 run should not have been: the Eagles base runner was clearly tagged out (from my seat I had a better view than the home plate umpire) but the culture here is such that the Taiwanese manager made a polite, brief protest - quite passive - before sitting down.
Of course, I come from a razzing the umpire tradition and when I yelled out in Chinese: 'Bullshit, can't you see?', the Korean ump, who heard me, apparently understanding Chinese, turned around and gave me a stare......and I became a hero to the Taiwan fans around me, who kept on high-fiving me throughout the remainder of the game.
Thus, tonight, there'll be a good , vocal attendance, as the Canberra Cavalry, this year's baseball cindarella team, plays the Lions of Taiwan for the Asia Series championship.
And frankly, this is the best thing that can happen for baseball in Asia!!!
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