Chen the key to China's chances

Former MLB workhorse will be stabilizing influence in Tokyo

With a wily veteran of MLB wars topping its list of 15 pitchers, Team China is well armed heading into the World Baseball Classic.

The first round of the 16-team global tournament gets underway this week in Japan, South Korea, the United States and Mexico, with Team China opening against Cuba in Pool B on Tuesday at the Tokyo Dome.

Ranked No 18 in the world, China will rely heavily on southpaw starter Bruce Chen, who came out of retirement to join the national squad in November.

The 39-year-old, who was 82-81 with a 4.68 earned-run average in 17 seasons of Major League Baseball, was born in Panama but his grandparents were from China.

"I'm excited to have the opportunity to honor my grandparents, and people back home have been very supportive of my decision to pitch for China," Chen told Associated Press.

"At first I was afraid people in Panama would be angry, because I pitched for them in 2006 and 2009, but that hasn't been the case. When Team China contacted me, I thought maybe they were looking for some coaching help. A couple of days later, they said they wanted me to pitch."

Chen's last stint in MLB was in May 2015, when he started two games for the Cleveland Indians. After surrendering nine runs in six innings, he cleared waivers and announced his retirement.

Then came the call from Team China, which reignited his competitive fire.

"I sweated through 17 years of big league spring training, but I was still nervous when we started training for the WBC," he said. "But right away I realized how much I missed competing. It's something I hadn't felt in two years ... and you can't replicate that."

Team China manager John McLaren, who spent last season as the catching coach for the Philadelphia Phillies, will be counting on Chen's savvy to help settle down a young mound contingent that also includes the China Baseball League's Yang Yanyong (22, Shanghai Eagles), Luo Xia (24, Sichuan Dragons), Li Xin (24, Tianjin Lions) and Liu Yu (25, Beijing Tigers).

The team's best-known position players are 35-year-old catcher Wang Wei and 21-year-old infielder/DH Xu Guiyuan.

Wang, the Beijing Tigers veteran who signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners in 2007, made history by slugging the first home run in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, against eventual winner Japan.

Xu, the first graduate of MLB's three development centers in China to sign a pro contract (2015, Baltimore), collected 20 hits and drove in nine runs in 81 at-bats for the Florida-based Gulf Coast League Orioles in rookie ball last season.

If the likes of Wang, Xu and versatile US-born infielder Ray Chang can generate enough offense, Team China's speed could become a critical factor if any games reach the 11th inning.

A new rule designed to expedite a conclusion to WBC games that stretch beyond 10 innings will see each subsequent inning start with runners on first and second base.

The runners will be the players occupying the previous two slots in the batting order before the hitter leading off the inning.

After opening against Cuba (world No 5) on Tuesday, Team China will face Australia (11) on Wednesday and Japan (1) on Thursday. All Pool B games are at the Tokyo Dome.

The Dominican Republic (13), which won the last WBC in 2013, opens its title defense against Canada (8) when Pool C play begins on Thursday in Miami, Florida.

Team USA, boasting a formidable mix of MLB, college and minor pro players, is ranked No 2 in the world and will face Colombia (19) in its Pool C opener on Friday.

Round two in the competition, which runs through March 22, will be played in Tokyo and San Diego, while Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles will host the championship round.

Other teams in the tournament are: Chinese Taipei (4), Israel (41), Italy (10), Mexico (6), Netherlands (9), Puerto Rico (12), South Korea (3) and Venezuela (7).

murraygreig@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 03/05/2017 page12)