China's baseball authorities are seeking help from their
Japanese counterparts in a bid to get their "baby" beyond first
base.
The China Baseball League returns later this month with a
Japanese organizing partner, new Japanese sponsors and support from
Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), Japan's baseball
league.
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The Chinese Baseball Association announced yesterday that it
would continue to work with Softbank Group of Japan to organize the
league, which was inaugurated in 2003.
The league opens on April 13 in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu
Province. The six teams hoping for glory are Beijing Tigers,
Tianjin Lions, Shanghai Eagles, Guangdong Leopards, Sichuan Dragons
and Jiangsu Hopestars.
After the 63-game regular season, the league will enter a
10-game playoffs starting June 9.
A best-of-five championship series will follow and end on July
1.
However, this season all six teams will have an NPB club as a
partner. Beijing, three-time league champions, will pair Yomiuri
Giants, Sichuan will team up with Softbank Hawks, Shanghai will
have Hanshin Tigers, Jiangsu will go with Chiba Lotte Marines while
Guangdong, last year runners-up, will partner Hiroshima Toyo
Carp.
Reigning champions Tianjin are a step ahead as they have already
set up a similar co-operative program, which allows the Japanese
club to send coaches and players to China and Chinese players to
train at facilities overseas, two years ago with Yokohama
Baystars.
"Although China's baseball is still in its infancy, I am looking
forward to a marvellous season this year," said Kazuo Hasegawai,
NPB secretary-general.
The Chinese officials see the development of the league as a way
to increase the competitiveness of China's national team at the
Beijing Olympic Games next year. As hosts, the team will
participate in their first ever Olympics.
Chinese authorities have also signed cooperation deals with
Major League Baseball (MLB) and the New York Yankees to help train
the national team. They also hired two former MLB All-Stars, Jim
Lefebvre and Bruce Hurst, as the team's manager and pitching
coach.
However, a clash between the league and Olympic preparation
seems to be unavoidable as the CBA has decided to cut the league
short this year so that the national team can train together as
long as possible.
"We have to cut the league to three months," said Shen Wei, CBA
secretary-general. Normally the league lasts more than five
months.
But the Chinese side wants more than Olympic success.
"Apart from the Olympics, we hope more people will play baseball
in China," said Lei Jun, the newly-appointed chief of the
sport.
"We need baseball stars and Chinese baseball needs to go
international.
"But now we have to take care of it like a little baby."
(China Daily April 6, 2007)