By Jung Min-ho
The curtain is set to rise on the 2012 Asia Series, bringing some of the continent’s best baseball clubs to Busan’s Sajik Stadium from Thursday to Sunday.
The Samsung Lions and Lotte Giants of Korea, Yomiuri Giants from Japan, Australia’s Perth Heat, the Lamigo Monkeys of Taiwan and the Chinese All-Star squad the China Stars will compete to become Asia’s No. 1 team and 500 million won ($450,000) prize money.
The Korean Series champions Lions will represent the home nation along with hosts the Giants. The Lions became the first Korean team to win this tournament after defeating the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in last year’s final, and if they defend the title, they will become the first back-to-back victors.
The Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) champions Giants are expected to provide the stiffest challenge. Yomiuri cleanup hitter Shinnosuke Abe, who wrapped up the regular season with the No. 1 .340 batting average and 104 RBIs, is probably their most lethal weapon.
Their former cleanup hitter, Lee Seung-yeop, left the team last year and rejoined the Lions. He only managed a .163 batting average with five homers and 11 RBIs in 56 games of the 2010-2011 season but said he doesn’t harbor any hard feelings toward the Tokyo-based club. Before knee and finger injuries hampered him, Lee had a great first year in Japan hitting .323 with 41 home runs and 108 RBIs in 2006.
The 36-year-old saw a return to form this season, finishing with a .307 average, 21 home runs and 85 RBIs on the way to winning the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) title.
Since the two teams have been drawn in different groups, the only way for Lee to face his old club is to advance to Sunday’s final. The Lions, the Monkeys and the Stars are in Group A with the Lotte Giants, the Yomiuri Giants and the Heat are in Group B.
Sydney Blue Sox pitcher Koo Dae-sung returned to Korea Tuesday after a two-year stint in Australia. The 45-year-old southpaw was invited to play for the Heat during the event in an attempt to promote Australian baseball. The Australian Baseball League proposed the idea last year and the KBO accepted it.
Although Kim Si-jin has been appointed as the Lotte Giants’ new manager, succeeding Yang Seung-ho who stepped down last week, he will not be in charge of the team during the tournament. Instead, coach Kwon Doo-jo will act as interim manager.
Following the game between the Monkeys and the Stars at 12 p.m. Thursday, the Lotte Giants will face the Heat at 6 p.m.
Japanese teams have won four of the five Asian Series since 2005. It was not held in 2009 and 2010 due to financial issues, after sponsor Konami pulled out after the 2008 competition. Japan hosted the first four tournaments and this will be the second time for it to be held outside of Japan. Last year’s event was held in Taiwan.