Asia No Longer Baseball Outsider

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By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter

Many Western people may believe that Asians lack power and strength,

and that idea seems to have prevailed in the field of sport.

A few decades ago, perhaps this mantra(주문) held some truth,

and Asian baseball players may have fallen under the spell such assertions cast.

But a considerable period of time has passed, and, now,

Asian athletes are reaching ever higher levels, particularly in baseball.

In 2006, the Major League Baseball (MLB) bureau launched the baseball world cup,

known by its official name, the World Baseball Classic (WBC),

in a bid to make the United States' favorite sport more popular over the world.

At that time, Team USA, probably thought their victory was merely a formality,

perhaps figuring the only credible obstacles standing in their path were the Dominican Republic,

Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Cuba.

Such presumptions carried some weight: Between them,

they have produced a string of Major League stars,

and Cuba is the No. 1 team in the amateur league.

Those would-be rivals likely shared similar thoughts.

But 2006 proved that the stage belonged to Asia, casting aside the time-honored pretensions.

The big guns probably never entertained the likelihood that Asian countries such as Korea and Japan could be genuine rivals for the champion's crown.

Of course, the Japanese showed they were capable of attaining a high level of performance,

but it was still not enough to join the list of favorites to win.

Korea, meanwhile, was considered a complete outsider.

So, the tables were turned, then, when, in the grandest possible style,

Japan was crowned as the first-ever WBC champion,

and little-fancied Korea reached the semifinals.

The two Asian nations eliminated the United States and Mexico in the second round of the tournament

on their way to the heady heights of the final stages.

They met in head-to-head matches three times, including in the semifinals.

Many countries were surprised over the pair's level of performance.

But only a few experts started to cast an eye over the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).

Two years later, the 2008 Olympic Games were held in Beijing.

And Korea rose to the fore again, this time going all the way and grabbing the gold medal,

pounding rival countries including Japan, the United States and Cuba, without registering a defeat.

They were well organized and their pitcher controlled the ball well at high speeds.

In 2009, as the second WBC opened, the competing countries made attempts to gather their best players from the MLB. The United States and Venezuela managed to mobilize all their hometown Major Leaguers to form dream teams.

On the other hand, Korea had only one Major Leaguer after their veteran Park Chan-ho of the Philadelphia Phillies chose not to join their roster.

Despite another year of apparently insurmountable odds, another unexpected result emerged: Japan clinched

the WBC yet again, and, this time, it was an all-Asia final as Korea took the runner-up spot.

Korea nailed Mexico, Venezuela and Cuba, while Japan pounded Cuba and the United States over the course of the tournament this year.

Korea's new slugger Kim Tae-kyun led the tournament with three home runs and 11 RBIs.

Japan pitchers averaged a 1.57 ERA during eight games, with the exception of the final.

The Dominican Republic had the best ERA record, but it played only three games after being eliminated

in the first round.

Korea and Japan marked a 6-2 record, with all their defeats produced by one another.

In short, no other country managed to pound the Asians.

The secret? Asian baseball is now able to compete globally thanks to solid fundamentals,

lots of practice and spirit.

The Asian nations produced only seven errors during the nine games they each played.

They displayed those strong fundamentals, practicing hard. American reporters spotted the Korean team's practice and were surprised because they trained for more than double the length of time of their MLB counterparts.

In addition, an American commentator said that he wanted to show the Korean team's play to his young children

as a textbook example.

Their can-do spirit and patriotism were high. Korean manager Kim In-sik said the nation comes above all else.

The idea of their duty to their countries is also a little different from other nations.

``As my country called me for the WBC, I have to do it. I have rewarded a lot to Korea, so it is natural,

'' Korea manager Kim said during a press conference.

The 61-year-old Korean had already managed the national team while in bad physical shape during the last WBC.

He collapsed with a stroke before the event, and Kim's leg still has not fully recovered from the health scare.

As the aging and physically weak manager led the team again,

most players joined up to represent their country without delay.

Though Lee Seung-yeop of Yomiuri Giants and Park of the Phillies didn't follow suit, both had understandable reasons. And they were there to lend their vocal support to their younger compatriots

and spoke of their sorrow at not being able to take part.

That situation may not be observed in other Western countries.

A few Major Leaguers in other teams decided not take part for more superficial reasons.

Perhaps they don't share the same level of feeling as Koreans or the Japanese,

who see it as an honor to play for their countries.

Even though the Asians were again largely un-favored, they now stand in the thick of world baseball's big guns.

And, now, all baseball fans and officials may start to watch every single one of their plays.

And, from now on, the Asians' powerful performance may not be a surprise package, but a natural happening.

yc@koreatimes.co.kr