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Chien-Ming Wang wows the Japan press ahead of round 2CNA TOKYO -- Former New York Yankees ace Chien-Ming Wang showcased his signature sinkers yesterday for the Japanese media ahead of the second-round opener between Taiwan and Japan in the 2013 World Baseball Classic (WBC) in Tokyo.
March 8, 2013, 12:16 am TWN Wang, slated to start for Taiwan the following night, demonstrated how he grips the baseball when throwing sinkers during an interview by Japanese former professional pitcher Kimiyasu Kudoh, who now works for Japan's television network TV Asahi. Wang, 32, who recorded 19 wins in 2006 and 2007 with the Yankees but is currently a free agent after the Washington Nationals did not tender him following the 2012 season, was the focus of Japanese media outlets during a press conference after a training session at the Tokyo Dome. He is hoping for a solid performance in the WBC to impress scouts from several major league teams, including the Yankees, who are reportedly looking at signing him. Hsieh Chang-heng, manager of Taiwan's national team, said that Wang is on good form and that it will be very helpful for the team if he can pitch up to six innings in Friday's game. Also under the spotlight was Taiwanese left fielder Yang Dai-kang, who plays professionally for Japan's Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and who Kudoh described as “a player that Japan should pay attention to” in the WBC tournament. In return, Yang said he did not mind the attention as long as it helps relieve some of the pressure on his teammates. Also Thursday, Genji Kaku, a Taiwanese former professional pitcher in Japan known as Ku o Yuan-chih in Taiwan, met with the Taiwanese players and said the lineup has the caliber to achieve a win over Japan, which turned in worse-than-expected offense efforts in the first round of the WBC. Kaku told Peng Cheng-min, leader of Team Taiwan and one of its major hitters, that “you are great” during the brief meeting, complimenting Peng on his first-round performance.
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![]() Chinese Taipei Pitcher Chien-Ming Wang (王建民) demonstrates to the Japanese press how to hold the ball before throwing a good sinker, in Tokyo, yesterday. The Chinese Taipei team ... Enlarge Photo
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