For Hu, The Bell Tolls

(Yes, I know that pun is grammatically incorrect. Ask not.)

Taiwanese Dodger fans wept yesterday as Chin-Lung Hu was dealt to the New York Mets for minor-league pitcher Michael Antonini:

The Dodgers on Monday traded middle infielder Chin-lung Hu to the New York Mets for minor league pitcher Michael Antonini.

Antonini, a 25-year-old left-hander from Pennsylvania, has a 25-26 minor league record with a 4.04 earned-run average in 96 games, including 84 starts.

Hu, 26, has spent most of his career in the minor leagues after signing with the Dodgers in 2003. He was the Dodgers' minor league player of the year in 2007.

Hu appeared in 96 games with the the Dodgers over the last four seasons, including 14 games during two stints in 2010. He has a career batting average of .191 at the major league level.

It's too bad for Hu, who kept trying to break through with the Dodgers but couldn't hit worth a lick in the Show. As Jon Weisman noted:

Hu hasn't shown any potential with the bat since 2007, when he had an on-base percentage of .364 and slugging percentage of .507 in Double-A and Triple-A combined. In his major-league career, Hu has a .241 OBP and .283 slugging over 191 plate appearances. Nonetheless, he could be Juan Castro for some team, and I always thought the Dodgers could be that team.

Ultimately, Hu was out of options and there were doubts he'd make the Opening Day roster, so this is a way of salvaging something for him, given the odds against him.

Hu leaves Los Angeles with the most plate appearances (191) of any Taiwan-born player in major-league history, ahead of Hong-Chih Kuo (36) and Chin-Feng Chen (25).

It's interesting that Weisman brings up Castro, alluding to Ned Colletti's penchant for picking up aged veterans with declining skills batting around the .200 level. If not Castro--whom we did pick up this offseason--why not Hu? Perhaps in 10 years, we'll pick him up again anyway.

Help a New Mexico Fan Out

New Mexico Fan — who reports that Chin-lung Hu is out with a broken nose — has written, seeking the 411 on visiting Dodger Stadium:

1. Where would be the best place to stay for an out of towner going to L A to see the Dodgers?

2. How early should you get to Chavez Ravine on game day? And what is the best way to get to Dodger Stadium?

3. For a fan who might only get out there once every couple of years what seats do you recomend?

4. What is a must do for a Dodger fan?

5. What is the best place to catch a game on T V with Dodger fan? sports bars ect.

Since you, dear readers, have collectively spent several lifetimes at Dodger Stadium, I'd thought we'd turn it over to you. I'm especially curious to see your answers to #5. The Short Stop?

photo by Allen J. Schaben/LA Times

STGT: vs. Royals, 1p

Joe Torre shows Don Newcombe some love.

Manny feels pretty, oh so pretty.

Ronnie Belliard and Chin-lung Hu play hot cross bats.

RBI men.

Is Blake DeWitt sliding into the starting 2B job?

From Dodgers.com:

Vicente Padilla, just announced as the Dodgers' Opening Day starter, gets a tuneup start on Friday at 1:05 PT against the Royals at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Padilla has pitched well this spring, despite revealing on Thursday that he has dealt with some forearm stiffness, as he did last spring with Texas. Jeff Weaver, who will probably retain his job from last year as swing man, is also scheduled to pitch.

photos by Jon SooHoo/Dodgers

Notes for a Tuesday

Russell "groin strain" Martin airs it out during practice yesterday. "Chillax": not in his vocabulary.

Chin-lung Hu and Blake DeWitt: brought to you by Oakley®.

Dodger Stadium bus service added (Dodgers.com)

Sunday: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Frank McCourt welcome LA Marathon women's winner Edna Kiplagat.

• Angel gets his wings, Yankees proffer Hoffmann. Dodgers release Berroa, Hoffmann returns (Ken Gurnick, Dodgers.com)

1&2: Jon SooHoo/Dodgers; 3&4: Juan Ocampo/Dodgers

Local Heroes

• Dodgers getting full experience in Taiwan (Ken Gurnick, Dodgers.com)
• Festivities open Dodgers' series in Taiwan (Ken Gurnick, Dodgers.com)
• Packing a week into a day! (Josh Rawitch, Inside the Dodgers)

These pictures were taken sometime before today's game. Time difference has got us a little out of order....

Hong-Chih Kuo and former Dodger Chin-Feng Chen.

Chin-lung Hu and Chen.

The Dodgers' arrival press conference. Apparently the Taiwanese take their press conferences very seriously.

Brian Barton, Xavier Paul, Trayvon Robinson and John Lindsey in TOURIST MODE.

1-3: Jon SooHoo/Dodgers: 4: Josh Rawitch/Dodgers

Taiwan Updates

CPBL ALL-STARS 5, DODGERS 2

Chin-lung Hu and Hong-Chih Kuo and a giggling gaggle of Little Leaguers.

Manny Ramirez gives a press conference in a gigantic dome.

Hu gives a clinic.

Manny and Joe Torre, who looks ready to take care of some damn business, arrive at Tien Mou Stadium.

Hu & Kuo.

Team photo.

From @DodgertownUSA:

Dodgers lineup in Taiwan: Robinson RF, Paul CF, Manny DH, Loney 1B, Belliard 2B, Mitchell 3B, May C, Hu, SS, Barton RF, Stults P

First inning, three up, three down in Taiwan. Manny popped to second in first at-bat.

Bottom of the first: CPBL goes scoreless with former #Dodgers outfielder Chin-Feng Chen drawing a walk

Stults has thrown two scoreless and hitless innings for the #Dodgers with four strikeouts and a walk.

From @ramonashelburne:

The Dodgers and the Chinese Professional Baseball League all-stars are scoreless through three and a half... for those of you wondering...

Dodgers fall behind 2-0 here in the bottom of the fifth...

Manny Ramirez just flied out to deep centerfield again. Second time he's done that tonight. Now 0-for-3

From @kengurnick:

Catcher Lucas May came out of the game in Taiwan after being hit by a pitch on the left ankle.

Great, another catcher down. Quick, put A.J. Ellis in bubble wrap!

Oh, and we're getting one-hit. From @DodgertownUSA:

Dodgers lone hit at this point belongs to Trayvon Robinson.

From @DodgertownUSA:

Chin-lung Hu's two-run single makes it 5-2, CPBL...nice homecoming for the Taiwan native.

photos by Jon SooHoo/Dodgers

Doings in the Desert

Andre Ethier does reverse namaste.

Casey Blake does his best David Bowie impression.

Chin-lung Hu gives a toss.

photos by Mark Duncan/AP

Hops

Chin-lung Hu throws out Garrett Atkins in the tenth inning of last night's Dodger victory.

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Hu's The Better Comparison?

So sometime during the day today, I finally came to the conclusion that Chin-Lung Hu looks a lot like Shaobo Qin, Yen from the Ocean's Eleven series of movies. This was not necessarily original material, having been referenced before over at Blue Heaven, where ernest had made this connection back in September 2007 (when looking at SoSG's rookie hazing pictures, no less; it all comes full circle!).

Now, cognizant that Deadspin's ombudsman had already made this caution in the post, "Not Every Black Man in America Is Martin Lawrence," I thought I should be careful with such a "separated at birth?" comparison that hinges upon race. After all, we live in Los Angeles, one of the most diverse cities in America, where different people from different races intermingle each day and certainly in the crowd of each game at Dodger Stadium. SoSG, in turn, is also color blind (except for pro-Dodger blue and anti-orange, that is), and we want to make sure that we look well beyond racial lines.

So with that in mind, let's leave it to the SoSG readers in a new poll: Chin-Lung Hu Looks Like Which Ocean's Eleven Cast Member?

George Clooney?

Matt Damon?

Shaobo Qin?

Bernie Mac?

Chin-Lung Hu looks like which Ocean's Eleven cast member?
	George Clooney
	Matt Damon
	Shaobo Qin
	Bernie Mac
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Dodgers Searching for More "Type-A" Players in Taiwan?

The Dodgers are looking to extend their Asia spring training trip in March 2008 by playing games not only in China, but also a quick stop to play ball in Taiwan. Details haven't been made available, but I suppose since the Dodgers are already up a 16-hour flight, why not skip by Taipei as well and look for the next Chin-Lung Hu or Hong-Chih Kuo?

Immediately after the games on March 15-16 at the 12,000-seat Olympic baseball facility, the Dodgers are eyeing another pair of exhibition games in neighboring Taiwan on March 18-19, confirmed Bob DuPuy, Major League Baseball's president and chief operating officer.

"That's what they're looking at," said DuPuy, as two days of uneventful owners meetings wound down on Thursday morning.

The thing is, it won't be against the Padres, who are already planning on returning to Arizona to continue Spring Training immediately after their second exhibition game in Beijing, but against a still-to-be determined squad of Taiwanese nationals. [...]

Jamie McCourt, the Dodgers president and vice chairman, declined to comment on Thursday about the projected excursion. [...]

Beijing will host the Summer Olympics from next Aug. 8-24, and is staging what may be the final baseball medal competition of the summer games in two small ballparks outside the city. Demonstration games were already played there this past summer and the exhibition games between the Dodgers and Padres are slated for the larger of the two facilities, which holds 12,000 people. [...]

The delay in making that announcement has nothing to do at this point with MLB, DuPuy said, since the Padres, Dodgers and players union are all in agreement about going.

"It's getting the permits from the [Chinese] government," he said on Wednesday. "It's an administrative process and we want to be very sensitive to the needs and the protocols of the Chinese government. It's the first time we've ever done this and they're very busy with it being their Olympic year. They've been very supportive of it and we're hopeful of getting it done."

It may be too much to expect Frank McCourt to be cognizant of world events, given he's too busy figuring out how to justify another price increase through the Joe Torre signing. However, even a cursory read of world news would have highlighted that China and Taiwan aren't exactly on great terms right now, what with the smaller island country again taking steps toward asserting its independence from the larger mainland China government. So, if the MLB permits to (mainland) China haven't yet been issued, that Dodgers Taiwan trip may not have been something you'd want to publicize just yet.

Not to mention the fact that all this foreign travel gives a kick to the crotch of Vero Beach, which appears to be getting at best a split-squad visit this spring, in the Dodgers' final visit to Florida. No confirmation, as of yet, of the rumor that Juan Pierre is the only player currently named to the Florida split squad.

FOUND: Pictures of Dodgers' Rookie Hazing! Part 1!

Last week we put out the call for pictures various Dodger rookies (and second-year players) in full hazing regalia. Well, we have a winner. BIG thanks to Phil Witte for forwarding these pictures taken by Belen Mota (any relation to Manny?). Enjoy!

Andy LaRoche preparing to terrorize children across the country.

Andre Ethier. Pink dress. He still looks better than the rest of us.

James Loney: "I yam what I yam—a guy who's hit five home runs in his last six games."

Chin-Lung Hu as...medieval Chun Li?

Stay tuned, SoSG faithful! More pictures to come!

Hu? Dotel!

From Ken Rosenthal at FOXSports.com:

Dodgers: Front-runners for Dotel

The Dodgers are the front-runners for Royals closer Octavio Dotel — and the team's urgency could be increasing due to the uncertainty over closer Takashi Saito, who has missed the past four games with shoulder discomfort.

In return for Dotel, the Royals want a position player who is close to the majors. Dodgers Class AAA second baseman Tony Abreu likely is out of reach, but Class AAA shortstop Chin-Lung Hu could be a possibility.

Hu's hitting, while much-improved, remains a question. But if the Royals moved him to second base, Hu and shortstop Tony Pena Jr. would form one of the best middle-infield defenses in the game.

Hu Named Futures Game MVP; Will Trade Paperweight for New Necklace

Dodgers prospect Chin-Lung Hu is not sure what to do with the Futures Game MVP Award, but we're guessing it's going toward some better bling.

Thanks to Ben Platt/MLB.com for the article and photo.

Hu Let the Dogs Out

Not that we're adding Rafael Furcal on the list of Dodgers veterans keeping the incredible batch of prospects down. But it was nice to see Chin-Lung Hu, Dodgers double-A prospect from Taiwan, lead the World team to victory in the All-Star Futures Game:

SAN FRANCISCO -- Chin-Lung Hu is known for his slick fielding at shortstop more than a big bat. The Los Angeles Dodgers' prospect showed Sunday he can hit a little too.

Hu had a pair of RBI hits and stole a base to lead the World team to a 7-2 victory over the U.S. team in the All-Star Futures Game.

"I want to be able to do both," Hu said. "I'm not a power hitter. I'm a good opposite field hitter. I'm not an A-Rod who's going to hit 40, 50, 60 homers."

The Double-A shortstop from Taiwan showed off some of his talents for former Giants great Juan Marichal's World team that featured players from 11 countries and territories.

He hit an RBI double off Tampa Bay's Jeff Niemann in the first inning, stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Seattle's Wladimir Balentien to give the World team a 2-0 lead. Hu added an RBI single in the third off Yankees prospect Joba Chamberlain to make it 3-0.

Hey, if Hu was one of the kind who could hit 60 homers, the Dodgers could use him immediately. Having said that, we're sticking with Furcal, but it's still great to see a Dodger organization player perform in San Francisco.