People of Taiwan Not Happy to See Dodgers
People want to see the Dodgers, not their minor league teams.
Getty Images
PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 21: Manager Joe Torre of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks to the mound to pull Ramon Troncoso during their game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Five of the NLCS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Bank Park on October 21, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
The MLB hype machine was in full swing when this was announced — the Dodgers were going to Taiwan. One of the best and most-storied franchises in all of sports was heading to take on some local teams from Taiwan.
Baseball-hungry Taiwan was pumped. Then they saw the Dodgers roster heading overseas for the games March 12-14 — Manny Ramirez, James Loney, Ronnie Belliard and a bunch of guys you don’t know. Meanwhile, all the Dodgers best pitchers and most of their best players remain in Arizona.
Suddenly, the people of Taiwan are not that thrilled:
Fans expressed their resentment on the Internet, saying that the roster is "watered-down, " while some ticket buyers have demanded refunds. Unhappy fans have also established a Facebook page to demand their money back."We have been working very hard with the Dodgers to bring as many starters as possible to Taiwan. I believe we've done our best and we will accept every refund demand, " said Eric Chang, president of Bros Sports, which is organizing the event.
Local fans complained that the roster pales in comparison with one 13 years ago when the team visited Taiwan for the first time. The Dodgers brought almost all the players on its 25-man roster in 1993.
The Dodgers are in the middle of Spring Training, getting ready for the regular baseball season -- the thing that pays the bills (and the Dodgers have a lot of bills to be paid). They have to do what is best for the organization, and rarely is shipping all your top players halfway around the globe good for getting your team ready for the season.
But the people of Taiwan have a point. They should be getting a better product. If Major League Baseball wants to showcase its players in an emerging market, then schedule it at a time you can send all the best players. Do it like 1993, when the Dodgers went after the season. Or put together an All-Star team like the one that has taken on teams in Japan after the World Series ends in the past.
If you’re going to promote your brand, do it right. Don’t put the Dodgers in the awkward spot of risking alienating fans overseas or at home.
