JPN-KOR Championship to replace the Asia Series
Posted by japanstats on 2009 June 26日 Friday
An idea to replace the money losing Asia Series (since it lost its title sponsor Konami, the Series lost 2-oku yen (approx. $2m) last year, yeah small change for a Hanshin Tigers import suketto) has been floated.
It will pit the Japan Series champions against the Korea Series champions in an one game showdown at a regional stadium in November (no dome? must be in southern Japan then).
Japan used to host Korea in an all-star series (similar to the now defunct NPB-MLB all-star series) format back in the 90’s but it got cancelled due to lack of fan interest. But the champion clubs meeting each other in this manner will be a first.
The problem with this newly and severely reduced format is the exclusion of Taiwan. The Uni-President 7Eleven Lions made it to the Asia Series final last year and only lost to the depleted Saitama Seibu Lions in a sayonara walkoff fashion. The Taiwanese clubs have been putting up solid efforts, so it’s a shame to lose them. Maybe once Taiwanese baseball is back in order from its current post-scandals shambles, they can host an NPB-KBO-CPBL championship, as their climate suits November ball the most.
The one game showdown idea will be put forth in July for approval.
Japan, Hockey, Baseball, etc. 
Aaron said
Hmm. Well, I liked the format the way it was with all the teams playing each other…but at least it’s something. I guess the CPBL gets cut out for it’s recent mistakes.
Andre said
Sounds like they’re cutting mainland China off at the knees too, which is too bad. Tianjin was in it until the 9th inning vs. 7Eleven in the last Asia Series.