来自 Inside the Dodgers blog (Inside the Dodgers is back again for 2009. Check out ongoing thoughts, comments and observations from the Los Angeles Dodgers front office members, including Vice President of Communications Josh Rawitch, Team Historian Mark Langill and others during the club's pursuit of a seventh world championship.) Taiwan here we come...Hu's coming with me?? Today we made official what has been reported for weeks...that we'll make a trip to Taiwan for two games (about five days) in March. As you know, fans from around the world support the Dodgers and this is really going to be something special...the fact that the thousands of fans that we have in Taiwan will get to see their team up close and personal and that Hu and Kuo will get to play in front of their hometown crowds with Dodger uniforms on is something many Taiwanese people will remember for the rest of their lives. These sorts of trips are invaluable to spreading the game internationally and of course, to creating Dodger fans all over the world. The last time we went to Taiwan, in 1993, players like Hong-Chih Kuo, Chin-Feng Chen and Chin-lung Hu watched us as youngsters and it absolutely made an impact when it came time to choose which team they'd sign with. Even the visits to Japan back in past decades had the same impact on players like Nomo and Ishii and Kuroda (and their parents). It's one way to help develop the Dodgers' name in the international community, as are things like the new partnership we've created with a Venezuelan team (La Guaira). And of course, having scouts throughout the world who can find talents like Ronald Belisario (and Zerpa and Monasterios, our two Rule 5 guys from this year) are all part of our strategy to locate talent around the globe, develop it, and then reap the benefits at the Major League level. With our big league club often having as many as seven or eight nationalities represented each year, we do believe that it is working. In any event, I'm personally very excited to make the trip to Taiwan and I know that several of our players are, too. In fact, guys like James Loney and Jamey Carroll have already volunteered to make the trip, while others will surely sign on, too, as we get closer to setting up a roster. If any of you have been there (or perhaps live there and read this blog or facebook post from Taiwan), please offer any advice you can give to those of us who have never been. I know that there have been some questions about whether or not this trip will have a negative effect on what goes on at Camelback Ranch, so we should address that, too. Two years ago, when we went to China, there were many who thought that would hurt the team and obviously the result at season's end was a trip to the NLCS for the first time in 20 years. And a player like Blake DeWitt proved himself back in Vero Beach when he might not otherwise have had the opportunity to do so. So while I can understand that concern, I do believe that this is not only good for the Dodgers long-term brand and future teams, I don't believe that it affects us negatively in the short-term. I've also heard some say that they don't understand why the team would spend money on something like this rather than in other areas, so I can address that, too. This is a trip put on by MLB International and does not cost the team any money. So while the benefits of making a trip like this are many, the drawbacks, if any, I believe are few. Finally, I'm glad to see the lively debate in the comments and appreciate the kind words about my efforts on this site as well as the efforts of those in the rest of the organization. All I can say is that the organization does read what you have to say and utilize it for the betterment of the club. Quite often, the comments about stadium experience and things of that nature are put to use more often than opinions on the composition of the team, but I do think that's a great part of this forum and continue to welcome everyone's thoughts in that regard. At the end of the day, the baseball operations staff has to rely on their experience, their research (statistical and otherwise), their scouts and their business acumen to make baseball decisions. That doesn't mean that we ignore what the fans want, but I think that when it comes to baseball decisions, you're always going to have some fans who want thing and others who want another. That's the really great thing about this game. And of course, I believe that the results of the last few seasons should give everyone some confidence in the decisions made by Ned and his entire staff. As for me, I can only continue to help you all understand why we make the decisions we make, both on the business and baseball side. I have the benefit of getting to deal with Ned and his staff, as well as everyone at the organization on a daily basis. So, while it may appear to be positive spin to some, in my honest opinion it's simply explaining why we do what we do. I don't expect everyone to agree with the explanation and would hope that you debate the merits of what we say. That's exactly what this blog is for and we appreciate all the time and effort that our fans put into it. http://tinyurl.com/yelr7rx --

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