Posted: Aug. 23, 2009 Tigers pitcher Fu-Te Ni making his mark Rookie's skills speak volumes about the Taiwanese native BY JO-ANN BARNAS FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER He developed the signature earlier in his career, when Tigers reliever Fu-Te Ni was pitching for the China Trust Whales of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. He will gladly demonstrate it. In bold, sweeping strokes -- penmanship born in Taiwan, his homeland -- Ni writes on a sheet of white paper, then puts down the marker and smiles. As autographs go, more Picasso than Porcello. Definitely. Ni is a major league rookie who, in the seven weeks since being called up from Triple-A Toledo, has given the Tigers every bit of the "different dimensions" pitching coach Rick Knapp speaks about. On the field, Ni (pronounced knee) has been a reliable middle reliever -- a side-arming left-hander who can "save our bullpen" or "get a lefty out," according to Knapp. Right-handed hitters are batting .250 against Ni, but lefties are hitting only .150 entering Saturday night's game at Oakland. "This sounds foolish, but Ni's just done a great job doing exactly what we need him to do," Knapp said. "He's somebody else to go to before Bobby (Seay). And it wasn't like he's had a half-season of baseball. It's hard to take a chance on that, but he's earned his stripes here. He's done a fabulous job of the situational role that we have him in." Off the field, well, put yourself in Ni's position: Pretend you're a baseball player. How would you, for example, like to be the lone English-speaking person on a team that speaks Mandarin Chinese? Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge imagined that the other day. "It would be tough," Inge said. "Not knowing the language, wondering if they would accept me." Asked about Ni's standing with the players, Inge said: "We love the guy. He didn't have a problem at all fitting in. He was accepted from Day 1." Universal ability Ni was considered one of the Chinese Professional Baseball League's top pitchers when he was signed last January by the Tigers after his former team disbanded. Ni's career had been followed closely by the organization's international scouting staff, which has been increasing its Far East presence the past few years. "When the scouts saw Fu-Te pitch, they thought he'd be helpful to us," Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "And their scouting has turned out to be just as he is." When Ni, 26, arrived in Lakeland, Fla., for spring training, he said the English he knew was limited to these few words and phrases: "Hello. How are you? I am fine. Not bad. See you tomorrow. Bye." Though his English is improving, Ni has some ways to go before he's conversational. That's why, since spring training, the Tigers have provided him with interpreter Shen-Hsien. A 28-year-old graduate student at the University of San Francisco, he was hired by the organization after answering a posting for the position on a Web site. Around the players and coaches -- even by Dombrowski, in the front office -- Shen-Hsien is known simply by his nickname: Fox. He said he was given it years ago by friends in Taiwan, because he was a huge fan of Fox Mulder, the lead character in the TV drama "The X-Files." Wherever Ni goes at the ballpark before or after a game, Fox is right there, like a shadow. He goes to the pitchers meetings and interprets what Ni doesn't understand. Ni's impression of Seay drew a big laugh in the clubhouse the other week, but Seay -- whose locker is right next to the fellow lefty -- said all joking aside, he has been most impressed with Ni's professionalism. "He takes his role very seriously," Seay said. Since being called up by the Tigers on June 29 from Triple-A Toledo, Fox cited closer Fernando Rodney and bullpen coach Jeff Jones as being especially patient in helping Ni navigate the English language. In meetings before games, Tigers catcher Gerald Laird said he and Ni work slowly to make sure Ni understands all the signs. Their teamwork is paying off. "There are a few words I use, like, 'stay smooth,' 'calm,' and 'don't rush,' because he can get a little rushed sometimes," Laird said. "From spring training till now, though, Ni's taken huge steps forward -- just his command and confidence, getting his secondary pitches going. It seems like every time out, he's getting better and better." Inge said: "I tell him what we need in English, and then I give him a look, like, 'Do you understand?' Like, if I want to tell him on a bunt, to cover first base, I tell him and give him a little sign. He's like, 'I gotcha.' It's pretty amazing. "Baseball is universal; he knows how to pitch." In the clubhouse, Ni is admired in another area. "He gives the best back massages on the team," Inge said. "I'm not kidding you. He does that chop thing. Incredible." Big moves Before Wednesday's game against the Seattle Mariners at Comerica Park, Fox stood along the wall as Ni warmed up in leftfield with the other pitchers. When they were through, Fox grabbed a glove and joined Ni in centerfield to shag balls during batting practice. Once a game starts, Fox is nowhere to be seen because rules prevent him from being in the dugout or the bullpen. So during a game, Fox usually heads to the clubhouse, or he'll stand in the tunnel, far out of view. After batting practice was over on this day, Ni -- with Fox's help -- talked a little more about his past. He was given a map of Taiwan, and Ni circled where he was born, Pingtung County, in the southern part of the island. His parents are contractors. He has one brother and one sister, both older. Ni learned to play baseball on a playground shortly after he transferred schools. He pitched right-handed at first, but at age 11 he became a lefty at the request of his father, Jinqi Ni. "I went from not liking it to loving it," Ni said of the game, through Fox. Ni, who has a fiancee, said that while it was an adjustment getting used to American food, it hasn't been a problem. Told that Seay commented that he'll eat anything, Ni looked quizzically at Fox. Speaking their native language, they both started laughing. Asked to translate, Fox said: "Roaches?" The Tigers play today at Oakland -- coincidently, the site of Ni's major league debut June 29, when he officially became the first Taiwanese pitcher in the Tigers history. He came in relief of Rick Porcello, and the first batter Ni faced was Jason Giambi. He struck him out. Asked what he remembered most about that outing, Ni's face brightened. He turned to Fox and spoke animatedly in Mandarin Chinese. No interpretation was necessary, but here's what he said: "Wow! Am I dreaming about this? Is this real?" Inge was right. Universal. Contact JO-ANN BARNAS: 313-222-2037 or [email protected]. http://tinyurl.com/lxbb26 --

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