Taichung Agan

http://twbsball.dils.tku.edu.tw/wiki/images/7/7b/AGAN.jpg

Taichung Agan (台中金剛), also known as Taichung Robots, were a team in the Taiwan Major League. They were based in Taichung City. The Robots finished last in the league's debut season of 1997, going 41-53. Mitch Lyden (.350, 27 HR, 72 RBI) was second in the league in average and possibly second in homers as the offensive star. The pitching was led by Al Osuna (8-6, 2.50), who had the best ERA in the league.

The Agan remained last with a 40-66 season in 1998. Lyden's production dropped drastically (.278, 6 HR) and Ming-Chieh Hsu (7-4, 2.52) was the top hurler, finishing third in the league in ERA. The Robomen improved drastically in 1999, going 40-42-2 to finish second in the TML, then they beat the Taipei Suns 4 games to 2 in the championship. Hsu (15-6, 2.83) was third in ERA during the regular season and then was the MVP of the championship series. Brad Strauss came over from the Kaoping Fala during the season and won the batting title at .387.

Robots wear out though, and Taichung fell back to last in 2000 (35-46-3). Koji Muto (6-6, 2.74) was the top starter while Tsung-Hui Tong (.330) was fourth in the TML in average. Under new manager Fu-Lien Wu, Taichung pulled a worst-to-first with a dazzling 43-16-1 record in 2001 and they beat Taipei 4 games to 2 in the finals. Tung (.331) was again third in average, while Chin-chih Huang (7-3, 1.62) led the league in ERA and Chu-chien Hsu (7-2, 2.64) was fifth. Richard Bell (2-2, 22 Sv, 1.62, 69 K, 34 H in 55 IP) was the league's top reliever.

As the TML merged with the Chinese Professional Baseball League after 2002, it was Taichung's last season and Wu's squad again steamrolled the competition with a 47-24-1 record and toppling the Fala 4 to 1 in the best-of-7 finals. Huang (16-2, 2 Sv, 1.46) led the league in wins and ERA and Muto (8-3, 2.26) was second in ERA. Ned Darley (2-0, 14 Sv, 1.13) again gave the team an effective foreign closer. Roberto Mejia led the league in hitting (.332), stole 20 bases and was second in homers (14) and RBI (62). The only better slugger was Chia-hsien Hsieh, who homered 19 times, drove in 64 and was second with a .321 average.

With three titles, the Agan were the most successful team in TML history, though they finished last their other three seasons.

Sources: 1998-2003 Baseball Almanacs