China
Terry Collins was named manager of Team China at the upcoming World Baseball Classic. He succeeds Jim Lefebvre, who headed the coaching staff of the Chinese team at the past few international tournaments, including the Olympics. However he takes over as hitting coach for the San Diego Padres. Collins, who last managed in the MLB in 1999, has a 444-434 career record as skipper for the Anaheim Angels and Houston Astros. After being the Dodgers farm director in 2007 he went to Japan, but stepped down from his position as manager with Orix Buffaloes early in 2008.
MLB.com: Collins takes reins of Team China
Taiwan
The Chinese Professional Baseball League has announced a 48-man roster of Team Taiwan for the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Eleven of the 48 players are coming from American and Japanese professional clubs. However their biggest star, starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang of the New York Yankees, is missing, as his didn’t receive permission to participate in the tournament, because of the rehabilitation after foot injury he suffered during the 2008 MLB season.
The 48 players will work out in Taiwan from January 29 to February 7 before traveling to Australia till February 20, where they will play a series of exhibitions against Australian clubs. They will cut the roster to 28 players, when they will return to Taiwan on February 21st and are scheduled to play more warm-ups before the start of the Classic on March 5th.
The Earth Times: Taiwan announces preliminary names for 2009 World Baseball Classic
Taiwan Baseball: WBC NT Preliminary Roster (all 48 names)