TAINAN, Taiwan – My first day in Taiwan was a long one. My 7 p.m. flight from Tampa to L.A.( five-hour flight with a three-hour layover) to Taipei, Taiwan (14 hours) to Kaohsiung, Taiwan (1 hour) then the 50-minute drive to Tainan ... this seemed to take forever.
Add this to me basically losing two days: one in the flight and the other by crossing the International Date Line. Even with this long trip my excitement was evident the whole time. Over 15 seasons is the United States, Mexico and now Asia, my career has taken a long road but its given me so much. Today starts another chapter!
Even after the long flight/trip I am still excited and energetic about being here in Taiwan. Before we do anything I head to the ballpark and do a meet and greet with the front office and stadium workers. I then fill out the paperwork required by the league. This process takes a couple hours. After this is complete, my interpreter Henry and the team secretary Alex take me to get some basic needs and get me settled in to the apartment. All told I am finished with this process by 1 p.m. Taiwan time, 1 a.m. my time.
The bus to the ballpark leaves at 2:10 p.m. As we ride the bus to the park, I notice a large amount of scooters on the road. It seems to be the way to travel here. I notice the character letters on all the signs and I can't help to think they look really cool but I know I have no chance at discerning what they mean.
At the park, baseball is baseball. I am just worn out and my physical activities have not started yet. I throw a bull pen and get some light work in just enough to start the process of converting me to a starter.
Game time rolls around and the crowd is loud! Lots of drums and someone leading chants for each team. We're in first place and we’re playing the second place team. You can feel the excitement in the air. Playing baseball for winning teams is just awesome. "Winning, you know, it's like way better than losing." Great way to put it, Nuke.
After the game back to the apartment. I try to talk to the wife and kids. It's 11 p.m. here, 11 a.m. at home. My family's day is just starting, and mine is just ending. I am completely spent from the last couple of days. It's nice to lay my head down. Excited for the next day, I head to sleep.
Seth McClung pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers from 2007-2009, but broke into the Major Leagues with Tampa Bay in 2003. The West Virginia native is now a pitcher in Taiwan.
McClung, a popular player during his time in Milwaukee, remains connected to Brewers fans through this blog on OnMilwaukee.com.
"Big Red" will cover baseball in a way only a player can, but he'll talk about other sports, too. The 6 foot, 6 inch flamethrower will write about life outside the game, too.
