CPBL legend Cheng-Min “Cha-Cha” Peng wins on managerial debut
TAINAN, Taiwan | It was only three years ago that CPBL’s most iconic player Cheng-Min Cha-Cha Peng called it a career after 19 seasons of excellence and assumed the role of farm director of the CTBC Brothers. Three years later, he returned to the field amid mid-season personnel changes that came rather rapidly, taking the role as the seventh manager in the CTBC era of the 34-year-old franchise. Peng’s players did not disappoint him as the Brothers defeated the Lions in front of six thousand plus fans, 6-1, handing the rookie manager his first career win.
“It [the appointment] came indeed as a surprise,” said Peng during his first managerial pre-game press conference. “I will seek advice from [former] manager (Wei-Chu) Lin.”
Lin led the team to back-to-back Taiwan Series titles and was the first in CPBL history to sweep consecutive Taiwan Series with an 8-0 record.
After the Brothers recently removed Lin from the post, Peng succeeded him.
“Let’s just go out and play the game, I don’t have the luxury to let it sink in,” added the new manager.
"It's definitely different from being the farm director," continued Peng. "The scope of the farm director of a major league team is totally different from the manager's. I think respect is the key here. You want to respect your coaching staff, players, and fans. I want to give my players more room to think, so they can better sort things out themselves."
New Number
During the opening weekend of the season, CTBC Brothers announced the retirement of Peng’s uniform number 23. Peng elected to use a new number, 86, to start his managerial career.
“August 6th is my birthday, and I think the birth itself represents a new beginning, just like a newborn. That’s why I picked this number to start my managerial career.”
Wang On Board
Chien-Ming Wang, a former star pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB), was also promoted to the major level and joined Peng's staff.
“It was never my plan to be promoted to the major league team.” Wang said, who has been the pitching coach of the Brothers farm team since 2020. “Developing pitchers was the main goal while working with the farm team, but now winning has become the primary goal,” Wang said.
“Pressure? You bet,” he added. “I’ve got gray hair now!”
Peng and Wang were on Chinese Taipei's coaching staff in the World Baseball Classic 2023. They served under Lions manager Yueh-Ping Daddy Pie Lin, the first CPBL manager to exchange lineup cards with Peng.
Brothers v Lions
The Brothers scored in the first, giving Peng an early lead. The Lions managed to tie the game in the third, but it was all the runs they would score. With a two-run home run by Tzu-Hsien Chan in the sixth, the Brothers took another lead and never needed to look back.
The Brothers came to the game with a 10-15-1 record, ranking last in the five-team CPBL in the first half season.