Yeh Chun-chang Understands Kong Nien-en's Intent to Help the Team; Coach Would Like Him
Wei Chuan Dragons manager Yeh Chun-chang commented on Kong Nien-en's controversial baserunning regarding the 3-foot lane rule, praising Kong's strong desire to help the team.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 16:58
- 🔍 Collected: May 9, 2026 at 17:31 (33 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 9, 2026 at 17:47 (15 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(New Taipei, May 9, Reporter Hsieh Ching-wen) Regarding the discussion about Fubon Guardians player Kong Nien-en's baserunning in the 3-foot lane during yesterday's game between Wei Chuan Dragons and Fubon Guardians, Dragons manager Yeh Chun-chang pointed out his 'intent,' stating that Kong Nien-en tried every possible way to help the team. 'If I were his coach, I would really like him.'
In yesterday's game between the Dragons and Guardians, in the bottom of the 8th inning, Guardians player Kong Nien-en bunted a ground ball towards third base. Dragons third baseman Liu Chi-hung fielded the ball and threw it to first, hitting Kong Nien-en's helmet, and the ball bounced away. After video review, the initial ruling of an infield single was upheld. Yeh Chun-chang believed that Kong Nien-en was running inside the line, violating the 3-foot lane rule, and protested on the field.
Before today's game, Yeh Chun-chang stated in an interview that the umpire's explanation yesterday was that Liu Chi-hung's throw was off-target, calling it 'a very interesting reason.'
Yeh Chun-chang mentioned that often situations on the field depend on 'intent.' It is reasonable for a right-handed batter to run inside the line after hitting the ball to take the shortest path. A left-handed batter's inertia after hitting the ball should keep them outside the line. Kong Nien-en is a left-handed batter, and he has been seen running inside the line more than once. 'I've seen it at least twice.'
Yeh Chun-chang then changed the topic, saying that if he were Kong Nien-en's coach, he would really like this player because he tries every possible way to help the team, and there's no problem with that. The purpose of the league setting so many rules is to prevent such small tricks, but hearing such an explanation for the ruling yesterday made him feel that many rules and understandings don't connect.
(New Taipei, May 9, Reporter Hsieh Ching-wen) Regarding the discussion about Fubon Guardians player Kong Nien-en's baserunning in the 3-foot lane during yesterday's game between Wei Chuan Dragons and Fubon Guardians, Dragons manager Yeh Chun-chang pointed out his 'intent,' stating that Kong Nien-en tried every possible way to help the team. 'If I were his coach, I would really like him.'
In yesterday's game between the Dragons and Guardians, in the bottom of the 8th inning, Guardians player Kong Nien-en bunted a ground ball towards third base. Dragons third baseman Liu Chi-hung fielded the ball and threw it to first, hitting Kong Nien-en's helmet, and the ball bounced away. After video review, the initial ruling of an infield single was upheld. Yeh Chun-chang believed that Kong Nien-en was running inside the line, violating the 3-foot lane rule, and protested on the field.
Before today's game, Yeh Chun-chang stated in an interview that the umpire's explanation yesterday was that Liu Chi-hung's throw was off-target, calling it 'a very interesting reason.'
Yeh Chun-chang mentioned that often situations on the field depend on 'intent.' It is reasonable for a right-handed batter to run inside the line after hitting the ball to take the shortest path. A left-handed batter's inertia after hitting the ball should keep them outside the line. Kong Nien-en is a left-handed batter, and he has been seen running inside the line more than once. 'I've seen it at least twice.'
Yeh Chun-chang then changed the topic, saying that if he were Kong Nien-en's coach, he would really like this player because he tries every possible way to help the team, and there's no problem with that. The purpose of the league setting so many rules is to prevent such small tricks, but hearing such an explanation for the ruling yesterday made him feel that many rules and understandings don't connect.