Jim Lefebvre’s challenge is to shape up the China baseball team ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

After a respectable 9-5 loss Thursday to Taiwan in the Asia Series, the China Stars were trounced 13-0 by South Korea’s SK Wyverns in seven innings under the mercy rule.

“Today was an ugly day,” said Lefebvre, a former major league player and manager. “But you’ve got to put it behind you. That’s the toughest thing to teach your players.”

Baseball just isn’t a big deal in China. My students recognize a bat and ball, the way an American kid might recognize mah jong tiles without being able to play the game.

If the highlight of this article is a “respectable loss” versus a mercy ruling, Lefebvre has his work cut out for him. But with Olympic fever at such a height in China, he just may do it!

Via YahooSports