courtesy of: koreabaseball.blogspot.com

I'm still under the weather AND yesterday was Sports Day at my school. I've guzzled exactly 13 2 litre bottles of water in the past 15 hours in an attempt to rehydrate my body. I really wanted to write about the Hanwha/LG game. They played in Cheongju. The stadium is a bandbox and the two teams combined for 7 homers and at least 5 balls hit off the wall. Lee Beom-ho clubbed 3 homers and drove in 8 runs. I also finally attended my first KBO game on the last day of April. I watched Samsung get clobbered by the Seoul Heroes.

Scores, winners, losers and saves. A full update on Monday, I promise. I need more water...

SK 8, Doosan 3
W - Kim Kwang-hyeon (3-0), L - Jin Ya-kob (0-1)

Hanwha 19, LG 9
W - Kim Hyeok-min (3-1), L - Lee Beom-joon (0-3)

Seoul Heroes 8, Samsung 1
W - Lee Hyeon-seung (4-1), L - Yoon Seong-hwan (3-1)

KIA 11, Lotte 5
W - Son Yeong-min (1-0), L - Ha Joon-ho (0-1)

By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter

Hanwha Eagles third baseman Lee bum-ho produced eight RBIs, tying for the most RBIs in a game in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) after hitting back-to-back-to-back homeruns in the Eagles' 19-9 victory over the LG Twins in Cheongju, Thursday.

Lee, who also played for Korea in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in the same position, notched his first homerun in the second inning with a grand slam.

He hit the third pitch from Twins reliever Kim Min-ki sending the ball over the left-field fence to give his side a 7-0 lead.

The 27-year-old's fired-up bat didn't stop smashing balls.

In the sixth, Lee hit a solo homer, with the Twins trailing the Eagles by five (10-5), and put the nail in their coffin in the seventh inning with a three-run dinger.

This was the first time Lee has slammed three homers in a game since his debut in 2000.

The performance put him in the lead for the home run and RBI race with nine and 24.

``When the bases were loaded, I tried to concentrate more. Today I hit a grand slam as I was lucky,'' Lee said.

``I feel very good, because I stand in top spot in the homerun and RBI race, but I am not thinking about the homerun king title.

``My homer pace is really good, but I am not greedy about getting the title. I just do my best,'' Lee added.


source:koreatimes.co.kr

May 1st, 2009

The bullpen experience can vary from team to team and now for me country to country. Understanding how each pen is run is an important part of giving you the best chance to succeed. Now that I am in the bullpen with the Wyverns I’ll have to figure out how things work here.

In Japan it was a challenge figuring out the pen. On opening day my first season I warmed up 4 times, threw about 80 pitches and never went in the game. That prompted a meeting with my bullpen and pitching coaches after the game. It took a while, but we got it figured out. Their style of running a bullpen sharply contrasted what I was used to in the U.S.

My first day in the pen with the Wyverns was a complete disaster. There was a major break down in communication, luckily I didn’t pitch in the game. It’s a learn as you go process.

The key is getting a read on your manager. Trying to get a feel for how he likes to use the bullpen is extremely helpful. The situations he tends to use me in and how much he trusts me is information I’ll need to figure out. Knowing when he usually uses me makes it easier for me to get ready for the game. I can anticipate when I might go in and start getting ready, both physically and mentally. Consistency is the key, hopefully I’ll get that here.

It might take me a little time to get it figured out, but time I may not have. Our last foreign reliever was released after pitching just 2 games out of the pen. I think the best way to describe how our team is run from an American’s viewpoint is unusual. The pitching staff is used in a way I have never seen before, not even in Japan, so there are adjustments I need to make quickly to assure that this works out.

The one thing relievers like to see avoided as much as possible is warming up, getting fully ready to go into the game and then not going in. Too much of that is abusive on your arm and a good manager knows how to limit the amount of times that happens to his pitchers. In 2006 I had the best experience of my career when I only warmed up and didn’t go into the game 3 times. That was for the entire season, an absurdly low total. I told you it happened 4 times on my first day in a Japanese bullpen and it’s happened three times already in my two days in the Wyvern bullpen.

Getting ready and not going in the game is part of being a reliever and something we have to come to terms with. I have learned to pace myself through my years of experience and that’s why I say it’s key to have a feel for how your manager likes to use you. If your role changes daily or if you are used inconsistently it can make for a very long and painful season.

I’m just hoping I find a steady role in this bullpen and that I stay in the bullpen. I’m not interested in going back and forth from the rotation to the bullpen, that is never fun and it can be extremely difficult to have success when you’re asked to do that.


source: cjbaseball.com

The money quote...``Professional baseball players are not workers but individual businessmen, as precedents show. Individual businessmen cannot make a union,'' a KBO official said.

By this definition, isn't everyone an individual businessman and no one should be allowed to form a union? I'm usually not a pro-union guy, but it's time for the KBO to take the leap into 21st century labor relations.

On to the roundup...


Doosan 6, SK 6(12)

SK is in first place with a 13-6-3 record. They lead the league with 3 ties. This game was tied at 4 in the top of the 9th inning. SK took a 6-4 lead when Park Jae-sang delivered a basehit down the left field line to score a pair. Jeong Geun-woo had another solid effort at the plate for SK. Jeong went 3-5 with 2 RBIs, 2 runs scored, 2 walks and 2 stolen bases. His 9th inning single and stolen base was a key part of the inning. SK called on Jeong Dae-hyeon to finish off Doosan in the bottom of the 9th. With one out, Doosan 3rd baseman Kim Dong-joo singled to right. Left fielder Kim Hyeon-soo reached on an infield single. He was able to advance to 2nd and the runner scored on a throwing error. The catcher left home to back-up first base and left the plate completely unguarded. Doosan caught SK napping and made the score 6-5. With runners on 1st and 2nd with still only 1 out, Yoo Jae-wong bounced a single through the left side to score Kim and tie the game at 6. Jeong would record a strike out and get a ground ball to end the inning. Then, nothing remotely interesting happened until the top of the 12th. SK loaded the bases with two outs, but Choi Jeong flied out to deep right to end the threat. Doosan went out quietly in the bottom of the inning.


LG 4, Hanwha 3
W - Shim Su-chang (2-2), L - Ahn Yeong-myeong (2-1), S - Woo Gyu-min (4)

LG rallied in the early innings to a 4-1 lead. In the first inning, center fielder Park Yong-taek hit a 2-run bomb. The next batter, slugger Roberto Petagine, clubbed a solo blast for his 7th homer of the season. Hanwha offered up a two fake rallies in the 7th and 9th, but they couldn't deliver a big hit when they needed it. LG starting pitcher Shim Su-chang was very effective during his 7 innings(103 pitches, 65 strikes) of work. He allowed only 2 runs on 6 hits, 1 walk and 1 hit batsman. He also struck out 6. LG closer Woo Gyu-min was fairly shaky in the 9th inning, but he managed to record 3 outs before giving up the lead.


Seoul Heroes 3, Samsung 2
W - Shin Cheol-in (1-0), L - Ahn Ji-man(0-2), S - Hwang Doo-seong (6)

Hwang Jae-gyun gave the Heroes a 2-0 lead in the 5th inning when he connected for a 2-run homer. Samsung tied the game in the 7th. With runners on 1st and 3rd and no outs, Samsung tried a squeeze bunt with Hyeon Jae-yoon at the plate. The runner on 3rd was out by 10 feet. With runners on 1st and 2nd with one out, Cho Dong-chan singled to center to score Samsung's first run. With runners on 1st and 3rd with one out, Kim Sang-su struck out swinging. The runners were moving on the pitch. Heroes catcher Heo Joon threw down to 2nd, Cho was safe. Hyeon Jae-yoon sprinted home from third. He came in just under the tag to score Samsung's 2nd run. In the top of the 8th inning, the Heroes broke the 2-2 tie. With Doug Clark on 1st and Jeong Su-seong on 2nd with 1 out, 1st baseman Lee Sung-yong hit a ground ball to 2nd. Doug Clark was forced out at 2nd, but Samsung 1st baseman Chae Tae-in couldn't find the handle on the throw. Lee was safe at first and Jeong scored on the error. Heroes closer Hwang Doo-seong allowed a walk and single in the 9th, but he struck out the other 3 batters he faced to record the save.


Lotte 7, KIA 2
W - Cho Jeong-hoon(3-2), L - Seo Jae-wong (1-1)

The Giants jumped all over Seo in the early innings and cruised to an easy W. KIA starter Seo Jae-wong was battered for 6 runs on 8 hits, 2 walks and 1 hit batsman during his 2 1/3 innings(65 pitches, 38 strikes) of work. Seo struggled with location. Everything that was hit was up in the zone and the Lotte offense made him pay for it. On the other side of the field Lotte's Cho Jeong-hoon enjoyed the early cushion and cruised to victory. Cho tossed 8 innings(87 pitches, 60 strikes) of 2-run baseball. He allowed only 5 hits and struck out 8. Lotte's Karim Garcia hit a solo homer in the 4th inning. Garcia finished the game 2-4 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Lotte catched Kang Min-ho also drove in a pair.

04-29-2009

Controversy is brewing as the Korea Professional Baseball Players Association (KPBPA) is moving to form a union.

The KPBPA announced the decision at a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday.

``We have requested talks with the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) and the clubs continuously, but they declined,'' KPBPA president Son Min-han told reporters.

``Now, it is time to make a union based on laws,'' the Lotte Giants pitcher added.

The KPBPA also revealed that they are set to launch a union preparation committee (UPC) consisting of two members of each team.

``Representatives of the eight teams' players agreed that now is a good time to create a union,'' KPBPA Secretary-General Kwon Si-hyung said.

``It has been ten years since the KPBPA was established, but the KBO has never admitted us as a partner,'' Kwon told The Korea Times, Tuesday.

``We realized that we needed a union which we can bargain collectively, supported by the law.''

The KBO, the sport's governing body, has objected to the move.

``They promised in 2000 that they would not take any action before six million fans (per year) visit the baseball stadiums,'' KBO spokesman Lee Jin-hyung told The Korea Times.

``The clubs are making a deficit. If we make a profit then we can have dialogue with them."

Both sides argued that the law was on their side.

``Professional baseball players are not workers but individual businessmen, as precedents show. Individual businessmen cannot make a union,'' a KBO official said.

But Son said, ``Our legal support team confirmed that to form a union is not against the law."

Kwon added, ``We are under the control of a club and get paid. We are workers."

A KPBPA official said the move is line with baseball organizations in the United States and Japan, where such unions already exist.

Professional baseball was started in the United States in 1869 and has since spread around the world.

Major League Baseball (MLB), Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and the KBO are each popular in their respective countries. Taiwan, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico also have pro leagues.

Doosan Bears captain Kim Dong-ju is reportedly in favor of the union. ``I agree with the decision to make a union because it can boost the rights of players,'' Kim said. ``But I do not want it to make a lot of noise because we are in the season.''

However, baseball clubs' general managers agreed to oppose the KPBPA move at a meeting in Seoul.

``I am disappointed that the players only ask about their rights,'' Samsung Lions general manager Kim Jae-ha said.

``More than 100 players are paid over 100 million won ($74,200) per year.''

Baseball fans are also divided over the issue.

``It seems like a `royal union' because they get paid about 700 to 800 million won ($519,300 to $593,470),'' one wrote in an online post.

``I support the KPBPA. It is a good measure to restrain KBO power,'' Hong Suk-jung, another fan, said on the official KBO Web site.

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) said it would support the KPBPA decision.

``To make a union is baseball players' natural right,'' it said. ``We support the KPBPA and will help them.''


shosta@koreatimes.co.kr

The start of the ticket sale for the preliminary round pool C in Sundbyberg, Sweden of the IBAF Baseball World Cup next September has been delayed until the first half of May. The organizers announced last week that the selling system isn’t ready yet, but hope to have it up by mid May. Tickets will be available on the Internet and via call centers. They will release the exact date of the sale at least one week in advance. They still plan to offer 2.500 seats in three different price categories for each of the four game days. Check the link for ticket prices.

At the new ballpark in Sundbyberg, which is located just a few kilometers outside of Stockholm, host Sweden, Olympic champion South Korea, Canada and the Netherlands Antilles will play each other in a round robin, hoping for one of up to three spots in the second round. The preliminary round starts on September 9th and lasts till September 12th. Other first round venues are located in Regensburg (Germany), Moscow (Russia), Barcelona (Spain) and Prague/Ostrava (Czech Republic). The next round, which will be hosted by the Netherlands and Italy, is scheduled to begin on September 14. The final round in Italy will be played from September 22 thru September 27.

Doosan 15, SK 2
W - Kim Sang-hyeon(1-1), L - Ken Kadokura(1-1)

Whatever Kadokura had during his first few outings was missing last night. Doosan thumped Kadokura for 8 runs(7 earned) on 6 hits, 4 walks and 1 hit batsman during his 2+ innings of work. Somehow, he managed to strike out 2 batters. All the damage came in the third inning. Kadokura came in after two scoreless innings and he couldn't do anything. 8 consecutive batters reached base before SK could record an out. Doosan slugger Choi Joon-seok hit his 7th homer of the season during the rally. Choi finished the night 2-3 with 4 RBI and 1 run scored. Doosan left fielder Kim Hyeon-soo finished the night 3-3 with 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Doosan starting pitcher Kim Sang-hyeon was able to cruise to an easy W. In Kim's 6 innings of work(71 pitches, 46 strikes), he allowed only 3 hits and 1 walk. Kim struck out 6 Wyverns during his start. Nothing good happened on the mound, in the field or at the plate for SK. It was an ugly game on all fronts.


Hanwha 11, LG 5
W -Ryu Hyeon-jin(4-0), L - Jeong Jae-bok(1-2)

Ryu Hyeon-jin was wild early, but he managed to settle down, keep his pitch count relatively low and earn another W. Ryu allowed 5 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks during his 7 innings(110 pitches, 70 strikes) of work, but he did manage to strike out 9. He was victimized by the long ball in the 2nd inning. He surrendered solo homers to Choi Dong-su and Park Kyeong-su. Normally if a pitcher gets knocked around early he doesn't figure in the decision. Not with this Hanwha offense. Hanwha knocked out Jeong Jae-bok in the 4th inning and then added a few insurance runs against the LG bullpen. Kang Dong-woo and Lee Beom-ho homered in the first inning. Hanwha left fielder Yeon Kyeong-heum homered twice in this game. He hit a 2-run bomb in the 4th and a solo shot in the 7th. LG slugger Roberto Petagine went 2-4, but he also struck out twice.


Samsung 4, Seoul Heroes, 1
W - Bae Yong-su(1-2), L - Kim Su-kyeong(1-4), S - Oh Seung-hwan(7)

Look at Bae Yeong-su turning in the quality start. There's some life in that shoulder after all. Bae tossed 5 innings(72 pitches, 44 strikes) of 1-run baseball. He allowed only 6 hits and 1 walk while striking out 3. He did a good enough job of keeping the Heroes off balance and pitched to contact. Samsung right fielder Choi Hyeong-woo hit a 2-run homer in the 2nd inning to give Samsung the lead. Samsung catcher Jin Kab-yong drove in two more on a single in the 6th inning. Heroes 3rd baseman Hwang Jae-gyun continued his absolutely torrid start to the season. He finished the game 3-4 with a walk and a stolen base. His 5th inning solo home run was the only run the Heroes would score. Hwang currently has a .405/.459/.703 line in 74 AB's.


KIA 2, Lotte 0
W - Yoo Dong-hoon(1-2), L - Lee Jeong-hoon(0-1), S - Yoon Seok-min (1)

KIA only had 3 hits in this ball game, but one came with the bases loaded and happened to drive in a pair of runs. KIA 3rd baseman Kim Sang-hyeon poked a base hit through the left side to score Lee Hyeon-gon and Na Ji-won. Both KIA starter Aquilino Lopez and Lotte starter Song Seung-joon pitched well enough to win, but neiter figured in the decision. Lopez tossed 7 shutout innings(96 pitches, 60 strikes). He allowed only 7 hits and 1 walk with 5 K's. Song tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings(114 pitches, 62 strikes). He allowed 2 hits, 1 walk and hit a batter. He also logged 7 strikeouts. Yoon Seok-min tossed a scoreless 9th to earn his first save in 3 years. Regular closer Han Ki-joo had been struggling. I'm guessing he was just given the night off to clear his head. Yoon is too valuable as a starter to be used as a closer.

APRIL 22, 2009

Eri Yoshida in December last year made history by becoming the first female baseball player in Japan.

Yoshida, 17, a graduate of Kawasaki Kita High School, was picked seventh in the minor league draft by the expansion team Kansai in Kobe. She is small with a height of 155 centimeters and weight of 50 kilograms, but has a mean knuckleball.

With an annual salary of 1.8 million yen a year (18,332 U.S. dollars), she entered a game March 27 in Osaka as a relief pitcher in the ninth inning. Kansai was up 5-0 with no outs and a man on second base.

Yoshida gave up a walk and had a strikeout, but was pulled. Afterwards, she disappeared due to a shoulder injury, but her historic appearance remained a hot topic among baseball fans in Japan.

Will Korea also see a woman play professional baseball? Perhaps it might in Korean American Jane Eo, 19. She tried out last year for the Kia Tigers, Samsung Lions and SK Wyverns.

Eo failed because, in the words of one scout, “Though she has basic skills, she lacks power compared to men.”

She tried out again for SK at the team’s spring training in Japan’s Kochi Prefecture in February but failed again.

Eo cried as she walked away from the Kochi baseball park with her father. She remained in bed for days over her rejection before deciding to try again. Resuming batting practice, she said, “I cannot give up and return to the United States at this point.”

She will try out at Korea’s first national amateur tryout at Shinwol Baseball Stadium in Seoul Saturday and Sunday. Hosted by the Korea Business Baseball Federation, the event attracts high school and college players and journeymen.

Eo said, “My goal is to win recognition as a player on par with male players.”

● Overcoming gender discrimination

“They said I was unqualified after a one-day tryout. I still cannot give up. I cannot live a day without baseball,” Eo said.

Eo began playing baseball at age 11, saying she liked pitching and hitting the ball. She became the first Korean American to join the U.S. national team.

She started at shortstop at the third World Women’s Baseball World Cup in August last year, leading the United States to third place. Though a shortstop, she also played pitcher.

Eo’s fastball has been timed as fast as 130 kilometers (80 miles) per hour and she has a batting average of .300.

Nevertheless, she has repeatedly failed to impress a professional team. Refusing to give up, she is undergoing strength training by running up steps at Goyang Stadium dozens of times per day and lifting barbells again and again.

She also practiced with the Chungam High School baseball team, this year’s national champion.

● Diamond dream continues

Eo was born in the United States. She learned about Korea in 2006, when Korea advanced to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic.

She started learning Korean and began thinking about playing baseball in her motherland. She moved in with her father in the Ilsan district of Goyang, a northern Seoul suburb, in July last year.

Receiving her residence visa last month, Eo is teaching English at a foreign language institute at night to become economically independent.

Yosida’s role model is Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield, a knuckleball specialist. Eo says she likes New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter.

Yosida realized her dream while Eo is still pursuing hers.

“It doesn’t matter whether I become an amateur or a rookie in the pros. I will never give up until I achieve my dream,” Eo said.


source: donga.com

2009.04.28

South Korea's professional baseball players said Tuesday they will unionize to legally protect their interests, a move analysts fear may dampen the sport that is beginning to build popularity in the country, Yonhap News reported.

"South Korean baseball gained a world-class reputation after reaching the finals of the World Baseball Classic in March. But the environment that our players are in has not changed," Son Min-han, president of the Korea Professional Baseball Players' Association, told reporters at a press conference in downtown Seoul.

"Our demands to start negotiations for players' interests have been ignored by the Korea Baseball Organization. Now is the time for establishing a union based on the current laws."

The KPBPA was launched in 2000 to speak for the rights and interests of South Korean baseball players. It represents all 463 professional players registered with the KBO. The KBO, founded in 1982 and now having eight teams, had not allowed any official organization of players, but approved the KPBPA in 2000 on condition that it remain a private organization. The KPBPA was not entitled to sit at the negotiating table with the KBO because it did not have legal status.

"It has been 10 years since the association was founded, but nothing has improved," Kwon Si-hyeong, general director of the group, said. "Representatives from eight clubs have agreed that it is time to create the union."

He demanded that the KBO allow players to employ agents to deal with contracts and ban unilateral trade against players' will. Under current KBO regulations, athletes cannot have agents handle wage deals on their behalf or defy orders to move to another team.

Kwon said that an organizing committee will be formed in the near future and will poll players on their opinions.

The KBO actually rescheduled two of this weekend's rainouts for Monday. Someone should have looked at a weather report before this decision was made. One of the rescheduled games...was rained out again.


Doosan v. Hanwha
--


Seoul Heroes 7, SK 4
W - Lee Dong-hak(1-0), L - Kim Won-hyeong(0-2), S - Hwang Doo-seong (5)

They also should have alerted the local populace that a baseball game was scheduled for Monday night because it looked like about 30 people showed up. The KBO website claims 2,559 were in attendence, but my eyes say otherwise. Both starting pitchers were chased from the game in the early innings. It was up to the bullpens to keep a lid on things. The Heroes bullpen threw 7 innings of scoreless relief after starter Jeon Joon-ho surrendered 4 runs during his 2 innings of work. The Wyverns bullpen wasn't quite as lucky. Goh Hyo-joon was knocked out in the 4th inning. Heroes DH Cliff Brumbaugh took reliever Kim Won-hyeong out of the ballpark in the 5th inning to give the Heroes a 7-4 lead. Brumbaugh supplied majority of the Heroes offense last night. In addition to his 3-run blast in the 5th inning, Cliff also hit a 2-run bomb in the 1st inning. Both homers went out to left and both just barely cleared the fence, but they count just the same. Wyverns #2 hitter and left fielder Park Jae-sang had a solid game. He finished 3-4 with a walk, 2 runs scored and 2 stolen bases. Heroes closer Hwang Doo-seong threw a fairly uneventful 9th inning to nail down the save. 10 of Hwang's 15 pitches went for strikes, but he did allow a basehit.


source: koreanbaseball

April 28, 2009

Two rookies in the Korea Baseball Organization are garnering attention in the 2009 season as much for their poise and maturity as for their statistics.

What’s impressive about Kim Sang-soo of the Samsung Lions and Ahn Chi-hong of the Kia Tigers is that the recent high school graduates are already playing at a level beyond their years.

Kim and Ahn, both born in 1990, have burst onto the professional scene and so far have made a smooth transition from high school.

Kim, for one, seems to have quickly won over his prickly manager as well as his teammates.

“No doubt about it,” responded Samsung manager Seon Dong-ryeol to a question regarding whether he was going to start Kim for the remainder of the season.

During an April 24 game against the Kia Tigers, the rookie leadoff hitter reached first on an error by Kia shortstop Lee Hyun-gon. With the third batter at the plate, Kim attempted to steal second base, prompting shortstop Lee to shift over to cover second. The batter then managed to squeeze a grounder through the gap where Lee was originally positioned. Kim also managed a single and a steal in the second inning.

“I could not ask for any more from Kim. I’m O.K. with his batting average dropping, as his base running alone is a huge help to our club,” Seon said, laughing.

At the same time, Ahn of Kia is getting high praise from his coaching staff as well.

“He knows how to select pitches and has the wrists to hit the long ball,” said Kia manager Cho Bum-hyun. “Ahn is one of the players who will replace our star players in the future and as such I plan on giving Ahn ample amount of playing time this season.”

Cho is currently experimenting with Ahn at various spots in the batting order.

Ahn has plenty of support from his roommate on the road, Lee Hyun-gon, and Kia’s cleanup hitter, Choi Hee-seop, who Ahn affectionately refers to as his “uncle.”

“Choi and Lee are doing a great job of looking after Ahn,” said Kia coach Choi Tae-won. “Without their help, Ahn probably would not be playing as well as he is now.”

Ahn and Kim are both natural shortstops and good friends, to boot.

However, there is one big difference between the two budding stars. Ahn often displays a poker face, while Kim typically is smiling.

“I know the fans in the pros can be ruthless when you’re struggling,” said Ahn, who has played at both second base and third base this season. “I purposely try not to show my emotions whether I’m doing good or bad.”

Kim, on the other hand, said he wants his demeanor to reflect his overall attitude about the sport.

“As a rookie, my intention is to always try my best on the field and I want others to know it,” Kim said. “The entire experience in the pros is exciting and fun.”


source: joongang.co.kr

On Sunday I was time for me to experience my first Korean baseball game- the Doosan Bears against the Hanwha Eagles. There were a number of differences to Japanese baseball, but most significantly the role of entertainment during the game. While Hanshin have choreographed chants to support batters while at the plate, the Korean entertainment seemed almost to run parallel to the game itself, at times capturing the crowds attention more than the baseball on show. Whether this makes Korean baseball more “American”ised I don’t know- I’ve never been to an MLB game so I couldn’t say. It certainly helped keep peoples spirits up during bad weather, but I think it did detract from the game itslef- I know I was heavily preoccupied with the cheerleaders whenever they took to the stage! Doosan took the lead after a lively start, 3-2 up after the first two. The game then went quiet until the seventh, when a three-run homer sealed the victory for the Bears.

source: stevesayskanpai

The only news worth mentioning is that the great blackout of 2009 is over. KBS, Xsports and MBC started broadcasting again on Saturday. Huzzah. Morons.

Doosan vs. Hanwha

4/24 - PPD
4/25 - PPD
4/26 - Doosan 6, Hanwha 2

After rain washed out the first two games, Doosan knocked Hanwha starter Yoo Won-sang out of the game after only the 2nd inning. Doosan starter Kim Sun-woo was able to settle down after a rocky begninning and earn the W. Kim worked 5 innings(98 pitches, 51 strikes) of 2-run baseball. He was lucky to escape with only 2 runs allowed. Kim allowed 6 hits, 5 walks and 1 hit batsman. Somehow, he managed to strike out 1 batter. Kim was given an early 3-2 lead and did his best to get out of jams. Doosan extended its lead in the 6th inning. Doosan 2nd baseman Goh Yeong-min clubbed a 3-run homer to give Doosan a 6-2 lead. Doosan 1st baseman Choi Joon-seok didn't homer, but he did drive in a pair of runs in this game. Doosan's bullpen was excellent on Sunday. 3 pitchers combined to lock down the final 4 innings. Of the 12 batters retired 7 went down via the strikeout. Yim Tae-hoon struck out 5 during 2 innings of work.


SK vs. Seoul Heroes

4/24 - PPD
4/25 - SK 7, Heroes 1
4/26 - SK 4, Heroes 3

Kim Kwang-hyeon was able to keep the Heroes off of the scoreboard for the most part, but it wasn't for lack of trying. Kim threw 6 innings(102 pitches, 56 strikes) of 1-run baseball and struck out 5. That's the good news. The bad news is that he allowed 6 hits and 5 walks. The Heroes kept this one close until the 6th inning. SK DH Lee Ho-joon hit a solo homer to give SK a 2-1 lead. The next batter, SK 3rd baseman Choi Jeong, hit another solo homer and chased Heroes starter Lee Hyeon-seung from the game. With 2 outs and the bases empty, SK mounted a 3-run rally to put the game out of reach.

Heroes ace Ma Il-yeong was knocked around again on Sunday. This time he surrendered 4 runs on 9 hits and 1 walk during his 4 1/3 innings of work. SK starter Song Eun-beom worked 6 solid innings(73 pitches, 46 strikes). The only run he allowed came on a Jang Yeong-seok solo homer in the 3rd inning. Losing 4-1 in the bottom of the 9th, Cliff Brumbaugh hit a 2-run bomb to make the score look respectable in the newspapers.


Samsung vs. KIA

4/24 - Samsung 6, KIA 5
4/25 - KIA 2, Samsung 1
4/26 - KIA 10, Samsung 2

Friday was the battle of the Yoons. KIA ace Yoon Seok-min rumbled to the bump for KIA, while Yoon Seong-hwan took the ball for Samsung. Neither were all that impressive and neither figured in the decision. Yoon Seok-min worked 6 innings(114 pitches, 75 strikes). He allowed 4 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks. He recorded 5 K's. Yoon Seong-hwan lasted 6 1/3 innings(108 pitches, 75 strikes). He allowed 5 runs on 8 hits and 1 walk, but only struck out 3. Samsung was losing 5-4 in the 8th inning when catcher Jin Kab-yong connected for a 2-run homer that gave Samsung a 6-5 lead. Samsung closer Oh Seung-hwan tossed a 1-2-3 9th inning with 2 K's. He recorded his league leading 6th save.

Saturday was all about KIA's pitching. Samsung had exactly 2 hits, but managed to draw 9 walks. KIA starter Yang Hyeon-jong left the game after the 7th inning with a 1-hitter. Yang struck out 3 and walked 6 during his start. KIA 3rd baseman drew first blood with a sac fly in the 1st inning. That would be KIA's only run until the 9th inning. Samsung tied the game in the 8th inning on a passed ball. Samsung infielder Shin Myeong-cheol ran sprinted home from 3rd when the ball got past KIA catcher Kim Sang-hoon. KIA broke the 1-1 tie in the top of the 9th. KIA shortstop Lee Hyeon-gon hit a groundball through the left side to score Ahn Chi-hong from 3rd and give us our 2-1 final.

On Sunday, KIA absolutely pounded Samsung starter Ahn Ji-man. I've been a big supporter of Ahn's in the past, but even I wouldn't accept a high-five from him after Sunday's effort. He was thumped for 6 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks during his 3 crummy innings. KIA's Na Ji-hwan hit a solo homer in the 1st inning. Na finished the game 2-5 with 2 walks, 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored. After Ahn walked the bases loaded in the 3rd inning, Kim Sang-hyeon hit a grand slam to give KIA a 6-0 lead. On the other side of the field Rick Guttormson pitched well. Rick tossed 7 strong innings(109 pitches, 63 strikes) of 1-run baseball. 6 hits and 2 walks with 6 K's. The only run he allowed came on a Park Jin-man solo homer in the 4th inning. Guttormson is looking MUCH more confident these days than he did during the first week. A few nice starts will do that for you.


Lotte vs. LG

4/24 - LG 7, Lotte 6 (8)
4/25 - LG 10, Lotte 9
4/26 - Lotte 5, LG 3

Everything about Friday's game was ugly. The weather was awful, pitching was awful and there was more than one instance of awful fielding. This was your typical KBO 10 pitcher meatgrinder. Roberto Petagine did hit his 6th homer in this soggy affair, but not much else is really worth writing about. After both starters were chased from the game early, the bullpens took turns giving up runs until the umpires told everyone to go home. LG didn't really win this game, they just happened to have the most runs when the dust settled. Lee Dae-ho finished the game 2-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI's. Also, somehow Karim Garcia hit a triple. He probably needed more than a few oxygen canisters by the time he bellyflopped into 3rd.

After clobbering Lotte pitching in the early innings, LG's bullpen tried really hard to give the lead back. With a 10-4 lead in the 8th, LG allowed Lotte to mount a 4-run rally in the 8th inning. Kim Min-sang hit a 2 RBI single to make the score 10-6. The next batter, center fielder Lee In-gu hit an RBI infield single to get Lotte even closer. Kim Joo-chan hit a chopper up the middle that was fielded cleanly, but Roberto Petagine couldn't find the handle on the throw. Another run scored on the error to make the game 10-8. With runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out, Lotte's Park Nam-seob grounded out to short to score a run and record the 2nd out. With the tying run on 3rd base, Kim Min-sang hit a towering pop up to left to end the game. LG left fielder Park Yong-taek put together a solid day at the plate. Park finished 3-6 with a homer, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. LG DH Choi Dong-soo helped LG's cause with 3 RBIs.

On Sunday Lotter starting pitcher Jang Won-joon actually gave the Giants a quality start. It's amazing what happens when your starting pitcher makes it out of the 4th inning. Jang threw 7 innings(107 pitches, 69 strikes). He allowed 2 runs on 5 hits and 4 walks. He managed to strikeout 3. LG Ace Bong Jung-geun pitched well enough to win, but didn't get much help. Bong threw 6 innings(108 pitches, 64 strikes). He allowed 3 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks with 4 K's. With Lotte leading 3-2 in the 7th inning, Lee Dae-ho hit a 2-run bomb to extende Lotte's advantage to 5-2. Lotte would need the insurance. Jon Adkins surrendered his first KBO run in the 9th inning. He was able to get the save, but there was a little more excitement than we've gotten used to with Big Jon.

I feel awful. Time to build a small fort out of blankets and pillows and camp out until my alarm goes off tomorrow morning.

source: koreabaseball@blogspot.com

April 26th, 2009

My schedule has really slowed down but it hasn’t necessarily been a bad thing. After being taken off the major league roster after pitching just one inning (biting my tongue) I have had the opportunity to spend time with some new teammates and some players who are rehabbing injuries.

Playing in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language can make it difficult to talk with teammates and to really get to know them. The one common denominator is baseball and with a little effort you can find a way to both share your thoughts on pitching and get theirs as well. I have been on both ends of this over the past couple of weeks and have enjoyed it.

A couple of the Korean pitchers ask me about certain pitches I throw, how I hold them, use them, etc. I am glad to share with them things I have learned over my career and tips I have gotten to help me improve my game. Over the past 15 years I’ve played with some great players and have had some great coaches. I’m glad to pass along any information that some of the Korean players may find helpful. It’s rewarding to talk (mostly play charades) to them about a pitch or mechanics, see them try it and be able to execute it.

It has worked both ways. There are a lot of side-arm throwers in Asia. Dropping down or throwing side arm, whatever you want to call it, is something I have tried sporadically since 2000. Since last July I have made more of a commitment to it and have been studying successful side-armers. I was preparing to pitch in the States this year as a full time side-arm lefty reliever before the opportunity to start Korea presented itself.

We have one of Korea’s all time best on our team and although he is right handed the idea is the same. I am interested in what has worked for him and what hasn’t. Having pitched in over 800 games here brings credibility to what he has to say and the fact the he speaks decent enough English is a big help. He has been great about helping me and with some practice I am hoping to incorporate things he has showed me into my own pitching.

As boring as things are for me right now this has been a good way to pass the time.


source: cjbaseball.com

April 26, 2009

SK Wyverns veteran outfielder Park Jae-hong became the first Korean player to join the club of those who have recorded over 250 home runs and 250 steals during a 8-2 home win on Thursday.

Park, who was named in the starting lineup as a centerfielder with at-bat fifth, stole second base in the second inning after he went to first with a single against the Lotte Giants.

As Giants starter Cho Jung-hoon threw his third pitch against Choi Jeong of the Wyverns, Park ran to second base. Giants catcher Kang Min-ho tried to throw to second but he dropped the ball from his glove.

It was also a historical day for the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) because the 35-year-old veteran has now recorded 277 homers with 250 steals.

Park, who stole the base for the first time against the LG Twins on April 13 in his debut year in 1996, marked his first home run in the KBO three days later against the Hanwha Eagles.

The fast and powerful batter Park, who joined the 30 (home run)-30 (steal) club in his debut year with 30 dingers and 36 steals, made the club two times more in 1998 and 2000 with 30 homers and 43 steals and then 32 and 30. He is the only player to have made the 30-30 club three times.

To make the 250-250 club is also rare, even in Major League Baseball (MLB). Though former Major Leaguer Barry Bonds made the 500 (home run)-500 (steal) club, only 19 players have joined the MLB 250-250 club, the last one being Alfonso Soriano of the Chicago Cubs.

In Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), only four ― including legend Jang Hoon ― have secured the honor.

Giants Cho Sung-hwan Injuries Face

Lotte Giants captain Cho Sung-hwan had his cheekbone broken by a SK Wyverns reliever Chae Byeong-yong pitch.

In the eighth inning, Chae's sixth pitch struck the 32-year-old and he underwent surgery yesterday.

It is expected to take almost two or three months for him to fully recover.

Chae apologized to the Giants fans and dugout with a nod by taking his cap off.

He also went to the hospital with the Wyverns coach Lee Man-soo to visit Cho after the game and apologized again.

``It's fine. Sometimes it happens during the game. I hope Chae does not have his tail between his legs,'' Cho said.

Chae added, ``I am really worried because Cho's injury is more severe than I expected. I don't know why the ball went to his face. I am really sorry about that."

However, during the game the angered Giants reliever Kim Il-yeop pitched a hit to Park gave at the bottom of the eighth, which was suspected to be a mark of revenge.

Park then approached the mound, causing both dugouts to clash and suspending the game for about six minutes.


source: koreantimes.co.kr
By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
yc@koreatimes.co.kr

Samsung 4, LG 1
W - Francisco Cruceta(1-2), L - Shim Su-chang(1-2), S - Oh Seung-hwan (5)

LG outfielder Ahn Chi-yong drove in a run on an RBI single in the first inning and that was all the offense LG was able to muster against Cruceta. Cruceta worked 6 solid innings(92 pitches, 53 strikes). He allowed only the 1 run on 4 hits and 1 walk. He appeared to pitch more to contact in this game and only tallied 3 K's. Samsung rallied for 4 runs in the 6th inning. Samsung 1B Chae Tae-in hit a 2-run single to put Samsung on the board. CF Park Han-yi and SS Park Jin-man also drove in runs in the inning. Oh Seung-hwan tossed a scoreless 9th to tie for the league lead in saves. Reports of his demise were terribly premature.


Hanwha 7, Seoul Heroes 6
W - Kim Hyeok-min(2-1), L - Jang Won-sam(0-2)

Didn't Jang Won-sam used to be good? He appeared to be as good as some of the other young, hard throwing lefties in the KBO last season. This year not so much. He left this game with a 6.38 ERA and 1.80 WHIP. If the Heroes want to even fake contending, Jang needs to get the results he got last season. Last night he was battered for 5 runs in 4 1/3 innings pitched(94 pitches, 62 strikes). He allowed 7 hits and 2 walks with 6 K's, but 2 of the hits went beyond the fences. As poor as Jang was on the mound, Doug Clark was excellent at the plate. The Heroes center fielder went 5-5 with a double, a homer, a stolen base, 4 RBI and 2 runs scored. He was Mr. Everything for the Seoul Heroes. His homer was part of a fake rally in the 9th inning. With the score 7-3 and the game looking very much in doubt, the Heroes fake rallied there way to a 7-6 loss. A 7-6 loss looks better than a 7-3 loss. At the plate for Hanwha, Kim Tae-gyun clubbed his 5th homer of the season.


SK 8, Lotte 2
W - Ken Kadokura(1-0), L - Cho Jeong-hoon(2-2)

Ken Kadokura turned in a very nice effort in his first KBO start. Kadokura worked 6 2/3 innings(91 pitches, 59 strikes) of 1 run baseball on six hits. He struck out 4 and didn't walk anyone. Park Jae-hong stole the headline from Kadokura by recording his 250th stolen base. Park is now the only player in the history of the KBO to record 250 homers and stolen bases. If only we had video footage of this historic event. He doesn't turn 36 until September, but he'd have to rack up at least 30 steals if he wanted to even have an outside shot of reaching 300/300. He hasn't stolen more than 20 bases in a season since 2006. He should be able to get to 300 homers sometime next year. He's currently got 277 career homers. He needs 9 more RBIs to reach 1000. Lotte starter Cho Joeng-hoon ran out of gas in the 5th inning. After being shutout for 4 innings, SK exploded for 6 runs in the 5th. SK outfielder Park Jeong-kwon hit a key homer that busted the inning wide open.


Doosan 3, KIA 0
W - Lee Jae-woo(1-0), L - Yim Joon-hyeok(0-1), S - Lee Yong chan(5)

This is the third day in a row that Doosan has won the game in the late innings. This time, Doosan and KIA were locked in a 0-0 tie that went into the 10th inning. In the top of the 10th, Doosan rallied for 3 runs off of the KIA bullpen. Kim Dong-joo scored on Jeong Soo-bin's RBI triple. After a walk to Koh Yeong-min, Jeong was driven in by SS Son Si-hyeon. Finally, Choi Seung-hwan drove in Koh on an RBI double. KIA bullpen Meltdown...complete. Doosan reliever Jin Ya-kob was asked to start and he did his best. Jin worked 4 scoreless innings(62 pitches, 40 strikes) for the Bears. He allowed only 3 hits and 2 walks with 2 K's. Senor Smoke, Aquilino Lopez, tossed 7 shutout innings(115 pitches, 68 strikes) for the Tigers. He allowed 6 hits and 3 walks with 5 K's, but sadly couldn't get any help from his offense.

April 24, 2009


Jang Min-ik

Sure, historic powerhouses Gwangju High School and Kyungnam Jaeil High School are favorites in the 43rd Presidential Cup High School Baseball Tournament, which kicks off Friday at western Seoul’s Mokdong Stadium.

And three teams from Seoul - Deoksu, Chungam and Seoul High School - are in the top tier this year as well.

But any of the 25 teams who qualified for the Presidential Cup tourney through regional tournaments has a shot at playing the Cinderella role. It’s happened before, and it will happen again.

Although the five aforementioned powerhouses cannot be ignored, neither can the underdogs. In fact, the unpredictable nature of the tournament, which lasts until May 2, is a big part of its charm.

“Trying to predict the winner of a high school tourney is harder than picking the winner of a Korea Series,” said one scout.

In the end, individual players might make the difference.

One player who is sure to turn heads on opening day is Hyocheon High (Suncheon, South Jeolla) senior pitcher Jang Min-ik.

Standing 207 centimeters (6-foot-8), he is easily the tallest pitcher ever in both pro and amateur levels.

“I’ve never seen such a tall player in all of my 15 years of scouting,” said SK scout Huh Jeong-wook.

The KBO has never had a player over 2 meters tall. Former Doosan Bears player Moon Hui-sung at 198 centimeters was the tallest.

This season, Hanhwa’s rookie Park Sung-ho, a Korea University graduate is the tallest, at 197 centimeters.

Jang has been garnering a lot of attention from the pro scouts for his height alone. And although he’s still a little raw, he has the potential to make it big at the next level.

“He’s a player worth taking a chance on,” Huh said. “If developed properly, he can become a top-notch pitcher. Players with such height often lack balance, but Jang is flexible for his size.”

If he proves his worth at the tournament, he has a shot at being taken in the second or third round of the amateur draft.



By Ha Nam-jik, Jason Kim [jason@joongang.co.kr]

April 24, 2009

A disconcerting number of my stories these days begin with the words “North Korea.”

And a disconcerting amount of my waking life is spent tracking down government officials who don’t want their names used in the newspaper and talking to spokesmen who don’t mind speaking on the record but, alas, have nothing interesting or newsworthy to say.

So when I come home from a long day at work, the last thing I want to do is turn on the nightly news.

Instead, I love snuggling up to the delayed coverage of sports games.

People say there’s no point in watching sports games if you already know the result. But, as a true sports fan, I enjoy examining how plays develop and how momentum shifts in the key moments of a game.

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to do that recently with local baseball.

Long story short, the broadcasting rights holder of Korea Baseball Organization games and the nation’s four sports cable stations remain at odds over rights fees this season. Unable to reach a compromise, the cable stations yanked KBO games last weekend.

Now we’re left with two options: watch KBO games on regional terrestrial networks or view them over the Internet (each team streams games live on it Web site). Neither is a great option.

Apparently, the cable stations didn’t actually have a deal in place before the season to carry KBO games. Instead, the stations said they were airing the games out of goodwill because the sport - fresh off Korea’s runner-up finish at the World Baseball Classic in March - arguably has never been more popular.

For baseball fans, this is deja vu all over again.

Before the World Baseball Classic, rights holders and broadcasters didn’t reach a deal until less than 24 hours before Korea’s first preliminary game against Taiwan.

This time around, the cable stations say they want to pay 1 billion won ($743,000) for the rights. The company that owns the rights, Eclat Entertainment, says it will go no lower than 1.4 billion won .

I could go on and on about who’s right and who’s wrong, though it’s hard to say if anyone’s right in this situation.

My current status as a full-time fan and part-time commentator on these pages gives me a slightly different perspective on this kind of issue. In other words, I can vent my frustration as a fan and not feel so guilty about it.

Sometimes, as the great ’80s rock band Cinderella once belted, you don’t know what you got ‘till it’s gone. I was used to watching the taped coverage of four different ball games on four different channels late at night.

Now I feel lost, mindlessly surfing past mixed martial arts, billiards and Italian football.

I want my baseball back, and quick.

I imagine broadcasters are struggling to fill up air time, too. Baseball games can easily eat up three hours at a time slot when there are no live local games to televise and when hardly anyone is up watching sports coverage.

Yes, money is an important issue. I understand both sides want to get the best deal possible for their own interests.

But this stalemate doesn’t have to be all that complicated. The two sides should only remember the fans. We shouldn’t have to struggle to watch games on computer monitors or on non-sports cable channels with primitive graphics.

We deserve much better.


By Yoo Jee-ho Staff Reporter
[jeeho@joongang.co.kr]

LG 6, Samsung 4
W - Jeong Jae-bok(1-1), L - Bae Yong-su(0-2), S - Woo Gyu-min (2)

6-4 makes this game sound close. If it weren't for a 2 RBI double from Chae Tae-in in the 7th, the final would have been 6-2. Bae Yong-su ended his consecutive quality starts streak at 1. I can't believe it was ever that high. Bae was battered for all 6 LG runs during his 5 1/3 innings(98 pitches, 55 strikes) of work. LG starting pitcher Jeong Jae-bok threw well enough to win. Jeong worked 6 innings(106 pitches, 60 strikes) of 2-run baseball. He allowed 3 hits, 1 hit batsman and 3 walks with 3 K's. He surrendered a solo homer in the 2nd inning to veteran catcher Jin Kab-yong. Yang Joon-hyeok is still sitting at 340 homers. It would be more than a little funny if Yang hit his record breaker and the KBO didn't have it on video. The fact that this is even a possibility makes me want to punch a dolphin.


Hanwha 11, Seoul Heroes 1
W - Ryu Hyeon-jin(3-0), L - Kim Su-kyeong (1-3)

If you give Ryu Hyeon-jin a lead he's probably going to hold it. Hanwha gave Ryu a 7-run cushion to work with and he didn't disappoint. Ryu tossed 6 innings(109 pitches, 61 strikes) of 1-run baseball. He allowed only 5 hits and 4 walks with 7 K's. Ryu did an excellent job of pitching out of jams and didn't let the walks burn him. The Hanwha offense crushed 5 homers against a helpless Heroes pitching staff. DH Kim Tae-won hit a 2-run blast in the 2nd. RF Victor Diaz and 2B Oh Seon-jin hit solo homers and in the 9th 3B Lee Beom-ho delivered a 3-run "eff you" jack to make sure the Heroes knew they were beaten.


SK 13, Lotte 1
W - Jeon Byeon-doo(1-0), L - Song Seung-joon (0-3)

In last night's only televised game, SK absolutely hung one on Song Seung-joon. Song couldn't locate his breaking stuff and he left his fastball up. That means he was hit really, really hard. He was thumped to the tune of 8 runs in the first two innings. Half of the damage came on a grand slam home run from SK catcher Park Kyeong-won. Song managed to stick around for 4 innings, so the Lotte bullpen isn't completely blown up. Jeon Byeon-doo was the lucky beneficiary of SK's early offensive outburst. The SK starter was able to cruise to an easy W. During his 5 innings of work(88 pitches, 53 strikes) he allowed only 1 run on 5 hits and 3 walks. He did manage to strike out 8 Giants. The lone bright spot for Lotte was catcher Kang Min-ho. Kang accounted for Lotte's only run when he hit a solo homer in the 2nd inning. He finished the game 2-3 with a walk.


Doosan 6, KIA 4
W - Seong Yeong-hoon(2-0), L - Han Ki-joo (0-2), S - Lee Yong-chan (4)

Another day, another late inning Doosan comeback and this time... I STILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE I CAN'T WATCH THE EFFING BALL GAME. For the 2nd day in a row Doosan pummelled KIA closer Han Ki-joo. Goh Yeong-min drove in 2 of the runs, but I'm unclear as to what else happened. I also don't have the time or the patience to translate an article when I have a basic idea about what happened. Here's what you need to know: Han looked awful and he blew the save. KIA starter Seo Jae-weong deserves better than this KIA bullpen. He pitched well enough to win. In his 6 innings(123 pitches, 73 strikes) of work he allowed 3 runs on 5 hits, 4 walks and 1 hit batsman. He also struck out 7 Bears. Choi Hee-seop was the only other bright spot for KIA he thumped his 6th homer of the season in the 8th inning.


source: koreabaseball.blogspot.com

Samsung 5, LG 3
W - Kwon Hyeok(2-1), L - Bong Jung-geun(1-2), S - Oh Seung-hwan (4)

In the only game that was broadcast on tv... at all, Samsung was able to scrape together enough of an offense to earn the W. Samsung 6-7-8 hitters, Kang Bong-gyu, Woo Dong-gyun and Cho Dong-chan, combined to go 7 for 11 with 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Cho's 6th inning RBI double was the only extra base hit for Samsung last evening. Reliever Ahn Ji-man was asked to start and he managed to work 4 mediocre innings before being taken out. LG Ace Bong Jung-geun continued his struggles against the Lions. After losing to Samsung on Opening Day, Bong was looking for some revenge. He didn't get it. Bong worked 6 innings(107 pitches, 64 strikes) and surrendered 5 runs. He allowed 8 hits, 1 walk and 1 hit batsman with 3 K's. Not his finest outing. Oh Seung-hwan struck out 2 batters in the 9th to help earn his 4th save.


Hanwha 8, Seoul Heroes 4
W - Ahn Yeong-Myeong(2-0), L - Ma Il-yeong (2-2)

Heroes ace Ma Il-yeong was terrible. He allowed 7 runs over 4 2/3 innings(82 pitches, 54 strikes) pitched, but he allowed 6 runs in the first inning. Lee Beom-ho connected for a grand slam to account for the majority of the damage. Eagles starter Ahn Yeong-myeong wasn't much better, but he was able to hold the lead. Ahn tossed 5 1/3 innings(66 pitches, 43 strikes). He allowed 4 runs on 6 hits with 2 K's. 3 of the 6 hits didn't stay in the park. Doug Clark, Lee Sung-yong and Song Ji-man all connected for solo homers off of Ahn.


SK 9, Lotte 1
W - Goh Hyo-joon(2-0), L - Jang Won-joon (0-3)

SK jumped all over Jang Won-joon early. SK 3rd baseman Choi Jeong clubbed a 3-run bomb in the 3rd off of Jang to give SK a 5-0 lead SK managed to tack on a few insurance runs and the lead to 7-0 before Lotte would get on the scoreboard in the 6th. Kang Min-ho delivered an RBI single to give Lotte its only run. With the early lead, SK starter Goh Hyo-joon was able to cruise to an easy W. Goh stuck around for 5 1/3 innings(105 pitches, 66 strikes) before his pitch count demanded his removal. He allowed 1 run on 4 hits, 4 walk and 1 hit batter. He managed to record 6 strikeouts during his outing. SK lead off man Jeong Geun-woo continued to swing a hot bat. He finished the night 3-5 with an RBI and 2 runs scored.


Doosan 9, KIA 5
W - Yim Tae-hoon(1-0), L - Han Ki-joo (0-1)

KIA held a 5-4 lead heading into the 9th, but Doosan struck for a 5-run rally to rescue victory from the jaws of defeat. It appears that Han Ki-joo was asked to work 2 innings, but didn't have anything after sitting in the dugout during the KIA half of the 8th inning. I'd love to give more detail, but I don't live in Gwangju and the game wasn't broadcast. I can't even look at highlights because they weren't recorded. KIA starter Rick Guttormson struggled against Doosan. I'm guessing he didn't find the patient Doosan team as much fun to throw to as the swing at everything Lotte team. Rick didn't make it out of the 4th. Doosan 1st baseman Choi Joon-seok clubbed his league leading 6th homer last night. It would've been nice to have seen it. Choi has shown this power before, in 2007 he clubbed 16 homers and drove in 75 in 386 AB's, but he had a terrible 2008 season. He spent most of the season on the bench and couldn't figure anything out last year. He struck out 46 times in only 169 at bats. I'm buying the power #'s. I think he can mash, but I'm not buying the batting average. He's currently hitting .440. I don't think he'll finish over .300, let alone .400.

The KBO and its broadcasting partners are involved in a dispute. Apparently, the KBO wants broadcasters to pay around 1.4 billion won for the broadcasting rights to KBO games. The broadcasters don't want to pay it because of the KBO webcast policy. The broadcasting companies claim that the webcast takes away viewers and want to be compensated for it. So, they've pulled broadcasts. The KBO has reached a deal with DealOne to broadcast one game a day, but the other companies are still holding out. This makes the KBO look like complete morons. This should have been hammered out before the season started.

SK center fielder Park Jae-hong needs one more stolen base to be the only member of the KBO's 250 homer/250 stolen base club.

I don't want to talk about how poorly written this is. Yay! Homers! Woo! A choice cut... "As each team will play 133 games ― five more than last season ― these sluggers could generate more than a minimum of 47 based on the assumption that they will hit five every 13 games." I believe they played 126 games last year. That's 7 fewer than 133. I don't want to get started on how silly the rest of this is. I just want to shake my head and forget that this guy gets paid to write about baseball for a living.

South Korea had a can-you-believe-it moment at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) last month as it reached the final.

But the aftermath of the tournament is bugging its pitchers, which stunned baseball powers, such as Venezuela, Mexico and Japan.

Whereas batters continue brandishing red-hot sticks before local fans, Kia Tigers hurler Yoon Suk-min has not collected a win in three outings.

He allowed five runs over four innings against the LG Twins Saturday and yielded six runs in five innings in the season opener against the Doosan Bears, which has contributed to his ERA rising to 6.00.

The 22-year-old right-hander made a name for himself in the Classic after allowing two runs in 6 1/3 innings against the Major Leaguer-studded Venezuelan team in the semifinals of the Classic.

He notched 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA in four games, including two starts.

Reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Kim Kwang-hyun of the SK Wyverns still has not bounced back from his WBC bad numbers.

The left-handed fireballer put up one loss and a 21.60 ERA in four appearances.

The 20-year-old, who started the season in the second-tier league, seemed to regain his form, pitching a three-run seven innings against the Tigers in his return on April 7.

But the 16-game winner last season gave up three runs in six innings and five runs in 5 1/3 to compile a 4.91 ERA in the 2009 season.

For batters, Hanwha Eagles first baseman Kim Tae-kyun, who led the packs in home runs and RBIs, has maintained his swing.

The 26-year-old is ranked third in batting average with a .435, and first in on-base percentage (OBP) with a .509 alongside a tie for fifth in homers with four.

Bears outfielder Kim Hyun-soo, who batted .393 in the WBC, has a .811 slugging percentage, the best record in the league, and a .415 average, the fifth best with four home runs.

Wyverns infielder Jeong Keun-woo leads the league in hits with 27 and bats .429, the fourth best.

Eagles third baseman Lee Bum-ho, who drilled a game-tying single in the ninth inning of the final, is tied for fifth in home runs after going deep for his fourth, which was a grand slam, on Tuesday night.

In the U.S. Major Leagues, Cleveland Indians outfielder Choo Shin-soo has flicked out three homers over the fence and eight RBIs with a batting average of .261.

As for Japanese players in Major League Baseball (MLB), the Boston Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Mastuzaka, who was again the WBC MVP, was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 15 with fatigue in his pitching shoulder, which apparently came from the WBC performance ― three wins with a 2.45 ERA in three starts ― after he had posted a 12.79 in two games.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, on the other hand, has batted .357 with three dingers, 10 RBIs and 12 runs in 12 games.


article date: April 22, 2009
source: By Kang Seung-woo
ksw@koreatimes.co.kr

APRIL 22, 2009 06:48

Eri Yoshida in December last year made history by becoming the first female baseball player in Japan.

Yoshida, 17, a graduate of Kawasaki Kita High School, was picked seventh in the minor league draft by the expansion team Kansai in Kobe. She is small with a height of 155 centimeters and weight of 50 kilograms, but has a mean knuckleball.

With an annual salary of 1.8 million yen a year (18,332 U.S. dollars), she entered a game March 27 in Osaka as a relief pitcher in the ninth inning. Kansai was up 5-0 with no outs and a man on second base.

Yoshida gave up a walk and had a strikeout, but was pulled. Afterwards, she disappeared due to a shoulder injury, but her historic appearance remained a hot topic among baseball fans in Japan.

Will Korea also see a woman play professional baseball? Perhaps it might in Korean American Jane Eo, 19. She tried out last year for the Kia Tigers, Samsung Lions and SK Wyverns.

Eo failed because, in the words of one scout, “Though she has basic skills, she lacks power compared to men.”

She tried out again for SK at the team’s spring training in Japan’s Kochi Prefecture in February but failed again.

Eo cried as she walked away from the Kochi baseball park with her father. She remained in bed for days over her rejection before deciding to try again. Resuming batting practice, she said, “I cannot give up and return to the United States at this point.”

She will try out at Korea’s first national amateur tryout at Shinwol Baseball Stadium in Seoul Saturday and Sunday. Hosted by the Korea Business Baseball Federation, the event attracts high school and college players and journeymen.

Eo said, “My goal is to win recognition as a player on par with male players.”

● Overcoming gender discrimination

“They said I was unqualified after a one-day tryout. I still cannot give up. I cannot live a day without baseball,” Eo said.

Eo began playing baseball at age 11, saying she liked pitching and hitting the ball. She became the first Korean American to join the U.S. national team.

She started at shortstop at the third World Women’s Baseball World Cup in August last year, leading the United States to third place. Though a shortstop, she also played pitcher.

Eo’s fastball has been timed as fast as 130 kilometers (80 miles) per hour and she has a batting average of .300.

Nevertheless, she has repeatedly failed to impress a professional team. Refusing to give up, she is undergoing strength training by running up steps at Goyang Stadium dozens of times per day and lifting barbells again and again.

She also practiced with the Chungam High School baseball team, this year’s national champion.

● Diamond dream continues

Eo was born in the United States. She learned about Korea in 2006, when Korea advanced to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic.

She started learning Korean and began thinking about playing baseball in her motherland. She moved in with her father in the Ilsan district of Goyang, a northern Seoul suburb, in July last year.

Receiving her residence visa last month, Eo is teaching English at a foreign language institute at night to become economically independent.

Yosida’s role model is Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield, a knuckleball specialist. Eo says she likes New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter.

Yosida realized her dream while Eo is still pursuing hers.

“It doesn’t matter whether I become an amateur or a rookie in the pros. I will never give up until I achieve my dream,” Eo said.


source: donga.com

April 22, 2009

It’s a feat never achieved in the KBO, a record that represents a rare combination of power and speed.

Park Jae-hong of the SK Wyverns is one steal away from becoming the only Korea Baseball Organization player with both 250 steals and 250 home runs in his career.

The 35-year-old veteran has recorded three home runs and two steals this season, bringing his career totals to 277 and 249, respectively.

The 250-250 milestone has been reached only 19 times in the Major League Baseball and four times in the Japanese pros.

Just six MLB players have reached the next benchmark, the 300-300 club. That group includes the likes of Willie Mayes, Barry Bonds, Andre Dawson, Bobby Bonds, Reggie Sanders and Steve Finley.

Park displayed power and speed around the base paths from the onset of his career, smashing 30 home runs and 36 steals during his rookie season in 1996.

No other player had achieved that double feat - 30 or more home runs and 30 or more steals in one season - in the history of the KBO. Yet Park did it his rookie year, which presented just a taste of things to come. Park followed that up in 1998 with 30 home runs and 43 steals and 32 home runs and 30 steals in 2000.

Getting his last steal to hit the 250-250 mark has not been easy, though.

Park successfully stole a base during an April 9 game in Gwangju against the Kia Tigers, and he recorded another steal the very next day in Mokdong, western Seoul, against the Heroes to reach 249.

But he has been stuck there since then, despite playing in eight games.

The problem stems from his low on-base percentage. Park is hitting an unimpressive .229 percent this season, providing him with limited opportunities to steal.

From April 11 to 16, Park managed just three hits and one walk in 28 at-bats. There was a runner on second on two occasions when he reached first base, blocking his chance at a steal.

A southpaw pitcher manning the mound made it difficult for Park to get a solid lead from first on another occasion. To make matters worse, Park was hit in the right knee on an inside pitch during the ninth inning of a game against the Hanhwa Eagles on April 17. Although Park wasn’t seriously injured, he experienced discomfort and severe swelling in his right knee.

The defending champion SK Wyverns are currently in first place with eight wins, two ties and four losses and are in a three-game series with the Lotte Giants until this Thursday.

While the final steal has not been easy for Park, he has a long season ahead of him - and his illustrious career seems far from over.


source: joongang.co.kr
By Choi Min-gyu, Jason Kim
[jason@joongang.co.kr]

April 21, 2009

Baseball fans, rejoice: KBO games are back on cable television.

D-One TV has reached an agreement to broadcast Korean Baseball Organization games starting tonight with the match between the LG Twins and the Samsung Lions.

The deal comes after four cable channels abruptly decided to yank baseball games from their lineups because of conflicts over licensing rights fees. Some games still aired on local channels, but the four cable networks didn’t - and for now, won’t - air the matches listed on their schedules.

D-One TV specializes in movies and reality programs and reaches about 8.5 million households in 80 regions.

The network has not broadcast sporting events in the past, but it decided to seize the opportunity to enter a new arena after the weekend’s turmoil.

Several other cable channels also are interested in obtaining rights to broadcast games. There also is still a chance that the KBO can reach a deal with the four sports cable channels.

The dispute is somewhat unusual, marking the first time in KBO history that games have been taken off of the air because of a conflict.

The issue revolves around the licensing fees the KBO requires from broadcasters for the right to air the games on TV.

Broadcasters, faced with 15 billion won ($11.25 million) in losses last season tied to a drop in advertisements stemming from slumping economic conditions, are demanding a significant discount.

The fee last season was 1.6 billion won. But the broadcast companies have said they need it reduced by 1 billion won.

The KBO had said it would reduce the fee, but only to 1.4 billion won.

The disagreement left baseball fans fuming.

Many of them posted messages on the KBO’s Web site criticizing the broadcasting companies. One baseball fan took aim at the broadcasters for doling out much more for the rights to broadcast Japanese professional baseball games.

“For the broadcasters to spend 10 billion won on Japanese baseball games and yet complain about spending 1.5 billion won on domestic baseball games is a mere ploy to reduce the licensing rights fee,” the fan wrote on KBO’s site.


source: joongang.co.kr

April 21, 2009

April 21st, 2009

I am an observationist, to a fault I notice a lot of what is going on around me. Mostly it is useless things that people don’t find interesting, but every once in a while they do.

For example, I recently pointed out to a friend who spends a significant time in both Japan and Korea how much I disliked the quality and feel of napkins in restaurants in Japan (they’re waxy, small and not very absorbent) and hoped Korea was not the same. He told me he never noticed them before but now every time we go out to eat he brings it up. Another time I was at Fenway Park in Boston and noted to a teammate something strange about the foul poles at the stadium. He told me he played for the Red Sox for 6 years and never noticed it, but then couldn’t help starring at what I had showed him the rest of the game. I think this trait is a result of growing up in the Seinfeld generation.

I guess I am just always noticing what is going on around me which isn’t always a good thing, especially as a pitcher, I have to really concentrate to get that tunnel vision you hear athletes talk about so often.

Some things I have seen over the past couple of weeks that caught my eye:

- In Korea older moms and daughters or elderly female friends hold hands or interlock arms a lot when they are walking down the street. It looks nice.

- I saw an umpire standing behind the batting cage during batting practice getting into his game stance, watching the pitch and completely going through his ball and strike calls at the top of his lungs while another umpire critiqued him.

- During a recent game our team skipped batting practice. It wasn’t a day off from BP, those don’t exist in Asia, we had played poor defense the day before so instead of hitting we took infield practice during our BP time. I’d love to see the reaction of players in the States if you tried to pull that one off.

- I don’t think they use the term or sell things by the “dozen” in many places outside the U.S., ten eggs in a carton here.

- Single riders in taxi cabs in Korea often sit in the front seat next to the driver and leave the back seat empty.

- I had warmed up and was ready to start the 3rd inning the other day but had to wait because the manager of the other team was holding a full team meeting in the dugout. It wasn’t a short wait.

- About every other day I stop into Dunkin’ Donuts and grab some donuts for the manager and the team. The same girl is always working the counter and I always greet her with a smile and facial expression as to say “good morning, nice to see you again.” I can never get her to smile back and she always looks at me as if she has never seen me before. I am a face in the crowd in the States, but not here, I never see other foreigners.

- In the middle of an at bat the manager of the team hitting called timeout and summoned his batter over to the on deck circle and had a meeting with him that lasted at least a minute. I saw this twice in two separate games.

- Our team played a game against the Police…and lost.

- I checked into a hotel today that had clocks with times from around the world above the reception desk; Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York, Paris and London. I noticed the minute hand was not exactly the same on all of them which immediately bothered me. Upon further review I realized the second hands weren’t moving and that the batteries were dead in each clock, there is a part of me that wanted to go buy batteries and fix them.


source: CJBaseball.com

Former Major Leaguer Choi Hee-seop of the KIA Tigers shares first place in the home run standings with five.

Korean baseball fans may see a new home run king producing more than 40 dingers this year.

Each team has played 13 or 14 games, and new sluggers as well as former power hitters have been heating up the race.

Former Major Leaguer Choi Hee-seop of the Kia Tigers has taken center stage, re-gaining his power stroke and leading the league with five homers.

LG Twins big bopper Roberto Petagine, a former home run king in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), also shared first place.

Both have failed to show their prowess in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).

Choi only generated seven homers in his league debut year, 2007, and showed poor performance after only hitting six last season.

But determined Choi, who played for the Chicago Cubs, Florida Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers in his four-year big league career, fixed his swing after losing 10 kilograms.

``Advice from batting coach Hwang Byung-il has helped me a lot. And I study a lot about the pitching patterns of Korean pitchers.

``I don't worry about my number of strikeouts. Having strikeouts can also mean you are producing lots of homers. I'm not afraid of it.''

Like Choi, Petagine had a difficult first season in 2008, sending only seven balls over the fence during the entire season. But the Venezuelan has gotten back on track, with the Twins slugger hitting five homers, including three homers in three consecutive at-bats, so far this year.

Last year’s home run king Kim Tae-kyun of the Hanwha Eagles trails the 2009 leading group by one. Kim is in second place with three other sluggers who have four homers each.

Competing with them are Hanwha Eagles' new foreign slugger Victor Diaz ― who makes up the team's feared line-up with Kim Tae-kyun and Lee Bum-ho ― and Doosan Bears big boy Choi Joon-seok at five.

Original sluggers also put in good performances. Last year, home run king Kim Tae-kyun of the Hanwha Eagles trailed the leading group by one with Lee Dae-ho and Karim Garcia of the Lotte Giants

Last season's leading hitter Kim Hyun-soo of the Doosan Bears also joined the second group by upgrading his power.

As each team will play 133 games ― five more than last season ― these sluggers could generate more than a minimum of 47 based on the assumption that they will hit five every 13 games.

No one has produced more than 40 dingers since Lee clinched top spot with 56 in 2003, which is the most home runs in any professional baseball league in Asia.

The reason many people expect that sluggers could generate more than 40 homers is simply because there are many rivals in the home run race.

When Lee produced 56, he had a very competitive rival in Shim Jung-soo, the then Hyundai Unicorns slugger.

Many baseball fans expect to see Korean sluggers to power their way through the domestic league just as they did at the second World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March.

Korea, which has been evaluated as ``small ball'' like the Japanese, made startled baseball fans by producing a string of homers through the Hanwha Eagles' Kim Tae-kyun, Choo Shin-soo of the Cleveland Indians and Lee Bum-ho, also of the Eagles.

Korean fans are ready to go wild with enthusiasm if the marker is broken, and the batters have been satisfying their expectation thus far.

article date: 04-21-2009
source: koreatimes.co.kr
By Yoon Chul [yc@koreatimes.co.kr]

4/17 - Doosan 13, Samsung 4
4/18 - Samsung 12, Doosan 3
4/19 - Samsung 5, Doosan 4

Doosan absolutely hung one on Samsung on Friday. The score was 12-0 before the 3rd inning was over. 13-4 makes this game sound close, but that didn't stop Doosan from using 7 different pitchers. Doosan exploded for a 4-run 2nd and a 6-run 3rd inning. Kim Dong-ju, Choi Joon-seok and Son Si-hyeon all delivered 3 RBI efforts for Doosan. Francisco Cruceta was awful again. Only 38 of his 78 pitches thrown went for strikes. He allowed 8 runs(5 earned) on 5 hits and 6 walks. Somehow, he struck out 5 batters. The lone bright spot for the Lions was outfielder Woo Dong-gyun's grand slam in the 4th inning. Woo's homer accounted for all of Samsung's offense in this game.

Samsung got some measure of revenge on Saturday with their 12-3 trouncing of the Bears. Samsung 1st baseman Chae Tae-in exploded with a 2 homer, 4 RBI effort, while Yoon Seong-hwan provided solid pitching. Yoon worked 6 innings(94 pitches, 65 strikes). He allowed 3 runs on 7 hits with 6 K's. Yoon really has emerged as the staff ace for this Samsung team. Here's hoping it continues. Samsung 3rd baseman Park Seok-min also had a nice night at the plate. Park finished 3-3 with 2 doubles, a homer, 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs. It's nice to see him heating up after a rough start.

Kim Sun-woo wasn't able to continue his solid start on Sunday. He was battered for 5 runs on 5 hits and 1 walk in only 1 2/3 innings of work. Samsung and Doosan scored all 9 runs in the first 4 innings and watched the bullpens put up 0 after 0 for 5 innings. Veteran Samsung infielder Shin Myeong-cheol went 3-4 with a first inning homer, 3 RBI's and 2 runs scored while left fielder Kim Hyeon-su and 1st baseman Choi Jun-seok both clubbed solo homers for Doosan. Samsung closer Oh Seung-hwan notched his 3rd save with a 1-2-3 9th inning.


source: koreabaseball.blogspot.com

4/17 - SK 10, Hanwha 9
4/18 - SK 9, Hanwha 4 (10)
4/19 - SK 8, Hanwha 2

Friday night's game was a typical 2009 KBO slugfest. The two teams combined for 6 homers. Hanwha was down 9-1 heading into the bottom of the 6th inning, but managed to rally for 4 runs in the 6th and again in the 7th to tie the game at 9. After finishing the 8th inning, Hanwha closer Brad Thomas stayed on for the 9th. He was more than a little wild. He loaded the bases with one out. SK 3rd baseman Choi Jeong hit a fly ball to deep right. The throw from Victor Diaz wasn't even close to home plate. The winning run crossed easily. SK ace Kim Kwang-hyeon had a rough outing against the Eagles. Kim threw 5 1/3 innings(107 pitches, 64 strikes) before exiting. Kim allowed 5 runs on 9 hits and 3 walks with only 4 K's. SK outfielder Park Jae-hong had solid night at the plate, but he had to exit the game in the 9th inning after he was drilled in the leg by a Brad Thomas fastball. Park finished 2-5 with a homer, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored.

It's not everyday you see a 9-4 final in 10 innings. SK absolutely battered Kim Baek-man. Actually, I'm convinced that Yang Hoon convinced Kim to switch jerseys. Yang threw 2 innings of relief without allowing a run and in fact looked like a competent pitcher, while Kim threw BP. When the dust settled, Kim was charged with 5 runs on 3 hits and 1 walk in only 2/3 of an inning. Wait. That can't be right. Either I'm wrong or the box score and highlights are. Whatever. This game also featured the KBO debut of Ken Kadokura. Kadokura threw 7 innings in relief of Lee Seung-ho. He allowed 2 runs on 5 hits, 2 hit batsmen and 3 walks. He also recorded 5 K's during his 117-pitch relief appearance. I'm guessing he starts his next game.

On Sunday, SK rode a 3-homer offensive outburst and a solid start from Song Eun-beom to victory. Song threw 7 solid innings(108 pitches, 71 strikes) of 1-run ball. He allowed only 3 hits and 1 walk with 8 K's. After being limited to part-time duty on Saturday, Park Jae-hong returned to the lineup with a homer in the 1st inning. SK 2nd baseman Jeong Geun-woo also had a solid day from the lead off spot. Park went 4-4 with 2 doubles, a walk, a stolen base and 1 run scored. DH Victor Diaz was the lone bright spot for the Eagles. He homered for the 2nd time in as many days on Sunday.


source: koreabaseball.blogspot.com

4/17 - Lotte 13, Heroes 8
4/18 - Lotte 5, Heroes 0
4/19 - Heroes 6, Lotte 2

Lotte battered Heroes pitching for 6 homeruns on Friday night. Karim Garcia lead the way with a 2-run bomb in the 7th and a solo shot in the 9th. Lee Dae-ho, Kim Joo-chan, Kang Min-ho and Lee In-gu also went deep for the Giants. The Seoul Heroes foreign guys also did well on Friday. Clark and Brumbaugh combined to go 4 for 10 with 5 RBI and 4 K's. This was just an ugly, long game.

On Satuday, Lotte Giants starter Kim Il-yeob was pulled after only 2 2/3 innings of work. He didn't appear to leave because of injury. I'm guessing he reached a set pitch count. 4 Lotte relievers combined to finish the shutout. Lee Jong Min notched a 3 inning save. At the plate, the homers continued. All 5 Lotte runs were hit via the longball. Cho Seong-hwan and Karim Garcia both hit 2-run bombs in the 4th inning. Lee Dae-ho added a solo shot in the 8th inning.

The Heroes finally got some pitching on Sunday and got themselves a W. Lee Hyeon-seung worked 6 solid innings(94 pitches, 63 strikes) of 2-run ball. He allowed only 5 hits and 1 walk with 4 K's while earning the W. It's still early in the season, but Lee is quietly among the league leaders in most pitching categories. Hwang Doo-seong struck out 3 of the 4 batters he faced to nail down his 4th save. At the plate for the Heroes, 3rd baseman Hwang Jae-gyun delivered a key 2 RBI double to give the Heroes a 2-1 lead in the 3rd inning. He would later score what would prove to be the winning run in the same inning on an RBI single from Doug Clark.


source: koreabaseball.blogspot.com