What's Up With Ryu?

Hanhwa ace, Ryu Hyeon-jin and film/tv star Kim Ha-neul enjoyed an ice skating date on Christmas eve.

I did a 2 minute search and this was the closest I could come to any kind of scandalous shot of Ha-neul. Weak, I know.

Pic of the Day

The is the first of a series of offseason pics I'll be tossing on the blog while I wait patiently for news.


A few players from the LG Twins stopped by a hospital to spread some Christmas cheer. They cheered up the kids by telling them their record from last season. "Hey kids, it could be worse...you could be us."

Keep This LG Team Together, but Break Up Doosan at All Costs!

LG has announced they'll be bringing back Chris Oxspring and Roberto Petagine for the '09 season. It wasn't really the foreign guys' fault, but LG fell to a league worst 46-80 last season. I'm surprised management didn't try "to go in a different direction."

Petagine actually had a nice half season at the plate. In 216 AB's, he posted a .347/.452/.532 line with 7 homers and 35 driven in. He gives LG a MUCH needed presence in the middle of the order.

Chris Oxspring posted a 10-10 record with a 3.93 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 174 innings for the Twins. I'm thrilled to have him back. I will always support the knuckleball. If he could throw an eephus I would be the happiest man in Daegu.

Finally Some Good News! Samsung Signs 2 Foreign Pitchers

I'm sorry that this blog has been so Samsung-centric lately, but they've been making a lot of the news these days. I had to discuss the "trade", gambling scandal and Shim Jeong-soo's retirement. I promise, to the 4 people that actually read this blog, that I will make an effort to cover the rest of the KBO...as soon as another team actually does something.

That being said, I'd like to welcome Runelvys Hernandez to Korea. Last season, Hernandez posted mediocre numbers at AAA and was a human pinata in his 4 starts with the big club. I always thought he had a decent arm, but walks and homers always doomed him. I remember watching Runelvys pitch reasonably well as a rookie. I believe he had a fastball, a curve in the dirt and a beanball. At some point he added, "rubbing the ball into his glove" to his reportoire.


Joining Hernandez in Daegu next year will be Francisco Cruceta. Last year, Francisco was also very mediocre in AAA and got slapped around pretty good in his brief stop with the Tigers.

Both will likely be starting pitchers. Assuming Runelvys is healthy, he could be the Opening Day starter for the Lions.

Shim Jeong-soo Rides Off Into the Sunset

Samsung Lions slugger, Shim Jeong-soo, has called it a career. The 33-year old 1st baseman has grown weary of his rehab and has decided to hang it up. The 15-year vet ended his career with a .287 batting average, 328 homeruns and 1,029 RBIs.

Shim spent the first 7 years of his career with the OB/Doosan Bears. His finest year in a Bears uni came in 1999. He finished the season with a .335 average, 31 homers and 110 RBIs. Shim moved on to the Hyundai Unicorns in 2001. He posted a 46 homer season in 2002 and a 53(!) homerun season in 2003. After a disappointing 2004 season, Shim bolted for the Samsung Lions and a 6 billion won contract. The contract Shim signed after 2004 was the largest contract ever given to a player in the KBO. Shim posted a solid season in 2005, but failed to live up to his contract. His 2006 season ended prematurely after knee and shoulder injuries limited Shim to only 85 at bats. Shim bounced back in 2007 to lead the league in homeruns and RBI, but he was bitten by the injury bug again in 2008 after only 68 plate appearances.

Shim will be sorely missed in the Samsung lineup. As one of the few Samsung Lions/Chicago White Sox fans in existence, I always felt some familiarity with Shim. His large arms, ability to hit baseballs hard and glasses reminded me of one of my heroes from my youth.

Here's to you, Hercules.

Lions Suck at Gambling, Team Officials Shamed

This story actually broke last week and I was translating the article, but the Joongang Daily beat me to it. As it turns out, a few of my beloved Samsung Lions enjoy gambling, but sadly aren't very good at it. You know, I've never heard of one of these gambling scandals ending with an athlete making millions. They always lose and then it becomes public. Just once, I'd love to hear an athlete win a ton of cash and brag about it. "Oh yeah, betting $50,000 a spin at roulette was the best thing I've ever done."

Either way, not a good offseason for the Lions. First, they were clobbered by the Doosan Bears in the 2nd round of the playoffs. Then, they were unable to acquire Jeong Won-sam from The Heroes. It's just as well, I hear he sucks at blackjack. Now this. As punishment, the team's overseas training trip has been canceled.

They've released 2 scrubs and I get the impression that if Chae Tae-in wasn't a starter, he probably would have joined them.

The Dismantling of Doosan Continues, Kim Dong-ju to sign in the NPB

Doosan Bears slugger Kim Dong-ju is as good as gone. The 32 year old 3rd baseman is seeking greener pastures with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the NPB. According to this, I believe his contract situation should be resolved by the end of the week.



In 11 seasons with the Bears(OB and Doosan), Kim batted a robust .310 with 214 homers and 833 RBI's. Kim's departure coupled with Hong Sung-hoon's defection to the Lotte Giants leaves 2 very large holes in the middle of Doosan's lineup.

KBO Announces Golden Glove Winners, Hong Quits Baseball for a Boyband

At least, that's what this photo leads me to believe.



The best part is, Hong is the only one with a ridiculous suit.



Everyone else showed up with a normal jacket, shirt and tie combo. Was he on his way to his night job at a restaurant and he couldn't change? Does he not have a girlfriend or a wife to talk him out of stuff like this? Did he lose a bet?

Either way, this year's Golden Gloves are as follows...

P - Kim Kwang-hyeon, SK Wyverns
C - Kang Min-ho, Lotte Giants
1B - Kim Tae-hyun, Hanhwa Eagles
2B - Cho Sung-hwan, Lotte Giants
3B - Kim Dong-ju, Doosan Bears
SS - Park Ki-hyeok, Lotte Giants
OF - Karim Garcia, Lotte Giants
OF - Kim Hyeon-su, Doosan Bears
OF - Lee Jong-wook, Doosan Bears
DH - Hong Sung-hoon, Doosan Bears

The KBO Golden Gloves are not for fielding, but an award for the best individual season at each position.

Love is in the Air

Doosan Bears catcher, Choi Seung-hwan has gotten married.

So has SK Wyverns pitcher, Chae Byeong-ryong.


Meanwhile KIA infielder, Kim Hyeong-cheol needs to find a tuxedo. He's getting married on the 6th.


Also, Yoon Seok-min doesn't want to let go of Kim Hyeon-su.

Can We Do Anything Without Controversy?

First, the KBO nullified a trade. Now, they can't even produce a WBC roster without someone complaining. I guess at the heart of the controversy is Baek Cha-seung. I had no idea he didn't have a Korean passport. Kim Byung-hyun was also named to the roster. I get the impression that he's enjoying retired life and I really doubt he's going to suit up for Korea at the WBC. Personally, I'd like to see Choo Shin-soo play for his country, but the Indians would probably rather have him in camp.

Aaron at the EWC goes further in depth on Korea's WBC roster. I have to agree with him. I'd like to see the US actually make some kind of announcement. A manager, coaching staff, a roster? Anything? I also get the impression that Derek Jeter and Michael Young will figure prominently in the starting lineup.

Also, a member of the SK Wyverns or Doosan Bears has gotten into some trouble...with the ladies. Hat tip to Korea Beat for the translation and writeup. I didn't know one could get arrested for "seduction." So, this ballplayer sleeps with this girl, realizes she might not be right for him, pays her off and THEN gets arrested? Meanwhile, these guys go free.

Playing Catchup...

First and foremost, Mr. Sensitive himself, Hong Seong-heun, the DH/Catcher for the Doosan Bears has landed with a new club. Hong will be DHing for Jerry Royster's Lotte Giants next year. Hong signed a 1 year deal worth 279 million won.

It sounds like the Hanhwa Eagles have signed a new foreign guy. Meet Outfielder, Victor Diaz. Victor spent 2008 with Houston and Seattle's AAA affiliates. He thumped at Tacoma. He posted a .280/.362/.546 line in 414 AB's. I'm surprised he didn't at least warrant a September callup with numbers like that and a team as bad as Seattle. Welcome to Korea Victor.

Also this article from the Joongang Daily caught my eye....I quote, "Also, a catcher was suspected of telling opposing hitters about the pitch selection when a certain foreign pitcher on his team took the mound." I've been trying to guess who this is and I can't. It can't be SK, Hanhwa, Doosan or Lotte. Samsung isn't likely, but possible. The 3 worst teams in the league didn't really have anyone stick around long enough for this to seem possible. KIA had Jose Lima, The Heroes had Josh Scobey and LG had Jamie Brown. Looking at the day-to-day results, I can't find a pattern with a certain catcher.