I know what a blogger does during the off season(booze and plenty of it), but what about those unsung heroes. The Korean male cheerleaders?
This was taken right after the walk off homer in Game 7. The strain was more than Chang-hwa could bear as he leapt upon his own fans much like a knight impaling himself with a sword.
Korea Series champion Kia Tigers manager Cho Bum-hyun was signed to a "late/urgent" 3 year contract extension worth a total W1.6 billion won ($1.4 million) on the 26th.
Cho and Tigers president Kim Cho-ho met at an undisclosed location in Gwangju to finalize the 550,000,000 won contract bonus, 350,000,000 yearly salary (translator note: please don't try to add this up because if it's wrong then something's wrong) deal. This deal compares to the deals of other managers who have recently signed long-term contracts: Kim Seong-geun (SK, 3 years, 2 billion won) and Seon Dong-yeol (Samsung, 5 years, 2.7 billion won).
And it now makes Cho the third highest among Korean Baseball Organization managers in terms of average annual money: Kim Seong-geun with 666,000,000 won, Sun Dong-yeol with 540,000,000 won, Cho with 533,000,000 won. Kim Kyeong-moon (Doosan Bears) has a 466,000,000 won a year, 1.4 billion won contract and Lotte Giants manager Jerry Royster just signed a 1 year deal including a $300,000 salary and a matching contract bonus.
Cho signed a 600,000,000 won deal back in '07 including a 200,000,000 won annual salary and 600,000,000 contract bonus. His new deal gives him a substantial raise, with his win in this year's Korea Series becoming the deal breaker.
The Tigers had offered Cho a contract a month before, but Cho did not accept it. The new deal was considered a win for both sides.
Cho, recently recovered from a hospital stay, had this to say after his contracting was completed: "Thanks to the team, we'll be seeing some nice games next season thanks to the team, I was pretty sick and I had to go into the hospital... and sorry to the fans for taking so long with my contract, I'm going to get better soon and I'm going to get ready for next season with the players and we're going to give it our best shot."
He also added: "Got a lot to do for next year, got to forget we're champions and start to train in normal mode again, I'm going to stop the players from getting all wrapped in the end-of-year things happening make them train hard!"
Translator's note: Cho's speech in the end is kind of funny, it wasn't as sloppy as that, but it's translated directly (my interpretation?). Also, a billion won is approximately a million dollars. www.xe.com for conversions. I'm your translator not your banker.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Simon K.
Korean link: http://news.naver.com/sports/index.nhn?category=baseball&ctg=news&mod=read&office_id=109&article_id=0002066587
That massive thud you just heard was new Hanhwa manager Han Dae-hwa's head hitting his desk. Han now has a team coming off a 46 win season without its 2 best hitters. An exact quote from Han, "I would like to cry." So would all the Hanhwa fans, Manager Han, so would all the Hanhwa fans.
And boy, is it yawn inspiring. Hanhwa has traded pitcher Cho Gyu-su and a PTBNL to the Doosan Bears for infielder Lee Dae-su. Lee posted a .262/.308/.361 in 61 AB's for the Bears. Cho hasn't pitched in a KBO game since 2005. He was with Hanhwa's 2nd league team for a while. He posted a 6.87 ERA and 33 baserunners in 18 1/3 innings of work. Cho won 10 games as a rookie in 2000, but hasn't shown much since.
I'm guessing the PTBNL will have talents such as "is able to put a shirt on in only one try" and "has a pulse," but he must improve "baseball skills."
Lee Seung-yeop meets 2009 KBO MVP Kim Sang-hyeon. "You guys won the Korean Series? Seriously? No effing way."
What, exactly, is it going to take for Korea to win one of these effing club championships? It's gotten increasingly more frustrating the longer I live in Korea.
The best news that came out of this weekend was that next year the 4-club Asian Series should return! I really dug the Asian Series and thought that it made for a fun weekend, even if it was promoted terribly. Supposedly, next year's tourney will take place in Taiwan. I'm all for Japan not getting home field advantage for one of these tournaments. They've had home field advantage for both WBCs and all of the Asian Series. Enough is enough. Hopefully, the KBO will finally get funding for a dome or two and be able to host an Asian Series in November or a WBC in March.
On to a quick recap...
HT to the Japan Times for a much better recap than the Korea Times offered. Hey, if the English language press in Korea were remotely competent, I wouldn't need to blog.
Yang Hyeong-jong about to unload on an unsuspecting Japanese hitter. Just because he wears glasses doesn't mean he sucks.
KIA actually held a 3-1 lead heading into the 7th, but the KIA bullpen collapsed and surrendered 7 runs(!) to the Giants. Yang Hyeon-jong got the start for KIA and looked solid. Yang threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Yang gave up only 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 6 before he was lifted. Relievers KwakJeong-cheol and Jeong Yong-woon allowed all the damage during the 7th inning. I guess KIA forgot to bring their bullpen on the trip. We couldn't bring in Yoon Seok-min for a batter or two? Yoo Dong-hoon was unavailable? What better way to send SK another great big "EFF YOU" than to succeed where they failed? Whatever. At least the game was over before 5 o'clock.
KIA broke through in the 1st inning on an RBI single from DH Na Ji-wan. KIA added 2 more in the 5th inning on a Na Ji-wan single with the bases loaded. KIA fake rallied their way to a 4th run in the 9th inning on a Lee Hyeon-gon RBI double. Hopefully, the Tigers got to do some sightseeing and/or buy some presents for the kids back home. I guess Na was the only guy that didn't spend all night at a karaoke bar.
Hanhwa 1st baseman, Kim Tae-gyun, has signed a 3-year, 700 million yen contract with the Chiba Lotte Marines. Kim ends his 9-year KBO career with 188 homers, a .310 batting average and 701 RBIs. The new Hanhwa manager was last seen headbutting his head against a wall. He was...unavailable for comment.
Hanhwa fans, don't despair. The Eagles re-signed veteran outfielder Kang Dong-woo with a 1-year, 100 million won contract.
Also, outfielder Park Jae-hong will be back with SK next season for 400 million won.
This first free agent signing of the 2009/10 off season happened yesterday. KIA catcher Kim Sang-hoon a 1 year deal for 225 million won(about 200k American) to return with the Tigers..
The Korea/Japan Club Championship takes place in Nagasaki on Saturday November 14th at 1 PM Korea time. The KBO champion KIA Tigers will face the NPB champion Yomiuri Giants. I have no idea who is pitching or who will play. It's too bad the Asian Series went belly up. It was cool watching some of the best talent in Asia actually face each other and at least pretend to care. I'm not sure what kind of effort we can expect at this "Club Championship."
It sounds like Lee Beom-ho wants to stay with Hanhwa. I guess the Hanhwa brain trust wants to win 30 games instead of 20.
From left to right. Doosan 2nd baseman GohYeong-min, Doosan left fielder Kim Hyeon-su, KIA ace YoonSeok-min, KIA center fielder Lee Yong-gyu and Hanhwa ace RyuHyeon-jin.
I guess they wanted to hang out and talk about their new, goofy haircuts. Ryu was known for the long flowing locks sticking out from under his hat. I think he thought short hair would make him look slimmer. He thought wrong.
Welcome to the KBOoff season. A few new managers, a few free agents and lots of pictures of guys randomly hanging out or getting married. KBO Fever! Catch it!
2009 has a much more interesting group of free agents than 2008. Last year, the only big names involved in free agent speculation were Lotte DH Hong Seong-heun and Doosan 3rd baseman Kim Dong-ju. Almost every team has important decisions to make this year.
KIA
KIA has 4 free agents this season. Pitcher Lee Dae-jin, outfielder Lee Jong-beom, catcher Kim Sang-hoon and infielder Jang Seong-ho. Lee Dae-jin was a former potential closer who became an injury-plagued starter. If he continues his career, he'll likely stay with KIA. Lee Jong Beom will turn 40 next year. I think he still has something in the tank, but it remains to be seen if he'll try to play elsewhere. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the elite teams(SK or Doosan) made a run at him for depth. Kim Sang-hoon is a career backup that lucked his way into 12 homers and 65 RBIs. He'll likely be back with KIA...as a backup. Jang is an interesting player. He's only 32, but he's played in the KBO for 14 seasons, all of them in Gwangju. He's a former national team member and he had a solid season at the plate last year. Jang posted a .284/.378/.424 line in 271 at bats. He could earn some attention as a free agent. I really wouldn't be surprised if a team like Lotte or LG made a run at him.
SK
SK also has 4 FA's. Infielder Ahn Kyeong-hyeon, pitcher Ga Deuk-yeom, outfielder Park Jae-hong and infielder Son Ji-hwan. The only real decision here is whether or not to keep Park Jae-hong. Park enters his age 37 season next year and he's coming off a .270/.371/.422 season. He did finish with double digit steals and homers. I think he comes back for another season. Possibly his last. Ahn and Song barely saw the field last year. Ahn turns 40 next year. It could be time for him to start selling insurance. Song is only 31 and could attract interest from another club as roster filler. Ga Deuk-yeom could be joining Ahn at the insurance company. He'll be 41 and coming off a rotten season(6.75 ERA in only 8 appearances).
Lotte
Lotte only has 2 free agents this season. Infielder Park Hyeon-seung and catcher Choi Ki-moon. Choi is a backup catcher and played like it last year. He lit the world on fire with a .645 OPS in 117 at bats. Park didn't see the field for the big club last year. I'm guessing there was an injury involved, but I can't find any recent news stories. He's a career .265 hitter who hasn't seen a KBO field since 2008 and he'll be 38 next year. Also, I hear his brother's restaurant needs a new greeter. The biggest decision for Lotte is it's manager. Jerry Royster's contract is up and talks have been slow. Based on the reports I've read, it sounds like they've figured out the money. I get the impression that Lotte only wants to give him a one year deal and Royster would like a longer contract. Unless he gets a godfather offer from a Japanese or American club, Royster will be back in the dugout for Lotte.
Samsung
Samsung has 1 free agent this year. Outfielder Park Han-yi. I'm a huge fan of Park. He's one of 2 KBO jerseys that I've purchased. It would ruin my jersey if he left, so I'm really hoping Park can reach an agreement with Samsung. Park posted a solid .311/.399/.428 line for the Lions in 334 at bats. Next year is his age 31 season. He still has a lot of years left at the top of Samsung's lineup and roaming the outfield in Daegu....for the sake of my jersey.
Seoul Heroes
The Heroes have 6 free agents this off-season. Pitches Jeon Joon-ho and Kim Su-kyeong, infielder Lee Soong-yeong, catcher Kim Dong-su and outfielders Song Ji-man and Jeon Joon-ho(not a misprint, they have 2 FA's with the same name at different positions). Song Ji-man still has a lethal bat and should find work as a DH somewhere. Hanhwa could be a team in need of some punch so Daejeon could be a destination for Song. Song posted a .289/.384/.521 line in 374 at bats. He needs 17 more homers for 300 and next year will be his age 37 season. Lee Soong-yeong is entering his age 39 season, but he posted a solid .296/.376/.401 line. He could be pushed out for a younger player or the Heroes could hang on to him for one more year. This team's financial situation is a bit murkier than the rest. Kim Dong-su will be 41 next year and outfielder Jeon barely saw the field last year. Pitcher Jeon wasn't much better. Kim Su-kyeong spent most of 2009 as a starting pitcher/punching bag. He finished 6-11 with a 6.67 ERA in 117 2/3 innings. I think he comes back, but only as a back of the rotation christmas tree.
LG
LG has 4 free agents. Pitchers Oh Sang-min and Park Ji-cheol, catcher Kim Jeong-min and infielder Park Jong-ho. Oh was one of LG's top relievers last year. I have to think he'll be returning. He's only 35 and he's coming off a 3.00 ERA in 63 appearances with 6 holds and a save. This could be the end of the line for Park Ji-cheol. He's bounced around for a while and barely saw the field last year. Kim Jeong-min has spent 16 seasons with LG as a backup catcher. I'm guessing next year will be 17. Park Jong-ho is in his 2nd stint with LG. Last year could very well have been his retirement tour.
Hanhwa
Hanhwa has 6 free agents this season. Pitcher Jeong Min-cheol, catcher Lee Do-hyeong, infielder Kim Tae-gyun, Lee Beom-ho, Kim Min-jae and Kang Dong-woo. It sounds like closer Brad Thomas is about to jump to the NPB's Hanshin Tigers. Kim Tae-gyun could very well follow. Kim talks to the press every day and basically says, "I haven't decided, yet," every day. If Kim makes the jump, his power numbers could take a hit. He's a 30+ homer guy in the KBO. I think he's more a 20-25 homer guy in the NPB, but I think his career .310 batting average is for real.
I'm honestly not sure what to make of Lee. I think he benifitted from the smaller parks more than Kim did, but he's also produced for the national team. I don't think his game translates to Japan very well. His plate discipline isn't always the best, but he was playing on a rotten club last year. That probably had an effect on his patience.
Kim Min-jae posted a .576 OPS in 272 at bats. He'll be lucky if he gets a job as a vendor. If Kang Dong-woo played on a better team, he would have gotten more attention. Kang signed on with Hanhwa after a miserable 2008 with KIA(think a .100 batting average in 40 at bats). He posted a .302/.384/.429 line in 506 at bats. He homered 10 times and stole 27 bases in 30 attempts. I think he re-signs with Hanhwa. Once one of the best Korean pitchers of the 90's Jeong Min-cheol was a punchline last year. Jeong posted 8 consecutive seasons with double digit W's during the 90's, but in 8 starts last year he posted an 0-6 record with a 9.87 ERA and 2.32(!) WHIP. I think the KBO told Jeong that it's time for a new line of work. If he signs with any one other than Hanhwa, I'll buy a hat and a personalized jersey.
