The Korea Herald

Warriors blow out Magic

Jan 1, 2014

ORLANDO, Florida (AP) ― The Golden State Warriors have always been able to score. Now they are becoming a good defensive team.The Warriors used half-court defensive pressure to beat the Magic 94-81 on Tuesday night.“Defense is not something we’re known for,” said forward David Lee, who led the Warriors with 22 points. “Everyone looks at our team and the ability to shoot the ball and score, but we’re a Top 10 defensive team too.”The Warriors limited Orlando to 38 percent shooting and led by 12 ea
Dodgers star Puig arrested, charged with reckless driving

Dec 29, 2013

NAPLES, Florida (AP) ― Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was arrested on a reckless driving charge for the second time this year after officers clocked him going 110 mph in a 70 mph zone.A news release from the Florida Highway Patrol said a white Mercedes driven by the 23-year-old Cuban defector was pulled over around 9:30 a.m. Saturday.Authorities said Puig was arrested and charged with reckless driving and taken to the Collier County Jail for processing. Puig lives in the Miami area d
Posting period for Japanese pitcher Tanaka starts

Dec 27, 2013

The bidding for Japanese star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka has begun.All 30 major league teams have been notified that the 30-day period to sign the 25-year-old right-hander began at 1300 GMT Thursday, according to Major League Baseball spokesman Michael Teevan. Clubs have until 2200 GMT on Jan. 24 to attempt to reach an agreement with the ace.If Tanaka and a MLB team come to terms, that franchise is required to pay his Japanese club, the Rakuten Eagles, a posting fee, now capped at $20 million under
Dodgers work on bullpen

Dec 25, 2013

Los Angeles officially adds Chris Perez, keeps J.P. Howell and Jamey Wright
Tanaka’s team gives him go-ahead for Major League

Dec 25, 2013

TOKYO (AP) ― Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka is set to move to the majors next season after his Japanese team Rakuten Eagles announced Wednesday it was prepared to let him leave, reversing its earlier rejection. Rakuten Eagles president Yozo Tachibana told a news conference that the team has decided to release him through the posting system, paving the way for his departure. Tachibana said Tanaka’s outstanding performance over the past seven years, including this season, meant he deserved to be allowed
[Newsmaker] Choo joins Texas Rangers on $130m contract

Dec 22, 2013

Choo Shin-soo of South Korea has agreed to the biggest-ever contract for an Asian player in the U.S. professional baseball free agent market.A report on the Major League Baseball website said Sunday that outfielder Choo agreed to a seven-year, $130 million contract with the Texas Rangers.The deal will be finalized if Choo passes a physical test, which is expected to be done by Christmas. Any formal introduction in Texas would likely wait until after the holiday.Once signed, it will be the highes
Giants to sell Pill to Kia

Dec 22, 2013

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ― The San Francisco Giants have agreed to sell first baseman Brett Pill to the Kia Tigers of the Korean Baseball Organization.The Giants say Pill has agreed to a one-year contract with the South Korean team pending a physical after Christmas. Pill remains on the Giants’ 40-man roster until after he passes his physical.Pill batted .224 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 85 at-bats for the Giants last season. He became expendable after San Francisco signed outfielder Michael Morse
Beltran takes shots at Mets

Dec 22, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) ― On his first day in Yankees pinstripes, Carlos Beltran had some choice words ― for the Mets.Having signed a $119 million, seven-year contract with the Mets before the 2005 season, Beltran was unhappy about his stay in Queens by the time he was dealt to San Francisco in July 2011.He felt he was unfairly targeted for taking a called third strike from St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of 2006 NL championship series Game 7. He was blamed for missing a team trip to the Wal
S. Korean star Choo lands 7-yr deal with Texas Rangers

Dec 22, 2013

South Korean outfielder Choo Shin-soo has agreed to a $130 million, seven-year contract with the Texas Rangers, a report on the website of Major League Baseball (MLB) said Sunday.The deal, not yet confirmed by the Rangers, will be finalized if Choo passes a physical, the report said, citing a source.Once signed, the deal would make the 31-year-old the most paid South Korean player in MLB history, beating Park Chan-ho who inked a five-year, $65 million contract with the Texas Rangers in 2001.The
Luke Scott signs 1-year deal in South Korea

Dec 21, 2013

Former Tampa Bay outfielder and designated hitter Luke Scott has signed a one-year deal with SK Wyvern, the South Korean baseball team has announced. The Incheon-based Korea Baseball Organization team said it signed the 35-year-old Scott for $300,000, including a signing bonus of $50,000. Scott joined the Houston Astros in 2005 and then the Baltimore Orioles, where he hit more than 20 homers in three consecutive seasons. Last season he played with Tampa Bay, where he batted .241 with nine home
Top baseball league mulling abolishing salary cap on foreign players: official

Dec 20, 2013

General managers in the top domestic baseball league are considering abolishing the salary cap imposed on foreign players, a senior league official said Friday, after a series of offseason transactions raised questions about the rule's effectiveness.According to Yang Hae-young, secretary general of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), general managers of the 10 clubs agreed "in principle" to get rid of the current cap of $300,000 during their meeting this week. Yang insisted, however, that no
SK Wyverns acquire MLB veteran Luke Scott

Dec 19, 2013

The SK Wyverns announced Thursday they've signed Major League Baseball (MLB) veteran Luke Scott to a one-year contract.The Incheon-based Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) team said they inked the 35-year-old American for US$250,000, along with a signing bonus of $50,000.Scott made his big league debut with the Houston Astros in 2005 and most recently played with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2013.He batted .241 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs in 91 games. For his nine-year career, Scott has hit 135 home
Hanwha Eagles announce signing of new foreign pitcher

Dec 18, 2013

The Hanwha Eagles announced Wednesday the signing of new pitcher Caleb Clay to a one-year deal.The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) team said Clay, a 24-year-old right-hander, signed for $250,000, along with $50,000 in a signing bonus.Clay was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2006 but has never played in Major League Baseball (MLB). In seven minor league seasons for affiliates of the Red Sox and later the Washington Nationals, Clay has gone 26-33 with a 4.19 ERA in 147 games, 77 of them being s
Dodgers' pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin named top S. Korean athlete of 2013: poll

Dec 16, 2013

After enjoying a strong rookie season, the Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin was selected as the top South Korean athlete of 2013, a national survey showed Monday.Ryu, the left-handed starter for the Major League Baseball (MLB) club, earned 51.4 percent of support in a poll conducted by Gallup Korea. The pollster surveyed 1,702 South Koreans aged 13 or older from Nov. 1 to 18. The voters could select up to two athletes.Gallup Korea first carried out the athlete survey in 2005, and Ryu, r
MLB to ban plate collisions

Dec 12, 2013

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (AP) ― Pete Rose sounded bowled over.Charlie Hustle, who famously flattened Ray Fosse to score the winning run in the 1970 All-Star game, couldn’t believe Major League Baseball intends to eliminate home-plate collisions by 2015 at the latest.“What are they going to do next, you can’t break up a double play?” Rose said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press after MLB announced its plan Wednesday.“You’re not allowed to pitch inside. The hitters wear more armor