Most Popular
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Contentious grain bill put directly to plenary meeting for vote
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Yoon's approval rating plunges to all-time low
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Will tug-of-war between doctors, government end soon?
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Climate impacts set to cut 2050 global GDP by nearly a fifth
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Trilateral talks acknowledge ‘serious’ slumps of won, yen
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[KH Explains] Hyundai's full hybrid edge to pay off amid slow transition to pure EVs
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North Korea removes streetlights along cross-border roads with South
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Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official
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S. Korea votes in favor of Palestinian bid for UN membership
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Farming households dip below 1m for first time in 2023
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Three-time defending champs face upstart juggernaut for S.Korean baseball supremacy
The battle for South Korean pro baseball supremacy this year will pit the three-time defending champs against an upstart offensive juggernaut. The Samsung Lions, which have won every Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) crown since 2011, will take on the Nexen Heroes, which often makes good pitching staffs look dreadful, in the best-of-seven Korean Series starting Tuesday. The Lions, managed by former All-Star shortstop Ryu Joong-il, are trying to become only the second team to win four Korean
Nov. 3, 2014
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Spraying line drives
The Nexen Heroes’ offense was simply too hot for the LG Twins’ pitchers to handle, as the Heroes demolished their Seoul rivals 12-2 to claim the second-round Korea Baseball Organization playoff series in four games.After mediocre offensive performances in the first two games of the best-of-five series, the Heroes’ bats appeared to have gone too cold for the team to contend.By the end of the last game, though, earlier concerns seemed like a distant memory.Their two biggest sluggers were once at t
Nov. 2, 2014
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Giants hold off Royals to win World Series
KANSAS CITY, Missouri (AP) ― Madison Bumgarner pitched five innings of near-perfect relief and the San Francisco Giants held off the Kansas City Royals 3-2 Wednesday night in Game 7 of the World Series for their third championship in five seasons.With both starters chased early, this became a matchup of bullpens. And no one stood taller than the 6-foot-5 Bumgarner, who added to his postseason legacy with a third victory this Series.After center fielder Gregor Blanco misplayed Alex Gordon’s drive
Oct. 30, 2014
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Big league scouts mixed on left-hander Kim Kwang-hyun
As his South Korean club SK Wyverns announced their plan to post him for interested Major League Baseball clubs next month, left-handed starter Kim Kwang-hyun was a picture of confidence.Kim talked the talk at his press conference, saying he’s ready to perform on a bigger stage and that he is anxious to see if he can fool big leaguers with his breaking pitches or overpower them with his fastballs.Whether Kim can walk the walk remains to be seen, at least in the minds of big league scouts.The 26-
Oct. 30, 2014
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Giants, Royals set for wild finish
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ― Buster Posey was annoyed. Playfully so. The Giants catcher wanted Madison Bumgarner to do more than barely break a smile after a brilliant pitching performance put San Francisco one win from another World Series title.No way, Buster.Because in this postseason full of stars and surprises, who knows? Heck, Bumgarner might still have more work to do.Baseball took its final break Monday before the Giants and Royals settle things. Holding a 3-2 edge, San Francisco will try to cla
Oct. 28, 2014
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Kia Tigers name Kim Ki-tai new manager
The Kia Tigers announced on Tuesday they’ve named former All-Star Kim Ki-tai as their new manager.The Gwangju-based Korea Baseball Organization club said Kim has agreed to a three-year deal, with an annual salary of 250 million won ($237,750) and a signing bonus of another 250 million won.Kim replaces Sun Dong-yol, who abruptly resigned last Saturday, six days after signing a two-year contract extension.Kim, 45, previously managed the LG Twins in the KBO. In 2013, he took the Twins to their firs
Oct. 28, 2014
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It’s a MadBum world
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ― With every pitch, Madison Bumgarner etched his place among the World Series greats.The long, tall lefty kept slinging away and put the San Francisco Giants just one win from yet another championship, throwing a four-hitter to beat the Kansas City Royals 5-0 Sunday night for a 3-2 Series edge.Hardly menacing on the mound, Bumgarner was simply untouchable ― again ― as “MVP! MVP!” chants broke out in the late innings.And by the time the 25-year-old from Hickory, North Carolina,
Oct. 27, 2014
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Kim Kwang-hyun to try for MLB next season
South Korean left-handed pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun will try to reach Major League Baseball this offseason, his current domestic club announced Monday.The SK Wyverns in the Korea Baseball Organization said Kim will hold a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday to formally announce his attempt to make it to the big leagues via posting.The 26-year-old completed his equivalent of seven KBO seasons in 2014 to earn conditional free agency, a status that allows players to test overseas markets with their
Oct. 27, 2014
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Giants rally from three-run deficit to even World Series
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ― Hunter Pence and Pablo Sandoval charged up a pulsating crowd with their shouts and swings, and the San Francisco Giants surged past the Kansas City Royals 11-4 Saturday to tie the World Series at two games apiece.Down by three runs in the early going and in danger of dropping into a huge hole, the Giants and their fans rallied.The win ensured the Series will go back to Kansas City to decide the championship. In the meantime, there’s Game 5 on Sunday when postseason ace Madis
Oct. 26, 2014
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LG carrying scorching bats into next round
The way the LG Twins swung their bats against the NC Dinos in the opening playoff round in the Korea Baseball Organization over the past week, it was difficult to believe this was the same club that had, statistically, the league’s worst offense in the regular season.The Twins hammered the Dinos 11-3 on Saturday to clinch the best-of-five first round series in four games. In those four games, the Twins scored 31 runs on a whopping 55 hits. They could easily have scored more runs had they been mo
Oct. 26, 2014
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A change of scenery
San Francisco Giants’ AT&T Park (USA Today-Yonhap)SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ― Eric Hosmer loaded up, launched a long fly and watched it sail toward McCovey Cove. Way out there in right field, near the 421-foot mark, the ball bonked off the brick wall.No splash shot.“We were definitely trying to hit them,” the Kansas City first baseman said. “We took turns trying, but no one did.” Even so, Hosmer liked what he saw during a workout Thursday as many Royals got their first look at San Francisco’s waterfron
Oct. 24, 2014
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K.C. Royals respond
KANSAS CITY, Missouri (AP) ― Salvador Perez and the pesky Kansas City Royals fought back from a Game 1 flop to beat the San Francisco Giants’ brilliant bullpen and even the World Series.Perez broke Game 2 open with a two-run double in a five-run sixth inning, and the Royals’ own cast of clutch relievers kept the Giants in check in a 7-2 victory Wednesday night that spiced things up as the Series shifts to San Francisco for the next three games.Jeremy Guthrie will be on the mound Friday night for
Oct. 23, 2014
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Twins make most of breaks
Sometimes in sports, you have to be good to be lucky, or lucky to be good.The LG Twins have had their share of luck to be on the cusp of reaching the next playoff round in the Korea Baseball Organization.The Twins entered the ongoing first round series against the NC Dinos as the underdog on paper. The Dinos, in just their second year of existence, finished with the third-best regular season record, at 70-57-1. The Twins finished 7 1/2 games behind in fourth place and qualified for the playoffs
Oct. 23, 2014
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Prove it on the field
Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer will look to keep up his hot hitting in the World Series. (UPI-Yonhap)KANSAS CITY, Missouri (AP) ― Alex Gordon took a big rip at a batting-practice fastball, fouled it off badly into the cage, and ducked when the carom nearly hit him in the head.Gordon let out a huge laugh, and so did a bunch of his Kansas City Royals teammates watching Monday’s workout.“I can’t believe that just happened, dude,” pitcher James Shields razzed.It’ll be more frustrating
Oct. 21, 2014
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Ryu vows to atone for injury-riddled 2014 season
Coming off an injury-riddled 2014 season, South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers said Tuesday he will try to stay healthier next year in Major League Baseball.Ryu, who returned home last week after the Dodgers were eliminated from the National League Division Series, went 14-7 with a 3.38 ERA in his second big league season. These numbers easily could have been better had he avoided three trips to the disabled list.Ryu matched the win total from his rookie season in 2013 de
Oct. 21, 2014
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Doosan names former captain as new manager
Following a disappointing season in the Korea Baseball Organization, the Doosan Bears on Tuesday announced their former captain Kim Tae-hyung as new manager.Kim, 47, replaces Song Il-soo, who lasted only one season on the Bears’ bench. On Song’s watch, the Bears were just 59-68-1 and finished 3 1/2 games out of the postseason, a year after they lost to the Samsung Lions in the championship Korean Series.Kim signed for two years at 200 million won ($189,400) per season, along with a 300 million w
Oct. 21, 2014
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Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin vows to atone for injury-riddled season
Coming off an injury-riddled 2014 season, South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers said Tuesday he will try to stay healthier next year in Major League Baseball (MLB).Ryu, who returned home last week after the Dodgers were eliminated from the National League Division Series (NLDS), went 14-7 with a 3.38 ERA in his second big league season. These numbers easily could have been better had he avoided three trips to the disabled list (DL).Ryu matched the win total from his rookie
Oct. 21, 2014
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SK Wyverns name ex-head of player development their new manager
Having missed the playoffs the past two seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), the SK Wyverns on Tuesday appointed Kim Hong-hee, their ex-head of player development, as new manager.The Incheon-based club announced that they named Kim to succeed Lee Man-soo, who had taken over the Wyverns in the middle of the 2011 season, on the bench. Kim has signed for two years for 300 million won (US$284,700) per season, along with 300 million won in signing bonus."We felt we needed to undergo majo
Oct. 21, 2014
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Royals dependent on three-headed bullpen monster
KANSAS CITY, Missouri (AP) ― Buck Showalter knew he was in trouble when the seventh inning rolled around and his Orioles were trailing the Kansas City Royals in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series.Three innings later, Baltimore’s season was over.In each game of the series, the three-headed monster of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and All-Star closer Greg Holland had slammed the door on the Orioles. They did it again in the clincher, a 2-1 victory that propelled Kansas City into the World Series af
Oct. 20, 2014
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Cream of the crop
Nexen’s Park Byung-ho led the KBO with 52 home runs and 124 RBIs. ( Yonhap)Four teammates of the Nexen Heroes, plus a pitcher from the Samsung Lions, will vie for the top individual award in South Korean pro baseball this season.The Korea Baseball Organization announced five candidates for the annual MVP award on Saturday. Headlining the list is the Heroes’ first baseman Park Byung-ho, who won the MVP in 2012 and 2013.Park led the KBO with 52 home runs and 124 RBIs, and it’s the third straight s
Oct. 19, 2014