Former Taiwanese League lefty with sweeper throw could make KBO debut
Eric Stout, a foreign pitcher for the Zhongxin Brothers of Taiwanese professional baseball who uses a sweeper as his primary weapon, has been targeted by Korean teams.
According to a report by American sports media outlet Major League Trade Rumors on Sept. 24 (KST), Stout is receiving interest from not only domestic teams, but also teams in the United States and Japan.
Stout, who made his big league debut with the Kansas City Royals in 2018, has also played for the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates. In his career, he has a 7.30 ERA in 23 games with no wins or losses.
After spending time in Triple-A with the Cubs and Seattle Mariners this season, he joined the Taiwanese baseball organization Zhongxin Brothers in July, going 6-5 with a 3.28 ERA in 12 games (68⅔ innings).
The outlet concluded, “Stout is likely to get another chance by playing in Taiwanese baseball. Even if he doesn’t make it to the major leagues, he’ll likely end up in Japan or South Korea, where the level of play is higher than in Taiwan.”
“Playing in Japan or Korea will give him a chance to improve his chances of returning to the major leagues.”
Trout’s main weapon is known as a sweeper. In the ninth inning of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) final in March, Japanese pitcher Shohei Ohtani threw a sweeper to strike out American hitter Mike Trout to seal the win. 캡틴토토
It’s a variation of a slider that has a slightly slower velocity than a regular slider, but a larger lateral angle. It curves outward to righties.
The most popular pitcher in the KBO this year is Eric Peddy, who was the ace of the NC Dinos. He learned it from Shelby Miller (LA Dodgers) and refined it in the offseason.
He averages 148.6 mph with his two-seam fastball and his deciding pitch, a sweeper. Players from other teams, as well as his own team, have shown great interest in his sweeper.
In his first season in Korea, Pedi went 20-6 with a 2.00 ERA and 209 strikeouts, ranking first in three categories: wins, ERA, and most strikeouts. The “20 wins + 200 strikeouts” mark is the first in 37 years since Sun Dong-ryul of the Hattae Tigers in 1986.
He also had the honor of becoming the fourth pitcher in KBO history to achieve the Triple Crown, joining Sun Dong-ryul, Hanwha’s Ryu Hyun-jin, and KIA’s Yoon Seok-min.
“I offered 4 billion, they asked for 8 billion.” “We haven’t even negotiated free agency yet, and there’s a lot of shit going on.”
After winning their first Korean Series title in 29 years, the LG Twins have a busy schedule.
Following the championship celebration on the 17th, the team traveled to Beppu, Japan for recovery training on the 20th and 24th. After the Major League Baseball office inquired about Go Woo-seok’s background, the LG Twins accepted his request for posting with the permission of owner Koo Kwang-mo.
Despite the opening of the free agency market, LG general manager Cha Myung-seok has yet to set a table with any of the team’s free agents. Lim Chan-kyu, Ham Deok-ju, Kim Min-sung, and Oh Ji-hwan have filed for free agency. Oh signed a six-year, $12.4 billion multi-year contract in January. Starting pitcher Im Chan-kyu, bullpen Ham Deok-ju, and utility Kim Min-sung are all players the team needs. 아톰카지노
So far, negotiations with the three players have been virtually stalled. Cha Myung-seok said, “We have a group report on the 28th. I’m busy preparing until then, so I’m afraid I won’t have time, so I asked their agents to do it. I said, “I’m sorry, but we’ll meet after the 28th to negotiate. They said it was okay, so we’re planning to meet and talk frequently after the 28th.” The group report is an important annual event for baseball organizations to report on the results of the past year and plans for the coming year.
The team had one brief meeting with agents Lim Chan-kyu and Ham Deok-ju. “I met with the agent once and told him to postpone it until the 28th,” Cha said.
As it was a ceremonial first meeting, there was no mention of a contract (proposal). “I just said, ‘I want to sign the player, I want to sign the player, but I want to talk about something specific after the group debriefing,’ and the agent said he understood,” Cha explained.
They haven’t even started negotiations yet, and rumors are already flying. There is also talk that NC is interested in starting pitcher Im Chan-kyu.
“There are a lot of rumors these days. We haven’t even talked about it (the offer) yet, but there’s even a story that I offered 4 billion won and he asked for 8 billion won and walked out,” Cha said, laughing.
Im was originally eligible for free agency after last season, but instead of exercising his option, he opted for free agency again. Last year, he struggled, going 6-11 with a 5.04 ERA. This year, he started the season in long relief before taking over the starting role and posting a career-high 14-3 record with a 3.42 ERA. Im and Jang are the only two starting pitchers available in free agency.
After struggling with nagging injuries for the past two years, Ham Deok-ju has returned to form this season. In 57 games (55⅔ innings pitched), he went 4-0 with 16 shutouts, four saves, and a 1.62 ERA. In the Korean Series, he pitched well in four games, allowing one run in 3⅓ innings.
Meanwhile, the KBO announced the rosters of 19 free agent-approved players on the 18th. Lotte signed Jeon Jun-woo for a four-year total of 4.7 billion won (4 billion won guaranteed, 7 billion won incentive) on the 20th, while Hanwha signed Lotte’s Ahn Chi-hong for a 4+2-year total of 7.2 billion won (4 billion won guaranteed, 8 billion won option, 2 years of mutual options, 1.3 billion won guaranteed, 4 billion won option). Samsung signed KT pitcher Kim Jae-yoon for a four-year total of 5.8 billion won (2 billion won in down payment, 2.8 billion won in total annual salary, and 1 billion won in incentives).
“20 teams interested in signing Lee Jeong-hoo”
Major League Baseball (MLB) teams are interested in Lee Jung-hoo (25).
The New York Post, a local media outlet in New York, USA, reported on April 24 (KST) that “20 teams are interested in signing Lee Jung-hoo”. While explaining the New York Yankees’ outfield composition, they mentioned the popularity of Lee Jeong-hoo as a potential signing.
The Yankees currently have only “Home Run King” Aaron Judge as their only outfielder. That’s why they’re looking to bolster their outfield in the offseason. There have been rumors of a possible trade for Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres or a free agent signing for Cody Bellinger.
The Yankees are among the 20 teams interested in signing Lee. The Yankees are likely to be more aggressive in signing Lee if they trade for Soto rather than Bellinger.
Lee, who leads the KBO in career batting average (.340), will try to make it to the MLB this winter through the posting system (closed competitive bidding). The MLB free agency period has begun, and American media outlets are already speculating on Lee’s destination and price tag.
MLB.com ranked Lee as one of the nine most attractive free agents. Fox Sports in the United States ranked him fourth in its free agent rankings for hitters. 토토사이트
The 2023 KBO Baseball Game between the Kiwoom Heroes and the Samsung Lions was held at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on October 10. San Francisco general manager Putilla looks on as Lee Jung-hoo bats in the bottom of the eighth inning. Gocheok Kim Min-kyu Reporter
Lee batted .340 with a .407 on-base percentage and .491 slugging percentage in the KBO and won the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award last year. His season was cut short this year due to an ankle injury, but in addition to his bat, he has earned high marks for his youth and defense.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced on March 15 that it had received a request from an MLB club for background checks on Lee and Ko. This is a preliminary step before a foreign team can sign a Korean player. Lee is expected to apply for a post soon.
Samsung smiles at GASCO…escapes 8th straight loss
In the lowest-ranked matchup in professional basketball, No. 9 Samsung snapped an eight-game losing streak by beating No. 10 Gasworks.
Samsung, which had lost eight straight games after winning against GASCO last month, dominated GASCO from the start in their first meeting in three weeks.
아톰카지노 도메인 The game was decided in the second quarter.
Samsung held GASCO scoreless for five minutes in the second quarter and went on a scary run behind Kim Si-rae to take a 20-point lead.
After widening the gap to 30 points in the third quarter, Samsung took the liberty of resting its starters and playing its bench members, and although GASCO was able to cut the deficit to eight points in the final minutes, the team held on for an 84-63 victory and snapped an eight-game losing streak.
Gasworks has now lost 10 straight games, the most since its inception.
—.
In a matchup of ‘twin brother coaches’, Changwon LG, led by ‘older’ coach Cho Sang-hyun, defeated Ulsan Hyundai Mobis, led by ‘younger’ coach Cho Dong-hyun, 97 to 76, for their third straight win.
Paul, still a class act in his late 30s, is also a Point God.
There isn’t a position in basketball that isn’t important, but it’s really hard to make a name for yourself as a point guard. First of all, the point guard position doesn’t have a so-called height advantage. While there have been a handful of 6-foot-1s, such as Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, and Ennis Hathaway, the majority of point guards don’t exceed 6-foot-5.
Unlike other positions that have a minimum size requirement, it’s still the only position where smaller players can challenge and compete. Even though the average height has risen, it’s still a rarity to find a player who’s over 5’10”. It”s a size that stands out in the general population. But in basketball, it”s different.
At that size, you don”t get called big. There are only so many positions you can play. It”s safe to say that point guard is practically the only answer if you”re down low. There are some short shooting guards and swingmen, but they are few and far between. You have to be a monster in terms of basic athleticism.
So, if you want to be a starter or better in the first position, you have to be really, really good at basketball purely because of your height. You can”t be average. On top of that, the competition is enormous, as the tallest adult men in the world are between 5’10” and 5’11”. This is why there are so many point guards among the legends of all time.
There are a few names that come to mind when you think of point guard textbooks. The now-legendary John Stockton (61‧ 185 cm) is one of them. He didn”t get much attention when he made his debut. A short, white guard from the then-unknown Gonzaga University, even Stockton himself admitted that he thought it would be difficult to make it in the NBA and looked at the European leagues.
But the Utah Jazz surprisingly selected him with the 16th pick in the first round of the 1984 draft. It was a gamble that reportedly resulted in boos from Utah fans. As it turned out, the pick was a huge success. Stockton would go on to play a whopping 1,504 games until 2003, becoming the all-time leader in assists (15,806) and steals (3,265) in Utah history. His number is retired and he has a statue of himself at Igoniwa Stadium.
His honors include nine assists, two steals, two first-team, and five second-team All-Defensive honors. He became a role model for many younger players who found themselves in a similar position, as his self-discipline and exceptional athleticism helped him become a longtime Steeler and record-breaker on a major stage for African-Americans with tremendous athleticism.
If there was a Stockton in the 20th century, there is a Chris Paul (6-foot-8) in the 21st century. It’s safe to say he’s the latest edition of the Field Marshal’s textbook, an impeccable all-around offensive player who can lead, handle the ball, carry the ball, guard the ball, and score and defend. His nickname, “Point God,” is a testament to that.
Paul is both similar and different to Stockton. He doesn’t have a championship or regular-season MVP to show for it. He’s a big-time scorer and a strong defender with the ability to make plays from the perimeter. Injuries and aging have slowed him down, but in his prime, Paul had the athleticism that Stockton lacked. Unfortunately, injuries, both major and minor, have plagued him throughout his career.
When you think of Paul, the first thing that comes to mind is dribbling. It’s a well-known anecdote, but his late grandfather made him eat his meals with his right hand tied from an early age to reduce the awkwardness of his left hand, leaving both hands free. It’s a practice that some people might rebel against, but Paul, knowing his grandfather’s sincerity, complied.
He even went a step further and practiced dribbling with his right hand tied in private. This natural talent, combined with a lot of hard work, made him a master dribbler with full control of both hands. This top-notch ball handling has been his best weapon throughout his career.
Dribbling is essential for smaller players to beat bigger players. You need to be able to play with the ball at will so you can get inside and outside and make the plays you want. Backed by one of the best dribbling skills in the league, Paul was able to reliably carry and distribute the ball, as well as take advantage of the freedom to peel off defenders at a moment’s notice.
Paul is not a flashy player, but he doesn’t stand out either. In some ways, he could be seen as a low-key, no-frills, back-to-basics type. But in some ways, that’s what makes him so majestic. In baseball, there are some players who are praised for their defense, the so-called “sluggers”.
Experts say they’re really good at defense, but when you watch them play, they don’t make spectacular diving catches, and when a ball comes at them, they just stop and take a few steps to catch it. It’s just a defense that doesn’t make much difference compared to normal players. But in reality, it’s more difficult and amazing, because he often goes to the spot in advance and waits for it through his unique prediction and positioning, so he easily catches difficult things. He’s less likely to fumble and try to make a gambling diving catch.
The same goes for Paul. He has solid fundamentals and good instantaneous judgment, so he makes difficult plays look easy. He’s calm and smooth, even in situations that would make a point guard cringe. As a total package field commander, he is very good at mixing up the defense with a variety of techniques and tricks in a single play. 캡틴토토 도메인
Whether it’s dribbling, passing, shooting, or breaking through, his calculated fakes are repeated like the movements of a character in a video game, making his opponents react to the slightest movement or change. Paul is a master at fooling defenders with simple eye contact. As he drives to the rim for a layup, his eyes dart to a teammate on the perimeter, causing the defender to momentarily flinch.
It’s Paul, the pass master, and no one else. It’s a split second, but it throws his opponent’s timing off and makes his offense more likely to succeed. The presence of a reliable mid-range jumper further complicates the defender’s options. When Paul starts to accelerate, it’s hard to know what to expect and how to defend him.
What’s even more impressive is that all of this often flows as naturally as running water. ‘If you’re a guard with a lot of size or a lot of flair, you’re going to be able to fool a lot of defenses. Paul, on the other hand, looks like he’s just playing normal and the defense cringes and gives way,” he says. Even the smallest movements are often faked, and it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s not.
Currently, Paul has been playing for the Golden State Warriors since this season, with his former rival Steph Curry as the star. At his age, it’s hard to expect him to make a move in his prime, but Golden State believed in his class. As if that weren’t enough, Paul has been a veteran presence on a team that has seen its core members struggle.
In the last seven days, he was averaging 7.6 points, eight assists (seventh overall), 3.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals, and as of the 23rd, he’s averaging 9.8 points, 7.7 assists (seventh overall), 3.9 rebounds, and 1.7 steals. While the overall numbers are similar, the slight uptick in scoring stands out, and it becomes even more significant when you dig into the stats.
At the time, Paul was doing well, but there were certain areas of concern. He was shooting just 7.7% from three-point range. For a point guard in the current trend, this only adds to the seriousness of the situation, with some saying, “Is Paul of all people becoming a target for the opposing team’s sagging? Of course, the team and most fans weren’t too worried.
The team and most of the fans weren’t too worried, because even though their three-point shooting percentage had gone down, they had almost hit rock bottom and could only go up. Some players would have lost their confidence completely in such a situation, but Paul’s mentality was not that weak. In fact, he’s now up to 32.8%. When they say that class never goes out of style, it’s for players like Paul.
“Not interested in signing Ham Deok-ju” declares withdrawal from outside free agency…Left-hander needed for championship, Lotte ace’s younger brother raised
Realizing the need for a left-handed bullpen pitcher for the 2023 Korea Series, KT Wiz has decided to develop a left-handed pitcher through internal development rather than free agency. While left-hander Max Er Ham Deok-ju is currently on the free agent market, the chances of KT pursuing him are virtually zero.
KT has the most severe lefty famine among the 10 teams. In the Korean Series alone, foreign pitcher Wes Benjamin was the only lefty on the 12-man roster, in stark contrast to LG, which had four lefties in Ham Deok-ju, Kim Yun-sik, Son Ju-young, and Lee Woo-chan.
Of course, KT has been using right-handed pitchers to shut down lefties since the injury to Cho Hyun-woo, who helped the team win its first title in 2021, but in the 2023 Korean Series, they faced an overwhelmingly left-handed LG lineup and felt the need for a left-handed pitcher. Having even one left-handed specialist to close out games could have changed the course of the series. 아톰카지노 도메인
KT manager Lee Kang-cheol said, “I wish they would give us one left-handed pitcher who doesn’t use LG. We are desperate for a left-handed pitcher. Since Cho Hyun-woo is sick, we have to make or get a left-handed bullpen pitcher somehow next year,” he said.
Coincidentally, left-hander Duk-ju Ham has hit the free agent market at a time when left-handed pitching is needed. With a career record of 35-21, 59 saves, 49 holds and a 3.50 ERA in 397 games (501⅔ innings, 195 earned runs), Ham Deok-ju was once the back door to the Doosan dynasty, winning titles in 2015, 2016 and 2019 before being traded to rival LG in 2021 and playing a key role in the Twins’ 29th consecutive title this year.
However, KT has officially announced its withdrawal from the external free agent market after intense discussions between the front office and the field. In the 2024 KBO Secondary Draft, held on Feb. 22, the team selected right-handed pitchers Woo Kyu-min and Lee Tae-gyu and infielder Kim Chul-ho, who are not left-handed.
“We are not very interested in Ham Deok-ju at the moment. “We are focusing on internal development and returning injured players while communicating with the field,” he said.
We also heard why the team didn’t select a left-handed pitcher in the second round. “We thought a lot about the left-handed bullpen. “There were actually a few players we could have picked,” he said, “but the manager felt it was better to develop Park Se-jin, Jeon Jae-joo, Kim Gun-woong, and others than the players we have now. We agreed. We also agreed and decided that it was strategically more valuable to select Woo Kyu-min.”
As a result, KT will be tasked with finding a new left-handed bullpen in spring training next year. Park Se-jin, the younger brother of Lotte’s homegrown ace Park Se-woong, was selected by KT in the first round in 2016, Lee Won-joo was selected by KT in the first round in 2019, and Kim Gun-woong was selected by KT in the fourth round, 40th overall, in 2023, are all left-handed prospects with the potential to be a part of the bullpen. Park Se-jin, who has the most first-team experience among them, will now need to break out of his shell.
Meanwhile, KT, which signed closer Kim Jae-yoon to a free agent contract with Samsung, is determined to retain its remaining free agent pitcher, Joo Woo-kwon. “I recently met with Joo-wook’s agent, and we freely exchanged opinions,” Na said, “I think we should take a long breath on the Joo-wook contract, but the attitude of catching him hasn’t changed.”
Park Chan-ho’s surgery, Kim Do-young’s 4-month injury, and Kim Sun-bin’s stalled free agent negotiations… Kim Jong-kook “I’m worried about the infield”
“I’m worried about the infield”.
The KIA Tigers and veteran infielder Kim Sun-bin’s free agency talks are dragging on. The two sides want to keep each other, but are unable to find an agreement. The two sides are far apart on terms. In the midst of the tense tug-of-war, there was a change of scenery. Park Chan-ho was injured and the main third baseman Kim Do-young was out for four months.
Kim has a career-high 3-for-7 batting average. He is one of the big four hitters in the 2024 free agent market, along with Yang Seok-hwan, Jeon Jun-woo, and Ahn Chi-hong. He’s also been consistent over the past four years. In the four years leading up to this year, he played in 487 games, batting .308 with 213 RBIs and a .757 OPS. He averaged 122 games and 494 plate appearances. He wasn’t a full-time player, but he did his part. 캡틴토토 주소
Whether he’s batting second, third, sixth, or seventh, he’s more than capable of doing his job at the plate. As you’d expect from a 2017 batting champion, he makes contact at a league-leading level and torments pitchers. In addition to his excellent pushing ability, he also pulls well. He doesn”t strike out easily and uses up a lot of pitches. This is the kind of hitter a manager needs. The absence of a third baseman would leave the lineup vulnerable.
His defense and fielding are not what they used to be due to frequent ankle and thigh injuries. Playing 144 games full-time can be difficult, so it’s important to take care of yourself during the off-season. During the season, you need to have proper injury management. If he solves his lower body problems, his defense at second base will be more solid and his ability to run the bases will improve. This is something that Kim has to prove.
Moreover, Kim Do-young, the main third baseman, is injured. She tore ligaments and fractured her left thumb while making a head-first slide in the APBC tournament and was diagnosed with a four-month rehabilitation. His rehabilitation could be accelerated, but he is expected to return in mid-April next year. He will be out for a month after Opening Day. We’ll have to wait and see what the after-effects are.
Park suffered a season-ending ulnar comminuted fracture in the sand dunes and was placed on the operating table. He also injured his left wrist in spring training this year. There are also concerns about the aftereffects of his injuries. Add to that the loss of Kim Sun-bin, and the infield could be very shaky. Kim Jong-kook, the manager of the Okinawa final camp, said, “Chan-ho also had surgery. We have to be careful because his wrist also has aftereffects. I’m worried about the infield next year,” he sighed.
Kim Sun-bin is currently negotiating with KIA to stay. They have met several times, but have yet to reach an agreement. The club entered the negotiations with a policy of not overpaying. Kim Sun-bin’s side is likely to start with the first free agent contract. If there are large differences, it is difficult to find a point of contact and the negotiations can be prolonged.
“We decided not to disclose the details of our negotiations,” said Shim Jae-hak. We have not yet presented the club’s final proposal,” he said, adding, “We are thinking of it as a necessary force for next season. We will try our best to stay.” In the end, the key will be whether the two sides can modify the existing conditions without sticking to them.
‘Another shock for the Chariot Corps’ Germany lose 0-2 away to Austria→3rd consecutive draw in A-Match
The ‘Chariots of Fire’ have gone three games without a win in three consecutive A-matches, leaving the hosts of the European Championships with an embarrassment of riches.
The Germans were unable to overcome a numerical disadvantage and fell 0-2 in a friendly against Austria at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna, Austria, on Sunday (Sept. 22).
European nations are currently in the midst of qualifying for the UEFA European Football Championship (Euro 2024) next June, but Germany, as the hosts, qualified automatically for the tournament and used the friendly to prepare for the event.
It will be the first time the tournament has been held on home soil in 36 years, and the Germans have their sights set squarely on the title. With less than a year to go until the tournament, the Germans have even pulled out the coach change card, but a string of disappointing performances in recent A matches has added to their anxiety.
The visitors lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Kevin Trapp donned the goalkeeping gloves, while Kai Havertz, Antonio Rudiger, Mats Hummels, and Jonatan Tah formed the back four. Leon Goretzka and Ilkay Gundogan guarded the back three, while Serge Gnabry, Julian Brandt, and Leroy Janet made up the back two. Niklas Fühlkrug rounded out the front line.
The home team Austria lined up in a 4-3-3. Alexander Schrager was in goal, while Philipp Mbene, David Alaba, Philipp Lahrnhardt, and Stephan Forsch formed the back four. In midfield, Xhsaber Schlager, Nicolas Seibald, and Christoph Baumgartner combined, while up front, Marcel Zabitser, Michiel Gregoric, and Konrad Reimer were in the German goal.
Germany once again started attacking midfielder Haberth (Arsenal) at left fullback, as they did in the friendly against Turkiye on Sept. 19. The defender’s surprise conversion to the left back position made an impact in the 2-3 loss to the Turks, as he opened the scoring in the sixth minute.
After suffering an upset loss at home to Turkiye, Germany were looking to turn things around with a win away to Austria, but they got off to a poor start by conceding in the 29th minute.
During an Austrian counterattack, Zabitser (Borussia Dortmund), on the left flank, picked up the ball and slowly made his way into the box. Seeing an opening, he fired a right-footed shot toward the near post that rattled the net and gave Austria the lead. The speed of the shot was such that German goalkeeper Trapp (Eintracht Frankfurt) could barely react.
Germany had more time of possession in the first half, with 62% of the possession, but they were outshot by Austria, 3 to 6. With only one shot on target, Germany was unable to break the deadlock and went into halftime down 0-1.
At the start of the second half, Germany made a change to their attack with Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich) coming on for Fühlkrug, but before they could realize the change, they were hit with a crisis when Jahn (Bayern Munich) was sent off.
In the fourth minute of the second half, Zane went down after a collision with Austrian fullback Mbene (Mainz). Mbene pushed you with his body, and in the heat of the moment, you lost control of your emotions and pushed him in the face with your hand, causing him to fall.
The referee wasted no time in showing you a red card for intentionally striking a player in the face, giving you a direct ejection. Mbene, who was also involved in the altercation with you, received a warning.
Outnumbered and outplayed, Germany pushed as hard as they could to find an equalizer, but Austria added another goal in the 28th minute of the second half to put an end to any hopes of a German comeback.
The attack started with a pass from Austrian captain Alaba (Real Madrid) at the back post, where Gregoric (SC Freiburg) picked up the ball and passed it to Baumgartner (RB Leipzig), who was rushing into the box. In perfect teamwork, Baumgartner beat his defender and found himself one-on-one with the keeper, who calmly chipped the ball over the keeper’s head and into the back of the net to extend the lead to two goals. 아톰카지노 주소
In the end, Germany was unable to overcome their numerical disadvantage and failed to score a single goal, ending their trip to Austria with a 0-2 loss.
With the loss to Austria, Germany has now gone three games without a win (one draw and two losses) in their last three A matches. After drawing 2-2 in a friendly against Mexico in October, they have now lost two in a row to Turkiye and Austria, leaving their Euro hosting status in tatters.
After suffering a 1-4 home defeat to Japan in September’s A-match, Germany sacked coach Hanji Flick and appointed Julian Nagelsmann to shake things up about nine months before the tournament kicked off. After Flick’s dismissal, Germany seemed to pick up the pace with a 2-1 win over France and a 3-1 victory over the United States.
However, a red flag was soon raised on their Euro chances as they failed to win a single point in their next three matches. With around seven months to go until the tournament kicks off, it will be interesting to see how the ‘Chariots of Fire’ can overcome their current crisis.
How far does a Japanese ace fall… from transfer team to release candidate?
Daichi Kamada’s future is unclear.
“Japanese midfielder Daichi Kamada’s future at Lazio is unclear, with the midfielder unsure about staying at the club,” Italian outlet GetfootballnewsItaly reported on Nov. 18 (KST).
Kamada was a rising ace in Japan. In the 2020/21 season, he peaked with 13 assists in the league, and in the 2021/22 season, he led Lazio to their second UEL (UEFA Europa League) title.
The momentum was not lost. Last season, he broke out in the first half for Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Bundesliga and was ranked first among attacking midfielders by the German publication Kicker Langliste. But things changed after the World Cup. He had one of the worst performances at the World Cup and finished the season with no real impact in the second half.
When Kamada became a free agent this summer, he was inundated with offers. Fellow Bundesliga clubs Dortmund and Leverkusen were the primary suitors, while Benfica and AC Milan were secondary. 캡틴토토
The transfer seemed to be happening quickly. European transfer expert Fabrizio Romano wrote: “AC Milan have completed the signing of Daichi Kamada. The contract is for five years, with only a medical remaining,” and the deal seemed to be finalized, but Italy’s non-EU issues ultimately derailed the deal.
He eventually moved to traditional Italian giants Lazio and seemed to set the tone early on, starting in the starting lineup. He also started against Genoa in the second round, but failed to make an impact and the team suffered a second straight defeat.
In the seventh minute of the third leg against SSC Napoli, with the score tied at 1-1, he scored his first goal in Serie A and SS Lazio, finishing with his left foot from a Luis Alberto through ball on the counterattack. The goal seemed to put him in the driver’s seat, but the momentum was short-lived.
He started against Juventus in the fourth round and assisted Luis Alberto’s late equalizer in the 18th minute, but was otherwise ineffective. In the subsequent games, he was one of the worst performers in each game and started more and more games from the bench.
His lack of defensive involvement was seen as a major contributor to the midfield balance, and he was eventually relegated to being Luis Alberto’s backup. With just one goal and one assist in 10 games, his first season in Italy is becoming increasingly unsuccessful.
Now, speculation is mounting about his future. As Daniel Longo of Italy’s Calcio Mercato writes, “A few weeks ago, Kamada was enthusiastic about his experience in Rome. But now there are doubts that Lazio president Claudio Lotito will let him go before the 2023 Asian Cup even starts.”
Kamada has taken time to settle into Maurizio Sarri’s system, and Sarri believes he has yet to find a balance when playing alongside Nicolo Lobela and Luis Alberto. Kamada’s future is unclear, but he has been linked with a move in recent days.
‘5.73 ERA pitcher secures $11 million’ Ryu Hyun-jin’s free agency green light
The 36-year-old pitcher with a 5.73 ERA just got an $11 million guaranteed contract. This is also good news for the ‘Korean Monster’ Ryu Hyun-jin, 36.
The St. Louis Cardinals and Lance Lynn (36) have agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract, according to ESPN, an American sports channel.
He has an $11 million club option for the 2025 season. The buyout is $1 million. It also includes $3 million in performance-based incentives.
The contract is therefore worth a maximum of two years and $24 million, with a minimum of one year and $11 million. A very good contract given how Lynn has looked this season.
Lynn pitched 183 2/3 innings in 32 games for the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers this season, going 13-11 with a 5.73 ERA.
After posting a 6.47 ERA with the Chicago White Sox, he was traded to the LA Dodgers, where he was slightly better at 4.36.
Lynn made a big splash with a 1.44 ERA in his first four starts with the Dodgers, but then collapsed to a 10.80 ERA in his next three starts.
St. Louis is Lin’s hometown team. After being drafted in the first round in 2008, he spent the 2011 and 2017 seasons there 아톰카지노.
In those six seasons, Lin pitched 977 2/3 innings in 183 games (161 starts), going 72-47 with a 3.38 ERA.
Ryu’s signing would also be good news for Ryu, as mentioned earlier. With starting pitching at a premium, it’s not out of the question that Ryu could get a good offer.