Month: November 2024

It has been a long time since Clayton Kershaw has smelled like a real ace. Paul Skins (22) of the Pittsburgh Pirates overcame his inferiority in statistical indicators to be named the Rookie of the Year in the National League.

The Major League Baseball (MLB) secretariat announced the results of the Rookie of the Year award in the two major leagues on the 19th (Korea Standard Time).

As expected, Skins was chosen as the Rookie of the Year award of the National League, which drew keen attention due to its “legendary” competition. Skins swept 23 votes among the 30-member voting list of the American Baseball Journalists Association (BBWAA) and received second place votes from the other seven, winning the award with 136 points in total.

Their opponents were not easy. Outfielders Jackson Merrill (San Diego Padres) and Jackson Churio (Milkowie Brewers), who were revealed as finalists along with the Skins, both showed outstanding performances this season. However, Merrill ranked second (104) with seven first-place votes and 23 second-place votes, while Churio also ranked third with only 26 third-place votes. Other than them, Shota Imanaga (Chicago Cubs), who came from the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), received the remaining four third-place votes to rank fourth. It is the first time that only four players have won the Rookie of the Year award since 1980, when voting for three players began.

Although the result was expected, the result was more overwhelming than expected. Skinny’s first overall pick in the 2023 draft came to the big league in a year. Due to call-ups during the season, he pitched in only 23 games, recording 11 wins, 3 losses and an ERA of 1.96. Although the number of games is small, his outstanding pitching quality has caught the eye of the baseball community. The power of the light speed ball crossing 100 miles per hour (161 kilometers) and the main weapon splinter + sinker was also powerful.

The 토토사이트 league already drew keen attention. Even though he failed to meet the stipulated innings, he was selected as the starting pitcher of the National League at the All Star game and was among the three final candidates for the Cy Young Award.

Even so, the award could not be guaranteed. According to FanGraphs, Skinny’s contribution to victory was 4.3. It was considerably lower than that of rival Merrill (5.3). In the Baseball Reference, Skinny’s 5.9 was higher than that of Merrill (4.4), but his limitation could have been that he was the starting pitcher who failed to meet the required innings. Merrill’s performance that led his San Diego Padres to the postseason could have also attracted attention.

However, local public opinion did not change their support for Skinns and gave him more overwhelming votes than expected. It is the first time that a pitcher has won the Rookie of the Year award since pitcher Devin Williams of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2020. Considering that it was a shortened season at the time, it is the first time in eight years that a pitcher has won the Rookie of the Year award since Michael Fulmer (then the Detroit Tigers) in 2016. It was difficult to win the Rookie of the Year award because the management of innings for rookie pitchers was getting stronger, but Skinns broke the record with overwhelming performance.

Meanwhile, surprisingly, there were not many nominees who received the Rookie of the Year award. This year’s Skins is the fifth of its kind after Bob Horner in 1978, Daryl Strawberry in 1983, Bryce Harper in 2012, and Carlos Correa in 2015.

Meanwhile, New York Yankees pitcher Lewis Hill was named the Rookie of the Year in the American League. Hill recorded 15 wins, 7 losses and an earned run average of 3.50. Hill is also the first full-time pitcher rookie of the year in eight years since Fulmer. It is the first time that both leagues have won the Rookie of the Year award since Jeremy Hellickson and Craig Kimbrel were elected in 2011.

Kim Ha-sung rejected the mutual option with the San Diego Padres and went to the FA market because he had his own strategy.

In addition, when Kim Ha-sung replaced his agent with Scott Boras just before the mutual option was rejected, local media showed great interest in Boras’ FA strategy, making various observations.

Observers have one thing in common, however. They wonder what it would have been like if Kim Ha-sung had finished his fourth season in San Diego this year in good health. All of them seem to be regretful, believing that a contract worth more than 100 million dollars for more than five years would have been easy.

Willy Adames is the biggest shortstop in the FA market. He played in 161 games for the Milwaukee Brewers this season and recorded a batting average of 0.251 (153 hits in 610 at-bats), 32 homers, 112 RBIs, 93 points, 21 steals, and an OPS of 0.794. He displayed career highs in almost all categories including home runs, RBIs, runs, hits, and stolen bases.

On the projected contract size, ESPN offered $189 million for seven years, MLBTR offered $160 million for six years, FanGraphs offered $145 million for five years, Bleacher Report for seven years, and The Athletic for six years. It is considered to be one of the highest level among shortstop free agents in history.

If Kim Ha-sung had not been injured in his shoulder and had only surgery, he would have boasted market value as much as Adames. Even if Kim Ha-sung’s batting power is lower than Adames, there is nothing to lose. In particular, defense and base running have been evaluated as having the best skills in the Major League.

For this reason, there is a prospect that Kim Ha-sung may hit an unexpected jackpot.

MLB.com mentioned Kim Ha-sung for the third time after starting pitchers Shane Bieber and Walker Buehler in an article titled “Five FA Better Than You Think” on the 18th (Korea Standard Time).

Reporter Andrew Simon, who wrote the article, presupposed, “Kim Ha-sung has two problems that hinder him from getting a big contract this winter,” and said, “First of all, the most important thing is that he ruptured his right shoulder’s wavelength in August, ending the 토토사이트 season early and undergoing surgery. This allows him to return after the opening game of next season.”

Kim Ha-sung received a suture surgery on the right shoulder at the guide of Dr. Neil Elatrice in Los Angeles on Oct. 11. The rehabilitation process will take at least six months, which will enable him to return after mid-April next year at the earliest. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to regain his skills through offense and defense even if he returns. For this reason, it is difficult to sign a jackpot contract.

“Secondly, we lack the firepower to attack big time. During the four seasons of the Padres, he only posted a batting average of 0.242 and a slugging percentage of 0.380, pointing out that he is not a power heater.

However, it also introduced clear and differentiated strengths that contrast with shortcomings.

Reporter Simon said, “Nevertheless, Kim Ha-sung’s value is high because he has the opposite characteristics of FA such as Pete Alonso. Kim Ha-sung does not hit by splitting the ball like Alonso, but he provides excellent defense while watching premium positions (strikes) and has excellent base learning,” adding, “He has the ability to handle bats, so he floats the ball enough to hit double-digit home runs, and he knows how to balance patience and contact ability.”

In conclusion, “If these points are combined, Kim Ha-sung showed the productivity of the top 20 in the bWAR category for 2022-2023 and two years. There is not much difference from Juan Soto,” he said. Kim Ha-sung marked a bWAR of 4.9 in 2022 and 5.8 in 2023, and Soto marked a bWAR of 5.5 for the second consecutive year. Since Kim Ha-sung recorded 10.7 and Soto 11.0 in two years, the difference is not big.

However, reporter Simon said, “Even if we sign a long-term contract, we will not be able to approach the level that power heater Adames receives in terms of total amount. However, it would not be surprising if healthy Kim Ha-sung showed a similar level of performance to Adames.”

In the end, there is room for him to regain his health and revive his offense.

Arsenal are trying to pay a huge amount of money to recruit Hafeeña (Barcelona).

Arsenal ranks fourth in the English Premier League in the 2023-24 season. Contrary to what was expected before the season, the team has been struggling with key players including Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino since the beginning of the season.

The strikers are also agonizing over the loss. Bukayo Saka had the most attack points with three goals and seven assists in 10 matches of the league, while Kai Havertz has also scored four goals, but other strikers continue to show sluggish performance. Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossar, Gabriel Jesus, and Raheem Sterling lack destructive power.

Arsenal are looking for a new wing-forward to do so and have chosen to target Hafinha. Hafinha made his Premier League debut by playing for Leeds for the next two seasons in the 2020-21 season. Having shown sharp left-footed shooting and dribbling skills, Hafinha joined the Barcelona outfit for a fee of 60 million pounds (W105 billion) in the 2022-23 season.

Contrary to expectations, Hafinha lost his sharpness on the Spanish stage. In his first season, he played 36 matches in the Primera Liga and scored only seven goals, and last season, he was lagging behind in competition to become a starting member and only made 17 starts. Eventually, Hafinha faced a crisis as he was listed on the sale list.

Hafinya has achieved a complete revival this season. Hafinya has recovered his previous performance under Coach Han Ji Flick. He has scored seven goals and eight assists in 13 matches in La Liga, five goals and two assists in the 비아마켓 Champions League, and has posted 22 offensive points with 12 goals and 10 assists in 17 matches overall this season.

Naturally, big clubs such as Arsenal and Chelsea have reignited their interest in Hafinha. Arsenal also plan to pay an extraordinary amount. Spain’s “El Nacional” reported on the 16th (Korea time) that “Arnal plans to invest 90 million euros (about 132 billion won) in recruiting Hafinha.”

Barcelona originally planned to sell Haphinha, but has categorized Haphinha as a key resource starting from this season’s change. To recruit Haphinha, he has to persuade Barcelona with a considerable amount of money.

Is Son a world class player? To this question, Jamie O’Hara, a soccer expert from Tottenham, expressed his opinion. O’Hara is famous for making strict diagnoses of Son.

The British media “TBR Football” said on Monday (Korea time) whether O’Hara considers Son a world class. O’Hara highly values Son and believes he is a legend of Tottenham. However, he no longer believes he is the best in the world.

“It used to be like that. But it’s not a world class anymore. I think he used to be a world class. He’s not a world class anymore,” O’Hara said.

“Listen. I’m not ignoring Son. He’s a legend. I love Son. He’s helpful to the team, but that doesn’t mean he’s a world class,” O’Hara said.

TBR Football said, “Tottenham has a lot of good players. Although it is not a club that seeks to win the Premier League, there are many quality players such as Christian Romero, James Maddison, and Mickey van der Pen. Another well-known player at Tottenham is Son Heung-min.”

TBR Football said, ‘Son Heung-min is a striker for the Korean national team. He moved from Leverkusen to Tottenham in the summer of 2015. Since then, he has been a key striker for Tottenham. Jack Grealish, England’s star of Manchester City, highly praised Son. There is no doubt that Son Heung-min is valuable to Tottenham.’

TBR Football said, “Son Heung-min, who is 32 this year, has played 311 times in Premier League matches so far. He has 123 goals and 65 assists. However, O’Hara no longer thinks Son is among the best in the world. O’Hara thinks Mickey van der Pen is a world class.”

TBR Football was concerned that Son Heung-min’s future at Tottenham was uncertain.

TBR Football said, “He could leave Tottenham in 2025. He is still an important player at Tottenham and a regular in the starting lineup. He has three goals and three assists in eight Premier League games this season. However, this season could be the last. Saudi Arabian clubs are interested in recruiting Son in 2025.

“Tottenham will not offer Son a new contract. Instead, it will exercise its one-year option,” he predicted.

The British media “Cutoffside” reported on Monday (Korea time) that Tottenham legend Son Heung-min had a lot of uncertainty about his future. However, there are reports that he will be playing at the club after next summer.

Cutoffside said, “The 32-year-old Son Heung-min’s contract with Tottenham expires at the end of the season. Tottenham can trigger an option to extend their contract until 2026.

If Tottenham executes the option, Son Heung-min will play for Tottenham from 2025 to 2026.

“Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Flettenberg said Tottenham is expected to activate the option and Son Heung-min will stay in North London for another year,” Cutoffside added. “He said Son Heung-min wants to win the trophy at Tottenham.”

Unlike his personal career, Son Heung-min has never won a major championship as a 비아그라 team.

He has been frustrated several times on the threshold of winning the title, including runner-up at the Asian Cup, runner-up at the Champions League, second place in the Premier League, and runner-up at the League Cup. Tottenham also won only one major championship in the 21st century, only once in the 2008 League Cup.

Cutoffside said, “He has been with Tottenham since 2015. For the past 10 years, he has achieved a legendary career by scoring 165 goals and 87 assists in 419 games for Tottenham. Thanks to his long career, he received the captain’s armband.”

Cutoffside said, “If anyone deserves to lift a trophy at Tottenham, it is Son Heung-min. Tottenham, led by coach Enze Postecoglou, deserves to win the Cup this season, but needs improvement. Son Heung-min also needs a rebound because he is not in the best condition. He said, “I scored three goals and three assists in eight Premier League games,” and advised that some improvement is needed.

Son Heung-min (Tottenham) is not satisfied with the current situation.

Spanish media “Pichahes” reported on the 18th (Korean time) that “Son Heung-min is dissatisfied with the contract extension conditions proposed by the club. This is because the team plans to renew the contract at the same level as the current conditions. Son Heung-min feels that such an offer is insufficient considering his outstanding performance.”

“Son Heung-min feels that his dedication and performance deserve improved terms in terms of contract period and salary,” he added.

However, British media ‘Talk Sports’ said, “The club’s management is trying to invoke a clause that unilaterally extends the contract without adjusting his salary.”

“There is a very high possibility that Son will stay at Tottenham for another year,” Florian Plattenberg, a reporter for the “German version of Sky Sports,” said on the 17th. “World-class winger also wants to stay at Tottenham.” Tottenham plans to use Son’s one-year extension option and stay with Son until June 2026.

Fabrizio Romano, an expert on the transfer market, also said, “Tottenham has started the process of invoking a contract clause that extends Son’s contract until June 2026. He will be accompanied by Tottenham for at least one more season (than the previous contract).” Both Plattenberg and Romano highly evaluated the possibility of Son staying.

Tottenham signed Son Heung-min’s last contract in July 2021. The two sides’ companion, which signed a four-year contract at the time, ends in 2025. However, Tottenham reportedly has the option to extend its contract for another year.

According to reports, Tottenham seems to have decided to activate the existing option rather than signing a new contract with Son Heung-min right away.

Son Heung-min, who left Leverkusen in August 2015 and signed a five-year contract with Tottenham for a transfer fee of £22 million, extended his contract to 2023 by renewing his contract in July 2018, and is scheduled to play until 2025 as he re-signed for a second time in July 2021.

With Son’s contract terminated at the end of the 2024-25 season, fans have been paying keen attention to whether to renew the contract. Tottenham, however, has remained silent.

In September, Son Heung-min gave a theoretical answer when asked about renewing his contract at a press conference ahead of the first leg of the UEFA Europa League phase with Garabach.

In fact, news of renewed contracts between Tottenham and Son began early in the 2023-24 season. Tottenham was committed to protecting Son by sending Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), one of the top-rated strikers in Europe, to other teams. Tottenham is recognizing that it is a spiritual pillar of the locker room as it is expanding its influence from key players to young players. Some warned that if Tottenham sends Son, it will not be able to win the title, which was a long-cherished task.

Tottenham formed a consensus by negotiating re-signing with Son Heung-min. “Football Insider” announced in March that “Even Chairman 비아그라 will come forward to renew the contract.” He also reported that he will continue to accompany Tottenham unless there is a big deal, saying he will sign the contract renewal this summer.

One stumbling block was Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia was linked to the Saudi Arabian team including Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne last summer, and there is another “oil money” rush in the Middle East this year. The Saudi Arabian team is expected to propose a four-year annual salary of 84 billion won (84 million U.S. dollars) to recruit Son this summer.

However, Son has repeatedly made moves to Saudi Arabia. He still has a winning task to play for Tottenham, and hence is re-signing the contract. Even though all of his teammates who enjoyed his prime after joining Tottenham in 2015 left the team, Son Heung-min, who is playing as a solo player, had promised to receive the highest treatment.

However, the situation has changed as time has passed. According to the sports media “The Athletic,” Tottenham announced that it plans to issue a one-year extension with Son. Public opinion that the option to extend the one-year extension was not given legendary treatment was prevalent.

Son Heung-min was born in 1992 and has no idea when his performance will decline. Tottenham is monitoring the situation after pushing for a one-year contract extension rather than a long-term contract in preparation for Son’s deteriorating performance. In fact, he was absent due to injury several times this season.

Carney Chukuehmeka is set to leave Chelsea soon.

British ‘Tribuna’ said on the 17th (Korea Standard Time) that “Chukueh Mecca, who is barely playing, plans to leave Chelsea.”

Born in 2003, midfielder Chukuehmeka was Aston Villa’s long-awaited midfield resource. Growing up in Villa Youth, he made his professional debut as a substitute in a match against Tottenham Hotspur back in 2021 and gained fans’ expectations by showing his active movement in a short period of time. The final record for the 2020-21 season is two games.

Since the 2021-22 season, which was his second year, he has secured opportunities to select players and move between the bench and the starting lineup. However, the player himself wanted to guarantee a starting lineup, and “big clubs” such as Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain (비아그라) started to drool over him. The final record for the 2021-22 season is two goals and three assists in 22 matches.

Eventually, he left the villa two years after his debut. His destination was Chelsea. Villa fans criticized his move to a more competitive “big club,” contrary to rumors that he moved to play time.

Concerns have become a reality. Since moving to Chelsea, he has hardly been able to afford to play. He only played 492 minutes in 17 games in the 2022-23 season, and became an “external resource” after losing ground to outstanding competitors such as Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in the 2023-24 season. Enzo Maresca will only play 49 minutes this season.

Chukuemeka has failed to stand out since joining the club. Chukuemeka is also likely to move to the club. The media reported that Chukuemeka liked his SNS post saying that he could leave Chelsea in January. He has decided to move to the club.

Ruud van Nistelrooy (48) was reportedly shocked when he left Manchester United.

“Fan Nisteloy was devastated when Hoobeng Amorim was appointed as Manchester United’s coach and his exit was decided,” the soccer specialized “Goal Dotcom” said on the 17th (Korea Standard Time), adding, “His old friend Andre Oyere testified.”

According to the media, Oyere said, “Fan Nistelrooy wanted to stay with Manchester United as a head coach. I had enough opportunities to be a coach or head coach of another team, but I didn’t because I wanted to work for Manchester United, which is his favorite club.”

Van Nistelrooy, who was Manchester United’s senior coach, took over as acting coach when Erik ten Hag was replaced on April 27. He perfectly performed his role as a firefighter by garnering three wins and one draw from four official matches. Amorim, who will lead Manchester United after the A-match break, will also take over the team in a good atmosphere thanks to Van Nistelrooy.

Oyere said, “Don’t forget that Van Nistelrooy did a really good job as an acting manager at Manchester United. He won the other three games after a draw with Chelsea. I could feel that the Manchester United fans really liked him. You can see how the Manchester United fans reacted after his last game.”

He added, “Pan Nistelrooy did well even in difficult situations. If Amorim is sluggish in the first few games, Manchester United fans may find Van Nistelrooy again.”

비아그라 and Van Nistelrooy have a close relationship. When Van Nistelrooy was the PSV Eindhoven head coach for a year from 2022, Oyere assisted him as the head coach. As a player, he played for Eindhoven and the Dutch national team for a long time.

Van Nistelrooy conveyed his desire to remain in the team even if Amorim took over at Manchester United, but Manchester United did not allow it. British ‘The Sun’ explained on the 13th, “There was only one reason why Van Nistelrooy wanted to remain at Manchester United. Because he loved Manchester United so much. However, he was a pragmatist and knew that Amorim wanted all control, including the coaches, and had no choice but to leave Manchester United.”

Van Nistelrooy, who left Manchester United, is likely to take over as the new team’s manager. Talk Sports in England said on the 16th, “Van Nistelrooy wants the position of manager of the English Championship (second division). He applied for the vacant Coventry City manager position. He left Old Trafford after being informed that he would not remain at Manchester United under Amorim.”

Van Nistelrooy will compete against “EPL legend” Frank Lampard. According to the media, the owner of Coventry Doug King wrote, “High quality candidates have submitted resumes. Lampard is one of them.” Lampard is a legendary midfielder who played for Chelsea and England, and has coached Derby County, Chelsea and Everton since his retirement.