Jung Ho Kang’s availability this spring has always been cloudy. The situation has now taken a turn where the Pirates are planning ahead with him not being part of the 2017 Pittsburgh Pirates.
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In another twist in the saga, Kang has been denied a working visa and there’s more potential trouble.
One of the primary reasons Kang and his representatives have struggled to get him a working visa is that there’s suspicion he’s been convicted of a fourth DUI in a third country.
Report also stated that there's a suspicion that Kang may have been convicted of drunk driving in a third country other than Korea and U.S.
— Sung Min Kim (@sung_minkim) March 24, 2017
The Pirates have constantly stood behind Kang but more and more pressure is building to break ties.
A Pirates source says this morning “we’re moving forward without him” in regards to the 2017 season. “It’s disappointing” the source added.
The Kang off the field saga makes it even more important the Pirates didn’t trade Josh Harrison this off-season, something management explored to move salary, though, there was a lot of push back from Clint Hurdle.
David Freese is now entrenched as the starting third baseman.
The Bench
Pittsburgh’s bench was weakened in the off-season, losing Sean Rodriguez, Matt Joyce to free agency.
Adam Frazier who hit .301 in 146 at-bats in 2016, appeared in 66 games last season and becomes one of the Pirates primary options off the bench. Frazier with position flexibility to play both corner outfield positions, also appeared in 17 games at second base, 5 at third base in 2016.
Jose Osuna is believed to have a spot locked up with the Kang news.
Phil Gosselin who has been battling Alen Hanson for a roster spot, can also play all over the infield but is more experienced at second base.
It was a telling sign that the Pirates also started giving John Jaso reps at third base this week.
The bench still has position flexibility, especially when you factor in Josh Harrison who can also move around everywhere. The bench, though, just can’t hit.[/hide]
[Photo: David Hague]
Different topic… I’m sure most have seen it but if you’ve yet to, go see Logan asap!
The guy that won the women’s weight lifting competition, is the real hero. Women can’t even win their own sports anymore
Chuck and Amy Schumer
Once again pens lose to a backup goalie
This is important in the same way game winner assists are important.
Where is letang? Is it safe to assume he is just done for the year?
Anders Lee goal was offside
Your hockey starts in April.
Of course you missed that play maybe busy scuffing a hot dog
Scuffing
Jesus… Halak lucks his way to the win. MAF wasn’t bad but wasn’t great. That said I’m more concerned with the missing bodies! Islanders had more to lose and played like it. Tough L… well have at er yodirt as it’s obvious what the rest of the posts should look like… “LEAVE MURRAY, CROSBY AND PENGUINS ALONE”!
Fleury was good gave team a chance to win but the D in front of him was garbage. 46 shots on fleury I bet Murray would’ve let in more if there was 46 on him
In fairness the post bailed him out a few times. End of the day im not necessarily pointing the finger at him as much as the missing bodies by any means but he wasn’t as sharp tonight overall despite the boat load of saves.
And yes the injuries are starting to show at least pens are in playoffs imagine this happened early season. And with teams play good now a days would’ve been hard pens to catch to make playoffs. The temporary players are doing there job good trying to get points here and there but we know long term they are not the answer. You guys might hate on sid but he has take this team on his back since malkin injury he has been scoring and giving chance to win but where pens hurting now is the 3rd line and the defense… Read more »
all hail st.pokecheck!
He poke checked your crap cave.
Nice job Sid!
Love to see pot one… that said end of the third was nuts
I wasn’t one to whine about Ho Sangs 66 but seeing him on the ice AGAINST the Pens is weird
Good potential but disrespectful for Mario. And TVA said reason he got 28 overall and not top 10 because of his off ice attitude but then again his black so that comes with the package. 2.0 version of Kane
It’s not disrespect, guy was a Lemieux fan. I mean it’s his own issue as the number comes with a prestige that’s impossible to live up too but it’s not a disrespect imo
I bet there was and is way more lemieux fans in the league but none wear 66
Ok…
I agree with sam. The same way nobody wears #4 or #9 out of respect for Orr and Howe. Or, this is just high octane stupid.
I’d love to shit on Ruhwedel here but in my mind I hear “leave Ruhwedel alone”… jeff22666… thoughts? Or is the salary not high enough to qualify for the rose coloured glasses?
His ice time is nuts… I know the team is short but don’t we have actual NHLers to play 24 mins a night?
Gaunce making Ruhwedel look like…. “LEAVE RUHWEDEL ALONE”! Sorry burh lol
with the saint in, pens need 4 to win as ususal. tonight they’ll need 5
I wanna argue this but I’m afraid I will get the “leave Murray/Fleury” alone reply. You win this round Jeff22666… I mean yoda
You take things wayyy too personally, zero. Have a drink or something bud, haha.
That may be the problem… I am drunk and was when I read that 😉 lol
I was celebrating being one of about 8 Edmontonians that made it home without an accident now that te roads are dry lol
Cheers then!
Cheers!
Yeah, I’m having a delicious Manhattan as we speak.
We have that in common… I’m a Scotch drinker mostly, love a good heavy peated malt but I’m also partial to a well made Manhattan… Frank Sinatra drink 😉
Bourbon, IPAs, Sours and the occasional (very often) IC Light for me.
I have to admit I’m not big into the IPA… the Hops are too “grapefruity” too me if that makes sense. My beer preference is pretty ghetto to be honest but I make up for it by frowning at Scotch under 70 bucks lol
Get fuckedd you moron hang yourself already
Funny when Murray in net you are somehow at work and when fleury is in net you are glued on tv watching pens fail
You only needed one to win. Right up your shitt shack. And then he didn’t call you.
Pens need to do in game adjustment fleury playing aggressive and isles adjusted to that there is a lot of skating from back the net then passing from right wing to left side. Making a huge open net while fleury is aggressively challenging the previous play
The D of pens are being vulnerable to isles offensive speed.
I wanna come out here and be a little critical of MAF but I’m afraid our very own Pens version of Chris Crocker will accuse me of pandering to yoda…. can I be critical of a rough outing with some breaks without the accusation from someone out here once a month that doesn’t seem to get the dynamic out here despite his attempt to convince us otherwise without sounding like I’m pandering to someone? Jeff22666? Is this okay or will your infinite wisdom of “leave penguins alone” Be offended?
PS, nice goal Sid
Hey jeff22666, I am curious… what exactly do you think the pens should do with pouliot? I know you believe he hasn’t been given a fair chance so in the super fan idea of “leave Penguin alone” what should the Pens do with Despres to give him that shot?
What? Oh I said Despres? Whoops? I’m sorry I get confused about all the superstars jeff22666 thinks needed a shot and this situation is so familiar… I meant Pouliot… thoughts?
Well as I said it pouliot would be a bust and never hit his potential that team and fans expected and I guess I was right same goes for mattaa and Dumoulin
Dumo looks fine most nights… you get he was never gonna be a star right? Maatta is a victim of his skating, if he would invest the time he could still be a very good defender in this league
Go Yoda complain isles first goal on fleury
While pens player archibald was sleeping on the play
Even better goal was waived off
Jung Ho has had better ideas leaving the bar than the GOP has had in 7 years (!!!) on healthcare.
I’m still gung ho for Jung Ho!
way to go “drug hoes kang”
what were the results from the forensic investigation that melnyk ran on the matt cooke incident? what a piece of trash that guy (melnyk) is.
Yup, his comments are nothing short of utterly ironic too. Hockey play with an unfortunate end.
I remember that CSI episode.Yeeeeeeaaaahhhh!
The prospects the pirates parted ways with will never be major league quality. They wanted rid of lirianos cost and got a serviceable/AAAA pitcher in return.
They got junk. And more money. Your Stockholm syndrome is cute though.
liberalism is a mental disorder
At least they gave up two prospects and Liriano for that Hutchison dude. #BestManagementTeamInBaseball
That trade was something Littlefield would have been impressed with.