Hyun-Jin Ryu Plays a Human Bowling Ball - Gets a Strike! (.gif's)

As you know, Hyun-Jin Ryu has been a consistent presence on an Korean "urban action variety" show called the "Running Man" the past couple of years.  Last year he paired up with fellow MLB star Shin-Soo Choo to play some psychic supernatural Baseball and worked his magic with a Hula Hoop in another episode.

This time he runs around with a bunch of folks to participate is some strange, yet hilarious, high-jinks.  Unfortunately, the show is in Korean and there are no English subtitles.  Still, even though I couldn't understand a word, I found myself laughing at many of the sequences. 

Check out some .gif's I put together of the best moments.  Below, the show participants meet with Ryu and proceed to accost him like a gang of old grandmothers.

After driving around in a car, meeting some folks on the street and playing some sort of jump rope game the "Running Man" crew head to a local swimming pool to play some human bowling.

That's right, they will be human bowling balls and Hyun-Jin Ryu is tasked with throwing his large prodigious body towards a set of pins.  It's both hilarious and troublesome at the same time.  After all, the big guy could've hurt himself.  Or, he could've bowled a 7-10 split; which would have required another embarrassing dive down the lubed-up lane.  I can just imagine him having to sprawl out like a ungainly log - trying to reach both ends to get a spare.

On second thought, I would have loved to see that again.  But as you can see, Ryu bowled a wondrous strike; to the joy and disbelief of the gallery.

The best part of all are the numerous reactions from the crowd.  I am laughing just thinking about it.

BTW, you can watch this entire episode here.

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Blog Kiosk: 12/29/2014 - Dodger Links - Kuroda to Play in Japan, Justin Tuner and Chin-Hui Tsao?

Here is just another press photo from a a vintage spring.  Featured above is a 1957 International News press photo dated February 27, 1957.  The caption attached to the reverse says:

SAFETY FOIST-----Vero Beach, FLA........ Protected by a screen behind the pitcher's mound, manager Walter Alston keeps a critical eye on things as Fred Krupp pitches during practice at the Dodgers spring camp in Vero Beach.  Alston took this precaution after he was almost beaned by a line drive

Such are the perils of Spring!  I ran into this photo on eBay.  Check out the auction here.

Below are some links to check out:

• Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider give us the inside scoop on, "How Yasiel Puig landed the cover of MLB 15 The Show."

“We wanted to focus on someone whose passion for gaming is only superseded by their passion for baseball. Where gaming is organically part of what’s important to them. In that way, they can more organically speak to the brand and the game.”

• Here's an old friend alert.  Via Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors, "Hiroki Kuroda Plans To Return To Hiroshima Carp."  And as expected, Kuroda's career will go full circle.  He will end his illustrious professional career with the club he started with.  He was a great Dodger pitcher and I had hoped he would play in LA one last time before going back home. 
• Left Field Pavilion made some fantastic graphics in honor of Hiroki Kuroda.  Check those out here.
• Via MLB Fan Cave, "Justin Turner Gives Sad Dodgers Fan a Jersey for Christmas."

One young Dodgers fan had his Christmas dampened by the fact that his favorite team had just traded his favorite player, Matt Kemp. But current Dodger Justin Turner came to the rescue with the perfect solution.

• Panini America released more preview pics from their upcoming National Treasures Baseball card set here.  Check out an autographed Clayton Kershaw booklet card on the right.
• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "2014 postscript: From piano to panic, a Kershaw no-hitter odyssey."  Jon shares his story of the day Kershaw threw his no-hitter.

By this time in my Dodger life, Kershaw knew generally who I was, but it’s not as if he really knew me — I’m not sure if he even knew my name. So you can imagine how taken aback I was when he put his glove down on some gear near me and asked, “Can you watch this for a minute?”

• Via Bill Skaikin at The LA Times, "Dodgers close to signing Taiwanese pitcher Chin-Hui Tsao."

Tsao, 33, appeared in 21 games as a reliever for the Dodgers in 2007. He previously played for the Colorado Rockies, becoming the first Taiwanese pitcher in Major League Baseball.

And as Evan Bladh at Opinion of Kingman's Performance indicates, "Chin-hui Tsao Should Have to Be Vetted by MLB Before Reinstatement."  Tsao is currently banned from playing ball in Taiwan due to fixing games and recently prohibited from playing in Australia, as a result.

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