“Defeating, failing the operation, all of that is the director’s responsibility.”
Doosan Bears coach Lee Seung-yeop had to face the voice of criticism after losing the Daejeon Hanwha Eagles 6-7 on the 19th. Coach Lee had to face several moments of choice in a situation where he was chasing by one point in the ninth inning, but unfortunately all the choices led to failure and the come-from-behind victory was canceled. It was a game where they were leading 5-2 until the beginning of the 6th inning, but even after putting Pil Seung-jo and Jung Cheol-won into the game quickly and throwing 2 innings (38 pitches), they could not steal the flow that went over to Hanwha. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it was the most painful loss among the seven losses that Doosan suffered this season.
It was the beginning of the selection from quickly replacing starting pitcher 메이저사이트Kim Dong-ju in 5 innings. Kim Dong-joo threw 86 balls until the 5th inning and was well blocked with 2 runs. With a 3-point lead and the number of pitches to spare, I could have let him go one more inning.
Director Lee’s choice was a replacement. It was the result of an early agreement with Doosan pitching coach Jeong Jae-hoon. Coach Lee said, “I tried to win the game quickly at 5-2. Prior to that (with 3 consecutive losses), the pitchers had a lot of rest, and Kim Dong-joo blocked only 5 innings and used Park Chi-guk, Choi Ji-gang, Jeong Cheol-won, and Hong Kun-hee as soon as possible to end it like that. I talked with the pitching coach. At the 3-point gap, I said, ‘Let’s catch it today’, but Park Chi-guk was in trouble. It’s unfortunate that it happened at the 3-point gap, but of course the responsibility lies with the manager.”
Doosan had the last opportunity to chase in the top of the ninth inning, trailing 5-7. Thanks to Yang Eui-ji’s hit and Kim Jae-hwan’s 1 RBI and timely double, the team continued the chance to second base safely, chasing 6-7. Ahn Jae-seok, the runner-up to Kim Jae-hwan, entered the second base, aiming for an extra point. At this time, Kang Seung-ho, who was at bat, attempted a sacrifice bunt on the first pitch, but failed and retired with a floating ball to the first baseman. The fans who were watching were greatly disappointed when the operation that poured cold water on the chase atmosphere came out.
Continued first out and second base chances. Jose Rojas, who had hit a home run in the previous at-bat, was supposed to come out, but this time, he used pinch hitter Shin Seong-hyun. The result was a floating ball to the third baseman. The chance for a safe second base quickly changed to second base, and Heo Gyeong-min got an automatic 4th pitch and went to 2nd base, 1st and 2nd base, but the game ended as pinch hitter Kim Jae-ho stopped at the pitcher’s ground ball. Doosan, who missed the golden chance of a turnaround, had no choice but to be greatly discouraged.
Director Lee carefully explained the above choices. He said, “I don’t know how to take it, but it was a one-point difference and we had exhausted our hopes, but I had no intention of giving up the game. I think it was a bunt because it was the ninth inning and it was safe and it was a one-point difference with second base. (Kang Seung-ho) If the first baseman came in, he would have hit it boldly, but I don’t think it’s a failure because of the result.”
“Rojas talked with the hitting coach in that short moment and decided that Shin Seong-hyun would be better. Rojas is in such a bad condition for a left pitcher, and he hit a home run, but he wasn’t sure yet. The home run was the result of hitting a breaking ball, In) Kim Bum-soo throws a fast ball. As Rojas’s condition improves over the course of the season, he will not continue to change in such a situation, but yesterday (19th) I thought it would be better to change.”
Anyway, the director made a choice and humbly accepted the result. You cannot stop making a choice just because the outcome is bad. In the remaining 128 games this season, coach Lee must choose the best option for each situation in numerous situations and solve it. If you are shaken by criticism every time, you cannot move forward.
So, director Lee chose to break through head-on without avoiding criticism. Manager Lee emphasized several times, “It is the responsibility of the manager and the bench for poor results (of selection). Losing and failing operations are the responsibility of the manager.”
In fact, coach Lee started his leadership career at Doosan for the first time, and until now, there was no way to confirm the baseball color of ‘Leader Lee Seung-yeop’. In particular, Doosan is a team that has been coached by Taehyung Kim for the past eight years. It is true that the baseball coach Lee pursues can feel even more unfamiliar.
It is still unknown whether Lee’s baseball is the answer or not. Still, so far I see more positive aspects. As of the 21st, Doosan is ranked 4th with a 9-7 win rate of 0.563. Until the second starter Dylan Pyle came back from injury, he put the ‘endurance strategy’ at the forefront, but he continues to hold on to the top ranks. The choice of the game on the 19th, which ended in failure, was worth expressing regret right away, but it is not too late to judge Lee Seung-yeop’s baseball by watching at least 144 games.