The opening of the KBO League is approaching in 10 days. The 10 teams, which are adjusting their condition in time for the opening, are also taking a honey-like break on the 22nd and preparing for their final hardening.
In the prospect of power leveling, the progress of LG, Samsung, and Hanwha stands out. These three teams formed the lead in the first round of the KBO League demonstration game (8 games per team). In particular, Hanwha, the ‘lowest player in 10,000 years’, rose to 3rd place (5 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses) as if to prove aggressive player reinforcement. It is also noteworthy that Samsung, which has a team mainly composed of young players, is tied for first place with 6 wins and 2 losses with LG, the ‘eternal championship candidate’. There is a popular belief that the performance of the exhibition game is unbelievable, but these three teams are evaluated as having succeeded in changing their color through the first round of the exhibition game.
LG, which was reorganized into the Yeom Gyeong-yeop division, stands out for its ‘baseball’. He stole 24 noos in 8 games. The number of failures is also 1st (8), but basically it runs a lot. Not being biased towards a specific player means that the team color has been changed. He is a manager with expertise in base running, enough to have Kang Jung-ho and Park Byeong-ho, who were not fast-footed even when they were at the Nexen (currently Kiwoom) headquarters, join the club with 20 homers and 20 steals.
He’s not just stealing bases. After figuring out the battery and defensive tendencies, the counterbeat quickly starts, and the run base play, which goes one more base with a short hit, also stands out in the demonstration game. The driving force behind the 3rd place in scoring (41 points) is active and bold mobility. Even if you plant the impression of ‘running anytime’ to the opponent, half of it will be successful. Because he cares about running, he has no choice but to share his energy with the hitter, so his ball distribution becomes monotonous. It means that the basis for making a big inning is created even if you do not have to aim for a big one.
Samsung’s destructive power is also impressive. He hit 9 home runs in 8 games. His RBI is high as he fires long hits. 44 RBIs and 46 points all ranked first in the demonstration game. It’s a team with a lot of young players, so it’s exciting. Armed with multiple shots, it leads to a bold swing. The team’s batting average is 0.293, and is on the way. It seems possible to achieve the team batting triple crown (batting average, home run, RBI) based on index performance alone.
Until the Okinawa spring camp, I had a headache because of the bat that did not explode. I increased the intensity of training, but it should be seen that results are coming out. Coach Lee Byeong-gyu, who joined as head coach, also helped create a ‘not intimidated atmosphere’. When the atmosphere subsides, it is the weak point of the young player-centered team, but veterans such as Oh Jae-il and Lee Won-seok are holding on, so the weakness can be offset.
The most surprising team is Hanwha. It’s not just because the momentum is good. He picked up 41 walks in eight games. The number of balls that fit the body is 46, which is second only to LG. After picking out the ball, the team batting average also rose (0.280, 2nd place). I mean, it’s a game anyway. The presence of Chae Eun-seong, who joined as a free agent (FA), also plays a part, but it is an impression that the blind aggressiveness that was exposed as a weakness until last year has disappeared. Not only does he pick out the ball calmly, but each hitter gives off the impression that he has established his own strike zone.
Baseball is not an area that can be solved only by offense. Even so, you can’t win if your offensive power isn’t backed up. Exhilarating long hits or footballs, and detailed snowballs reminiscent of high-sensitivity radar were trends that led the league in the late 2000s. The KBO League, which has been colorless and odorless with the disappearance of team characteristics, is awakening with the Tokyo Olympics and World Baseball Classic. 메이저놀이터
Although the results of the demonstration game are not directly related to the regular season, it is good to see that a team has clearly set the direction for each team through the stove league and spring camp. The KBO league started to wriggle again.