The impact of the starting shortstop’s departure is too great. It’s about the KIA Tigers.
KIA lost 3-8 in the home game against the Doosan Bears held at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 17th. Starting pitcher Thomas Panoni gave up 5 runs, and the batting line was so helpless that only 1 run was scored on a timely hit. KIA suffered four consecutive losses starting from the Daegu Samsung Lions match on the 12th. They suffered 56 losses (2 draws, 60 wins) in the season and fell behind Doosan by 1 game.
The problem is that a vicious cycle is continuing in which the offensive power of the batting line is sinking compared to the previous record, and the bullpen is suffering from overload. KIA, which had a 9-game winning streak since the KT Wiz match on August 24, rose to 3rd place at one point, but its batting cycle is trending downward again, and the pitching staff, which had shown strength amidst the losing streak, is suddenly showing ups and downs.
The absence of Park Chan-ho, the starting shortstop and leadoff hitter due to injury, is also too large. Chan-ho Park suffered damage to the ligament of his left fourth finger while running base in the game against Samsung in Daegu on the 12th, and was unable to play in the team’s three games thereafter.
Even in the game on the 17th, when they gave up their 6th consecutive win to Doosan and lost their 4th game in a row, the vacancy was felt. Defense first. In KIA, Kim Do-young, who played third base, took on the role of shortstop, his main position during high school, to fill Park Chan-ho’s void, and ‘offensive infielder’ Byun Woo-hyuk was brought in as third baseman.
Byun Woo-hyuk made an error in the top of the third inning on this day by failing to catch Kim Jae-ho’s batted ball with one out and first base. Although his batting speed was fast, he headed directly in front of the fielder. Even in the process of allowing a bunt hit to Jo Soo-haeng, Byun Woo-hyuk’s defense was a little disappointing. Infield defense where the difference between out and safe comes in a split second. If a slightly more agile player had been guarding the left defense, the result could have been different. In the ensuing situation, KIA was hit by Yang Seok-hwan and gave up a 2-1, 1-point lead.
Kim Do-young, who is replacing Chan-ho Park as the number one hitter, also appears to be feeling more pressure. He had no hits in 5 at-bats against Doosan on the 17th. In the bottom of the second inning, when KIA was down 0-1, Junsu Han tied the score with a timely hit and went to bat on the following opportunity, but ended up hitting a double play. In the 9th inning, with one out and runners on first and second base, opposing pitcher Hong Geon-hee struck out.
Kim Do-young recorded no hits in 3 at-bats and no hits in 5 at-bats against the Gwangju Lotte Giants on the 13th and against Doosan on the 15th, respectively. On the 17th, in the top of the 6th inning against Doosan, he made a catching error in a familiar spot on defense. He appears to have been under pressure.
Chan-ho Park faithfully fulfilled his role as the leader of the attack, recording a batting average of 0.302 and an on-base percentage of 0.358 in 115 games played this season. He was also considered the top candidate for the Golden Glove at shortstop. 토토사이트
With the departure of such a player, KIA, whose full strength collapsed again, suffered 4 consecutive losses as even the mound was shaken.
Coach Kim Jong-guk believes that it is natural for Park Chan-ho to fully manage his injury and play. Although they stagnated due to 4 consecutive losses, they were not far behind in the race to reach 5th place because the other competing team, SSG Landers, was also struggling.
KIA will be held on the 18th, postponed due to rain on the 16th. It is the last game of the three-game series against Doosan and the final game of the season (game 16). If you win a head-to-head match, you can immediately reduce or widen the gap by one game. Attention is focused on whether Park Chan-ho will play and whether he will supplement his strength in case of absence.