Kia Tigers coach Lee Bum-ho explained in detail why he replaced ace pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong after two outs in the fifth inning. Emphasizing that he is making the choice to win the team’s victory as a coach, Lee said, “Similar things may happen in the future.” This implies that he does not want to miss his 12th chance to win the title in seven years.
Yang Hyun-jong started the 2024 professional baseball game against the Samsung Lions at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on the 17th and was replaced after two outs in the fifth inning. While leading 9-5, adding one out count could have satisfied the winning requirements, but he replaced the plate as directed by coach Lee in the crisis of first and second bases.
The next batter after Samsung was Kim Young-woong, who hit a two-run double at the previous batter’s box. Lee put up left-hander Kim Dae-yu to strike out to prevent the crisis, and eventually mobilized the bullpen to win the game 10-5 without allowing any additional runs. The players’ strong determination to secure the game against Samsung, which was an important part, was revealed through their performance.
Yang had no choice but to be disappointed in his position. He earned 174 wins in total, earning the title of “Great Pitcher.” This is a living legend who has been challenging 170 innings for 10 consecutive years. He has consistently shown his ability to pull off innings this year as well as lead the mound. He is usually guaranteed to win, but he will not be able to play five innings for the first time this year.
Everyone recognized that it was a steel plate with the heart of the head coach who had no choice but to consider the team’s victory even more important than individual victory. Manager Lee, who knew such feelings, approached Yang Hyeon-jong during Gyeonggi-do, gave him a back hug, and expressed his sorry. The scene was captured on the broadcast screen, which made headlines.
“I only watched the game. If I had defended (Kang) Min-ho and (Lee) Sung-kyu well, I would have posted it in the sixth inning,” Lee said ahead of the final match of the Weekend Series against Samsung on Wednesday. “If I played against Samsung, I would have remembered a lot of games that I lost because I was hit by Kim Young-woong and Kim Heon-gon. It was difficult to remove the most important key player, but I thought that if I got hit, I would still have aftereffects today.”
“I thought I would change it if I prepare (Kim) for Daeyu and get caught by (Kim Young-woong). I talked to Hyunjong after the game. This situation could happen in the future,” he said. “I understand because it is an important situation.” As a coach, I should have made a clear judgment. Only then will the fatigue of players be minimized,” he added.
Regarding Yang’s last back hug, he calmly explained, “I saw if Hyunjong went in and was giving high-fives to younger players who came in. I was like, ‘I’m sorry. Let’s go for a half.’ It is difficult to remove a hard-throwing pitcher. If Samsung catches up with one or two more points, it will be a good pitcher for Samsung. Instead, you have to explain it well to the players. That way our team will play better.”
BY: 토토사이트 추천