The Great Unwind?
The 2024 spring training, the 43rd year of professional baseball, is shaping up to be a different story. Kia Tigers manager Lee Bum-ho is suddenly taking the reins of a team with a strong championship history. Choi Won-ho of the Hanwha Eagles was given the gift of a 78-win pitcher from the major leagues returning to the mound at the last minute of camp. It was an unexpected turn of events for both managers.
Kia was in the midst of a surge ahead of a camp in Canberra, Australia, in late January. Just as the team was preparing for the camp, an arrest warrant was issued for manager Kim Jong-guk on charges of embezzlement. The club learned of the investigation and suspended him, but the next day, when it was announced that prosecutors had requested a warrant, the club decided to terminate his contract.
The players started spring camp in Canberra without a head coach. Head coach Jin Gap-yong led the camp without incident. Instead, 바카라사이트 there was an explosion of interest in Korea for the next head coach. Former coaches and even legend Lee Jong-bum came out in the wilderness to express their opinions. From within the organization, Jin Gap-yong and Lee Beom-ho, the batting coach, were among the candidates.
The club decided not to hire an external coach from the beginning.
They ruled out anyone from Korea University, and naturally, Lee Bum-ho was the finalist. A video interview was conducted with him and the new coach was born. The team chose a young leader who is not yet 43 years old. His leadership as a player and coach, as well as his depth of knowledge of baseball, made him the 11th manager.
Kia is the favorite to win the title. The starting lineup is solid, with a strong one-two punch and a domestic trio of Yang Hyun-jong, Lee Yi-ri, and Yoon Young-chul. The bullpen is also among the best in the 10 clubs. The 40-stolen base trio of Park Chan-ho, Choi Won-joon, and Kim Do-young, the powerful center field of Na Sung-beom and Choi Hyung-woo Socrates, and the bottom of the order with Kim Sun-bin and Lee Woo-sung are also solid. The infield and outfield backups are also solid.
Lee took the reins after the scandalous behavior of his predecessor, but he seized the opportunity to play his own baseball. It’s not easy to be entrusted with this kind of power. That’s why it’s said that he was born with a lot of luck. He’s still a novice manager, but if he can put the pieces together, he’ll have a smile on his face in the fall and be recognized for his leadership. “The final goal is to win the championship,” Lee declares.
In mid-February, words of hope began to emerge from within and outside the Hanwha Eagles.
There was talk of the possible return of “Korean Monster” Ryu Hyun-jin, who ended his four-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays after last season. In fact, local media reported that Ryu can be utilized as a starting pitcher, so it was expected that he would stay in the ML rather than return to Korea. Several clubs emerged as possible destinations.
However, Ryu was looking for a club where he could play for one or two years, preferably with a team that could win a championship. He wanted to return to Hanwha younger and healthier. He rejected offers for multi-year contracts of up to four years. When he didn’t get the offer he wanted, he decided to take the plunge and return to Hanwha. He signed an eight-year, 17 billion won contract to meet the salary cap.
The return of Ryu, who was a top-notch starter in the Major Leagues, heralds a meteoric rise for the organization. He has the ability to pitch 160 innings as a No. 1 starter and win 10 games, with the potential to win as many as 15. Hanwha had a winning percentage of 4.2-2.2 last year, but with Ryu’s return, the team is expected to improve to a winning percentage of 5 or better. Choi Won-ho is excited about Ryu’s return.
“If he is in good physical condition, I will use him as the opening day starter,” he said. The team is aiming to reach the fall baseball season, but they can dream beyond that. 사설 토토사이트 He took over the reins midway through last year’s season, but the team struggled and finished in ninth place. Now, with Ryu at the helm, they can definitely challenge for the fall season. The absolute ring would be a break from the last five years of 9th-10th-10th-10th-9th-9th.
