Going to Pohang for 2 consecutive years. Will the ‘national batter’ be able to embrace ‘good spirits’ once again.
In early August, Doosan Bears manager Lee Seung-yeop made an unusual harsh comment. The remarks are coming ahead of the three consecutive games against the Samsung Lions, which will take place at Pohang Baseball Stadium from August 20.
Coach Lee complained, “We went to Ulsan and Pohang during the hot season last year, and this year is the same,” adding, “We will play all three consecutive games in Ulsan and Pohang.”
Ulsan is the second ballpark for the Lotte Giants and Pohang is the second ballpark for the Samsung Lions. Doosan is the only team that has played in both Pohang and Ulsan over the past two years, although the team is said to play in the second ballpark to expand the base of professional baseball.
As head coach Lee played as a star representing Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province during his active days, Doosan’s visit is inevitably welcome from the perspective of local governments such as Pohang and Ulsan.
The problem is that the second ballpark has poor facilities compared to the existing first-team stadium. Since artificial turf is used, the players’ summer heat is beyond imagination. It is said that the ground management has improved a lot, but it is not a stadium that can play a cool first-team game.
In July, Kang Min-ho (Samsung), a “Pohang native,” also said, “I want you to properly manage the ground so that professional players can play. Even in high school, I didn’t do it in such a ballpark. When I enter the batter’s box, my feet sink in like mud,” adding, “It’s good to come to Pohang. However, the environment is disappointing. There is a high risk of injury and it doesn’t help my performance at all.”
The away team’s lodging conditions are not good, either. Doosan made a round trip from Daegu during the Pohang game last year and stayed in Gyeongju this year. Doosan’s voice with regret was natural.
Despite coach Lee’s passionate talk, the Pohang game will be held normally for now. As the contract is strictly signed, it is not easy to change the schedule. 먹튀검증
The steps are heavy, but coach Lee and Doosan have good memories in Pohang.
When Lee was an active player, Pohang was a place of promise. He played at Pohang Stadium with a batting average of 362 and 15 home runs, ranking first in the home run race at the 2013 All-Star Game and achieving 400 home runs in 2015.
Last year, when he took over the energy and became the head coach, he swept all three consecutive games against Samsung. He succeeded in rebounding at a time when the 50% winning rate collapsed.
“It’s not that I hate Pohang and Ulsan,” Lee said. “Now I am the coach who leads the team. If I go alone, I can go even in the heat of 50 degrees Celsius.”
While Doosan and Samsung have long ways to go, they are set to hold three consecutive games in Pohang. With three consecutive wins, Samsung has advanced to the second place with 63 wins, two draws and 52 losses. It is 5.5 games behind the Kia Tigers (68 wins, two draws and 46 losses), which is ranked first, and 1.5 games behind the LG Twins (60 wins, two draws and 52 losses). It is also only three games behind Doosan (61 wins, two draws and 56 losses), which is ranked fourth.
To further solidify its No. 2 position, Doosan needs to at least leave a surplus in the three-game series against Doosan. Doosan, on the other hand, may catch Samsung’s tail, depending on the results of the three-game series.
However, there are variables in the Pohang game. There is a rain forecast for the three consecutive games. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, it will rain in the Pohang area from the evening of the 20th to the morning of the 21st and the morning of the 22nd. Although the weather conditions change from time to time, it is not good news for the game as humidity can increase.
