“I’ll do a ceremony to pick the base.”
It was Oct. 21, 2015. Eric Thames (then of the NC Dinos) stole second base and performed a ceremony to pull out the bases. It was the first 40-40 game in the KBO league. At the time, Thames hit 39-40 home runs this season against Doosan in Changwon on Sept. 3, predicting a 40-40 game early on.
Thames stole 31st base this season, but his pace of stealing was not fast enough. However, he steadily accumulated stolen bases until the end of the season, and dramatically succeeded 40-40 with three games left to play. It was his 140th game of this season. He played in a total of 142 games. 메이저놀이터
Nine years have passed. After Thames, Kim is the second KBO player and the first Korean player to challenge 40-40 games. He is the most sensational player in the KBO league this year. He has kept his ambition completely hidden, but he is also a human being. After playing 3-30-30-100-100 at the Kiwoom Heroes in Gwangju on Tuesday, he said, “I don’t mind if I stop hitting home runs.”
In other words, it would be a waste if he fails to achieve 40-40 by a narrow margin. In other words, it would be better to end up with 35 homers as it is now. However, with 38 stolen bases already in the past, he said, “I will do my best in the remaining 12 games.” Since I don’t know if I can hit 40 homers or not, I will do my best to perform the ceremony by picking the base like Thames once I hit 40 homers.”
Kim Do-young is in the opposite situation to Thames. He is expected to reach 40 steals ahead of 40 home runs. Home runs are the key. Adding five more home runs in 12 games is not easy even for a home run hitter. It is funny to say that Kim Do-young, who has already hit 35 home runs, is not a home run hitter, but it is the first time for Kim to have 20 home runs and 30 home runs. Of course, it is his first time to challenge for 40 home runs.
Kim Do-young certainly has the ability to hit home runs. She showed it through 10 homers in April. However, she has had no 10 homers a month since then. After eight homers in June, she had seven in July and six in August. Manager Lee Bum-ho’s analysis is accurate that 40 homers will be more difficult than 40 homers.
Driving without pressure and driving with consideration of the outcome are completely different. If you empty your mind that you don’t have to hit more home runs, you can get a good result. However, if KIA secures its regular season title around the Chuseok holiday, it remains to be seen whether Kim will be able to really empty his mind and enter the batter’s box.
Coach Lee Bum-ho already encouraged Kim, saying, “If I can do 40-40 games, I should do my best.” He said, “No matter how much Kim Do-young plays 40-40 games every year, I will never get a chance to do 40-40 games every year.” If she plays 40-40 games, she will become the first Korean batter and the youngest to win the title. If she achieves it in 10 of the 12 games, she will be able to achieve the title of 40-40 games at least with 139 games. Kim’s truly great, final challenge begins.
