As of the 14th, Kiwoom Heroes are leading the competition in the quarterfinals. On the 13th, the Gocheok NC Dinos won 2 games in a row with an 8-2 win, and they are maintaining 5th place, one game ahead of 6th place SSG Landers and 2 games ahead of 7th place NC.
However, it is still difficult to guarantee 5th place Mercury. After the NC match on the 14th, they will move to Daegu and play 4 games until the weekend, including the double header with the second-placed Samsung Lions. Next week, the third-placed LG Twins face a tough schedule for three consecutive games in Jamsil. It is a time when the leadership and determination of the commander is needed more than ever.
However, for Kiwoom, manager Hong Won-ki (48), who is holding the baton, could be the biggest risk in the fight for the quarterfinals. Hong has exposed various limitations as a novice manager until now, having played 130 games this season. In particular, he made several speech mistakes in relation to team management, and the number of times was too frequent to be called a lack of experience.
| ^ Hong Won-ki, director of Kiwoom Heroes. Photo = Reporter Kim Jae-hyun |
A representative example is the indulgence of Ahn Woo-jin (22) and Han Hyeon-hee (28), who caused controversy by having a drink with outsiders after leaving the expedition dormitory. Manager Hong initially declared that even if the two pitchers’ KBO official disciplinary action and the club’s own disciplinary action were over, they would not be hired in the second half, but using the pretext of a decision for the team as a shield, he called the troubled son back to the first team. Ahn Woo-jin has been in the starting rotation since last month, and Han Hyun-hee is likely to join the first team this weekend.
The criteria for the selection of players also come and go. Manager Hong explained in detail the situation where he was able to play when Cho Sang-woo (27), a key player in the bullpen, recovered from an injury and was registered in the first team on the 5th. He said that he plans to put it on the mound in the 7th, 8th, or 9th innings, or in the tightest situation.
However, Jo Sang-woo appeared in the bottom of the 6th inning after Kiwoom fell 2-5 in the match against KT Wiz in Suwon on the 7th and scored one inning without a score. It was an incomprehensible use that did not match the words of manager Hong who emphasized that there would be no input of Jo Sang-woo to maintain the sense of the game.
Beast operations are no different. When the problem of overlapping first base positions between foreign batters Will Craig (24) and Park Byung-ho (35) arose, he did not say that Craig would not use the outfield, but manager Hong showed his experimental spirit. Craig played 17 of the 47 games he played in right field after wearing the Kiwoom jersey. After exposing the problem in defense, he takes turns playing with Park Byeong-ho as a designated hitter and first baseman. Coincidentally, Craig’s feeling of hitting has revived since the 2nd day, when he stopped playing as an outfielder.
Kim Hye-seong (22)’s sudden switch to second base, which was made in the middle of last month, is also difficult to see as a success. It is encouraging that Hye-seong Kim’s sense of hitting has been revived, but Kim Joo-hyeong (25) and Shin Jun-woo (20), who are playing at shortstop, did not contribute much to the air defense and put the team into difficulties several times due to frequent mistakes.
Nevertheless, before the game on the 13th, manager Hong said, “I am hoping for the growth of young players through this opportunity.
Although both macroscopic and microscopic views are required for the director at the same time, Director Hong seems to focus on the parts rather than the whole. If manager Hong’s leadership fails to set the center of the team, Kiwoom’s entry into the postseason for the fourth year in a row will inevitably be difficult.
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