It is an unusual ‘aftereffect of consecutive wins’.
Professional baseball KIA goes through ups and downs between heaven and hell at the end of the season. They screamed with happiness when they were on a nine-game winning streak from the Suwon KT game on the 24th of last month to the Jamsil Doosan game on the 6th. With 9 consecutive wins for the first time in 10 years since June 2013, the probability of advancing to the fall baseball season has greatly increased. KIA’s highest winning percentage (0.533) 메이저사이트 and largest win-loss margin (+7) this season also came out at that time.
I had concerns. Teams that had been on a particularly winning streak this season tended to sink after finishing their streak. This was the case for Hanwha in June, who had an 8-game winning streak, and Doosan in July, who achieved 11 consecutive wins. The biggest concern was whether KIA, which followed, would be able to avoid the ‘aftereffects of consecutive wins’.
After the winning streak ended, they fell into two consecutive losses. However, they soon made up for the loss with three consecutive wins and seemed to be shouting, ‘We are different.’ However, the anxiety factors that were consistently pointed out due to unexpected injury variables exploded together, holding KIA back.
The injury of starting shortstop Park Chan-ho, who is showing career-high performance, causes a big butterfly effect. He injured his left finger while sliding headfirst to first base in the Daegu Samsung game on the 12th and was replaced by Lee Chang-jin. As a result of the examination, I was advised that the 4th finger ligament was damaged and that I needed 3 weeks of rehabilitation. Considering the fierce last-minute battle for rankings, KIA expressed its intention to use him as a defender and pinch runner rather than canceling him.
However, with a batting average of 0.302 (125 hits in 414 at-bats) and an on-base percentage of 0.358, the leadoff gap was not easily filled. KIA coach Kim Jong-kook gave Kim Do-young, a second-year professional who had always guarded third base, a heavy responsibility, but he could not overcome the pressure. In three games as a shortstop, Kim Do-young was silent with no hits in 11 at-bats in 12 at-bats.
That’s not all. Third baseman Kim Do-young moved to shortstop, and Choi Jeong-yong and Byun Woo-hyuk, who were inserted into the hot corner, exposed their weaknesses in defense. Manager Kim is in a dilemma where he cannot avoid weakening his offensive ability if he decides to cry and move Kim Do-young back to third base.
Even the unstable starting lineup is in trouble. The last pitcher to show quality start pitching (less than 3 earned runs over 6 innings) was Yang Hyeon-jong (6 innings, 2 runs) against Doosan in Jamsil on the 7th. It is rapidly shaken by injuries and poor condition of key players. Replacement starters Hwang Dong-ha and Kim Geon-guk also appear to be too strong to last in the first team. It is good news that Mario Sanchez and Lee Ui-ri are about to return after missing out due to injury, but it is unreasonable to expect good results right away.
The variables of the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games feel even greater. Lee Ui-ri is removed from the starting lineup again, and Choi Ji-min is absent from the overloaded bullpen along with the collapse of the starting mound. Choi Won-jun leaves a void in the batting lineup. Although the departure was expected, no clear measures have been put in place. The final hurdle that KIA must overcome has come, as it is desperate to advance to the fall baseball season.