KT Wiz manager Lee Kang-cheol is tongue-in-cheek about the LG Twins’ bullpen offense.
“It’s not easy for LG to change pitchers frequently,” Lee said ahead of the third game of the Korean Series against LG at Katie Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, on Tuesday. “Even if we try to change to a substitute, it’s difficult because they have already prepared for it.”
LG activated its bullpen with one out in the first inning after starter Choi Won-tae struggled in Game 2 two days earlier.
The second pitcher, Lee Jung-yong, singled to score Choi’s successor, but LG’s seven bullpen pitchers had a combined ERA of zero. LG came back to win 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth, thanks to Park Dong-won’s game-winning two-run homer.
Manager Lee Kang-cheol praised LG’s bullpen for its quality and quantity.
Recalling that KT does not have a left-handed bullpen pitcher, Lee promised, “We will definitely develop a left-handed pitcher next year.”
While left-hander Cho Hyun-woo played the role of Al Toran in KT’s 2021 unified championship, picking up two holds in the Korean Series, this year’s roster lacks a reliable left-handed pitcher, making it difficult to shut down LG’s left-handed lineup.
“Games 1 and 2 went according to our strategy,” said Lee, who has an advantage over LG in the starting pitching department, emphasizing that he has no choice but to stick with the current plan of giving his starters six innings instead of the quick hook of pulling them early if they struggle, and relying on the closer trio of Son Dong-hyun, Park Young-hyun and Kim Jae-yoon to close one inning each.
Lee, who made significant adjustments to the batting order, including moving the top of the order from No. 6 to No. 1 in hopes that the hitters would hit well, said, “Taking the third game from a 1-0 deficit has a big impact on the entire series.” “Wes Benjamin is starting, so a win today will raise the team’s spirits,” he said. 먹튀검증