If the behind-the-scenes failed, I would have been criticized for dead.

Apr 15, 2025

If the behind-the-scenes failed, I would have been criticized for dead.
KT won 9-5 against LG-KT at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 2nd. Coach Lee Kang-chul is welcoming the players. Suwon = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.4.2/



"The moment the ball fell out of my hand, I said, 'Oh, it's a ball..."

KT Wiz manager Lee Kang-chul told a story after 'Full Count Pitcher Replacement', which is rarely seen.

Ahead of the Kia Tigers match to be held at Gwangju Kia Champions Field on the 15th, coach Lee chuckled, saying, `If I had lost, I would have been criticized greatly.'




The situation was like this. The Samsung Lions match was held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 13th. a 6-1 lead. He gave up three runs in the seventh inning. In the eighth inning, Kim Min-soo gave up a double to Yoon Jung-bin and a triple to Kim Sung-yoon, chasing a one-run gap.

One point was not the problem. The atmosphere was running into a tie, a reversal. third base with no outs. Lee Jae-hyun's ball was blocked by a line drive. It's a relief from KT's point of view. Kim Min-soo had a difficult match against Ryu Ji-hyuk, the next batter, to reach the full count.

Did pitcher expert manager Lee Kang-chul feel 'cheap'. He suddenly made a pitcher change at the full count. Usually, they don't change pitchers often while dealing with batters. This is because the pitcher coming up is burdensome.




However, considering Kim Min-soo's ball power and condition, there is a high probability of being hit while pushing the ball in a full count situation.

If you play a running game, the come-from-behind runner will go out. A situation where you have to do something. Manager Lee's choice was to put in the closing pitcher Park Young-hyun early.

Park Young-hyun threw a 149-km fastball. It was high. However, Ryu Ji-hyuk's bat, which was as burdensome as a pitcher, was pulled out. It was a victory over Park Young-hyun's presence.




Park Young-hyun even hit the slugger Koo Ja-wook. That's how he kept his one-point lead. In the ninth inning, he also took the mound and won a thousand gold saves.

If the behind-the-scenes failed, I would have been criticized for dead.
Samsung-KT match held at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 11th. KT Park Young-hyun and catcher Jang Sung-woo, who won 5-3, are shaking hands. Suwon = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.4.11/
Manager Lee said "It was such a waste of So Hyung-joon's pitch. I threw 94 balls in really cold weather. In the previous game, he had not won even after seven scoreless innings. It was a moment when we had to compete for Cho Hyung-joon or for the team. I thought the game would be decided by that ball. If I give the score there, I think the atmosphere will be completely over" he said.

Then "I'm the coach, but I don't think the players will understand if I space out and do nothing." I was in a situation where I had to try something. So I was thinking it would only be 2S. In 3B1S, the opponent's batter swung and missed. So I immediately put out Park Young-hyun. It was a fastball game anyway. Park Young-hyun has good fastball power, so he had to win with it. If the result was bad and the score was given, I replaced it with the determination to exclude Park Young-hyun immediately."

If the behind-the-scenes failed, I would have been criticized for dead.
The match between KT and Samsung held at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 13th. KT Cho Hyung-joon preparing to pitch. Suwon = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.04.13/
Park Young-hyun, who was ordered to take the mound at the full count after warming up, was also natural. Manager Lee said "Younghyun told the pitching coach 'Am I going out now?He asked in surprise. It's unimaginable. I had similar experiences when I was a pitching coach at KIA, and at that time, it was a more comfortable situation, such as 2B0S and 2B1S, which were 1 point difference."

In fact, Park Young-hyun's contribution was high. If you let it go, it was a ball. However, Ryu Ji-hyuk lived by swinging. Director Lee "As soon as the ball leaves his hand 'Oh, it's a ball'." But when I saw the highlight of the game, it went to the height that caught the batter's eye. I was lucky. If I failed, I would have been criticized a lot. I'm glad I won. It was so nice to lighten Cho Hyungjun's heart" he said.



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.