Raise your head, Hanwha. You lost, but you fought well → In 2013, LG came in second and rejoiced like a winner
Oct 02, 2025
|
The Hanwha Eagles' attempt to win the championship was thwarted in the 143rd game. Hanwha lost the 2025 KBO League SSG Landers 5 to 6 in Incheon on the 1st. As the gap with No. 1 LG remained at 1.5 games, the possibility of a reversal disappeared.
Expectations are high, so the sense of despondency is also high. Hanwha led 5-2 until the ninth inning. If it ends like this, it will closely chase LG with 0.5 games on board. If the team wins the match against Suwon KT on the 3rd, it will have a tie with LG and a 'No. 1 decision' game. It was considered an impossible scenario just on September 26 when LG went on an away trip to Daejeon with the magic number reduced to 3. But the miracle came before my eyes and disappeared. Rather than a sense of accomplishment for the second place, you can be overwhelmed by frustration of missing the first place.
But Hanwha fought really well. It overturned the expectations of experts who were classified as the top five before the season. Even if foreign one-two punch Ponce and Weiss played a big role, it is a sensation that was possible thanks to the growth of domestic players. In 2023, rookie Moon Hyun-bin has now emerged as an outfielder who is not lacking no matter where he is in the league. In 2022, rookie Moon Dong-ju became a 10-win pitcher (11 wins and 5 losses). Kim Seo-hyun, No. 1 in total in 2023, harvested 33 saves in his first year in his final job. There were only four blon saves, but it came out on this day.
It reminds me of LG, who escaped the dark ages in 2013.
LG failed to play in fall baseball for 10 years after the 2002 Korean Series. LG created a sensation in 2013 as if it were the Hanwha of the Year. He ranked second in the regular league with a 74-54 winning percentage of 0.578. At that time, LG also recaptured the lead in September and threatened the 'Samsung Dynasty'. This season's ranking fight was also fierce enough to be called the best ever. LG's second place was also decided in the final game of the season.
|
|
Although LG failed to reach the Korean Series after being upset by Doosan in the playoffs this season. However, it is remembered as the first year to break the dark age, and the cornerstone that has become a strong team began at this time. LG took 11 years to escape from the dark ages and another 12 years to win.
Even Hanwha cannot be full at the first drink. It is not too much to evaluate that it is already 'a successful season'. It is time for praise and support that 'the overwhelming second place' rather than pointing fingers as to why he failed to win the first place.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.