The players are to blame for the win, I’m to blame for the loss.
This is where the ‘virtuous’ side of NC Dinos coach Kang In-hwa (51) came out. 토토사이트He praised the players who did well and encouraged the team with his unwavering faith.
The NC, led by manager Kang Myung-ho, won 14-9 against the Doosan Bears in the first game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO Postseason Wild Card (WC) Decision at NC Park in Changwon on April 19.
Seo Ho-cheol, the No. 7 hitter, went 3-for-4 with a home run and six RBIs, and Kim Hyung-jun, the No. 8 hitter, went 4-for-4 with a multi-homer game and combined for 10 runs.
“I was a little worried about the first game, but the players played their roles well enough to win,” said Kang Myung-ho after the game, adding, “I want to say thank you very much, and we will prepare well for the next game.”
Kim Hyung-jun (center) celebrates after hitting a wedge three-run home run in the eighth inning. /Photo=News1
He was full of praise for Seo and Kim. In particular, he praised Seo Ho-cheol, who hit a game-winning home run in the fourth inning and a two-run double in the eighth inning, saying, “It’s true that the mood was down when we gave up a run, but the players had something they wanted to do and something they wanted to show, so they focused on it.” He added, “Seo Ho-cheol was able to come up with a long hit to change the mood and play a good game.”
Regarding Kim Hyung-jun, who struck out Kwak Bin early with a back-to-back home run in the fourth inning and hit a decisive three-run homer in the eighth, he said, “He played a good role beyond expectations.” He also praised his qualities as a catcher.
We’re also thinking about how to increase their importance. When asked about moving up the batting order, he said, “We’ll discuss it with the hitting coach a little more.”
Of course, there were disappointments in the game. The pitching staff was one of them. Tanner, who was targeted by the Doosan bats early on, had to go five innings to turn a 5-3 lead into a 5-5 tie.
Kang said, “I tried to go five innings. In the sixth inning, I was going to bring in the bullpen early, but it was too bad in the beginning, so I prepared Lee Jae-hak first.” “I’m disappointed that Lee Jae-hak didn’t have a good result, but after that, I thought that if we could reduce the number of runs, the offense would be able to score, so I brought in the bullpen a little early,” Kang said, admitting that he made a mistake in the timing of the pitching change.
The other was a somewhat sour finish in the ninth inning, when they gave up three runs. Closer Lee Yong-chan was shaky. He gave up three runs on three hits and one walk, which was unsettling.
It was a solid finish for a 29-save pitcher, but it was a shaky finish for a pitcher with an 8.00 ERA in his last 10 games of the season. “I’m worried about Yong-chan,” Kang said, “but I don’t think it’s right to replace him after he finished the season as the closer. Depending on the game situation, I think I’ll have to think about whether to go to the front or go all the way back.”
“It’s important to give Yong-chan more faith. The pitch itself seems to be back to where it was at the end of the season, but I think there is a part of the pitch that is too monotonous and can be read numerically by opposing hitters,” he said, adding, “I’m thinking about adding a slider and a curve to the pitch a little bit more, so I’ll talk to Yong-chan and decide.”
With two days off, the team can take a breather. The team opens the first round of the semi-final playoffs against the SSG Landers at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on April 22.
The pitching staff is desperate for the return of the league’s best pitcher, Eric Peddy, to ease their woes. His physical condition is key after being hit in the arm by a pitch. “I think he’s recovering day by day, and he’s in better shape today than he was yesterday,” Kang said. “I think he’ll train tomorrow and see how he’s doing, and then we’ll decide when he’ll pitch. I think I’ll know tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.”