"The mound is solid. We have solid pitchers in both the starting rotation and the bullpen."
Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung's first win since returning to the field has been slow in coming.
After a shocking opening three-game losing streak, the trusted mound is faltering.
Lotte lost to the Kia Tigers 2-1 on June 26. The losses followed a two-game opening series against SSG Landers last weekend.
The process of losing is not good. Ace Wilkerson gave up two home runs in the opening game. In game two, they were down 0-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning when Koo Seung-min hit a three-run home run off Choi Jung. In the top of the ninth, the bats rallied for a six-run inning to tie the game at 6-6, but closer Kim Won-joong gave up the game-winning home run to Heredia.
The loss to Kia also came after a strong start from Barnes, who pitched to a 1-1 tie, but was unable to catch up after Koo Seung-min gave up the winning run in the bottom of the eighth.
Before the season, manager Kim Tae-hyung had confidence in his pitching staff.
The starting rotation of Wilkerson, Barnes, Park Se-woong, Na Kyun-ahn, and In-bok (Han Hyun-hee) was solidly established.
The bullpen had already proven to be solid with the 'preliminary free agent' setup of Koo Seung-min and Kim Won-joong. Koo Seung-min has reached the 20-hit plateau for four consecutive years and is the first player to reach 100 for Lotte.
Kim Won-joong is also the first 100-save closer in Lotte's history. 토토사이트 He also served as the pitching coach. He also attended the opening media day on behalf of the pitchers. Choi Joon-yong and Kim Sang-soo, the front of the 'relief duo,' were also present.
Manager Kim Tae-hyung was worried about rookie Jeon Mir, saying, "I want to use him in the first team, but he doesn't deserve a spot in the roster." In the end, the team started the season with four pitchers in the first through third spots, left-hander Lim Joon-seop, young pitcher Choi Yi-joon, and right-hander Woo Kang-hoon.
In addition to starter Na Gyun-ahn, who will be called up on the 27th, veteran Jin Hae-soo, fifth-stringers Lee In-bok and Han Hyun-hee, and rookie left-hander Jeong Hyun-soo are also in the mix. Both the quantity and quality of the roster gives the manager reason to be confident.
Lotte paid Kim Won-joong 500 million won and Koo Seung-min 450 million won to boost morale for the Wynnows with the appointment of Kim Tae-hyung. However, with the faltering of the trusted axe, the 'Salvation Duo', the early season plan is bound to be shaken.
This season is especially important for the two players. They will become free agents after this season.
Manager Kim Tae-hyung promised the fans, who are thirsty for results, 'fall baseball this year and a championship in three years'. He was confident in his current team, which has the best tailgate in Lotte history. But two key players are faltering.
This season, the bottom of the lineup has been strengthened. It's hard to recover from an early deficit. Manager Kim Tae-hyung's worries are deepening.
