The LG Twins, who had been comfortably running in first place, had concerns ahead of September. This is because the gap between the two teams narrowed more than expected due to the fierce pursuit of KT Wiz, who had risen to second place.메이저놀이터
LG, which formed the semifinals with SSG until the beginning of the season, widened its distance from SSG as time passed and accelerated the multiplier with its solo system. Following 40 wins and 50 wins, he was the first to reach the 60-win plateau, cruising toward advancing to the Korean Series for the first time in 21 years.
However, LG was wiped out in three consecutive away matches against the NC Dinos on the 25th and 27th, and during this period, KT swept all three away matches against the Lotte Giants. Currently, the gap between the two teams is 4.5 games, and if the loss is prolonged, the situation is bound to get worse.
There were even injured people here. LG’s foreign pitcher Adam Plutko was removed from the lineup after being diagnosed with a left pelvic bone bruise, and the first team entry was canceled before the home game against the Doosan Bears, which was scheduled to be held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 29th, was canceled due to rain. It takes 4-5 weeks to return. With the addition of Choi Won-tae, who was recruited through a trade, it is a bit disappointing for LG, which seemed to be putting the last piece of the puzzle together.
There was another thing that stood out that day, and Ham Deok-joo, ‘Lefty Pil Seung-jo’, who occupied a large portion of the mound as much as Plutko, was notified of going to the 2nd Army. Unlike Plutco, there is no problem with the physical condition, but LG director Yeom Gyeong-yeop explains that he is taking a break because he is concerned about the accumulation of fatigue.
Director Yeom, who met with reporters ahead of the decision to cancel the rain, said, “Ham Deok-ju has had a lot of innings in a long time, so his recovery is a bit delayed after throwing. In that case, it would be better to rest 10 days in advance for future races, so I took it out as a precaution. “The later matches are more important,” he said.
This season, Ham Deok-ju continued to fight well with 57 games, 55⅔innings, 4 wins, 16 holds, 4 saves, and an average ERA of 1.62, but he was often allowed to go on base in the last 4 games in a row, including against Incheon SSG Landers on the 18th. Director Yeom Kyung-yeop said, “Recently, it hasn’t been very good. I think that’s a sign, and it shows that I’m not completely 100%. When I have to keep fighting, I can take damage.”
In particular, LG has to fill a gap in the bullpen as Ko Woo-seok, Jung Woo-young, and Moon Bo-kyung are away during the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. Even if it is not until ‘fixed finish’, Ham Deok-joo is also considered one of the pitchers who can take responsibility for the back door on behalf of Go Woo-seok.
Coach Yeom Kyung-yeop said, “It is necessary even then, and the last 30 games are much more important than the 6 games now. I think there is a high probability of winning there.” .