What’s wrong with LG killer Kim Kwang-hyun (SSG Landers)? LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop cited ball control, while SSG manager Lee Soo-yong cited pitching pattern as the reason.여우알바
Kim started the game against the LG Twins at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on Monday, and allowed nine hits, including two homers, and one walk, and eight runs during just three innings. He had only two strikeouts. While Kim was hit hard, SSG gave up seven runs in the seventh inning but ultimately lost the game 9-2. Kim lost the seventh game of this season.
Of these seven losses, Kim lost three against LG alone. His earned run average (ERA) was only 11.50. Kim posted six wins and seven losses and an ERA of 5.24 in 19 games this season. Excluding his performance against LG, he has six wins and three losses and an ERA of 3.86.
The game he pitched best against LG was on May 9, but Kim lost the game by allowing three hits, three walks, six strikeouts and three runs in six ⅓ innings. In both recent games, he has been substituted at an early stage. He showed sluggish performance by allowing seven runs in two ⅔ innings on May 28 and eight runs in three innings on July 17.
Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop of the LG Twins said, “Rather than us, we have more miscues. There is a difference between days when we have control and days when we do not have control,” adding, “Kim Kwang-hyun is also a passionate player. I felt a little bad.”
Manager Lee said, “We need to study with the power analysis team to change pitching patterns. I think Kim should pay more attention to patterns now. Like slow speed adjustment. When you have speed limit of 150 kilometers per hour, I think you are competitive enough with sliders. I also faced Kim when I was active. But now you can’t get as fast as you did then. Now you have to think about how to use fastballs, and how to maximize the effect of sliders and curves is important. I think slow speed adjustment is more important. I think you have to think a lot about that, too.”
He also hinted at his wish to increase the use of curves. “I used curves well when I liked them,” Lee said. “I also used curves well in the game against NC Dinosaurs (two hits, no four outs, no seven strikeouts and no loss in seven innings on Friday) in the last match of the first half. Since then, I have been throwing sliders more often than curves, and as many balls were thrown, I started hitting as many balls were thrown,” Lee said. Kim threw 73 pitches on Wednesday. Fastballs were the largest among the 28 pitches. Other than that, he threw 22 sliders, 13 curves, and 10 folk balls.
“I think we are in a transition period. As we are veteran and the first starter, we have not asked ourselves, but I think we should think about it more ourselves. If the power analysis team’s advice can be a guide, I think it will help to resolve the issue,” Lee said. “Kim Kwang-hyun, a veteran in his mid-30s, needs to change his style for a long run in the future.”
“If you think about it well now and make it well, I think it will be better next year. I heard that (Song) Jin-woo had that experience in the past, and (former) Dae-sung did the same. It doesn’t matter when you have good speed, but when you get older, don’t you come a time when you fall anyway? If you overcome such a transition period well, you will be active for 2-3 more years, and Jin-woo for longer. I think you can go on for the next few years depending on how you change when you get older,” he said.