The Lotte Giants of 2023 are not an ordinary team. The splendid achievement of 9 consecutive victories and solo 1st place is one of the best seasons in the history of Lotte in the 21st century. Extreme concentration is the driving force behind creating a historic season.
Lotte won 7-4 against KIA in Gwangju on the 2nd, running Pajuk’s 9th consecutive win and maintaining the top spot alone. This is Lotte’s 9 consecutive wins in about 15 years since July 27, 2008 (against Sajik Hanwha) to August 30 (against Sajik Samsung).
Lotte’s unstoppable dominance has a certain power that is difficult to explain in words or records. Not only is the psychological confidence ㅋㅋㅋ벳 of “I don’t think I will lose even if I lose” is the basis, but I am continuing my winning streak by resolving the situation in which I must score points and prevent conceding goals.
In particular, Lotte batting line is showing off its extreme efficiency and scoring ability, even though it is in the upper middle of the league and there are few players in the top 10 in major indicators. Team batting average is .265 (3rd), OPS .705 (4th) and 12 home runs (6th). It is said that he runs more than before, but his 19 stolen bases (4th) and 79.2% stealing success rate (4th) cannot be said to be overwhelming. The number one batting average in the team is 15th in the league with an average of 3.18. Rex, Jeon Jun-woo, and Han Dong-hee are also recording the most home runs. The most RBIs are also 6th in the league with Rex’s 17 RBIs.
As such, there is no player leading the Lotte batting line. In other words, it means that you are doing well evenly. Perhaps, from the team’s point of view, it can be interpreted as an ideal batting line with a structure. And the current Lotte batting line is showing off its extreme concentration in a clutch situation that requires points. It is the driving force behind the current uptrend.
The batting average of the team’s scoring position is 30.1, second in the league. Hwang Seong-bin (.556) Ahn Kwon-soo (.455), Han Dong-hee (.348), Rex (.344), Ahn Chi-hong (.333), Noh Jin-hyeok (.313), etc.
Lotte was more frightening in a situation where it was necessary to increase the probability of winning by transcending the scoring zone. The true value of Lotte’s other line is revealed when the Leverage Index, which expresses the moment that has an important influence on the game, is numerically expressed. When normal is represented as 1, an index of 1.6 or higher is called a high leverage index. This situation, which can be classified as an important situation, a clutch situation, was dominated by Lotte hitters.
According to the baseball statistics website, Statties, there are as many as 7 Lotte players with a batting average of 30% or higher and an OPS of .9 or higher under high leverage. Noh Jin-hyeok has a batting average of 50% (5 hits in 10 at-bats) with 5 RBIs and an OPS of 1.383, and Rex is also recording a batting average of 500% (7 hits in 14 at-bats) with 8 RBIs and an OPS of 1.274. Ahn Chi-hong (batting average, .467, 6 RBIs, OPS 1.033), Ahn Kwon-soo (batting average, .400, 5 RBIs, OPS, .978), and Koh Seung-min (batting average, .308, 6 RBIs, OPS, .950) wielded heavy blows. Although he is currently away due to injury, Seongbin Hwang also had a batting average of 80% (4 hits in 5 at-bats) and an OPS of 2.033 in this situation.
In the tally of ‘Sports to I’, the KBO’s official statistics company, Lotte’s OPS in critical situations (leverage index of 2.0 or higher) was .986, the highest in the league. In various indicators, it is confirmed that Lotte’s batting line is building up victories one by one with concentration that does not miss opportunities and scores like Altoran. The atmosphere that doesn’t seem to be losing is not to blame.
Now, on the 3rd, Lotte will challenge for a 10-game winning streak with Na Kyun-an, the ace of April. /jhrae@osen.co.kr