When predicting the game before the start of the regular season every year, experts say, “The strengths of the teams are similar. You won’t know until the end.” In fact, there are many cases where the gap between the top and the bottom widens significantly one month after the opening. 

This season, it seems that there will be a fierce competition for ranking until the very end. Except for SSG Landers and LG Twins, which have a good pitching balance, the rest of the teams have similar strength.

One month after the opening, three expectations have already gone wrong. There are three teams showing unexpected twists.

Lotte defeated Kiwoom Heroes on the 30th and became the sole leader in 11 years. It is the first time in 13 years since the days of coach Jerry Royster that Lotte has won 8 consecutive wins. 

Lotte brought in Yoo Kang-nam (catcher), Noh Jin-hyeok (shortstop), and Han Hyun-hee (pitcher) from the FA (free agent) market, filling the recruiting limit of three. We actively invested, such as bringing in students to be released. With this configuration, it is enough power to aim for fall baseball.

Still, I didn’t know if Lotte would reach the top spot. Exceeds expectations and does really well. Na Kyun-an has fully established himself as a starting pitcher, and the bullpen and finisher are in harmony. On offense, Ahn Kwon-soo, who was released from Doosan and wore a Lotte uniform, played really well in a decisive situation. If you play throughout the year, you have to follow ‘luck’ as well. Opponents such as the recent NC Dinos and Hanwha Eagles made mistakes, giving Lotte a chance. Victory followed. 

KT Wiz and KIA Tigers were expected to have a rough race with injured players one after another from the beginning of the season. However, KIA recently won 5 consecutive wins and broke the 50% win rate. Unexpectedly, the attack power is active. The reason is because they actively attack the ball entering the strike zone. The return of Hyunsik Jang from the Hold King at the end of April also added a lot of strength to the mound. In the weekend three-game series, KIA did well, but LG allowed home steals and outfielder Moon Seong-ju missed an easy fly, and self-destruction was also significant. 

However, KIA finisher Jung Hae-young (3 wins, 1 loss, 2 saves) seems to need management. Compared to last year, the speed of the four-seam fastball is only 141 km, 3 km per hour. I am concerned that something is wrong with my body. 

Hanwha, which recruited Chae Eun-seong and Lee Tae-yang during the off-season, had higher expectations than ever. but not so much If you look at the player composition, it is not the power to be in the lower ranks like this. 메이저사이트

The ‘miss’ of the bench is also a pity. Against the Doosan Bears on the 19th of last month, Kim Jae-hwan was standing at bat in the situation of a safe first base (large runner Yang Chan-yeol) in the beginning of the 9th inning with a lead of 7-5. A full count game followed, but the first baseman (Chae Eun-seong) kept sticking to the base to keep the runner in check. It is an unconventional defensive formation. In the end, he was hit by a double in the right field and allowed a 7-6 chase. In a full count, the runner on first base runs to the next base anyway. Even if you lose one point, you don’t have to worry too much about the runners as it won’t be tied. In this case, it is common for the first baseman to play normal defense. Managers or defensive coaches need to look closely, find out where they are lacking, and adjust their positions.

In Hanwha, this rarely happens. The pattern of making a difficult tie and missing a comeback opportunity and collapsing is often repeated.