“Na Kyun-ahn (Lotte Giants) was throwing really good pitches.”
NC Dinos manager Kang Myung-ho reflected on the previous day’s loss.
Kang reviewed the 23rd game ahead of their 2023 KBO Baseball League game against Lotte at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on Thursday.메이저사이트
NC head coach Kang Myung-hwa at the helm. Photo by Chun Jeong-hwan
NC fell to Lotte 0-2 in a game played at the same venue the day before. Led by Na Gyun-an (six innings of scoreless relief), the Lotte pitching staff of Kim Sang-soo (one inning of scoreless relief), Koo Seung-min (one inning of scoreless relief), and Kim Won-joong (one inning of scoreless relief) kept the offense silent with six hits and no runs.
“Yesterday, Na Kyun-ahn threw really good pitches,” said manager Kang Myung-ho. The batters didn’t respond properly at the plate. We need to improve our concentration somehow, but it was the same with Park Young-min (who went 0-for-4) for the first time (in the first team), and there were signs that he wasn’t used to it,” he sighed.
The most disappointing moment for NC came in the top of the fifth inning. Yoon Hyung-joon doubled, Seo Ho-chul singled, and a wild pitch put runners on second and third, but Kim Joo-won (grounder to third), Do Tae-hoon (strikeout), and Son As-seop (strikeout) were all silent.
Asked if he thought about the squeeze at the time, Kang said, “It was a left-handed hitter, and (the opponent) was playing forward defense. The opposing pitcher was a good splitter, so I didn’t consider it,” he said. “If it was a tie or one run, I would have thought about it, but it was two runs, so I trusted the batter, but the result was unfortunate.”
NC captain Son As-seop started in left field in the previous game. He often played left field in 2010, when he was with Lotte, but hasn’t done so much recently. Despite the unfamiliar position, he struggled and anchored NC’s outfield.
Kang said, “I was surprised to see Son defend left field even though it’s not his position. “We use him to play left field when our existing players are injured or need to take a break. In preparation for such a situation, I had Son Asub practice a lot at left field since camp.”
He added, “At first, I was anxious as an observer (laughs). But Son told me, ‘This is how I play. You don’t have to be anxious. Don’t worry, you can watch with confidence,'” he explained.
On the other hand, NC’s starting lineup included pitcher Choi Sung-young, Son As-seob (right fielder), Park Min-woo (second baseman), Park Gun-woo (designated hitter), Jason Martin (center fielder), Kwon Hee-dong (left fielder), Park Se-hyuk (catcher), Seo Ho-cheol (third baseman), Kim Joo-won (shortstop), and Do Tae-hoon (first baseman).