Sports
Kia Tigers T
hroughout March, Korea was obsessed with baseball due to the World Baseball Classic. It seems that the obsession may just be beginning as the heroes from the tournament (except for few who play in the leagues overseas) are back on the field for the Korean League action. The 2009 CJ MaguMagu Korean Baseball League began on Saturday, April 4th as the defending champions SK Wyverns took on the Hanhwa Eagles in Incheon. Korean Baseball Organization, also known as KBO has big hopes and expectations for this season. With the success of the Korean National Team in WBC, KBO is looking to break the attendance record this season. It certain appears that they might be on the right track as the opening day crowds in 4 stadiums broke the all time opening day attendance record with 96,800. Gwangju’s local franchise, the Kia Tigers started out their season in Seoul as they took on the Doosan Bears. The Tigers feature several WBC heroes, especially the starting pitcher Suk Min, Yoon and the leadoff batter Yong Gu, Lee. Yoon holds the key for the Tiger’s Starting rotation was the start in the semifinal game against Venezuela, where he pitched so brilliantly shutting down the MLB based Venezuelan team to only 7 hits and 2 runs in 6 and 1/3 innings pitched. The est of the pitching squad behind Yoon aren’t that bad either. Jae Seo, a formal starting pitcher for the NY Mets starts his second season as the Tiger and he is followed by couple of other outstanding starters. Hyun Jong, Yang and Rick Guttormson complete the Tigers starting rotations for the earlier part of the season. So far the Tigers have been lights out in pitching, only
Choi Hee-seop, “cha-big” homers in 2nd April 8 v. SK Myverns 12
Gwangju News May 2009
Seo Jae strikes out another Myvern in April 8 home win.
allowing average of less than 3 runs over the first 9 games. During this stretch, the bullpen has also allowed no run in 25 innings pitched. This streak was broken during a heartbreaking 9th inning against the Lotte Giants on April 15. On the other side of the mound, hitting continues to be the problem for the Tigers. With Chae Jong Bum and Lee Yong Gu both getting injured early in the season, the Tigers have been very ineffective at the batter’s box. They are averaging less than 3 runs per game and are shamelessly in the bottom of most offensive categories including RBI’s, total hits and homeruns. As of now, the outlook for the Tiger’s this season looks very unclear. The Tigers starting rotation and the bullpen are amongst the best in the league. However, it is certain that unless bats start to get going or else “Project V10” may not happen in 2009. Many KBO experts consider most of the teams except for SK Wyverns and Hanhwa Eagle (last year’s champion and runner up) to be in the same level and they believe early season action could easily determine who will have an easier road getting into the playoffs come late Fall. If the Tiger’s continue to struggle with getting runs in, they may even look into trades during the season. Many managers in the league have noticed the phenomenal Tigers rotation and some of them have been discussing in their post game interviews about