“I am not a kindergarten teacher.”

Professional baseball Lotte Giants manager Kim Tae-hyung is a league representative competitor shining with seven consecutive appearances in the Korean Series. He knows how to win and how to build and operate a winning team. While instilling confidence in the players, he does not shy away from directly pointing out mistakes and unsatisfactory aspects when he sees them. He tries to provoke the players in any way possible to draw out their maximum potential.

Since taking office as the Lotte Giants manager, he has focused on changing the players' temperament. The previous Lotte commanders did not have a strong character. There were not many individuals who could firmly control the team with charisma. The players' temperament was also 'mild.' A common statement from coaches who came from outside was that "the players are too nice." The lack of strength to overcome critical moments and the team's repeated collapses were also seen as stemming from the players' temperament.

However, manager Kim Tae-hyung tries to fill in the shortcomings himself while changing the players' temperament. If necessary, he actively intervenes in the game and strongly orders the players during the match. Recently, as players have become sensitive after consecutive headshots during games, on the 18th during the Samsung game at Sajik, pitcher Yang Chang-seob threw a 148km fastball threateningly at Yoon Dong-hee's head, causing manager Kim Tae-hyung to abruptly leave his seat. It was an unprecedented bench-clearing led by the manager. Nevertheless, he states that the players still lack the strength to overcome critical moments. Depending on the interpretation, it may seem like he is being 'old-fashioned,' but manager Kim emphasizes that the soldiers on the battlefield need to be tougher. He said, "Currently, our players, especially the batters, are in a bit of a slump. They seem anxious and may lack experience. They perform well when things are going fine, but they still struggle to overcome difficulties. They are only strong in competitive spirit, but their ability to get through tough times is weak."

Thus, manager Kim Tae-hyung stresses, "I tell the players, 'I am not a kindergarten teacher.' I don't say it's okay or don't worry. First, the players need to stand up, and they must compete with each other to overcome."

If the players endure this process and accumulate experience, both the players and the team can become stronger. Manager Kim Tae-hyung hopes to make the team more cohesive and tougher. In a video released through the club's YouTube channel 'GiantsTV' on Teachers' Day, manager Kim emphasized, "Even if the opposing team sees us winning 100-0, we need to be a team that they think is annoying." Under the changes manager Kim is implementing, Lotte is transforming into a solid team and is currently tied for second place with Hanwha (28 wins, 18 losses, 2 ties). They are only two games behind leader LG (30 wins, 16 losses). This week, they will face first-place LG at home for a three-game series and then have a three-game series against second-place Hanwha in Daejeon over the weekend.

These are the two teams that manager Kim Tae-hyung has continuously pointed out as difficult opponents. They faced LG in the opening series but suffered a devastating loss. On March 22, in the opening game, they lost 2-12, and the following day on March 23, they were defeated 2-10. Lotte's overall strength was not complete, and LG was formidable. However, the gap has now narrowed. LG's homegrown starting pitchers, including Song Seung-ki, Lim Chan-kyu, and Son Ju-young, are set to start. In contrast, Lotte plans to have Yoon Sung-bin, Na Kyun-an, Lee Min-seok, or Park Se-woong as their starters. Hanwha also has a considerably burdensome starting lineup. Manager Kim Tae-hyung is also wary of Hanwha's starting rotation. Nevertheless, Lotte has a 3-1 win-loss record against Hanwha this season. It was Lotte that halted Hanwha's eight-game winning streak at the end of April.

Now, as they surpass 50 games, it will be a significant week for Lotte, which has come to face its greatest challenge. How will Lotte, which is becoming tougher under manager Kim Tae-hyung, overcome its six-game series with the most difficult opponents?

[OSEN]