“Score runs, not hits, in the chances.”
Doosan Bears manager Lee Seung-yup met with reporters before the KT Wiz game in Suwon on the 27th and pointed to the poor performance of veteran hitters as the main reason the team has remained in the lower ranks of 7th, 8th, and 9th for over a month.
Manager Lee has also set a batting plan centered around high-paid players with rich careers, including Yang Eui-ji, Kim Jae-hwan, Yang Seok-hwan, and Kang Seung-ho. Kim Jae-hwan signed an enormous free agent contract worth 11.5 billion won over four years for the 2022 season, Yang Eui-ji signed a 15.2 billion won deal over 4+2 years for the 2023 season, Yang Seok-hwan signed a 7.8 billion won contract over 4+2 years for the 2024 season, and Kang Seung-ho signed for 370 million won this season, ranking first in the non-free agent evaluations.
However, among the four, only Yang Eui-ji is said to be delivering on his high salary. In the physically demanding catcher position, he has a batting average of .324 with 6 home runs, 33 RBIs, and 23 runs scored over 51 games, achieving an OPS of .902 and a runners in scoring position average of .365. In contrast, Kim Jae-hwan has a batting average of .233 and a runners in scoring position average of .275, Kang Seung-ho has a batting average of .213 and a runners in scoring position average of .224, and Yang Seok-hwan has a batting average of .268 and a runners in scoring position average of .236, failing to meet expectations and blocking the team's offense. Instead, younger players like Oh Myung-jin and Lim Jong-sung, who earn 31 million won, have contributed better batting performances, helping the team achieve 9 victories in May.
Manager Lee emphasized, “Players need to score runs in chances, whether it’s with a hit or not, during bases loaded or second and third situations. We need to score somehow during these chances; otherwise, the team cannot build a positive momentum. If the flow is interrupted there, the atmosphere drops.” He added, “Now, the veterans need to step up. The younger players are working hard, so the veterans need to regain their former selves. In fact, the veterans are all working hard, but now results need to follow.”
The manager also viewed scoring first as a key factor influencing victory or defeat. Manager Lee stated, “We need to score first. When we score first, our chances of winning increase. If the score gap widens, the overall hitting is not in good shape, and we lack the strength to keep up.” He noted, “Data shows that when the score gap is small, the batting average is high, and when it’s a close game, we often struggle. Our clutch ability is lacking.” For Doosan, the win rate when scoring first this year is .667 (12 wins, 2 draws, 6 losses), whereas when conceding first, the win rate is low at .281 (9 wins, 1 draw, 23 losses).
Due to this, the manager has been unable to establish a ‘fixed lineup,’ which is often seen in strong teams with stabilized power. Given the significant fluctuation in the central batting order and large discrepancies in pitching performances, the lineup changes every game. Manager Lee said, “If the players’ pace improves and hitting gets better, there won’t be a great need for changes. However, given the current team circumstances, every win is precious, and I am constructing a batting lineup that can win based on matchups each game. In fact, this indicates that Doosan still lacks a definitive team identity, which is not ideal.”
Doosan is raising expectations for the so-called ‘6th win’ as homegrown ace Kwak Bin and key pitcher Hong Gun-hee ramp up their comebacks in the Futures League. However, it appears crucial for the batting lineup to step up to reap the benefits of Kwak Bin and Hong Gun-hee's returns, as the pitching staff already did their share in May compared to the offense. Among them, players like Kim Jae-hwan, Yang Seok-hwan, and Kang Seung-ho, who essentially occupy fixed positions without competition, need to break through the batting order.
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