"We are throwing too much."
The defending champion KIA Tigers' bullpen is facing concerns of overload. Manager Lee Beom-ho also acknowledges and worries about this. The manager said, "I am concerned about managing bullpen innings. There are fewer games where batters score a lot, and Jeon Sang-hyun, Lee Jun-young, Jo Sang-woo, and Jung Hae-young are continuously entering games, and their innings are high. They are going out too much. There are many tight situations. We need to win to endure, and I am worried that I keep having to use the winning crew."
In fact, closer Jung Hae-young has increased his number of appearances and innings compared to previous years. He has pitched 35 innings in 31 games this year. It is quite a bit considering the number of games pitched. He has thrown multi-innings in eight instances due to overlaps with extra innings. He has pitched more than one inning about once every four games. There are signs that his velocity and pitching quality are declining.
In the game in Changwon against the NC Dinos on the 15th, they were leading 9-4 when Yoon Jung-hyun, who came in for the ninth inning, gave two walks without getting an out, leading to his removal and the entrance of Jung Hae-young. He took the mound even though it was not a save situation. If this trend continues, there is a possibility he will exceed his personal high in games and innings pitched. The mark from cupping treatment on his neck looks pitiful.
Jeon Sang-hyun has appeared in more games. He has pitched in 38 games with a record of 3 wins, 2 losses, 11 holds, an earned run average of 4.28, and has pitched 33⅔ innings. It is true that while the innings are low, his number of appearances is high. He is on track to surpass last year’s personal high of 66 games. Jo Sang-woo, a key member of the winning crew, has pitched in 36 of the team’s 68 games. That is well over half. Lee Jun-young has also appeared in 35 games. All are expected to surpass 70 games.
As the manager has pointed out, the appearances of the winning crew will inevitably increase in the future. The team’s scoring ability is the issue. They have not achieved big victories with powerful batting and are continually engaged in tight contests. Even if the starting pitcher leaves, they must maintain a close game until the later innings. There will inevitably be more opportunities for the winning crew to enter games. It's becoming a repetitive issue where the outcome of the game is determined in the latter stages.
With important summer matches approaching, concerns over overload are already burdensome. If there is a problem with even one member of the winning crew, it will place a significant burden on bullpen management. Fortunately, left-handed pitcher Choi Ji-min is showing signs of recovery, and second-year pitcher Seong Young-tak has been added to the winning crew, providing some relief. The two pitchers must establish themselves firmly in the winning crew for the bullpen to operate smoothly without further overload.
The starting pitchers are doing their part. James Neel is averaging more than 6 innings per game. Adam Oller and Kim Do-hyun are managing 5⅔ innings. Yang Hyun-jong averages 5 innings. Yoon Young-cheol has recently recovered his pitching effectiveness and is responsible for more than 5 innings. The starting pitchers are trying their utmost to consume innings. KIA's goal for the first half is to maintain a .500 winning percentage. Ultimately, it can be said that the bullpen holds the key.
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