ethernetacademy.netLG head coach Yeom Kyung-yup talks about the team’s first regular season title in 29 years and looks toward a unified championship.
LG clinched the regular season title on March 3 with a win by KIA against KT in Suwon and a win by SSG against NC in Munhak. As of the 3rd, the season record is 82 wins, 51 losses, 2 draws, and a winning percentage of 0.617. Even if LG loses all of its remaining nine games, it will finish the regular season in first place.
That’s a perfect regular season. The team ran the regular season marathon at the most consistent pace, maintaining a winning percentage of over 5% every month. More than just a two-hitter, they utilized their depth perfectly to stay on top. From June 27 to the final day of the regular season, they held the top spot.
It’s no exaggeration to say that the team boasted a solid roster, with different players leading the team to victory every day. In addition to superstars like Kim Hyun-soo and Oh Ji-hwan, they also had players like Shin Min-jae, who turned his life around in baseball, and Kim Jin-sung, who shined at the end of his career, so they were the first to cross the finish line of the marathon.
And it was the bold mercenariness of coach Yoon Kyung-yeop that made this possible. LG tested a lot of players and became stronger with each match. The team never gave up, and as a result, they came from behind 40 times. There were many thrilling victories, and LG was at the center of the box office this season. The team became the most popular team in the Seoul metropolitan area, surpassing 1 million spectators for the first time since COVID-19.
After clinching the pennant race, coach Yeom Kyung-yeop said, “First of all, I think we won the pennant race for the first time in 29 years thanks to the fans who traveled a lot during the year and supported us passionately at home. Thank you,” he said, thanking the fans as always.
“Secondly, it was a tough season, and there were a lot of twists and turns, but our players were united around our captains, Oh Ji-hwan and Kim Hyun-soo, and our pitchers, Kim Jin-sung and Lim Chan-kyu. I would like to say thank you and congratulations to the players who worked hard and played their best game by game to win the pennant race.”
The coaching staff was not left out. “Thirdly, I would like to thank the coaches who led the players well and guided us in the direction we wanted to go, even though I was angry and nagged a lot during the year,” Yeom said.
He also thanked the parent group and the front desk for their support. “For the fourth time, I would like to thank owner Koo Kwang-mo, acting owner Koo Bon-sung, CEO Kim In-seok, and director Cha Myung-seok for their support and belief in the field. I would like to thank them for their shadowy support behind the scenes. I would also like to thank all of our fronts, starting with the team managers, for their efforts to help on the field. I want to share this joy with the front desk who suffered together,” he smiled.
Finally, Yoon said, “I’m so happy to have accomplished my first goal. The second goal, the Korean Series, is the biggest one. From now on, we will organize our rest and training plans well and prepare well so that we can smile until the end.”
With nine games remaining until the end of the regular season, LG is focusing on conditioning its squad. The team plans to keep its starting rotation healthy and manage players who need rest. The starting pitcher +1 Ki-yong will also be tested over the next nine games in preparation for the Korean Series.
The team will also likely check out must-win lineups, such as the recently implemented No. 2 hitter Park Hae-min Ki-yong. While LG has a clear best nine, they could also test out more options such as pinch-hitting for Ki-yong and utilizing second baseman Heo Do-hwan. Rookie Kim Bum-seok will be tested for the Korean Series roster, including pinch-hitting for Ki-yong.
The final nine games of the regular season will be a test of Yeom’s determination to “prepare well so that we can smile until the end.”
Meanwhile, captain Oh Ji-hwan also shared his thoughts on the win on behalf of the players. “I think winning the regular season after 29 years is the result of our players, front office, and fans working together,” he said.먹튀검증
“There are so many people to thank for our victory, but first of all, I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of the team to the manager, the coaches, our players who played well as one, the front office who supported us from behind, and finally, all the fans who have always supported us passionately,” he smiled brightly.
Finally, he said, “Winning the regular season after 29 years is a daunting moment, but we will not be satisfied with this and will do our best until the end to achieve the unified victory that everyone wants. Thank you to everyone who believed and supported us once again.”