The season ERA is 3.77, ranking 3rd in the league. However, it only refers to the journey up to the present point. The remaining 27 games are important.
The KIA bullpen is breathtaking. According to the baseball statistics website Stats, the bullpen average ERA was 4th at 3.89 in August, 8th at 6.14 in September, and 6th at 4.79 in the second half of the year. This is a clear sign that a crisis has arrived in September. Of course, September is not over yet and there are not many samples. However, there are risk factors everywhere.
The KIA bullpen ranks at least 3rd in the league with 431⅔ innings. In fact, the smallest number of games has a large impact. Even looking at each individual, they were managed relatively well. There is a clear effect of improved bullpen production this season. However, avoiding overloading a specific pitcher is not easy.
Bullpen ace Im Ki-young has a whopping 75⅔ innings in 55 games (4 wins, 3 losses, 3 saves, 15 holds, ERA 2.62), and Choi Ji-min has 56 ⅓ innings in 55 games (6 wins, 3 losses, 3 saves, 11 holds, ERA 2.24). Im Ki-young is a pure relief pitcher with the best innings. Although they are thoroughly managed, there are already too many multi-innings. The two even shared the finishing duties in the first half when Jung Hae-young was not there. It is a one-two punch that will surely lead to victory this season.
The problem is that Choi Ji-min, along with Lee Ui-ri and Choi Won-jun, will be absent to prepare for the Hangzhou Asian Games on the 22nd. If Choi Ji-min is left out, Lim Ki-young’s burden is certain to increase. The number of innings and number of appearances will be managed, but the dependence on so-called high leverage, which requires full responsibility for the most important moments, may increase.
It would be okay if the starting lineup was in good shape, but that wasn’t the case. Even if Lee Ui-ri shakes off the blister issue and returns next week, it will only be once. After all, you have to take a flight to Hangzhou. Lee Ui-ri’s vacuum can be filled alternately by Hwang Dong-ha, Kim Geon-guk, and Kim Ki-hoon. Mario Sanchez will also join soon.
However, it is difficult to expect a replacement starting pitcher to last more than 3-4 innings, and Sanchez cannot be expected to go too far in innings upon his return. Fifth starter Yoon Young-cheol is also being managed knowingly or unknowingly about his innings. Even if ace Thomas Panoni and Yang Hyun-jong eat as many innings as possible, it is difficult to avoid bullpen overload. There have been difficulties like this since the end of the first half of the year, but cracks are slowly appearing in September.
The batting line erupted like an active volcano during the nine-game winning streak, but it cannot last forever. With 3 wins and 5 losses after 9 consecutive wins, the batting cycle has not hit the bottom, but it is natural that it has come down a bit. In the end, the mound has to hold up, but it is true that it is somewhat precarious.
안전놀이터In the end, attention is focused on Jang Hyun-sik and Jeon Sang-hyun. Even Lee Jun-young, the original Triple J, has no choice but to show more strength. Lee Jun-young is a left-handed one-pointer anyway, and Jang Hyun-sik and Jeon Sang-hyun must prevent Im Ki-young from overloading and fill in Choi Ji-min’s gap.
However, this too has concerns. This is because Jang Hyun-sik and Jeon Sang-hyun are at health risk. Jang Hyun-sik has 1 win, 2 losses, 3 saves, 5 holds, and an average ERA of 4.28 in 46 games this season. He underwent surgery for bone fragments in his elbow last fall and returned at the end of April, but it is difficult to entrust him with the main setup man like in previous years. He is also a pitcher who needs some management.
Jeon Sang-hyun is very active in the second half of the season. In 52 games, he had 3 wins, 2 losses, 1 save, 11 holds, and an earned run average of 2.62. He was managed well enough to only play 44⅔ innings, but he is a pitcher who had issues with his elbow and shoulder until last year. He is playing healthily this season, and in the second half of the season, he has played an equal role and role as Choi Ji-min. In fact, it is highly likely that we will see it more often in the future.KIA enters a fateful 8-game series. However, even after the 8-game series ends, 19 games remain. How will I survive? If the bullpen collapses here, it will be fatal.