By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Managers of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) expressed negative opinions on pitcher Park Chan-ho, released by the New York Mets last Monday, coming back to the Korean league.
Rather, they hoped he would finish his career in the United States and remain as a symbolic model of Korean baseball.
SK Wyverns manager Kim Sung-kun, 64, has been positive about young players in the United States returning to Korea to inject fresh air into the domestic league but has different ideas on Park.
``I think he had better return to Korea as a coach after his retirement from the U.S. Major Leagues,'' Kim said.
The manager whose team leads the Korean league, as of Monday, has given advice to Park and checked his pitching form during the off-season.
He also worried that Park's reputation would be tarnished as the first South Korean in the Major Leagues and a 100-win hurler.
``Assuming Park returns to Korea, he will be criticized here and there if he doesn't live up to expectations,'' said Kim.
He left a significant message to Park.
``I want Park to be a player like Japan's Hideo Nomo,'' Kim said.
Former Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Nomo has recorded 123-109 with a 4.21 ERA in the majors.
Like Park, the 38-year-old Japanese was released by the Dodgers after his heyday but a determined Nomo came back to the major league and had a four double-digit winning seasons.
He threw his second no-hitter in 2001 with the Boston Red Sox.
An elbow injury stopped him from throwing in 2005 but rehabilitation has Nomo seeking a return to the league.
Hanwha Eagles manager Kim In-sic agreed with Kim.
``Park, who won 113 games, is totally different from other Major Leaguers who came back like Choi Hee-seop and Bong Jung-keun,'' the 60-year-old Kim said.
He was skeptical about the possibility of Park's return.
He said that unlike others, Park is a bigwig who achieved honor and money in the United States.
Kim Kyung-moon, manager of the Doosan Bears, also said, ``It would be good for Park to retire in America with honor instead of playing in Korea.''
Park has expressed his desire to wrap up his career in Korea _ he appeared in a local TV program earlier this year and said that he wanted to pitch in Korea someday.
Meanwhile, Park has requested the New York Mets to release him, according to the team.
Coinciding with his release, there are rumors that he is negotiating with other teams.
One day before his release, the South Korean pitched 7 2/3 innings and allowed one run with eight strikeouts, which drew a standing ovation from fans.
What he said on his Web site also backed up the speculation.
Park said that he appreciated the support from Koreans who were in the stadium during his starts in Triple-A although the number of people had not been so many.
He added he had made up his mind on his release and would take up a new challenge.
Park is expected to sign a minor league contract and then try to be called up to the big leagues because his salary of $600,000 is low enough to attract teams in need of starters.