Choi Hee-sop hits a two-run homer against the Heroes, Thursday as the Kia Tigers clinched the pennant. The former major leaguer struggled last season but rebounded with 32 homers, 97 runs scored and a .302 batting average.
/ Korea Times File |
By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
Everything old is new again.
The Kia Tigers have finally emerged from a 12-year fall from grace and are now reminding fans of the winning tradition of old.
With a 5-0 win over the Heroes on Thursday, the Gwangju-based Tigers won the Korea Baseball Organization league pennant and earned a ticket straight to the Korean Series.
"I'm really proud of all the players and the coaching staff for doing such a great job," said manager Cho Bum-hyun after Thursday's game. "They really worked hard for this pennant."
The 2009 season has had a distinctly retro feel. The Tigers enjoyed a dynasty through the 80s and 90s, winning nine league championships in their first 16 years of existence, the last coming in 1997.
The subsequent decline of the club saw them make the playoffs only four times since they became the Kia Tigers in 2001 and the team never finished any better than third place in the regular season. They also finished dead last twice, in 2005 and 2007.
But the club's inspiring resurgence this season, which saw them surge into first place after the All-Star break, has put them back into the Korean Series for the first time since 1997.
The club has been led by the determination of the players to see a return to glory, especially by veterans like Lee Jong-bum, captain Kim Sang-hoon, former major leaguer Seo Jae-eung and Jang Sung-ho.
The Tigers resurrection starts with Choi Hee-seop, who lost 20 kilograms and regained his home run swing.
He went from batting .229 and hitting only six home runs in 55 games last season, to hitting .309 with 32 blasts this year.
Former LG Twin Kim Sang-hyun has proven to be a superb off-season acquisition ― he is leading the league in home runs (36), RBIs (127) and OPS (.628).
On the mound, the Tigers have relied on two powerful import pitchers ― Rick Lee Guttormson of the United States and Aquilino Lopez of the Dominican Republic ― who have won a combined 27 games this year.
The versatile Yoon Suk-min has been a contributor in various roles, collecting nine wins, four losses and seven saves, and has a 3.46 ERA.
Manager Cho Bum-hyun's strategies have been somewhat controversial but have paid off.
Cho rotated six pitchers, in an attempt to send Guttormson to the mound only once a week. The American's shoulder problems have made it difficult for him to pitch every four or five days but Guttormson has rewarded Cho's patience.
The 48-year-old boss also gave the injured Yoon the rest he needed and limited the work load of young closer Yoo Dong-hoon, who wasn't quite ready to be an everyday stopper.
The measures to keep players healthy paid off and Cho said it was a key to their success.
"Compared to the other teams, my boys did stay relatively healthy and I think that is a big reason why we are regular season champions."
The Tigers boss also got solid contributions from his bench, thanks in part to his decisions on when to make a lineup substitution ― Tigers pinch hitters produced seven game-winning home runs this season.
Credit also goes to the front office, which unearthed a star-in-waiting when they acquired Kim Sang-hyun.
The third baseman hit just .243 last season, hitting eight homers and collecting 18 RBIs in 75 games. The scouts also get credit for the acquisitions of the Tigers pair of aces.
Finally, Cho believes being another year older has had a big impact.
"Last year some of the players were a bit inexperienced and that led to us collapsing in every crisis. But now they are able to overcome tough situations."
The fans have responded to the Tigers brilliant year ― Gwangju Stadium was sold out 20 times this year and the team attendance record has been shattered.
The Tigers now have to wait 19 days for the Korean Series while three other teams play for the right to face them.
Once the final gets underway, the Tigers will be the odds on favorite. The team that has won the league pennant has gone on to win the Korean Series 15 times in 18 seasons.
yc@koreatimes.co.kr
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