Jerry Royster, seen here in a file photo, recently signed on for a third season as manager of the Lotte Giants. He’s stressing patience to fans and that the road to the top will take some time. The Giants have made the postseason in both season under Royster after years of futility. / Korea Times File |
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Since taking over the Lotte Giants in 2008, Jerry Royster has led the perennial doormat of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) to the playoffs in two straight seasons.
However, his side's early exit in each of those two postseason appearances made those with long-suffering loyalties ask questions about his leadership.
But the American boss has a message for the nation's craziest baseball fans: success will come, all in good time.
"It is funny because all I heard about when Lotte was trying to sign me was that we were not a very good team and that the fans deserve a better brand of baseball. I heard that it would take two or three years to make a playoff team out of this group. Fall baseball was the most important thing. We go to the playoffs two straight years," the 57-year-old said in an e-mail interview with The Korea Times.
The Busan-based club produced a painfully sad string of results over the eight seasons prior to Royster's arrival ― a fifth-place ranking in 2000, followed by four straight dead-last finishes, then fifth again in 2005 and seventh in both 2006 and 2007.
But Royster, who became the first non-Korean skipper in the league after former Chiba Lotte Marines manager Bobby Valentine recommended him to Shin Dong-bin, owner of the Lotte teams in Japan and Korea, directed the Giants to fourth place both in 2008 and 2009, which earned him the nickname "Busan's Guus Hiddink."
Hiddink, a Dutch football manager, guided South Korea to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup.
Royster recently signed on to remain with the Giants for another year and stressed patience to fans hungry for postseason success.
"And now they complain about not going further into the postseason. We need to remain patient and healthy and we will get that championship that we and the fans want. I said that it would take four years to bring a championship to Busan and we are on track to do that."
"I love our fans and they know it, but they, along with our front office and players, need to understand that it is a process to go from worst to first."
Royster made his debut as a player in Major League Baseball (MLB) in 1973 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and played 16 seasons, batting .249 with 40 homers and 352 RBIs. The speedy utility infielder also notched 189 steals.
He also spent time with the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees before returning to Atlanta for his final year in 1988.
The Sacramento, Calif. native re-emerged in the big leagues as a boss when he managed the Milwaukee Brewers during the 2002 season, replacing fired Davey Lopes, to a dismal record of 53-94, and was let go after the season. He later took a job in the minor leagues with the Las Vegas 51s, the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate, from 2005 to 2006.
Unlike his unprolific career in the United States, his successful stint in the KBO has compelled the Giants to re-sign him to a $600,000 (720 million won), one-year deal.
And he is eagerly anticipating his third season in Korea, especially since he feels the 2009 team was capable of so much more.
"The past season was special for me because we had to overcome so much. Because of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), we never really had the team to finally bring fall baseball and the fans of Busan together. Our starting lineup was set but never had a chance to play together as a unit. Son Min-han's shoulder injury along with Kang Min-ho's lack of playing time put us in a tough position," he said.
Ahead of the 2009 season, the Giants were seen as one of the top contenders, but they struggled early and dropped to the bottom of the standings in May.
But they eventually emerged from the cellar and climbed to the fourth and final playoff spot and held off the Samsung Lions.
"Players like Cho Jung-hoon, Kim Min-sung, Park Jung-joon and Choi Ki-moon were the key in keeping the team from falling completely apart. Jon Adkins, Im Kyoung-wan, Lee Jong-hoon and Lee Jung-min anchored a bullpen that was steady all year long. Lee Dae-ho and Kim Joo-chan were steady all year long while Hong Sung-heon and Karim Garcia came on strong late. That is why I am looking forward to our third season together."
All eight KBO teams are not busy making decisions on who will fill their foreign player roster spots. The Giants are currently deciding on whether to bring back imports Karim Garcia of Mexico and Jon Adkins of the United States, both of whom Royster considers indispensable pieces of the championship puzzle.
"Garcia and Adkins both did outstanding jobs for us. Karim got off to a slow start offensively and was almost sent home. That would have been a huge mistake because he got hot and carried the team along with Song Seung-joon back into contention. Jon never got the respect that he deserved. He led the league in saves while only blowing two save opportunities. He had a great season considering that this was his first time in Asia. Both players returning can really help us to the championship that we all want," said Royster.
The Mexican outfielder batted .266 with 29 home runs and 84 RBIs, which are the third and 10th best among the pack, while the right-handed closer notched a league-leading 26 saves.
Royster is understandably optimistic about the road ahead and promised fans that the best is yet to come. But he also suggested his supporters adopt a certain virtue ― one that's nearly unknown to the average rabid sports fan.
"We have tasted the fruits and victory but to win it all we need to remain patient."
ksw@koreatimes.co.kr
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