Crouched No More
Tigers, Giants Look Improved Ahead of New Season
By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter
It has been more than a decade since the Kia Tigers, Korean baseball's proudest franchise with nine championship titles, has been relevant. However, retooled with a deep pitching staff and potent lineup, the Tigers finally seem ready to breathe fear into the league once again.
The new baseball season begins its six-month journey Saturday with defending champions SK Wyverns and perennial contenders Samsung Lions, outspending every other club by a comfortable margin, pegged as the early favorites.
It would be a major stretch to predict a title for the Tigers, who finished last in 2007 in the worst season in franchise history, as a mere playoff berth, given to the top four among the eight-team league, should be considered progress enough.
However, a starting rotation headed by former Tampa Bay Ray right-hander Seo Jae-weong and fellow Major League Baseball (MLB) alumni Jose Lima and a lineup possessing an abundance of power and speed assure that nobody would be too excited to face the Gwangju-based club once the season starts.
Although it's pointless to invest too much thought into spring training games, the Tigers looked impressive in leading the league with a 10-3 record in preseason action that ended Sunday.
Reliable Lima?
The 36-year-old Lima was ridiculed as the walking definition of inconsistency during his colorful American career that included a 20-win season and a 16-loss season. However, at least in spring training, Lima seemed to thrive against hitters from a lower-level league, winning both of his starts while posting a 1.06 ERA.
If Lima's spring numbers are a true indication of his ability, the Tigers get a quality starting rotation with Seo, penciled for 10 to 15 wins, and strikeout artist Yoon Suk-min slotted around the Dominican Republic veteran and lefty Yang Hyun-jong adding stability as a fourth starter.
Choi Hee-seop, another Tampa Bay Ray castoff, is looking to build on a solid 2007 when he joined the team midseason and contributed 46 RBIs in 52 games while batting .337. Relievers Jeong Byeong-du, Moon Hyun-jeong and Kwak Jeong-cheol and closer Han Ki-joo anchor a bullpen deep with hard throwers.
First baseman Jung Sung-hoon and third baseman Lee Hyun-gon, who won the batting title with a .338 average last season, are expected to protect Choi in the heart of the order and rookie outfielder Na Ji-wan is a power threat in the lower half of the lineup.
Choi and his deputy bashers could expect to have a lot of runners to drive home, with former Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Wilson Valdez, who lead the preseason with 10 steals, providing extra-base power and speed as a leadoff hitter.
Reviving Baseball in Busan
The Lotte Giants, another traditional power that has been slipping in recent years, share the dark horse status with the Tigers. The Giants, despite a roster studded with All Stars, underachieved and finished seventh in 2007.
With former Milwaukee Brewers skipper Jerry Royster taking the coaching helm, the Giants look to rebound in 2008.
The Giants are expected to finish among the league leaders in scoring, with designated hitter Lee Dae-ho, considered the country's top right-handed hitter at the moment, and former New York Yankees star Karim Garcia anchoring the middle of the order.
Kim Joo-chan and Jung Soo-keun are expected to hit for average and steal bases in bunches at the top of the order, while Kang Min-ho looks to continue his progress as one of the league's best offensive catchers.
Veteran Son Min-han, American Marty McLeary and former Boston Red Sox prospect Song Seung-joon combine for a formidable starting rotation, although the bullpen anchored by closer Lim Kyung-wan and supported by Kang Young-shik and Kim Young-soo remains a matter of concern.