Park stumbles in training game

By Yoon Chul

Former Major Leaguer Park Chan-ho failed to inspire confidence allowing five runs in a spring training game in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), Saturday.

At the Nagoya Dome Stadium, Orix Buffaloes starter Park allowed seven hits including a three run homer during the first four innings against the Chunichi Dragons, the defending Central League champions.

Throwing 80, the 37-year-old veteran collected five strike-outs with two walks.

Park said, “51 of 80 pitches were strikes. I expected to stand at the mound until the fifth inning with the same number of pitches.”

“Though I allowed many runs, I controlled the ball well, so it is fine. I also need to emphasize that I allowed the hits and walks.”

In the first inning, Park only allowed a walk but he gave up a run in the second allowing three hits.

With the bases-loaded with one out, Park ended the inning with a strike-out and a fly ball.

In the third he again allowed a run and with runners on first and second the Dragons catcher Motonobu Tanishige hit a three run homer.

“It was a cutter. I tried to change the grip but I lost control and Tanishige hit it well,” Park said.

Park, who has the most wins among Asians in the MLB with 124, praised the Japanese batters.

“They are similar to MLB hitters and they handled the breaking ball well. I need to study them more.”

Park thought he handled the ball well except for three careless pitches but the Japanese press said Park struggled to control the ball. The press thought Park’s ball aimed to the center of the strike zone and it tended to reach the high zone.

Based on the game statistics, Park struggled at the beginning of the game but instantly got back on track.

In the first two innings 26 of 48 pitches were strikes compared to 25 of 32 in the next two.

The press also picked up that the Buffaloes new starter is still having trouble with his set position, with Park allowing a balk. Buffaloes manager Akinobu Okada agreed.

“While Park threw in a set position, his pitches were uninspiring.”

Orix catcher Hikaru Ito said that Park was in a hurry to throw and they didn’t work in harmony with the runners on base.

The Korean veteran is having difficulty controlling ball speed. Before heading to Japan, Park’s fast ball was over 150 kilometers per hour in the MLB. But in the first spring training game’s pitches, the fastest ball was 145 and most of them were between 130 to 140.

As he lost speed, his breaking ball wasn’t good enough and Park couldn’t overwhelm the batters.

Though he didn’t have a good outing, Okada still had confidence in Park.

Park is expected to pitch for the Buffaloes’ season opener as well as the first home match of season.

Okada will announce the pitcher for those games around March. 14 and meanwhile Park has some work to do to prove himself and be successful in the NPB.

The Buffaloes other Korean Lee Seung-yeop hit a solo home run in the fourth inning for a 1-0 lead against the Dragons on Sunday at the same stadium.

yc@koreatimes.co.kr