Korean baseball manager's remarks irk fans

Korea's Olympic baseball team manager Kim Kyung-moon looks on as his team was down 0-1 against Japan in the bottom of the third inning of a semi-final baseball game at Yokohama Stadium in Yokahama, Japan, Aug 4. Yonhap

Easy-going attitude of national baseball team coach disappoints die-hard Korea fans

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Korea's baseball manager has irked fans for his comments on the team failing to defend the gold medal as well as regarding their upcoming performance in the bronze medal game against the Dominican Republic.

After Korea lost to the U.S. by a score of 7-2 in the semifinals, Manager Kim Kyung-moon said he is not so upset that his team didn't win the gold.

“We didn't come to Japan just to win a gold medal. We came here to focus on each game, and play it well so that our fans might embrace the results. It's not too bad that we didn't win the gold medal,” Kim told the press after the match.

However, some fans were outraged by Kim's remarks.

One baseball fan tweeted, “Of course, winning a medal isn't everything, but it seems inappropriate for a national team's coach to say it without fighting hard until the end,” while another commented, “Stop trying to justify yourself without trying your best.”

Team Korea won the baseball gold medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Thus, winning another gold medal in Tokyo was not an unattainable goal.

The sport was not part of the two subsequent Olympics, but returned for the competition in Tokyo. It won't be featured in the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Kim's remark also contrasted with those of a few players who were frustrated after Korea's 7-2 loss to the U.S. Kang Baek-ho was at a lost for words. “It's a terrible feeling to come away with a result like this,” he told reporters. Starter Lee Eui-lee didn't leave the stadium until long after the game.

Korea's Kim Hye-seong, center, tags out Jack Lopez from the U.S. during the second inning of a semi-final baseball game at Yokohama Stadium in Yokohama, Japan, Aug. 5. AP-Yonhap

Critics say that Kim's bullpen strategy and pitching matchup totally failed. As pitcher, Lee had five solid innings with nine strikeouts and five hits. Choi Won-joon took over to begin the sixth inning, with the U.S. up by only 2-1. Korea was close to getting back in the game.

But the U.S. drove in five runs ― one for every bullpen pitcher Korea used in that inning ― to take a huge 7-1 lead. Korea attempted end game opponent's rally, scoring one at the top of the seventh to take the score to 7-2, but it was too late to change the situation.

Things didn't work out for Team Korea from the beginning. It couldn't form the best team, as infielder Park Min-woo and pitcher Han Hyun-hee had to withdraw from the Olympic team in light of having violated the Level 4 social distancing regulations by drinking in their hotel room with teammates and two outside guests.

Korea will compete against Dominican Republic for a bronze medal on Saturday at 12 p.m. Winning the bronze medal will also provide exemptions from Korea's mandatory military service for players who haven't already served or earned exemptions elsewhere.