Manager Ryu leads Samsung to KBO title

Samsung Lions manager Ryu Joong-il congratulates his players after they were confirmed regular season champions with a 5-3 victory over the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Stadium, Tuesday. / Yonhap

By Yoon Chul

Rookie manager Ryu Joong-il has led the Samsung Lions to be crowned the regular season champion of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) for the first time in five years.

With eight games left, the Lions beat the Doosan Bears 5-3 Tuesday in Jamsil. With the win, the Lions head directly to the Korean Series with a 76-2-47 record with the Lotte Giants 8.5 games behind.

Ryu is the second coach to win the regular season title in his debut year, following in the footsteps of previous Lions manager Sun Dong-ryul. But the 48-year-old attributed the success to his team and staff.

“Our coaching staff and players have worked so well together. Honestly I haven’t done anything,” Ryu said

“Though the season is not over yet, I want to give 100 (percent) to the team. The front office backed us up when our players suffered unexpected injuries. The substitutes have done very well. I appreciate it.”

When the 2011 season started, no one anticipated the Lions would grab the regular season trophy. Defending champions the SK Wyverns along with the Kia Tigers and Doosan Bears were tipped for the title.

“I don’t understand why the Lions were underestimated. We have played during the postseason almost every year and we were last season’s runner-up,” Ryu said.

Several of the Lions’ relievers, the driving force for the club’s 2005- 06 Korean Series win, were injured at the start of the season.

To make matters worse, the KBO’s best current closer Oh Seung-hwan underwent elbow surgery last year.

But he has made a successful comeback. Appearing in 52 games, Oh collected one win with 45 saves without a single blown save with a .65 ERA.

His last pitch against the Bears Tuesday not only clinched the title for the Lions but also set a new Asian record of saves in 23 straight games.

Though the Lions have continued their traditional strength on the mound, the Daegu-based side’s batting average currently ranks sixth among the eight KBO teams.

Only Choi Hyung-woo shone with a .331 batting average, 29 home runs and 106 RBIs.

Chae Tae-in was expected to lead the offense but hasn’t been the same after suffering a concussion last August.

Despite this the Lions are third in team scoring with 596 while they allowed the fewest runs at 486.

In the past two decades, 17 of 20 regular season champions have gone on to victory in the Korean Series.

A major reason is the No.1 team has nearly 3 weeks rest before the final series, avoiding the two best-of-five playoff rounds.

The KBO announced the postseason schedule Wednesday. The first round will begin on Oct. 8 between the third and fourth ranked sides.

The winner will the take on the regular season runner-up from Oct. 16 and the Korean Series starts on Oct. 24.

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