The NC Dinosaurs lost to the Changwon LG Twins 4-5 after a struggle against the latter on Wednesday, the final game of their series over the last week. After games that left damage both physically and psychologically, the NC Dinosaurs ran a long way to Incheon for the weekend series against the SSG. NC manager Kang In-kwon chose to go back to a game where his team could feel urgent from a bench perspective.
In the match against the SSG in Incheon on the 3rd, Kang excluded both the main second baseman Park Min-woo and the right fielder Park Kun-woo from the starting lineup. Choi Jung-won was used as the second baseman, and Chun Jae-hwan was used as the starting card for the right fielder. NC hit 14 hits, including three home runs, and 11 four outs, making a big win, 19-5. NC formed the best lineup including key fielders such as Park Min-woo and Park Kun-woo in the match against SSG on the 4th, the next day. Park Min-woo had one hit and two RBIs, and Park Kun-woo had three hits and two RBIs. NC also held the game on the second day, 8-6.
It rained on Saturday when Game 3 was scheduled. NC can prepare for the new week with a light mood if it takes two days off until the 6th, the moving day. At a time when each team played 34-37 games since the opening of the season, officials of the batting team are being heard talking about NC. They are their own analyses on how the team is performing better than expected. A key official of the team even mentioned NC manager Kang In-kwon’s management of the team. He said that the team is producing the maximum results by allocating the power it possesses. How to manage the team over the weekend was a case in point.
Everyone wants to play a season “as you think.” Since last year, however, NC has gone beyond “as I thought” every time and has taken a better than I thought.
NC had performed well last season, ranking fourth in the regular season and reaching the playoffs. Manager Kang’s goal at the starting line was to add seven more wins than the previous season (67 wins, three draws and 74 losses), but NC has achieved the goal just enough to give it some leeway. He added eight more wins compared to the previous season, finishing the season with 75 wins, two draws and 67 losses.
As of Tuesday, NC is ranking second in this season’s top five teams with 22 wins and 13 losses (0.629) versus top-ranked KIA by a single game. NC was considered a candidate for the best five teams prior to the season, but was not a likely candidate only because it was included in the “competitive group.” Another major variable to this was the departure of its ace Eric Feddy (Chicago White Sox) from the offseason, who had secured 20 wins (six losses) during the season. However, NC’s race has been trending toward the best-of-the-best scenario so far.
NC is gradually increasing its attention not only because of its revealed performance. Many officials are paying attention to the fact that each of the “hidden records” is raising the possibility of NC’s “long run.” These are indicators that NC’s initial strong performance will shine and continue to be consistent.
One of them is the number left by the bullpen. NC ranks first with a 3.64 ERA. Not only the earned run average (3.60) for the starter, but also the earned run average (3.84) for the bullpen. NC is the only team that has a three-point bullpen ERA this season.
As the number of wins increases, the bullpen winning group generally becomes more frequent. NC also deserves bullpen pitchers to be overloaded, but so far, the move has not been so. While closer Lee Yong-chan is sharing the most bullpen innings with 20.2 innings with KT Middleman’s sovereignty, only a few NC pitchers are in the top 40 in the bullpen innings league. Starting with Lee Yong-chan, there are only three players, Kim Jae-yeol (18th, 8th) and Han Jae-seung (14.2th, 33rd).
This is partly due to the fact that starting pitchers generally lead the innings longer and the team’s bullpen session is the second-lowest among the 10 teams with 124.1 innings. However, the current number of bullpen sessions includes the direction of the bench. For example, NC manager Kang In-kwon said on Wednesday that left-hander Kim Young-kyu, who had previous injury history, “I went through the process of avoiding a series of fights. The restrictions on consecutive throws will be lifted starting this week, but we plan to have them only once a week even if the situation arises.” This is a nuance that puts the team in perspective of summer battles while fighting the war of spring.
NC has been at the forefront of the race. Since the opening of the season, the team has been running like a sprinter in short-distance running. However, the team is moving at a distance like a marathoner. The key point is to keep pace with busyness and constant breathing, and to explain NC baseball after the season starts.
BY: 토토