Those picking the Kia to win the title this season cite the stability of their bullpen as one of the reasons. They have quality, but they also have quantity. There are many examples of players who would have been useful in the first team on other teams not making the opening roster and being sent to the second team.
The KIA bullpen is proving that the pre-season preview was not an exaggeration. The bullpen has won all three games it has played since opening day, and has cruised without allowing a single earned run. Each player in the strong pitching staff is doing their part. It's not about any one player, it's a team effort.
Kia won 8-2 against Lotte at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on April 27. The offense was able to capitalize on an error in the first inning to score six runs, but the bullpen was able to hold steady and keep the game close.
James Nail was one of the best sweepers in the KBO, picking apart Lotte batters like a leaf in a windstorm. He allowed just one run over six innings while striking out nine, and the bullpen followed suit with three scoreless innings. In the seventh inning, Jang Hyun-sik gave up a run, but it was unearned due to a fielding error. In the eighth, Kwak Do-gyu allowed the leadoff batter to walk but did not allow a run, and in the ninth, Kim Dae-yoo pitched a clean inning to secure the win.
In Kia's opening game against Kiwoom on March 23, after starter Will Crowe was pulled after 5⅔ innings, Kwak Do-gyu, Jeon Sang-hyun, Choi Ji-min, and Jung Hae-young took turns on 스포츠토토 the mound to protect the team's lead. The KIA bullpen allowed just one hit in 3⅓ innings of work on the day. It was a near-perfect relay.
Against Gwangju Lotte on June 26, after starter Yang Hyun-jong was pulled after 5⅓ innings, four bullpen arms came in to protect a one-run lead. Lim Ki-young pitched ⅔ of an inning, and the trio of Choi Ji-min, Jeon Sang-hyun, and Jeong Jung-young pitched another three shutout innings to secure the win. None of the pitchers allowed an earned run, and the bullpen remained ERA-less through three games and 10 innings on Sunday.
Kia manager Lee Beom-ho had already finalized his five pitchers, including closer Jung Hae-young, Jeon Sang-hyun, Choi Ji-min, Im Ki-young, and Jang Hyun-sik. There was fierce competition for the remaining three or four spots, and the pitchers who went down to the second team are also showing great competitiveness, so if they let their guard down, they can go straight to the second team.
With such a deep roster, Lee is happy to be able to give his pitchers a break. In the case of closer Jeong Jung-young, he thinks it's possible to pitch three consecutive games in a save situation, but the rest of the pitchers are not allowed to pitch three consecutive games. With four set-up men, it's possible to envision a rotation where the starters can go five or six innings and then rotate in and out. There will be bumps in the road, but the bullpen depth to get through them is something to look forward to.
The KIA bullpen is proving that the pre-season preview was not an exaggeration. The bullpen has won all three games it has played since opening day, and has cruised without allowing a single earned run. Each player in the strong pitching staff is doing their part. It's not about any one player, it's a team effort.
Kia won 8-2 against Lotte at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on April 27. The offense was able to capitalize on an error in the first inning to score six runs, but the bullpen was able to hold steady and keep the game close.
James Nail was one of the best sweepers in the KBO, picking apart Lotte batters like a leaf in a windstorm. He allowed just one run over six innings while striking out nine, and the bullpen followed suit with three scoreless innings. In the seventh inning, Jang Hyun-sik gave up a run, but it was unearned due to a fielding error. In the eighth, Kwak Do-gyu allowed the leadoff batter to walk but did not allow a run, and in the ninth, Kim Dae-yoo pitched a clean inning to secure the win.
In Kia's opening game against Kiwoom on March 23, after starter Will Crowe was pulled after 5⅔ innings, Kwak Do-gyu, Jeon Sang-hyun, Choi Ji-min, and Jung Hae-young took turns on 스포츠토토 the mound to protect the team's lead. The KIA bullpen allowed just one hit in 3⅓ innings of work on the day. It was a near-perfect relay.
Against Gwangju Lotte on June 26, after starter Yang Hyun-jong was pulled after 5⅓ innings, four bullpen arms came in to protect a one-run lead. Lim Ki-young pitched ⅔ of an inning, and the trio of Choi Ji-min, Jeon Sang-hyun, and Jeong Jung-young pitched another three shutout innings to secure the win. None of the pitchers allowed an earned run, and the bullpen remained ERA-less through three games and 10 innings on Sunday.
Kia manager Lee Beom-ho had already finalized his five pitchers, including closer Jung Hae-young, Jeon Sang-hyun, Choi Ji-min, Im Ki-young, and Jang Hyun-sik. There was fierce competition for the remaining three or four spots, and the pitchers who went down to the second team are also showing great competitiveness, so if they let their guard down, they can go straight to the second team.
With such a deep roster, Lee is happy to be able to give his pitchers a break. In the case of closer Jeong Jung-young, he thinks it's possible to pitch three consecutive games in a save situation, but the rest of the pitchers are not allowed to pitch three consecutive games. With four set-up men, it's possible to envision a rotation where the starters can go five or six innings and then rotate in and out. There will be bumps in the road, but the bullpen depth to get through them is something to look forward to.