10 KBO league teams have played at least 100 games by last week, and the regular season schedule is also coming to an end. Of course, each team has a slightly different number of remaining games, but now every game is important for all teams.메이저사이트
In particular, large and small variables are expected to have a significant impact on teams and leagues in September. The calculation method for 10 clubs is becoming more complicated due to the expanded entry system that will be implemented from the 1st and the convocation of the baseball team for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.
Nevertheless, the biggest variable is, of course, ‘injury’. If you were injured at the beginning of the season, you have enough recovery period and the possibility of returning is open, but injuries after September are fatal for both the team and the players. This is a part that can directly affect ranking competition.
The LG Twins, which ran a ‘solo system’, are no exception. Foreign pitcher Adam Plutko, who started in an away game against the NC Dinos at Changwon NC Park on the 26th, felt discomfort in his left adductor muscle (muscle in the inner thigh) and went down the mound after only throwing 4 innings.
Plutko, who was excluded from the entry due to a break before the end of the first half, took a break for more than two weeks and climbed the mound, but delayed his starting pitching due to symptoms of a cold at the end of last month. Not long after, the news of the confirmation of Corona 19 was delivered. The missing period was about a month.
At least LG put out the urgent fire by recruiting starting pitcher Choi Won-tae through a trade with Kiwoom Heroes at the end of last month, but if Plutko’s injury is prolonged, LG’s starter operation will inevitably be disrupted for the remaining period. It is possible to entrust the starting responsibilities to pitchers who will be substitutes such as Kim Yun-sik, Lee Min-ho, and Kang Hyo-jong, but the presence of foreign pitchers plays a large role in the team’s strength, so the team is closely watching Plutko’s physical condition.
2nd place KT Wiz, who is closely chasing LG, is also worried about an injury. Even at the beginning of the season, there were not one or two injuries, but as time went on, the team got closer to a complete team, and there was no need to worry about injuries anymore.
However, starting pitcher Eom Sang-baek and starting shortstop Kim Sang-soo were dropped from the roster due to micro-fractured ribs and left ankle pain, respectively, making power loss inevitable. It is not easy for Park Byeong-ho, who is suffering from a calf injury, to play as a starter. It is close to a miracle just to come in 2nd place, but KT, who has to go into ‘protection’ from now on, cannot lower his guard against injuries.
The concerns of the teams struggling to enter the final 5 are similar. NC, which swept three consecutive games against LG last weekend, had an emergency in the homeroom operation as Park Se-hyeok, who left due to tendinitis in his left wrist, and Ahn Jung-yeol were diagnosed with damage to the right adductor muscle. For the time being, Kim Hyung-joon and Park Dae-on must work together with the pitchers.
In addition, ‘left-handed ace’ Gu Chang-mo, who left due to a stress fracture of the left ulna, starts preparing for long toss and pitching this week, but it is unclear whether he will return in September. In fact, it is a situation where you have to rely on the performance of the existing starting pitchers.
KIA, which is on a four-game winning streak, is also not at ease. Eui-ri Lee, who started in the away game against KT on the 22nd, complained of shoulder pain, and after receiving simple inflammation in the acromioclavicular joint, he skipped the rotation once, and if there are no major problems, he will return early next month. However, it is unknown whether he will be able to show 100% physical condition.
Foreign pitcher Mario Sanchez also left the line. Sanchez started in the home game against the Gwangju Hanwha Eagles and achieved 4 wins of the season by fighting hard with 2 hits, 2 hits, 6 strikeouts and 1 run in 7 innings, but after that he felt that his physical condition was abnormal. On the 28th, as a result of a ‘cross check’ while undergoing checkups at two hospitals, he was diagnosed with damage to the medial collateral ligament of the right elbow joint (elbow) and damage to impingement syndrome. The club explains that it will take about three weeks only for the rehabilitation period.
The Doosan Bears, who fell to 6th place, returned to the starting lineup with Yang Eui-ji and Sue-bin Su, who brushed off their injuries, but Choi Seung-yong, who played the role of ‘5th starter’, is still unable to return. The reason was a finger injury, and he came out as a starter against Jamsil NC on the 19th and went down the mound after 2⅔ innings after getting a blister on his left middle finger while pitching.
Choi Seung-yong has not been able to pitch in actual battles since his entry was canceled, and it is expected that it will take some more time for him to return to the first team. If it goes as planned, the bullpen pitching will be held in the 2nd team this week. This means that he can only be promoted to the first team after September. Concerns about mound overload grew.
From now on, the impact of the occurrence of injured players will inevitably come as much as the loss. It remains to be seen which team will be able to survive at the point where injuries are to be minimized.