KBO Playoff Preview: Lotte vs Samsung

By Kang Seung-woo

SOUTH KOREA - Throughout the season, the Lotte Giants have been one of the biggest stories in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).

Now, the Giants, led by American manager Jerry Royster, have reached the postseason for the first time since 2000 and will face the Samsung Lions in their first-round, best-of-five playoff series.

Meanwhile, the four-time league champion Lions, who have made the playoffs for the 12th straight year, have not shown their old dominance but managed to clinch a playoff berth despite poor performances by their rotation.

The teams have met in playoff series three times ? 1991, 1992 and 2000 ? with the Lions, based in Daegu, winning the first and last meetings.

However, the Busan-based Giants have a better record, 12-1-10, in playoff games between the teams. The Giants also have a 10-8 record this season in games against the Lions, who are managed by Sun Dong-yeol.

The Giants have a solid rotation, comprised of Son Min-han, Song Seung-jun and Jang Won-joon, all of whom won at least 12 games. Their team ERA of 3.64 ranks second in the KBO behind the SK Wyverns’ 3.22.

Giants left-handed reliever Kang Young-sik appeared in nine games against the Lions and posted a 1.93 ERA with two holds, and closer David Cortes of Mexico, who saved eight games after joining the Giants in late August, had three saves against the Lions in four opportunities.

However, Cortes suffered a thigh injury in a Sept. 30 game against the Wyverns, which concerns Royster, the first non-Korean manager in KBO history.

While the Lions’ starting pitchers are not as strong as the Giants’, they have a decent bullpen. Lions lefty Kwon Hyuk, who has six wins with a 1.32 ERA over 47 2/3 innings, provided a solid performance by picking up three holds with a 1.59 ERA in five games against the Giants. Closer Oh Seung-hwan compiled five saves in nine outings despite his 4.91 ERA.

The Lions, however, could have problems if their starters cannot contain the Giants’ offense.

The Giants led the league in batting average (.282) and slugging percentage and ranked second in home runs, hits and on-base percentage.

Mexican slugger Karim Garcia blasted five home runs and drove in 17 runs this year against the Lions. Third baseman Lee Dae-ho batted .305 with three dingers and 11 RBIs, while second baseman Cho Sung-hwan hit above .300 against the Lions.

The Lions ranked sixth in batting average at .258, but will look to veteran players such as designated hitter Yang Joon-hyuk, catcher Jin Kab-yong and shortstop Park Jin-man, who have experience in the postseason.

Song, who was 3-1 with a 3.22 ERA against the Lions this season, will start for the Giants in Game 1 of the series, which begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Sajik Stadium in Busan. The Lions will start Bae Young-soo, who won three games in four appearances.

Kang Seung-woo is a Staff Reporter for the Korea Times

Source: Korea Times