SOUTH KOREA – Baseball manager Kim In-sik is aware of the challenges that await him in the year 2009. In addition to trying to get his Korea Baseball Organization club, the Hanwha Eagles, back into the postseason, the 61-year-old will guide the Korean national baseball team in the World Baseball Classic in March.

Kim managed Korea to the surprising semifinal berth at the inaugural WBC three years ago. But the bar has been raised for Korean baseball since it won the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics last year. And when other veteran managers declined to take the WBC job, Kim was summoned once again.

And if he is feeling the pressure – well, actually he is showing it. “I will lose sleep when the tournament nears,” Kim said. “I just know it won’t be an easy job.”

Kim also spoke of the responsibilities of the national team players, and of his plans for the national team.

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Tags: South Korea, World Baseball Classic