Failed to advance to 2024 Premier 12 on his own
Even if we win all remaining games, we should expect 2 losses from Japan
The Korean baseball team’s attempt to advance to the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier 12 Super Round on its own was canceled. Korea lost 3-6 to Japan in the third match of Group B of the tournament held at Taipei Dome in Taiwan on the 15th. Korea fell to 4th place in the group with 1 win and 2 losses. Japan tied for first place with two wins alongside Taiwan. Of the six countries participating in the group stage, only the top two will advance to the super round.
With this loss, the Korean baseball team fell into a swamp of 9 consecutive losses against Japan. The last time Korea defeated Japan was in the Premier 12 semifinals in 2015. Korea became the inaugural Premier 12 champion by defeating the United States 8-0 in the finals of the tournament. However, they subsequently lost in the 2017 Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) preliminaries and finals, the 2019 Premier 12 Super Round and Finals, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, last year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC), and the APBC preliminaries and finals.
Korea got off to a promising start in the top of the second inning, scoring first with Hong Chang-gi’s timely hit. However, in the bottom of the second inning, starting pitcher Choi Seung-yong allowed two consecutive hits and two runs, giving the team a 1-2 lead. However, Korea scored 7 hits, including Park Dong-won’s solo shot in the top of the 4th inning to level the score at 2-2, and defeated Japanese starting pitcher Hiroto Takahashi in 4 innings. In the top of the fifth inning, with two outs and a runner on third base, Korea took the lead again, 3-2, thanks to a timely hit from Yoon Dong-hee, who came on as a pinch hitter.
On the mound, starter Choi Seung-yong was replaced after 1 and 2/3 innings, and Yoo Young-chan took charge of 2 and 2/3 innings until one out in the bottom of the 5th inning. Kwak Do-gyu, who took over the mound from Choi Seung-yong, seemed to be continuing his performance from the previous game by striking out his first out. Kwak Do-gyu pitched in both the first and second games of this tournament, facing onlyone batter each and striking out both of them. However, on this day when he faced more batters, he was shaken by consecutive walks after getting the first out, and even allowed a ball that hit his body, putting the bases loaded with two outs.
In this situation, Lee Young-ha, who was on the mound, gave up 2 RBIs and a timely hit to Japan’s 6th batter, Shugo Maki, allowing a 43-4 comeback. Then, in the bottom of the 7th inning, Hae-young Jeong, who took the mound with one out and a runner on first base, allowed a two-run shot to Shota Morishita, Japan’s fourth batter, increasing the score further.
Korea will play the remaining group stage matches against the Dominican Republic at 7:30 p.m. on the 16th and against Australia at 1 p.m. on the 18th. In order to finish in the top 2 of the group stage, we must expect Taiwan and Japan to lose at least 2 games after winning all of their remaining games. In the game against the Dominican Republic, Lim Chan-gyu will start.
Reporter Lim Bomi [email protected]
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How can the Korean baseball team’s management improve player morale following a losing streak?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Baseball Expert
Editor: Welcome, [Expert Name], and thank you for joining us today. As we all know, the recent game between South Korea and Japan in the WBSC Premier 12 didn’t go as planned for the Korean team. Could you give us your take on what this loss means for the team’s future in the tournament?
Expert: Thank you for having me! This loss is quite significant for Korea. With a record of 1 win and 2 losses, they are now in fourth place in Group B. To advance to the Super Round, they must win their remaining matches against the Dominican Republic and Australia, and they also need Japan and Taiwan to lose at least two games. It’s going to be a tough road ahead.
Editor: That sounds challenging. The Korean team has now lost nine consecutive games to Japan, which must weigh heavily on their morale. How do you think this streak affects their mindset going forward?
Expert: Absolutely, the psychological impact of this losing streak cannot be understated. Losing repeatedly to a rival can create a mental block. It’s crucial for the coaching staff to bolster the players’ confidence and emphasize a “new game” mentality. They need to focus on the process rather than the result when they face the Dominican Republic and Australia.
Editor: In the match against Japan, we saw some promising moments, particularly when Korea took a lead after scoring three runs. What seems to be the issue that keeps leading to their downfall against such strong teams?
Expert: The inconsistency in pitching has been a key factor. In that game, Korea had a solid start at the plate, but their pitchers struggled. Choi Seung-yong’s early exit and subsequent pitchers allowing critical hits at key moments were damaging. When facing top-tier teams like Japan, every small error can be magnified, leading to lost opportunities.
Editor: It seems like pitching effectively under pressure is a crucial aspect of their game. Looking at their upcoming match against the Dominican Republic, what do you think they need to focus on to secure a win?
Expert: They must focus on solidifying their pitching strategy. Lim Chan-gyu, who is set to start, needs to deliver a strong performance. Additionally, maintaining their offensive momentum will be key. They should capitalize on any scoring opportunities and look to build an early lead which can relieve pressure on the pitching staff.
Editor: Given the recent struggles, do you have any predictions for how this tournament might unfold for the Korean team?
Expert: It’s difficult to predict with certainty. If Korea can win their remaining matches and get a bit of luck with Japan and Taiwan’s results, they still have a slim chance. However, the team needs to find a way to break this negative cycle against Japan to regain their competitive edge. Winning against the Dominican Republic will be a critical first step.
Editor: Thank you, [Expert Name], for your insights today. It’s a tough road ahead for the Korean team, but hopefully, they can rally and put forth a strong effort in their upcoming matches.
Expert: Thank you for having me! Let’s hope for a turnaround in their fortunes.