Why did you send the ace in charge of 196 ⅔ innings? War against pitch clock → One round amid inferiority cheering, the first gateway for Kim Tae-hyung's second year
Why did you send the ace in charge of 196 ⅔ innings? War against pitch clock → One round amid inferiority cheering, the first gateway for Kim Tae-hyung's second year
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Lotte Giants' Kim Tae-hyung-ho, who is in his second year, anchors. The start is "War on Peach Clocks."안전놀이터
In 2024, Lotte was overwhelmingly No. 1 among the 10 teams in the pitch clock violation category. The distinction between the starting pitcher and the bullpen is so meaningless.
KBO initially warned pitchers who violated the pitch clock from the first half, signaling the implementation of the pitch clock in the second half of 2024, but delayed the introduction in earnest to this year in the face of opposition from the field.
It is inevitable now. Lotte pitchers are making efforts to adapt to the peach clock in this spring camp.
Manager Kim Tae-hyung has repeatedly expressed his opposition to the pitch clock, but the concept of focusing on the match against the batter and pitching at a faster tempo is also in line with his baseball theory, as he was concerned about the injury of pitchers due to the sudden introduction.
The fact that Wilkerson, a foreign pitcher who worked 196 ⅔ innings without skipping a single pitcher's rotation last year, is related to the pitch clock. He did not hide his uncomfortable feelings about the pitch clock, saying, "I am happy to finally be able to play real baseball."
Wilkerson Greeting Fans After Last Game Of The Season. Photo courtesy = Lotte Giants
It was not a pitcher with long intervals. The failure to renew contract with Wilkerson is largely attributable to his 36-year-old age, pitching innings that he played earlier, and deteriorating records in the second half of this year. However, with the pitch clock being introduced inevitably, there was no reason to insist on a pitcher who did not match the pitch clock. For this reason, Lotte recruited Davidson instead of renewing contract with Wilkerson.
In addition, although it is a practice game, a match against Taiwan's WBC (World Baseball Classic) national team, which is "sincere," is expected to be a valuable experience for Lotte.
Lotte will play against the Taiwanese national team at Taipei Dome from the 12th to the 13th. Lotte is the starting point of the long season, but it has a different meaning for the Taiwanese national team. It is a passing point to continue the momentum of winning the Premier 12 to the 2026 WBC qualifying round, which starts on the 21st.
The WBC is a competition organized by the MLB Secretariat. Therefore, the game is played in accordance with MLB regulations. The same applies to Peach Clock.
First of all, the KBO League's pitching limit is 20 seconds if there is no runner and 25 seconds if there is. Most of all, unlike Major League Baseball, there is no restriction on the departure of the pitching board.
However, in the two games that will be held under the MLB rules, Lotte pitchers are required to pitch 15 seconds and 18 seconds, respectively, in line with the U.S. rules. There is even a restriction on the deviation of the pitching board (allowed at second inning, balk at third inning).
Lotte is highly satisfied with the Tainan off-season training environment. It has all facilities, including the main stadium, dome (indoor practice range), youth sub-field, and bullpen, and is in good condition including grass.
"Kim Tae-hyung-ho," reinforced by head coach Cho Won-woo and bench coach Kim Min-jae, took advantage of this environment and drove the team through strong training. This match against the Taiwanese national team is the first real game, and it is an opportunity to get a little glimpse of its achievements.
Lotte will move to Taipei Dome on Wednesday and start training to adapt to the local area. It is a large dome stadium that can accommodate more than 40,000 people, but more than 30,000 tickets have already been sold. It is expected to be a valuable game to be played against overwhelming inferiority of cheering that you have never experienced before.
Lotte will broadcast the event from 7:35 p.m. on its official YouTube channel from July 12 to 13. Busan MBC caster Kim Dong-hyun and commentator Shin Bon-ki will hold the microphone.