As the KBO pursues normalization and substantial expansion of the strike zone, the ERA of 10 teams this season was 4.00 (as of the 12th), 0.44 lower than last year’s 4.44.
However, the team ERA of the Samsung Lions rose from 4.30 last year to 4.41 this year.
The reason for Samsung’s sluggishness, which suffered 10 consecutive losses in 18 years since May 2004 and fell to 8th place, lies in the mound.
As of the 12th, only three teams, Samsung, LG Twins (3.57→3.66), and Hanwha Eagles (4.65→5.03), had an ERA higher than last year.
Although LG’s ERA has increased compared to last year, LG is building a solid pitching team that ranks third in this category.
SSG Landers, who secured the lead in the first half, lowered their ERA by more than one point from 4.82 last year to 3.75 this year.
The ERA of the second-placed Kiwoom Heroes also decreased significantly from 4.31 last year to 3.22 this year.
In fact, Samsung also maintained an above-average ERA of 3.80 until June 29 (the KBO League overall ERA at that time was 3.94).
However, from the Daegu KT Wiz match on June 30 to the Suwon KT Wiz match on July 12, he gave up a whopping 99 points (91 ERA) and became ‘below average’.
During the losing streak, Samsung’s team ERA rose sharply from 3.80 to 4.41 due to the group’s sluggish pitching team.
Last year, Samsung took second place in the regular season thanks to the power of the pitching team.
David Buchanan (16-5, 3.10 ERA), Won Tae-in (14-7, 3.06), and Baek Jeong-hyeon (14-5, 2.63 ERA) built strong 1-3 starters.
Set-up Kyu-Min Woo (3 wins, 3 losses, 24 hold ERA of 3.31) followed by Seung-hwan Oh (2 losses, 44 saves, 2.03 ERA) on the pitch gave confidence that “we can keep the team win”.
Again this year, Buchanan (6-6 ERA 3.61) performed well, and new recruit Albert Suarez (4-5 ERA 2.33) also contributed to the starting lineup.
Woo Gyu-min is also struggling with a 1.75 ERA with 1 loss, 1 save, 11 holds.
However, Baek Jeong-hyeon finished the first half with a poor record of 10 losses and a 6.63 ERA without winning a single win.
The finishing touches Seunghwan Oh also had an ERA of 3.90 (2 wins, 2 losses, 18 saves and 1 hold).
During the 10-game losing streak, Baek Jeong-hyeon started and suffered two losses, and Oh Seung-hwan failed to save three times in a row.
Oh Seung-hwan also allowed a home run to hit a streak in 17 years after his rookie match against the Masan Lotte Giants on May 3, 2005, against KT in Suwon on the 12th.
The sluggishness of Oh Seung-hwan, the best in the team, and Baek Jeong-hyeon, the eldest in the starting lineup, caused Samsung to crash.
There are no pitchers who can replace the two yet.
At the start of the second half of the second half, outfielder Ja-wook Koo will return and give strength to Samsung’s batting line that is harmonizing the old and the new.
But there are no reinforcements on the mound.
At present, the only solution is the rebound of Oh Seung-hwan and Baek Jeong-hyeon.
/yunhap news