KT Wiz manager Lee Kang-chul miraculously won the Korean Series ticket after losing two consecutive games to the NC Dinos, the semi-playoff winner, in the playoffs. Coach Lee clearly experienced a physical difference between a team that took a break and a team that came up after a semi-playoff during this series.
Speaking about the playoffs ahead of Game 1 of the Korean Series against the LG Twins in Jamsil on the 7th, coach Lee said, "I don't want to do it again, if I don't know if I have to know the results of three consecutive wins after two consecutive losses."
NC beat KT's mound 9-5 in Game 1. They also won the second game 3-2.
However, in Game 3, no one stepped on second base and only five hits and no runs were scored, losing 0-3, and in Game 4, he was beaten by the opponent's batting line and lost 2-11. NC suffered 22 scoreless innings from Park Byung-ho's error in the top of the third inning of Game 2 until Park Se-hyuk's timely hit in the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 4.
NC also took the lead in Game 5 with one point each in the third and fifth innings, but later failed to score and eventually lost 2-3.
Coach Lee said, "The NC batters' bat coming out is a foul to go forward," adding, "It was good that (Ko) Young-pyo shook it in Game 3, and when I looked at Game 4, the bat didn't come out. "The players also looked like they were doing this because it was a foul that they said.
Coach Lee said, "Wouldn't the rest of the Korean Series be more advantageous as time goes by?" and added, "So I want to finish it quickly, but that team is so strong," adding, "If the Korean Series is prolonged, LG, the regular league winner, could be advantageous."
At the same time, coach Lee said the difference between NC and KT. NC had a last-minute ranking fight of the season, and immediately played the wild card game and the semi-playoff, while KT had enough rest after the season.
KT finished the regular season as long as a week earlier than other teams, and had a 19-day break until the playoffs. Usually, the playoff team has about 12 days off, compared to a week off. In other words, the team has secured a break similar to the Korean Series team that won the regular league.
Coach Lee said, "NC's last-minute ranking fight was the same as a few postseason games. "If you win, you go in a good mood, but if you lose, you seem to lose (the flow)," he said. "We had enough 19 days off. And after five games, I think that's enough to get a feel for it. I think it's good in that area (the sense of the game)," he said, stressing the positive aspect.
As the series continues, I wonder whether KT will get tired like NC or whether the full-charged physical strength will be maintained with the honey-flavored rest on the 19th.
