“Now is the beginning. So that I can run next year and the year after that… “
Coach Yeom Kyung-yeop, who led LG to its first Korean Series victory in 29 years last year, grabbed the microphone and shouted to the fans filling Jamsil Stadium: He was not satisfied with just one victory after 29 years, but declared that he would make the 2020s the ‘LG era’. The new year of 2024, the year of Gapjin, is an important road to the dynasty. 바카라사이트닷컴
LG, which went through a deep dark period in the 2000s, transformed into a postseason regular by putting young players at the forefront starting in the mid-2010s. In 2014, LG Champions Park, a state-of-the-art second-team training center, opened in Icheon, and a solid training system was established from the bottom up while strengthening the scouting department’s capabilities. They recruited major free agent players such as Kim Hyun-soo, Park Hae-min, and Park Dong-won at the right time and maximized their power, resulting in a championship.
LG, which has built the league’s best power in two-strokes, will push forward its momentum in 2024 and challenge to win the club’s first championship for two consecutive years. After winning the championship in 1990 and 1994, LG fell to 6th and 3rd place the following year, respectively, failing to win two games in a row. The expression that maintaining the top is more difficult than reaching the top is correct.
Teams that have succeeded in winning consecutive championships in KBO League history include Haitai from 1986 to 1989 (4 years), Haitai from 1996 to 1997 (2 years), Hyundai from 2003 to 2004 (2 years), Samsung from 2005 to 2006 (2 years), Five teams, including SK (2 years) from 2007 to 2008, Samsung (4 years) from 2011 to 2014, and Doosan (2 years) from 2015 to 2016, achieved it a total of 7 times. They are also teams that continue the lineage of a ‘dynasty’ that has dominated the league for several years.
Recently, it has become increasingly difficult to win consecutive championships in the KBO League. KIA in 2017, SK in 2018, Doosan in 2019, NC in 2020, KT in 2021, and SSG in 2022 failed to win the championship the following year. Except for Doosan in 2020, no team advanced to the Korean Series. We cannot ignore the aftereffects of winning.
Due to league standardization policies such as the $1 million cap for new foreign players, the abolition of the first round draft for rookies, conversion to a full draft, and the introduction of a salary cap system that caps the team’s total annual salary, it is becoming difficult for a specific team to dominate. LG is taking on the challenge in an era where it is difficult to create a dynasty compared to the past. It is not an easy task, but if you look at LG’s composition that blends new and old well, a dynasty is not impossible.
To become a dynasty, consecutive wins are essential, and 2024 is an important year that will determine the construction of LG’s dynasty. Offseason activities are stable. They re-signed foreign pitcher Casey Kelly and hitter Austin Dean, and brought in experienced Japanese pitcher Dietrick Enns. As internal free agents, we also succeeded in renewing contracts with key players who contributed to the championship, including starter Lim Chan-gyu and reliever Ham Deok-ju. Closing Go Woo-seok is trying to advance to the major league through posting, but alternatives such as Yoo Young-chan and Baek Seung-hyun have been prepared.
But you can’t let down your guard. There is a competitor that can challenge LG. KT, who won last year’s Korean Series, is the most threatening. With the return of foreign hitter Mel Rojas Jr., who won MVP in 2020, KT’s batting lineup could improve significantly if Kang Baek-ho returns. Finisher Kim Jae-yoon transferred to Samsung as a free agent, but Park Young-hyun is ready as a replacement. When pitcher So Hyun-jun, who is rehabbing after Tommy John surgery, and infielder Shim Woo-jun, who is serving his military service in Sangmu, return in June or July, a big increase in power is expected in both pitches.
Other than KT, I don’t see any team that can compete with LG. NC, which created a sensation in fall baseball last year, seems to be missing a lot from MVP Eric Peddy, who left for the major league. The other top 5 teams, SSG and Doosan, also have no factors to increase their power. Among the teams eliminated in the semifinals, Hanwha and Samsung have strengthened their power, but they still need to build their teams. Lotte also has no notable reinforcements, and Kiwoom, the lowest ranked team, even left out Lee Jeong-hoo and Ahn Woo-jin. If KIA, which ranked 6th last year, can bring in two foreign pitchers, it has the potential to become a dark horse thanks to its strong batting lineup. Of course, there is no guarantee that two foreign pitchers will be selected well.