“One ball can change the atmosphere.”안전놀이터
NC Dinos manager Kang Myung-hwan reflected on his team’s protest against the Lotte Giants in the regular season of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League on Wednesday at Sajik Stadium in Busan.
NC lost the previous day’s game 3-6. It wasn’t without its chances to rally and come back, especially in the top of the seventh inning. With the leadoff hitter Kwon Hee-dong and Lotte’s Koo Seung-min battling it out, Kang rushed out of the dugout.
Working a full count, Kwon saw a 132-kilometer forkball outside the sixth pitch. Kwon thought it was a ball and tried to run to first base. However, umpire Ham Ji-woong called a strike. Kwon Hee-dong was unhappy, and even his coach, Kang Myung-ho, came out to protest. He was very disappointed with the strike zone call.
“I was thinking about not protesting the strike and ball call,” said Kang, “but yesterday, in that situation, if the leadoff hitter got on base, it would be to center field. “Yesterday, it was a situation where the leadoff hitter got on base and then went to center field.
“I also thought that one ball call can change the atmosphere of the game, so I thought I should point that out,” he said, referring to his dissatisfaction with the umpiring.
MBC Sports Plus broadcast screen capture
MBC Sports Plus broadcast screen capture
The referees are not unaware of their hard work, but they want them to make convincing decisions. “They have to judge about 300 balls,” Kang said. I admit that I can’t see all of them accurately,” he said, but added, “I don’t think the flow of the game should be changed by a single call.”
The KBO is a very competitive league, from the middle of the pack to the bottom of the leaderboard. That’s why they’re even more sensitive to refereeing decisions. SSG coach Kim Won-hyung raised his voice in protest of a check-swing call against Suwon KT the previous day (Feb. 2). The KBO deemed the behavior inappropriate and issued a warning.
Coach Kang Myung-hyun commented on the sensitive and delicate situation, saying, “In the midst of a fierce battle for the top spot, one ball can change the course of events, so everyone is bound to be sensitive.” / AP