Seoul: With his team stuck in last place in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) heading into Friday's action, Kiwoom Heroes manager Hong Won-ki doesn't think he can really afford to worry about what other teams are doing. That is also the case Friday, when the Heroes (13-27 win-loss record) host the Hanwha Eagles (24-13), who have soared to first place on the strength of a nine-game winning streak. It's their longest such run in 20 years.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Hong stated, "I don't really have time to pay attention to other teams. The important thing is to stick to our game plans," during a pregame scrum at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. "It doesn't matter who our opponent is. We have to focus on executing our plans. I know the Eagles have been playing well, but we will also try to build on our victory Wednesday as a turning point."
Hong was referring to the Heroes' dramatic 11-10 win over the defending champions Kia Tigers at the dome two days earlier. The Heroes trailed 10-3 after allowing five runs in the top of the eighth inning, but stormed back to score eight runs in the bottom eighth, highlighted by Kim Tae-jin's grand slam and Choi Joo-hwan's three-run double. "Over my baseball life, I have not seen too many games quite like it," the 51-year-old manager said. "It reminded me once again that it's never over until it's over in baseball."
Also for Friday's game, the Heroes called up outfielder Lee Ju-hyoung from the Futures League, the KBO's minor league. The promising youngster spent the past couple of weeks in the Futures after batting just .237 with two homers in his first 26 games in the KBO. He appeared in three Futures League games and batted 5-for-8 with four RBIs. "He said he has better timing at the plate than before, and we need all the help we can get in our lineup," said Hong, whose team ranked ninth among 10 teams with a .237 batting average entering Friday. "He is someone who should be carrying a big load in the middle of our lineup."