Commissioner Lee Taek-geun, please praise the '4 wins, 2 losses' record that saved them from last place, not just criticize Kiwoom!

*This content was translated by AI.

Before the lingering impact of Kiwoom Heroes' 'legend' and former national team outfielder Lee Taek-geun (46), now a commentator, had faded after he unleashed a sharp, direct critique at his former team, the Kiwoom squad visibly staged a comeback. Amid accusations that they had shattered the worst-ever batting statistics and disrupted pitcher roles, Kiwoom's weekly '4 wins, 2 losses' record served as a fierce, on-the-ground proof that the team had turned the legend's dagger into nourishment for growth.

Earlier, on the 8th, the commissioner had delved deeply into Kiwoom's detailed metrics for the week, which ended with only 2 wins and 4 losses, via his YouTube channel 'Taek-geun Vlog'. The current state of the Heroes, as diagnosed by the commissioner, was nothing short of 'collapse'. At the time, Kiwoom's team batting average (0.231) and team OPS (0.637) were not only the worst since the franchise's inception but also the lowest levels in KBO history, while the team's WAR (-0.89) had hit rock bottom, a level rarely seen in league history, he pointed out in detail.

The criticism regarding mound operations was even higher. Regarding the pitch count buildup process for ace An Woo-jin, he strongly remarked, "The first division is a battlefield where you must win unconditionally; it is not a place to manage specific players' bodies," calling it "the world's first bizarre operation." In this process, he fiercely criticized how Bae Dong-hyun was harmed, the deployment method of closer Yuto, the position changes of Ha Young-min and Park Jung-hoon, and the operation of putting inexperienced 'rookie pitchers' Kim Seo-jun and Park Ji-sung under immense pressure, causing them only damage. It was a sharp diagnosis befitting a legend from his playing days.

No one is unaware of the commissioner's sincerity and affection, as he thinks about the Heroes 24 hours a day while watching a team that has remained in the bottom tier for three consecutive years. As he said, even intentional tanking without a clear strategy is nothing but pain for fans.

However, from the perspective of those who break and collide with each other on the field every day and sweat, the story is slightly different. Currently, manager Seol Jong-jin (53) and the Kiwoom bench are navigating the season while simultaneously facing the task of escaping last place with limited player resources. Furthermore, player Lee Yong-gyu (41), the playing hitting coach, was dismissed from the team following a drunk driving collision accident.

Centered on veteran Seo Geon-chang, Choi Ju-hwan and others are continuing a tearful struggle, not necessarily at their peak destructive power, but taking on the role of a sturdy pillar and leader for their juniors in the middle of the lineup and infield. Additionally, players such as Lee Hyung-jong, Ahn Chi-hong, and Im Byung-wook are accelerating their recovery after being removed due to heartbreaking injuries.

And Kiwoom dramatically overturned last week's harsh criticism, achieving a valuable turnaround with a weekly record of '4 wins, 2 losses (winning percentage 0.667)'. In particular, they swept all three home games against Hanwha Eagles, pushing Lotte Giants to last place and successfully escaping the bottom spot. It is not perfect, but the anguish of the field, trying to fit the gears together, is beginning to shine through. Especially during this period, the team's earned run average was 3.00, ranking second among the 10th clubs.

Given the excellent record of '4 wins, 2 losses', everyone was waiting for Commissioner Lee Taek-geun's review video more than anyone else. However, even on the 15th, when there was no baseball, the content was not uploaded, and as of now, ahead of the game on the 16th, there has been no upload.

Criticism is certainly medicine. Anyone can offer advice. But sometimes, a warm encouragement and a small compliment can be the most powerful catalyst to reverse a depressed team atmosphere. What the young stars of Kiwoom and the veterans struggling to hold on need right now may not be the harsh scolding of a scary senior, but the refreshing encouragement of a legend who applauds the victory they created by stubbornly enduring.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Lee Taek-geun is a symbolic legend of the Heroes, who played professionally from the 2003 season to the 2020 season, appearing in 1,651 career games with a batting average of 0.302 (5,361 at-bats, 1,621 hits), 136 home runs, and 773 RBIs. In his final playing season, the 2020 season, he experienced the pain of being released in November 2020 after a conflict with the Kiwoom franchise, but he held a meaningful retirement ceremony without spectators, hosted by then-junior players including Lee Jung-hoo (28, San Francisco Giants). Since 2024, he has been actively continuing his baseball commentary activities on the field.

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*This content was translated by AI.