Rodriguez refuses to be pulled off the mound → Kim Tae-hyung: "There was no need to force it; if he were at third base, we would have left him in."

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Tae-hyung (59), manager of the Lotte Giants, directly addressed the controversy surrounding foreign starting pitcher Alvin Rodriguez (28) refusing to be pulled off the mound that erupted on the previous day (16th). The explanation was that it was an act of consideration to avoid increasing his pitch count.

Manager Kim Tae-hyung reflected on the situation during a meeting with reporters ahead of the Samsung Lions game at DaeguSamsung Lions Park on the 17th, stating, "He said he wanted to keep pitching, but there was no need for that." At the time, his pitch count had already reached nearly 100 (99 pitches), so the bench proactively protected him in preparation for his upcoming appearance.

Manager Kim Tae-hyung added, "He showed ambition to pitch until the end, but in reality, there was no need for that. Isn't he a pitcher who will have to throw again? If he fails to cleanly retire the final batter and the inning extends, his pitch count could easily exceed 110. From a manager's perspective who must consider his next appearance, it is natural to pull him off."

In professional baseball, it is common for a pitcher coach to approach the mound to check a player's condition and coordinate whether a substitution should be made. Manager Kim Tae-hyung explained, "In tied or tight situations, they sometimes don't even ask and just let them continue. However, in situations like yesterday where there was a score difference, the pitcher coach may approach to ask for their opinion. If there had been a runner on third base, we would have left him in, but since it was first base, continuing could have led to further fatigue." He further clarified that the situation was not about discipline or conflict, but rather a normal communication process.

Moreover, since Lotte was trailing 1-3 in the bottom of the 6th inning with two outs and a runner on first base, there was also an explanation that another pitcher was kept ready to take over. Ultimately, Lee Min-seok finished the bottom of the 6th. This controversy, which had spread through sensational frames such as commentator Park Jae-hong's speculation about "options," was revealed to be the bench's consideration for managing the stamina of the foreign ace ahead of his Sunday appearance, and it has now been settled as a simple incident.

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*This content was translated by AI.