"It's entirely my fault." From third place last year to ninth this year... Where did the manager in crisis at the bottom of the standings find the cause?

*This content was translated by AI.

It is hard to believe that a team which finished third last year has plummeted so far. SSG Landers, now in last place after just one season, saw manager Lee Seung-yong (55) immediately blame himself.

On the 21st, SSG lost 2-6 to Lotte Giants in a regular-season away game at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium during the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League season.

They were outmatched in starting pitcher battles. SSG's Takeda Shota pitched 5⅔ innings, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out three, giving up three earned runs to finish with eight losses (one win) on the season. This stood in sharp contrast to Lotte's Jeremy Wisely, who held strong for six innings, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out seven and surrendering only one run. It was difficult to blame Takeda alone. Until the fifth inning, SSG had scoring opportunities — including a runner on third with one out in the top of the first, and runners on first and third with two outs in the top of the third — but repeatedly failed to score. They managed to take an early lead in the top of the sixth, only to immediately allow a big inning by Lotte in the following frame and lose the lead.

It is unbelievable how far they have fallen. Last year, SSG finished third in the regular season with a solid bullpen leading the way. What exactly went wrong? In an interview with reporters before the game, manager Lee Seung-yong said, "The poor results are entirely my fault. I thought that after many training sessions through spring camp this year, our players would be able to go into this season even more firmly, but real baseball is not easy. Once again, I find myself reflecting on myself."

He expressed the greatest regret over the lack of effective starting pitching. Manager Lee Seung-yong explained, "I felt strongly about the importance of starting pitchers. Last season, we also relied heavily on our bullpen. Looking at our current baseball, if we can't hold on through the third or fourth inning, we start giving up runs. In that case, it becomes difficult for fielders to maintain momentum." He added, "When leading, relievers should be able to pitch comfortably, but they seem to feel pressure. Once again, I realized that baseball is really a game of pitchers."

Last year, we recognized the need for starting pitchers and began preparing from the closing camp onward. However, everything fell apart starting with Kim Kwang-hyun (38) leaving due to a shoulder injury during spring camp, followed by continued failures among foreign pitchers. Anthony Veniziano went 2-5 in 16 games with an ERA of 6.10, and Mitch White went 1-1 in six games with an ERA of 4.11 before being released after struggling.

The replacement resources were even worse. Hiramoto Kengo went winless in four games with three losses and an ERA of 9.56, while Thomas Hatch went 1-4 in six games with an ERA of 7.62, failing to provide support. As a bonus, Takeda Shota, who had drawn attention for his impressive resume as the Asian quota pitcher, also struggled with a record of 1-8 in 16 games and an ERA of 7.22.

Manager Lee Seung-yong said, "I expected prepared players like Yoon Tae-hyun and Jo Yo-han to step up to some extent. When Kim Kwang-hyun was sick during spring camp, we considered rookie Kim Min-jun as an alternative, but he also got sick and joined late. Additionally, foreign players were supposed to fulfill their roles, but things did not go as planned. Next year, we plan to prepare for up to eight starting pitchers."

Meanwhile, the prospect of autumn baseball is gradually fading. SSG, now in ninth place after a four-game losing streak, stands at 32 wins, three draws, and 36 losses, maintaining a one-game lead over last-place Kiwoom Heroes (32 wins, two draws, 58 losses). Manager Lee Seung-yong stated, "Although the season is not yet over, we will do our best. We will continue to give opportunities to existing young players while considering various options. After the season ends, we plan to meet with the front office and coaching staff to set a direction in advance. We will prepare to perform even better."

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*This content was translated by AI.