Notice the correlation between bullpen performance and team ranking
Notice the correlation between bullpen performance and team ranking
Blog Article
After the end of the last season, the player transfer market was booming. It was bullpen pitchers who boosted the market more than expected. Jang Hyun-sik (30, Kia Tigers→ LG Twins) and Kim Kang-ryul (37, Doosan Bears→ LG) moved to the free agent team, while Kim Min (26, KT Wiz→ SSG Landers) and Jeong Cheol-won (26, Doosan→ Lotte Giants) changed their uniforms through a trade. Among the players who were released were Shim Chang-min (32, NC Dinos→ LG), Jang Pil-joon (37, Samsung Lions→ Kiwoom Heroes), and Choi Dong-hwan (36, LG→KT). Players who were on the verge of retirement also got the chance to renew their commitment.안전놀이터
About two weeks have passed since the opening of the KBO League this season. While the teams are engaged in fierce competition for early rankings, the joys and sorrows of each team are mixed depending on the performance of bullpen pitchers. The KIA Tigers, who are considered the defending champion and the "absolute first place," are struggling due to the unstable bullpen. Doosan, which had the highest ERA in the bullpen last season (4.54), seems to be slowing down a bit, perhaps due to the absence of Kim Kang-ryul and Jeong Cheol-won. On the other hand, SSG and LG, whose bullpen ERA was in the middle and lower ranks, have been upgraded to the point where they compete for the first and second places in this category. As the newly recruited bullpen pitchers made a soft landing throughout the winter, the depth itself changed significantly.
Traditionally, starting pitchers are valued higher than bullpen pitchers. Each club also chooses the starting pitcher's position first and then deploys a bullpen pitcher. That's why starting pitchers are paid more than bullpen pitchers in the FA market. However, the value of bullpen pitchers has soared as the league's batting and pitching phenomenon has intensified in recent years. The importance of bullpen pitchers has also increased as the gap between scores in the second half of games is often reversed. This is why bullpen pitchers' contract conditions improved significantly in the FA market last winter. Jang Hyun-sik, who signed a four-year, total free agent contract with LG for 5.2 billion won, signed an unprecedented condition in which he is guaranteed the full amount without a separate performance option.
Demand for bullpen sessions will continue throughout the season. Unexpected variables such as injuries, poor conditioning, and minimal change of generation are popping up everywhere. Compared to starting pitchers, bullpen pitchers often instantly recruit rookie players with "fast ball" compared to starting pitchers. As such, the time to adapt to the first team may be relatively shorter than other positions. Kim Taek-yeon (Doosan Hyundai), who won the Rookie of the Year award last year, is also a similar case. However, there are not many notable successful cases. Hence, the possibility of "external blood transfusion" during this season is constantly being discussed. Right-handed pitcher Moon Sung-hyun (former Kiwoom Heroes), who is not currently signed as an FA, and left-handed pitcher Ko Hyo-joon (former SSG), who is currently seeking a new team, can be a new alternative. A similar case is the case of Lee Yong-chan (NC), who signed a contract to be late for free agency in May 2021.
What the teams that have recently entered the fall baseball league in the KBO League have in common is a "strong bullpen." In the end, stabilizing the bullpen is essential for performance. This proposition applies to the beginning of this season as well. It is very important that a player in a slump recovers his condition and when an injured player returns. It is necessary to pay attention to the correlation between the bullpen performance of each club and the team ranking.