The 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) Lee Gang-cheol-ho, heading for the quarterfinals, set off. In Arizona, which is famous for its warm winter weather, the first training was completed in an abnormal climate where it even snowed.먹튀검증

Now, the gaze naturally shifts to the match against Australia, which will be faced in the first leg of the first round on March 9th. Although we cannot relax until the last match against the Czech Republic and China, if we beat Australia in the first match, we will have an advantage in advancing to the quarterfinals. In particular, we need to win the game against Australia so that we can face the game against Japan, which we will face in the second game, with a lot of time.

In terms of overall strength, Korea is evaluated to be one step ahead of Australia, but coach Lee Kang-chul is not lowering his guard against Australia at all.

Manager Lee Kang-cheol said, “Australia is in good condition as the Australian league ended on February 5. It is an advantage for Australia and a weakness for us. Australia also added four left-handers. It is a selection that is conscious of our left-handed hitter. Whitefield, the center fielder. He emphasized thorough preparation, saying, “As we think of the game against Australia, Australia sees us that way as well.”

Will he be able to start the match against Australia?

Coach Lee Kang-cheol had already declared the destruction of pitching staff positions when forming the national team. He also revealed his intention to use veterans Kim Gwang-hyun and Yang Hyeon-jong as a bullpen at a crucial moment.

He is also said to have asked Lee Yong-chan, “Is it possible to be selected against Australia?” Considering the position destruction of the pitching staff and Lee Yong-chan, who is excellent at inducing ground balls, he can be promoted as a sufficient starting pitcher. However, considering that 10 out of 15 pitchers in the national team are starting pitchers, it is inevitable that Lee Yong-chan, who was only in charge of the finisher in the team, was offered to start the first game. It could be disinformation conscious of Australia.

Since then, coach Lee has been sparing about the selection for the game against Australia.

As is already well known, in this WBC, the pitcher’s pitch limit and forced rest are applied. The maximum number of balls a starting pitcher can throw in a round is only 65.

Therefore, the 1st and 2nd games have no choice but to go out as a pitcher battle. Considering this point, pitchers are likely to cut short with 1-2 innings. This means that if any pitcher feels the slightest sign of oddity, he could be replaced right away.

Judging from manager Lee Kang-cheol’s propensity to manage the pitching staff, it is highly likely that the starting pitcher for the game against Australia has already been selected. This is true even considering the fact that Wes Benjamin has already been announced as the starting pitcher for the opening game of the 2023 KBO League kt Wiz while leaving midway through team spring camp to lead the national team.

However, there are too many risks to appoint a new representative with the first Taegeuk mark as the most important mound selection for the first game.

Among the 15 pitching staff, the first national team members are Jung Woo-young, Kim Won-joong, Kwak Bin, Jeong Cheol-won, and Kim Yun-shik. Among them, Kwak Bin and Kim Yun-shik are starting agents, and the rest are in the bullpen.

And, following the most recent 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021), there are five pitchers, including Ko Young-pyo, Park Se-woong, Won Tae-in, Lee Eui-ri, and Ko Woo-seok, who were selected for the national team consecutively. Ko Woo-suk has been the only national representative for three consecutive times since the 2019 WBSC Premier 12. It is certain that Ko Woo-seok will be the finisher.

Koo Chang-mo, Sohn Joon-joon, Kim Yun-sik, and Lee Eui-ri are likely to be used as a card in preparation for the game against Japan. Koh Young-pyo, Won-tae, Gwak-bin and Jeong Cheol-won are highly likely to be selected as starters for the match against the Czech Republic and China.

Considering this point, considering the importance of the game against Australia, there is a possibility that a veteran pitcher will be the starting pitcher. The right person is Yang Hyeon-jong.

Director Lee Kang-cheol declared the destruction of pitchers’ positions, but Yang Hyeon-jong himself subtly indicated that “the bullpen is burdensome.” In fact, the last time Yang Hyeon-jong went to the bullpen in the regular league was against Doosan on April 9, 2013. In the postseason, it was only when he lifted the championship cup with his last save on October 30, the 5th game of the Korean Series against Doosan in 2017.