KIA Tigers coach Kim Jong-guk. During his active service, he was known as the ‘military commander’, and after turning into a leader, he transformed into a virtue commander who emphasized communication. He focused on embracing the team with a mix of seriousness and wit. It was hard to find him showing any emotion.
However, he was different at Gocheok Sky Dome on the 15th스포츠토토. In the bottom of the third inning, they trailed Kiwoom Heroes by 1-5. When Kim Dong-heon, who was raised after the first death, walked out to the dune, coach Kim kicked off the bench and protested vehemently to referee Ham Ji-woong.
The situation was this. A 137km fastball thrown by starting pitcher Yoon Young-cheol headed for Kim Dong-heon’s left elbow and bounced after hitting the protector. A scene that can be judged by simple sand dunes. The referee declared a foul, but soon approached the first base referee and exchanged opinions. Kiwoom coach Hong Won-ki came out to the bench and watched the situation, and soon the second and third base referees approached and the decision was made by consensus. The result is sand dunes.
Then, coach Kim approached the referee and made an appeal by pointing his left elbow. It seemed as if Kim Dong-hun intentionally pushed his elbow toward the ball. Even on the slow screen of the TV broadcast, behind Kim Dong-heon’s sand dune, Yoon Young-chul touched his left elbow and made a gesture saying, “Isn’t it a step in?” Director Kim’s protest lasted for several minutes, but was not accepted in the end.
Soon after the innings ended, manager Kim approached the referees who were waiting near the first base dugout again. It was an appeal that did not last long, but it seemed to express regret by pointing out the scene of Kim Dong-heon’s sand dune again.
Two protests following an overturned decision at the end of the agreement. Was it all about complaints about the judgment?
The game on this day did not go in the direction KIA wanted. At the beginning of the first inning, KIA, who was silent in the chance to score with 1 out and 1st and 2nd base, was dragged away with 5 runs at the end of the 1st inning. The point at which Yoon Young-chul was able to regain stability at the end of the 2nd inning and KIA in the beginning of the 3rd inning was able to get the atmosphere back. In the midst of this, Yoon Young-cheol, who had barely found stability, could be shaken again in the ambiguous judgment. As the head of the team, the command tower needed something to break the flow. After sending Kim Dong-heon to the sand dunes, Yun Young-chul, who chose to breathe during the protest period of manager Kim, came down the mound without conceding while handling the follow-up batters well.
KIA has been walking on a thorny path since the beginning of the season, including Na Seong-beom’s injury and Kim Do-young’s injury and losing streak. We desperately need a rebound point that can revive the sluggish atmosphere. The intense protest, which was not seen after taking office, was a scene that made me think. What kind of message did he leave for the KIA players who finished the game that day?