The atmosphere where a lot has been lost due to the loss of one match. Now we meet the ‘old enemy’ Japan. Ahead of the Korea-Japan match, it is necessary to raise the atmosphere again.
The Korean baseball team, led by coach Lee Kang-cheol, lost 7-8 in the World 스포츠토토 Baseball Classic (WBC) Australia match held at the Tokyo Dome in Japan on the 9th. I don’t think I can say that there is no shock. In terms of objective power and organization, Korea seemed to have the upper hand, but in the actual game, it was not. Australian hitters made full use of their power, and Korea’s bullpen collapsed. Korean batters, who were ahead in sophistication, played a chased game from the beginning as they failed to target the opponent, and this trend continued throughout. Australia was more advanced in detailed play. a sobering reality.
But now I’ve played one game. As the national team put all their energy into the match against Australia, which will be destined to advance to the quarterfinals, the defeat is more bitter, but if you are a national team member with the national flag on your uniform, you must regain your composure right away and do your best until the final game. There are still many games left, and the very next day, on the night of the 9th, the Korea-Japan match will be held.
In terms of power, Japan has the upper hand. I have to admit. Japan’s national team was packed with full power enough to be evaluated as ‘the best ever’. Seiya Suzuki finally dropped out due to injury, but the world’s best baseball players are lined up. In addition to Shohei Otani and Yu Darvish, the pitching staff includes Loki Sasaki, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Shosei Dogo, the national team’s ace-class starting pitchers, not one, but more than five. There are only three closers who recorded 30 or more saves in NPB, and Atsuki Yuasa, who recorded 43 holds, also follows.
The batting line is also gorgeous. Ohtani, who doubles as a pitcher in this tournament, is also active in the center of the batting line, and Munetaka Murakami, who set a Japanese home run record last year, supports Ohtani. In addition to Yamakawa Hotaka, the hitter with 41 home runs, there are many other hitters who have hit 20 to 40 home runs. That’s also in the NPB of Togotazer.
However, in baseball, the outcome cannot be guaranteed. Japan also struggled harder than expected in the match against China held the day before. I thought that the difference in power was the difference between heaven and earth, but when I actually played the game, China did its best with defense, and Japan also played a frustrating game until the score broke in the second half of the game. Even Ohtani can’t hit a home run in every at-bat.
The results of the previous Korea-Japan match speak for themselves. In a situation where they lost to Australia, the pressure on the national team ahead of an important match must be more than expected. You may be afraid of the criticism and criticism you will receive when you fail, but more than anything, the players themselves will feel a sense of shame.
However, even if the Korean baseball team loses against Japan in the past, it has rarely lost easily. It has rarely been superior in power. Something invisible has a bigger effect. This is why the national team players, who will stand in front of the time of the decisive match today, must wash away their frustration and go to the ground with confidence.