Following Kiwoom Hong Won-ki, manager of Kiwoom, who was angry at the schedule for the first ever Gocheok Dome doubleheader, Hanwha coach Choi Won-ho also expressed doubts.
Voices of dissatisfaction continue on the field over the schedule for the remainder of the regular season announced by the KBO on the 29th. As the game schedule was pushed back due to more rain cancellations than in any other year, the formation of a double header was inevitable, but controversy is brewing over the unfavorable schedule for some teams. 안전놀이터
On the 29th, when the remaining game schedule was announced, Kiwoom coach Hong Won-ki said, “It is an unreasonable schedule. There was a reserve day behind me, so I dared to put in a double header with that day in mind. It’s hard to understand,” he said, expressing dissatisfaction with the formation of a double header with Hanwha caught at Gocheok Dome on the 9th of next month.
It is the first time in 8 years since the opening in 2016 that a double header is held at Gocheok Dome, which is not canceled due to rain. As the two-game match was abolished from this year, one unscheduled match between Hanwha and Kiwoom was added to the existing match on the 9th and organized as a double header.
Kiwoom, who uses Gocheok Dome as their home, played 120 games, the most in the league. He played 16 more games than the least played KIA (104 games). Even when other teams were resting due to rain, the game was played without a break, but even the rest of the game schedule was to digest 7 games in 6 days.
The problem is that the Hanwha-Kiwoom match on this day has a total of 4 reserve days on September 11th, 13th and 14th, and 30th. There is room in the schedule for not having to play a double header, but the KBO organized it this way for reasons of fairness with other clubs. Kiwoom is the only one among 10 teams with the least number of double headers.
The opposing team Hanwha, who was caught in a double header with Kiwoom, was also puzzled. On the 30th, Hanwha coach Choi Won-ho said, “I can’t help it if there is no reserve day, but both teams have empty days, so I wonder if we have to play a double header.” ” he questioned. Of course, there is a possibility that Gocheok Sky Dome will be canceled due to natural disasters, but that has not happened for 8 years. It is also difficult to understand that the dome stadium has no chance of being canceled in case of rain and has set aside 4 days or a reserve day.
Coach Choi said, “(Until September 12th against Doosan in Jamsil) we cannot play 8 games in a row, so even if we say we can’t play on Monday (September 11th), we do not have games on Wednesday and Thursday (September 12-13). I think we can do it on Wednesday, but I don’t understand why the double header was included.”
Voices of dissatisfaction continue, but the already announced schedule is unlikely to change. Hanwha also needs to prepare for 7 games on the 6th, including the double header next week. As Moon Dong-ju ended the season early due to restrictions on innings and preparations for the Hangzhou Asian Games after the game against LG in Jamsil on September 2nd, a replacement starting pitcher is needed.
Director Choi said, “The Futures side says Kim Ki-joong is the best. There is Nam Ji-min in the first team, but in the last game (5 runs in ⅔ innings against KIA in Gwangju on the 26th), he couldn’t even throw one inning. I guess I need to look a bit more. As there is a double header, Jang Min-jae (in Futures) is also preparing. We are trying to raise pitchers who can be used as long.”