Lotte Giants Manager Blames Skill for Offensive Woes After Heat Break

Lotte Giants manager Kim Tae-hyung is grappling with his team's recent offensive slump, which has seen them score a meager four runs over two games since returning from a heat-induced break. Kim bluntly stated that the team's struggles are a matter of "skill" rather than an excuse for poor performance after the hiatus, emphasizing that all teams faced similar conditions.

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Aren't all the other teams the same? Ultimately, it's about skill.

Since the break, the Giants have lost two consecutive games, with their bats falling silent. On July 11, they managed only four runs on six hits and two walks against a strong opposing pitcher. The following day, they were largely shut down by SSG Landers rookie pitcher Kim Min-jun, managing just four hits and a single run. Kim expressed disappointment, particularly with the team's inability to capitalize on opportunities against the young pitcher.

"If a pitcher throws a lot of breaking balls, you have to adjust and hit them. Even if one player sacrifices themselves with a strikeout, you have to aim for one breaking ball and hit it somehow, but that's not happening," Kim lamented, highlighting the need for veteran players to step up and deliver in crucial moments.

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On the first day, the opposing pitcher (Pedro Ávila) was just too good. Yesterday, they couldn't hit rookie Kim Min-jun's pitches well.

The offensive struggles are compounded by the simultaneous underperformance of key hitters, including import Victor Reyes and Hwang Sung-bin. "When Reyes and Hwang aren't hitting well, the whole team's performance declines," Kim observed. He added that other players like Ko Seung-min and Han Dong-hee are also not hitting the ball with authority, describing their contact as more of a "swinging at the ball" rather than a solid connection.

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If a pitcher throws a lot of breaking balls, you have to adjust and hit them. Even if one player sacrifices themselves with a strikeout, you have to aim for one breaking ball and hit it somehow, but that's not happening.

Amidst the offensive woes, there was a glimmer of hope with the emergence of rookie pitcher Kim Han-gyeol. Thrust into the starting rotation due to an injury to Na Gyun-an, Kim delivered a surprisingly strong performance in his debut, pitching 4⅓ innings and allowing only four runs. Manager Kim was impressed, stating, "He pitched better than I expected. He has the qualities of a starting pitcher. I think he will secure a spot [in the rotation]." The manager confirmed that Kim Han-gyeol is scheduled to start again in the team's next turn.

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When Reyes and (Hwang) Sung-bin aren't hitting well, the whole team's performance declines. Ko Seung-min and Han Dong-hee are also not doing particularly well. Even if they get a hit, it feels like they're just swinging at the ball, not hitting it solidly.