I also threw well at Nolin and Panoni…”
KIA 슬롯사이트coach Kim Jong-guk believes that the skills of the two foreign pitchers who spent the last season together last year did not decline. Both players did their best and threw well. In fact, frequent injuries and poor inning digestibility left regret, but Sean Nolin’s average ERA in 21 games last year was excellent at 2.47. Thomas Panoni, who came in midway through the season, also recorded an ERA (2.72) in the 2-point range in 14 games. All of them were good enough to consider renewing the contract.
However, KIA’s judgment was different. At a meeting after the season, it was decided to replace both of them. It was a risk of giving up some proven players. Thus, new pitchers, Shawn Anderson and Adonis Medina, took their place on the team’s roster.
The performance of the two players who threw last year was not bad, so there is always no choice but to compare. It’s fortunate if you do well, but if you don’t, criticism is expected to be strong. It is said that you have to do well to see it. It is also a burden for the club.
Nevertheless, KIA took such a risk because it was inevitable to go higher. KIA, which achieved the team’s biggest goal of returning to the postseason last year, is aiming for more results this year. Considering the age of key players such as Yang Hyeon-jong, Choi Hyung-woo, and Na Seong-beom, some tangible results are needed within 1-2 years. In order to do that, I thought that a powerful one-two punch was needed to push the water from behind.
Manager Kim said, “What I want from foreign players is a strong one-two punch. They must have a clear advantage.” After opening his mouth, “I threw Nolin and Panoni well, but in a big game, especially in the postseason, the style is easy to be attacked by the opposing team. I saw it. That’s why I asked for a new pitcher.”
Fortunately, the front desk has found players who fit coach Kim’s requirements. Both players throw powerful fastballs exceeding 150 km/h. It is the type that can press the opponent with a ball position. I followed the trend of the KBO league these days. Satisfied so far Coach Kim said, “He has stable control and certain pitches. If he adapts well to Korean hitters, I see him as a player who can handle 150 to 160 innings each assuming there are no big variables.”
The scenario that director Kim sees as the ideal endgame is the Casey Kelly-Adam Plutko combination that achieved LG’s one-two punch last year. Both players had pitches and control, and had the ability to digest innings. Coach Kim said, “LG’s two foreign pitchers threw about 160 innings,” and expected that much innings.
Kelly pitched 166⅓ innings last year and Plutko pitched 162 innings. Although he did not rank at the top of the innings ranking, he had a sense of stability and showed steady pitching without major ups and downs in every game. He also had a pitch that could be entrusted with a big game. If Anderson and Medina show such an appearance, KIA, whose native starters are above the league average, can draw the entire scenario of 144 games with great margin on the mound. Whether it can live up to expectations determines a lot of KIA this year.