adminJapan wins WBC in 14 years
, competes with top ML players in skill Young players such as Ohtani show clear
growth
Korea, 3 consecutive WBC 1R elimination nightmares
Failed generation replacement, serious mental lac
The gap has widened too much to simply dismiss it as the appearance of only one Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels). Now, I feel sorry to even discuss the word gap.
Japan’s victory is something to be delighted with in terms of the development of Asian baseball, but it is like a whip that tells us that Korean baseball needs to change fundamentally.먹튀검증
Japan won the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) by defeating the United States, which had a team made up of luxurious members who all play in the American Professional Baseball Major League (MLB). On the 22nd (Korean time), Japan defeated the United States 3-2 in the final held at Rondipo Park in Miami, Florida, USA, and took the top spot in the WBC for the first time in 14 years.
Starting pitcher Shota Imana (Yokohama DeNA Baystars), Dogo, Hiroto Takahashi (Chunichi Dragons, 5 innings), Hiromi Ito (Nippon Ham Fighters, 6 innings), fifth sidearm Ota Daisei (Yomiuri), Darvish , Ohtani’s subsequent throws prevented the U.S.’s powerful batting line with 9 sporadic hits and 2 runs. Based on the baseball statistics site Baseball Reference, the total annual salary of the US team in 2023 is $ 211.29 million (about 276 billion won).
However, Japan did not lose at all in the power confrontation with the United States. When Turner (Philadelphia Phillies) hit a home run, Murakami Munetaka (Yakult Swallows) responded with a home run with a batting speed of 185 km/h. At the end of the 4th inning, Kazuma Okamoto (Yomiuri) hit a solo home run to left center. Now, Japanese baseball has grown to the point where it is not inferior to the top players in the major leagues in velocity and power. What’s even scarier is that most of these can come out intact at the next WBC. It is made up of a young team.
On the other hand, there was no generational change at all in Korea. No pitcher threw better than Kim Gwang-hyeon (SSG) in this WBC. The most painful thing is that the growth of young players is not satisfactory. Compared to players in their early 20s, such as Loki Sasaki and Hiroto Takahashi, who belong to Japan’s rookie class, they are devastating.
Eui-Ri Lee (KIA) and Yoon-Sik Kim (LG) received pity from the foreign press that players who could not throw strikes were selected for the national team. Other young players are also weak to use on the international stage where 160 km/h is common. Currently, there are only Korean pitchers who have a speed that can be passed by international standards, such as Ahn Woo-jin and Moon Dong-ju.
On top of that, Korea also lost to Japan in terms of its attitude toward baseball. In his pre-game speech, Ohtani encouraged the players by saying, “Let’s stop pitying for just one day today. We are here to surpass America.” Not only that. In an interview immediately after winning the championship, he said, “I hope that Taiwanese and Korean people will love baseball more. They can also win”, demonstrating the spirit of partnership.
However, Korea was directly hit by the Korean and Japanese media with Go Woo-seok’s careless remark, “If there is no place to throw at Ohtani, I will hit it.” Following Kang Baek-ho’s ceremony, which was highlighted by the media, Kim Hyun-soo’s remarks, “Seniors who have not been on the national team, speak carelessly of the national team,” are causing a crack within the baseball world.
Japan has significantly narrowed the gap with the United States. On the other hand, Korea is now losing to the Netherlands, Israel, and Australia in a row, and is eliminated from the WBC 1R 3 times in a row, and infighting is also taking place. It is not easy to use the expression “rival” now. At this rate, a nightmare time in which Korea will never be able to beat Japan in baseball may unfold.
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