Kim Sang-soo (36, Lotte Giants), a veteran pitcher who has been playing catch with his teammates since New Year’s Day, said, “I was thinking about the team even during break time. He never hesitated to criticize for the team.
Kim Sang-soo told Star News at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 2nd, “The coach has changed, but the team must change first,” adding, “We have Lotte’s own culture, but if we push for that culture, we will continue to be seventh and eighth.”
The current players are inactive (from December to January), but Kim Sang-soo, pitchers Shin Jung-rak (37) and Hyun Do-hoon (31) played catch balls at Sajik Baseball Stadium. “I think baseball stadiums are the most comfortable. I went to the center and played in the stadium, so exercising there helps a lot,” Kim said.
When asked about his off-season status, Kim Sang-soo replied, “I had some regrets while resting.” “Now, I’m thinking, ‘What kind of senior team should I become? What kind of senior baseball player should I become and what kind of pitcher should I become?”
Looking back on the previous season, Kim Sang-soo said, “Individual performances may have some meaning, but I am deeply saddened that the team’s performance has not come out well.” As he said, Lotte enjoyed a rollercoaster-like season last year. It garnered high expectations by bringing in three FA players from the Stove League, including catcher Yoo Kang-nam (32), shortstop Noh Jin-hyuk (35), and pitcher Han Hyun-hee (31), and became the leader by winning nine consecutive games at one point in late April.
However, Lotte started to fall as it continued its luge series for six consecutive months in June alone. Lotte ended the season with a loss of 50 percent in late August when even manager Larry Sutton (54) withdrew due to health problems. “I don’t want to make that mistake twice,” Kim Sang-soo, who recalled the season, said firmly.
What will it take to achieve that? “I think that a strong team should be a team that is stable and naturally increases wins, rather than a team that is in good spirits,” Kim said. “I think we need to talk to each other about how to overcome the ups and downs of winning consecutive games and losing consecutive games in the second half of the year.”
Lotte has fully prepared for this season by recruiting Kim Tae-hyung, 57, former coach of the Doosan Bears who won three times in the Korean Series. Kim Sang-soo, who joked that he is a senior at school (Shinil High School), said, “Of course the coach has changed, but the team must change first.” What does this mean.
Kim Sang-soo said, “I think the team should solve why I’ve been so bad so far and why I’ve been so depressed.” To this end, he said, “We have to change everything the team has done so far,” as he talks a lot with new captain Jeon Joon-woo (38). “Of course, Lotte has its own culture, but if you push with that culture, you will continue to rank 7th and 8th,” he said. “There should be a systematic system to win, the players’ teamwork, and motivation to win.”
Of course, it is not easy to change a team’s culture in a short period of time. “It takes three to four years, or up to five years at most,” Kim said, acknowledging this. Referring to veteran players including Kim Hyun-soo (LG), Son Ah-seop (NC), Choo Shin-soo (SSG), and Park Kyung-soo (KT), Kim said, “If good leaders take direction and goals, that team will definitely improve.”
Kim Sang-soo is a player with strong leadership, which is rare for a pitcher to serve as the team’s captain (2019-2020), when he was playing for Kiwoom. However, he says he rarely gives advice. “A person just needs to experience it. No matter how much advice you give, it’s meaningless,” Kim said. “Do what you want and experience it.”
“You also have to experience what you can’t do in baseball. You have to feel the difference between when you do well and how you are treated when you don’t,” he said. “I think those experiences accumulate and come up little by little as you strengthen your inner self.” Kim Sang-soo added, “Young players have to go through pain and struggle to become a strong team after three to four years.”
He still had one season in his team, but he is thinking about Lotte’s future because he has become integrated into the team. “I only had one year, but I got attached to him while talking to my juniors a lot. I also want to end the last one here. It’s good that I’m good, but I feel good when the team does well,” Kim said.
BY: 메이저사이트