Samsung Lions head coach Park Jin-man expressed his disappointment with the umpires’ decision to call the game a rainout the day before.
He said the referee’s decision cost the Lions a close victory and wasted the players’ physical strength and energy.
“Yesterday, the umpires didn’t resume the game because the rain had decreased (during the rain delay), but when they checked the rain cloud radar, they said it was going to rain a lot,” Park said ahead of the first game of the 2024 KBO doubleheader against KT WIZ at Katie Wiz Park in Suwon on the 30th. “Then why didn’t they check the radar before yesterday’s game? It was clearly forecast to rain a lot, so why did they make such a decision?” he said.
“This year, professional baseball is making various attempts to be fair, such as the automatic pitching judgment system (ABS),” he said, adding, “In terms of fairness, a clear decision regarding rainy weather conditions is necessary.”
Samsung led 7-1 with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning against visiting KT at the same venue the day before.
The rain, which had started to fall at the start of the game, suddenly became heavier, and the umpires called off the game.
The rain then began to lighten, and the umpires went out to the field to see if the game could be resumed.
However, the referees did not restart the game and declared a rain no-game as the rain became heavier.
Samsung blew a six-point lead. They also wasted their starting pitcher Baek Jung-hyun’s card.
The game was played as the first game of a doubleheader at 2 p.m. on the 30th, adding to the players’ physical and mental fatigue.
To make matters worse, their leadoff hitter Kim Young-woong was sidelined with an injury.
“Kim Young-woong’s pelvic pain has gotten worse,” said head coach Park Jin-man. “He went to the hospital today, but we haven’t received the readings and the medical staff’s opinion yet.”
“For now, he will not be able to play in today’s doubleheader,” he said.
The team will also not have a starting pitcher for the second game of the doubleheader.
Samsung called up right-handed pitcher Hwang Dong-jae from the second team. This will be Hwang’s first time pitching for the first team this season.
“Hwang Dong-jae has been pitching consistently in the second team recently,” said manager Park Jin-man. “It won’t be easy, but I hope he can hold up well.” 토토사이트