'The number of defeats is the same as that of NC in 11 consecutive losses' Shocking August 9th place in the winning rate, will it disappear as it is in the 5th round

Aug 29, 2024

SSG 선수단. Sports Chosun DB

The only team that lost 11 consecutive games is the NC Dinos, who lost compared to SSG Landers in August. Will the dream of the 5th round disappear like this.

SSG is rarely on an upward trajectory. SSG first lost two of its three away games against the KIA Tigers in Gwangju during the week. SSG, which was completely defeated 4-10 in the match on the 27th, also lost 6-7 in the match on the 28th. The final score was one point away, but in fact, it was a game that SSG never led.

He seemed to be dragged by Kim Do-young for a two-run home run from the first inning, and made it 3-3 in the top of the fourth inning, but he lost four consecutive innings until the fourth and seventh innings. If Ha Jae-hoon's three-run home run hadn't hit in the top of the ninth inning, he would have been completely defeated by four runs.

It is quite a shock to KIA, which was ahead of the opponent, to record the losing series. This season, SSG was particularly strong against No. 1 KIA. Prior to this series, he was strong with 8 wins and 4 losses. KIA manager Lee Bum-ho also said, `SSG hitters are particularly good at our pitchers. I think the timing is good enough, he said, making his opponent nervous.

However, this time, even this opponent's record doesn't work. KIA continued to win consecutive games by showing persistent concentration even though James Nail suffered an unexpected jaw fracture, while SSG lost consecutive games.

Director Lee Sung-yong (right). Sports Chosun DB

It is a losing-win-loss pattern that has been going on since mid-August. The start was a sweep loss against the Hanwha Eagles. As Hanwha lost three consecutive sweeps at home in Incheon on the 16th and 18th, the impact of the shock has hardly disappeared. Starting with the sweep loss against Hanwha, he lost four consecutive games. And after breaking the losing streak, he lost three games in a row again. After losing back-to-back games again, he lost again for two consecutive games. It is a pattern in which consecutive losses are repeated without consecutive wins.

Of course, I kept encountering tricky opponents. I met Hanwha, LG, and KT in order. These are the opponents that SSG has been struggling with this season. It is also true that the overall atmosphere is down, with only two wins and seven losses in nine important games.

In the meantime, the monthly win rate has also fallen disastrously. SSG ranked third with 14 wins and 12 losses (0.538) in June, and third with 10 wins and 8 losses (0.556) in July. However, in August, the winning rate is only 0.304 with 7 wins and 16 losses. It is ninth out of the 10 clubs. The only team with a worse winning percentage than SSG in August is the NC Dinos, who lost 11 consecutive games this month. NC has a 20% win rate in August with 4 wins and 16 losses, and SSG has three more wins, but the number of losses is the same.

The match between the Hanwha Eagles and the SSG Landers at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on the 15th. The winning SSG players are delighted. Daejeon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.06.15/

It's a part where you have a lot of worries. SSG has overcome 'NC Phobia' to some extent with two wins in two games in Changwon. Manager Lee Sung-yong was also optimistic that if he secured more than winning in the series against NC, the players would be more confident.

However, with the consequential disappointment of the starter/bulpen's offbeat and the timing of the pitcher's replacement continuously, the Jihoon Choi of 'leadoff' is out due to a thigh injury, and captain Choo Shin-soo is also in poor shoulder condition, so he cannot play fully. As the bad news continues, the shoulders of players who are currently participating as starting members are getting heavier, and the game of losing in close games is repeated. SSG has a worse performance in the second half than at the beginning of the season.

The last hope is that SSG has been particularly strong in the fall. SSG also finished the regular season in third place in the final ranking from the brink of elimination from the semifinals last September. This year, it is a variable to start the remaining game schedule from the 30th earlier than usual, but the hope of autumn baseball remains within range.

youll@sportschosun.com