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| The Hanwha Eagles held spring camp training at Onnason Akama Stadium in Okinawa, Japan, on the 21st. Lee Tae-yang and Ryu Hyun-jin are warming up. Okinawa (Japan) = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2025.02.21/ |
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Is it Okinawa's curse.
Two years ago, an abnormal climate hit Arizona in the United States. Phoenix and Tucson, which are usually visited by Korean professional baseball teams, were the perfect temperature for exercising more than 20 degrees Celsius in February, but they were unable to exercise properly due to the unusually snowy climate. Coach Lee Kang-chul, who had to lead the KT Wiz and the WBC national team at the same time, even set up a camp in Gijang, Busan last season. At that time, the WBC national team was eliminated in the group qualifying round, and many analysts said that it was largely due to the pitchers' inability to lift themselves up from the cold Tucson and spray the ball properly.
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| Kim Do-young is making a high five with head coach Lee Bum-ho after scoring a run during a practice game between KIA and Hiroshima at Kozakin Stadium in Okinawa, Japan, on the 22nd, and KIA Byun Woo-hyuk's first RBI double with two outs and second base in the top of the third inning. Okinawa (Japan) = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2025.02.22/ |
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As such, it is important to have about a month-and-a-half of off-season training. It's important enough to control a team's season of farming. In particular, teams seeking to be in the top ranks can have a big impact on their performance at the opening point if they fail to build themselves properly in spring camps, and if they fall down early in the season, they can challenge fall baseball, but competition for the championship can be difficult. KT showed a good example of that. We were sluggish in the early stages with each season 's slow starter' He hit hard in the second half, but it was difficult to win in the end. Due to the nature of the KBO League's postseason, the number one regular season is absolutely advantageous in the Korean Series.
But this time, there is a 'wailing sound' in Daron, not Arizona.It is Okinawa, Japan, which can be said to be the "spring camp" of KBO league teams. So many teams set up a second spring camp in Okinawa. This year alone, the defending champion KIA Tigers, as well as the Samsung Lions, LG Twins, KT Wiz, SSG Landers and Hanwha Eagles entered Okinawa for practical training.
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| The Samsung Lions' spring camp training was held at Onnason Akama Stadium in Okinawa, Japan, on the 21st. Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon is greeting head coach Jung Dae-hyun. Okinawa (Japan) = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2025.02.21/ |
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Okinawa has the advantage of having a very good environment at the ballpark in February and March when it is not cold, and the food also suits the taste of the team. Also, life is comfortable because I come here so often. Another huge advantage is that you can play practice games with Japanese professional baseball teams.
But the weather is unusual this year. The daytime high is in the mid-10s, let alone in the 20s. Even ordinary people have to wear thin padded jumpers. It rains here too often and it's windy. It is not the weather for players who have improved their condition to the fullest in the warm United States and Australia to train and play games. Cancellation schedules such as practice games, live batting and pitching are coming out. It is too frustrating for managers who want to play one more game to check their players' condition and skills. The temperature is not expected to rise until the second half of this week, but until then, it is cold and cloudy.
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| A game between the Lotte Giants and the Seibu Lions at Nango Stadium in Miyazaki, Japan, on the 23rd. Lotte players, who lost to Seibu 6-5, are leaving the stadium. Miyazaki(Japan) = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.02.23/ |
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Even if it doesn't rain and plays, I'm worried about injury. A sudden force in the cold weather is very likely to result in a muscle injury. If the main player gets hurt ahead of the opening, it will be too much of a loss.
Not only Okinawa, but also the Miyazaki area of Japan, where Doosan Bears and Lotte Giants set up camp, is also cold. Doosan dispatched a second-tier squad to Miyakojima, a small island south of Okinawa, but it was raining so much on the 23rd that it only trained indoors.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
