'Won Tae-in back as a starter? Koo Ja-wook in the field?' Park Jin-man's Samsung Lions weigh their options ahead of a road trip to Suwon

[Financial News] After a grueling, nail-biting Game 5, the Samsung Lions, led by manager Park Jin-man, have clinched a ticket to the Korean Series (KS), and Park's sights are already set on the eagerly awaited championship. While praising the key figures behind the win, he has also brought two major challenges to the fore ahead of the matchup with kt wiz, which begins on the 3rd: reshaping the pitching staff and resolving a dilemma in the outfield defense.
After the Samsung Lions beat the Kia Tigers 6-1 in Game 5 of the playoff (PO) at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 1st, Park named pitcher Ariel Jurado and batter Kim Ji-chan as the players most responsible for taking the team to the KS for the first time in two years. “If Jurado, who went deep into games and earned us wins in two of them, was the top hero on the pitching side, then Kim Ji-chan was the standout at the plate, driving in three runs with early clutch hits,” Park praised.
He also lavished praise on Lee Seung-min, naming him a 'hidden MVP' for appearing in various roles across five games and anchoring the middle of the pitching staff with a 1.69 ERA.

But Park's real challenge is now figuring out how to build the team for the best-of-seven Korean Series. The biggest question is what role to give Won Tae-in, the 'homegrown ace' at the heart of the pitching staff.
Choi Won-tae, Chris Paddack and Ariel Jurado are expected to take the mound in that order as starters for KS Games 1-3. The key question is whether Won Tae-in, who served as a 'temporary closer' in the PO to cover for the injured Kim Jae-yoon, will return to the starting rotation.

“The Korean Series is a long haul that can go all the way to Game 7. We’ll discuss in depth at a coaching staff meeting whether Won Tae-in should move into the starting rotation, taking into account his current physical condition and his own views,” Park said, signaling a reshuffle of a pitching staff that has been taxed by an all-out effort from the bullpen.


On offense, he strongly hinted that the lineup could change from the established setup of 'Koo Ja-wook at designated hitter and Choi Hyoung-woo in left field.'
With Koo Ja-wook still feeling the effects of a hamstring injury, 43-year-old Choi Hyoung-woo took charge of the outfield defense throughout the PO and showed tremendous grit. But the team cannot ignore the potential impact of the resulting fatigue on his hitting.

“ Suwon kt wiz Park is clearly different from Daegu in its dimensions and conditions,” Park said. “If Choi Hyoung-woo keeps playing defense, it could affect his hitting, so we’ll discuss that with the coaching staff as well.” His comments showed that the team is carefully weighing the possibility of putting Koo Ja-wook in the field.
Park also delivered a pointed assessment of the nine errors committed over five PO games.
The assessment was that the team's pride in being tied for first for fewest errors in the regular season (85) had been dampened by the pressure of postseason play. “You need confidence in defense just as you do at the plate to react quickly, but our defense became much less sharp in the PO,” Park said. “In the Korean Series, one small mistake can decide the outcome, so we will make sure to shore up our defense.”

[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter