Doosan Manager Kim Won-hyung Explains Protest Over Ruling: 'Game Shouldn't Have Ended Like That'

▲ Doosan Bears Manager Kim Won-hyung

Doosan Bears professional baseball manager Kim Won-hyung explained his strong protest to the umpires after yesterday's (August 1) game against the LG Twins ended with Jeong Su-bin being called out for running out of the three-foot line in the bottom of the 11th inning, saying, "I felt the game shouldn't have ended like that."

Ahead of their home game against LG at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul today (August 2), Manager Kim said, "I tried not to get angry, but looking at how the game was unfolding, it just happened. I am the type who gets very immersed in the game."

He explained, "After checking the situation following the end of the game, the ruling was correct according to the rules. However, seeing it straight on from the dugout, I judged that Jeong Su-bin had passed through (without being out)."

He added, "We still had our final attacking opportunity left, and thinking that it shouldn't end like this, I got a little excited. It seems the third base umpire judged that the tag was not made, while the second base umpire judged that he went out of the baseline."

The situation mentioned by Manager Kim occurred in the bottom of the 11th inning with one out and a runner on second base, tied 2-2 the previous day.

At-bat, Park Chan-ho hit a grounder to the third baseman, and second base runner Jeong Su-bin headed toward third base while evading a tag from third baseman Moon Bo-kyung.

After Moon Bo-kyung attempted to tag Jeong Su-bin, the third base umpire called him safe, and in the meantime, Moon threw the ball to first base to retire Park Chan-ho.

However, at this moment, the second base umpire declared Jeong Su-bin out for stepping more than three feet (approx. 91.4 cm) outside the basepath while evading the tag, and the game ended immediately.

Manager Kim rushed out of the dugout to protest that all four umpires should gather and confer, but his request was not accepted.

Regarding Jeong Su-bin's baserunning, Manager Kim said, "He shouldn't have gone," but added, "First of all, he ran because he thought he could make it safely, and to put it more positively, if he reached third base, a wild pitch or fielding error could have resulted in a walk-off win."

He added, "I haven't talked to Jeong Su-bin yet, but it seems he ran because he thought he could survive."

Jeong Su-bin was not included in the starting lineup for today's game.

When asked if he was excluded due to the previous day's baserunning, Manager Kim answered, "That's not it," adding, "We considered the fact that his recent (batting cycle) has dipped a bit."

Regarding Kim Min-seok's spectacular defensive play on the previous day in the top of the 9th inning with two outs and the score tied 2-2, where he caught what looked to be a home run hit by LG's Oh Ji-hwan heading toward the left-field wall, Kim expressed, "I was surprised."

He shared, "I joked with Kim Min-seok, telling him, 'This might be the first and last defensive play of your baseball career.' I also teased him, saying that a player who professionally excels at outfield defense would have missed it, but since an amateurish guy like you did it, you caught it."

He added, "Min-seok and I have that kind of relationship where we can joke around like that. His pride might have been hurt a bit, but I figured he would actually like it more."

(Photo: Yonhap News)

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