"The club gave me a three-year contract to produce results within three years. We shouldn't fail to deliver results and then say, 'It was unfortunate, and we could do it if given more time.' If we couldn't do it within three years, it is the manager's fault."

Failing to advance to the fall postseason and facing the final game of his three-year tenure, professional baseball Lotte Giants Manager Kim Tae-hyung calmly and firmly placed the responsibility on himself.

With no renewal offer from the club, effectively hinting at a "farewell" to the team, he blamed his failure to produce results as a leader rather than pointing to a lack of roster reinforcement.

Meeting with reporters ahead of the 2026 KBO League regular-season finale against the Doosan Bears held at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on October 12, Manager Kim shared his thoughts looking back on the past three years.

Having taken the helm of Lotte in 2024, Manager Kim will wrap up his third season finishing either seventh with a win or eighth with a loss in today's game.

Asked about his future regarding a contract renewal, Manager Kim said, "If we were going to continue together, the discussion would have already come up. Even the general manager says he doesn't know anything. Once I head down to Busan, I expect to meet with the club president within a couple of days and a decision will be made."

During Manager Kim's tenure, Lotte did not receive notable roster support, such as outside free-agent (FA) acquisitions.

However, Manager Kim did not use this as an excuse.

"When I took office, I promised to aim even for a championship within three years, and if that promise isn't kept, someone has to take responsibility," he added. "We shouldn't argue about right and wrong based on a lack of support. If I had produced results with the players we have now, my value would have gone up even more, but failing to do so is due to my own lack of capability."

As the most regrettable moment, he picked last year, when the team finished the first half in third place only to collapse during a 12-game losing streak in the second half.

Manager Kim looked back bitterly, saying, "While other teams surged ahead as injured players returned, our pitching staff completely collapsed, and the decline was visible."

He also did not forget to offer advice for the team's future.

"While it is rewarding that the axis of the center line has been established to some extent, our weakness is still the lack of backup depth to fill the gaps in case of injuries or slumps," Manager Kim predicted. "Regardless of what the club's policy might be, if there is outside reinforcement, things will be much better than now."

Yet, while leaving behind such poignant advice, he could not hide his bittersweet emotions, saying, "Giving advice that might be helpful feels a bit like talking as if my departure has already been decided."

He also calmly shared his thoughts on the significance of his farewell regular-season game at Jamsil Stadium.

Having first set foot in Jamsil Stadium right before the 1988 Seoul Olympics during his college days and starting his professional career with the OB Bears, Manager Kim said bitterly, "Except for my time as a coach for the SK Wyverns and as the manager of Lotte, almost my entire baseball life is here in Jamsil. Now is the time to worry about my own path ahead."

(Photo: Provided by Lotte Giants, Yonhap News)