Lee Seung-yeop, “Ready for Home Run Show”

Was training enough?

“There were small differences in the style of training compared to Korea’s, but I was able to quickly adjust. I am happy to have finished it without any injures, and I am satisfied with the results of the training,” said Lee Seung-yeop. In fact, it was revealed that Lee was pressured and stressed during spring training. It was not easy to deal with tens of press corps and hundreds of fans following him around wherever he went in training, and he was very embarrassed by the Japanese press report’s attitude toward him. When he hit only one home run in his first batting practice, criticism for Lee grew fierce and his wife Lee Song-jeong became a subject of gossip.

It was his overstrain for proving his merits that made Lee, who is known to have much self-pride, complain of pain in his waist at the end of the camp. The training was so excessive that it made him “tired all the time.”

Who will be the first baseman?

In fact, Manager Bobby Valentine has Fukuwura Gazya in his mind as the first baseman. In this case, Lee will play as the designated hitter who does not field. For Lee who says, “Good batting goes together with fielding,” it is still a hope. But this is not the end. Lee has a chance to change the manager’s mind with a good performance in the exhibition games. It is certain that the tension between Lee and Fukuwura will be helpful to both as Fukuwura said that it would be a positive stimulus.

The problem is how to deal with a fork ball.

Lee said, “Japanese pitchers often try a curve ball even in an unfavorable balls-and-strikes count. It is important not to hit a ball that looks like a strike. Pitchers did their best in practice games, but it is sure that they will do it more in exhibition games.”

It is a well-known fact that he is weak when it comes to pitches which appear to be a strike and is thrown inside. How he has studied to overcome his weak point will be revealed soon. It is the Japanese pitchers’ fork balls that are hard to hit even when aware of it.

At the end of the press interview on this day, he conveyed his massage to his Korean fans saying, “I will try my best in every game without clinging to the results.” The exhibition game against Yomiuri on February 28 will be telecasted by Daegu MBC and Lee will play in Fukuoka Dome against Daiei Hawks led by manager Sadaharu Oh on the next day.

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com