LG Undefeated in Exhibition Play

LG used three runs in the sixth and seventh, and a late-inning homerun from Park Byeong-ho to keep its undefeated exhibition game streak alive with a 4-3 win yesterday.

LG’s regular league exhibition record improved to 6 wins and 2 draws with the victory.

LG’s recent exhibition prowess is a new phenomenon for the ball club. Last year, the club lost eight times in exhibition season play.

There has not been a significant change in the team’s strength compared to last year, except for trading Jang Mun-seok, Han Gyu-shik, and Sohn Sang-jeong to Kia for Ma Hae-yeong, Choi Sang-deok, and Seo Dong-uk.

Insiders give credit to generous support from the club’s front office for the team’s recent winning streak. LG kept its manager Lee, who had been criticized for underperformance; and for the first time since its inaugural season in 1990, completed salary negotiations with all of its players before December. This speedy approach allowed the club to prepare for spring training earlier than any other team.

LG invited Baltimore pitching coach Leo Mazzoni to its overseas training camp in Hawaii to tutor its pitching staff for one week earlier this year. The club also hired famed Japanese pitching coach Hajime Kato as pitching instructor, and trainer Hiroyuki Uto, who is an expert in injury prevention. LG’s unstable mound corps from last year has solidified as a result. Its pitching staff currently has a 2.13 ERA during exhibition games. The team’s 0.309 batting rate is also among the league leaders.

LG has historically performed well in World Cup soccer tourney years, with wins in 1990, 1994, and runner-up finishes in 1998 and 2002. Whether they can stretch their exhibition season winning streak to the regular season yet to be determined, however..

Sung-Kyu Kim kimsk@donga.com