Samsung’s Potential

“Uh… Dong-yul is gone… Uh… Jong-bum is also gone.”

That was the once-popular comment by Samsung Manager Kim Eung-ryong, who is also known as the “elephant.” He sighed aloud that comment while he was the manager of Haitai and as Sun Dong-yul and Lee Jong-bum, the team’s two key players, left for the Junichi Dragons. It became widely popular after comedians parodied his words on television.

“Seung-yup is gone, and Hae-young is also gone” would be Manager Kim’s “sequel.”

Before the baseball season started, Samsung’s main slugger Lee Seung-yup left for the Chiba Lotte Marines while Mah Hae-young went to the Kia Tigers.

The loss of two players who accounted for 44 percent of the team’s home runs and 36 percent of total runs batted in was quite difficult for the team.

Just as expected, at the beginning of the season Samsung had a 10-game losing streak. Kim says that was the most difficult period, “The pitchers were awful, and the batters weren’t hitting. There was no way out.” Nevertheless, after the 10-game losing streak, Samsung started its ascent just like the stock market rebounds after hitting rock bottom. Samsung went on a 6-game winning streak, and since then, it has consistently been either in second or third place.

On August 10, Samsung pushed past Hyundai and Doosan to take the sole first place position. It is the first time since July 3 of last year, or more than a year ago, that Samsung took the sole lead. This is the result of players sticking together under the leadership of clubhouse leader Yang Joon-hyuk. Bench coach Sun Dong-yul also receives credit for the team’s first place standing by putting the team together. Nonetheless, Kim said, “We are only one game ahead of the second place teams. In addition, not only coach Sun, but all the other coaches are also working hard.” It is business as usual for the ever-cautious Kim.

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com