Slugger Lee still contributing to team despite homer drought

Lee Dae-ho of the Busan Lotte Giants is usually a terror to opposing pitchers thanks to his ability to hit a homer at any time. Yet the slugger is suffering from a slump.

Lee led the league with 19 home runs through June, but hammered just three in July and one in August. Worse, he has gone homer-less this month.

The slump has given Choi Hyeong-woo of the Daegu Samsung Lions to catch up and overtake Lee for the home run lead by four.

With the end of the season approaching, Lee will find it difficult to reclaim his lead.

Though Lee without homers is a lackluster hitter, he has had at least one hit in all games this month. He has hit 16-37 this month with 11 RBIs and just two strikeouts. Though homer-less this month, he has performed his role as clean-up man.

Against Samsung at Daegu Stadium on Wednesday, Lee reached 100 RBIs for the season with a double in the seventh inning with no outs and a runner on second. He thus reached the milestone of driving him more than 100 runs for the third year in a row (100 in 2009 and 133 last year).

The Busan slugger is the third player to achieve this feat after Lee Seung-yeop did so for Samsung from 1997 to 1999 and Tyrone Woods of the Seoul Doosan Bears from 1998 to 2001.

"I`m aware that I can`t hit a homer with my swing now," said Lee Dae-ho. Injuries to his left ankle and knee make it difficult for him to move his lower body smoothly, which is essential to hitting homers.

He could have hit a couple of homers through overswinging, but chose hits instead. Banking on his ability to select good pitches and contact, he is getting hits with short swings.

"I was the home run king and led seven statistical categories in batting last year, so I have no more wishes. I told (Choi) Hyeong-woo to take this year`s home run title. Having more RBIs is the best thing I can do," said Lee.

Despite his home run slump, Lee Dae-ho is leading the league in RBIs, batting average (.355) and hits (157).