Manager for KBO postseason underdog eyeing historic upset

The wild card system in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason made its debut in 2015, pitting the fourth-best team from the regular season against the fifth-ranked team.

Higher-seeded teams made it out in each of the first nine editions. They have the built-in advantage of needing only a tie in two attempts to advance, while the lower seeds must win two straight games on the road. Only twice has a No. 5 club even forced that second game.

With the fifth-seed KT Wiz visiting the Doosan Bears for this year’s wild card game, Wiz manager Lee Kang-chul said the KBO is due for an upset in this phase of the postseason.

KT Wiz manager Lee Kang-chul salutes fans after the Wiz beat the SSG Landers 4-3 in the Korea Baseball Organization fifth-place tiebreaker game at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on Oct. 1, 2024. (Yonhap)

KT Wiz manager Lee Kang-chul salutes fans after the Wiz beat the SSG Landers 4-3 in the Korea Baseball Organization fifth-place tiebreaker game at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeong
gi Province, on Oct. 1, 2024. (Yonhap)

“We’re looking forward to it. It has to happen at some point, and remember, we’re the magical team,” Lee said in his pregame media conference at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, giving a nod to the team’s nickname. “We were the fourth-place team two years ago, and there was a lot of pressure on us. I am sure the Bears feel that burden more so than we do now.”

The Wiz had to beat the SSG Landers 4-3 in a tiebreaker game Tuesday just to get to this point. Lee said the game to determine the fifth seed was more stressful.

“I feel a bit more relaxed now,” Lee said, with the Wiz having made their fifth straight postseason. “I hope the players will feel at ease and comfortable going into this game.”

Lee used three pitchers out of the bullpen in Tuesday’s victory and will not hold back anyone Wednesday. Ideally for Lee, starter William Cuevas will eat up many innings and save the relief corps.

“Setting a starting rotation at this point is meaningless for us. We’re focused
on winning this game,” Lee said. “If we get to play tomorrow, then we’ll figure out who’s going to pitch right after the starter.”

Source: Yonhap News Agency