DAEGU: The unexpected postponement of Game 2 in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason series between the Samsung Lions and the LG Twins due to rain has been met with optimism by both teams’ managers. Each contends that the delay, which pushed Monday’s game to Tuesday at Daegu Samsung Lions Park, offers distinct advantages to their squads.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Lions and Twins have had differing paths leading up to this face-off. The Samsung Lions had been resting since their regular season concluded on September 28, while the LG Twins were engaged in a grueling five-game series against the KT Wiz just a week prior. The Lions took Game 1 with a solid 10-4 victory, suggesting they were well-prepared despite the longer rest. Lions manager Park Jin-man expressed that the additional day off following the rainout was beneficial particularly for his players’ recovery. He pointed out that the Game 1 start, Denyi Reyes, would now receive an extra day of rest before his next scheduled start i
n Game 4, now moved to Friday.
Park also noted the physical toll the series opener took on his team and highlighted the improvement in his players’ condition due to the break. Particularly, Lions captain Koo Ja-wook, who had played through nausea during the first game, benefited from the postponement. After hitting a key three-run homer, Koo had required medical attention, but Park confirmed, “He is even better today than yesterday.”
Conversely, Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb argued that the delay was more advantageous for his side, especially in terms of pitching strategy. The extra day allows him to better manage his pitchers, ensuring that stronger pitchers are available for the next games without having to resort to less optimal choices. Youm highlighted the flexibility the schedule change brought, particularly for Elieser Hernandez, a pivotal player who could now potentially pitch more innings across the series due to the adjusted rest days.
Both managers seem to agree that while the rain-induced post
ponement was unplanned, it has allowed them to strategically enhance their team’s readiness and performance for the remainder of the series.