The confrontation between Doosan Bears and LG Twins, which are home to Jamsil Stadium and are home to two families under one roof, always attracts great interest. The three consecutive weekend matches held on the 14th and 16th are the first confrontation after the two teams reorganized under the new command tower system, so attention is drawn to them.
The home team for this three-game series is LG, led by coach Yeom Gyeong-yeop (55). As a team that was selected as a candidate for the championship even before the opening, it boasts a stable power. Doosan, led by manager Lee Seung-yeop (43), is also showing off formidable power centered on catcher Yang Eui-ji, who has returned after 4 years. That is why this confrontation is more anticipated. It is also expected that cloud spectators will flock to the festival on the weekend.
Doosan recorded 73 wins, 5 draws and 50 losses (0.593 win rate) against LG over the past 8 years, when former manager Kim Tae-hyung (current SBS Sports commentator) took the helm. In particular, for the three years from 2017 to 2019, it overwhelmed LG with 34 wins, 1 draw and 13 losses (0.723 win rate). However, in the last 3 years (2020-2022), as LG’s power surged, the two teams faced off tightly with 22 wins, 4 draws and 22 losses. In 16 head-to-head matches last year, LG took the lead with 10 wins and 6 losses. Since 2014 (8 wins, 1 draw, 7 losses), it has surpassed Doosan in terms of opponents for the first time in 8 years.
The story between the coaches of both teams is also interesting. In 2002, when LG last stepped on the stage of the Korean Series (KS), it was frustrated by (?) Director Lee. Manager Lee, who was a member of the Samsung Lions at the time, hit a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 9th inning when the team trailed 6-9 in Game 6, leading the series with a record of 3 wins and 2 losses. After that, LG never stepped on the KS stage.
Director Yeom took the KS stage in 2014,안전놀이터 the second year of his appointment as the Heroes Command Tower, but couldn’t overcome the wall of Samsung, where Lee was playing, and shed tears. I wonder what kind of match he will show against Doosan, who will face off as a true rival wearing a striped uniform.
It is still in the early stages, so the results of this three-game series do not have an absolute impact on the season. However, it is clear that you will have to take the lead against your rivals. Players on both teams are well aware of its importance. It is also full of interest, such as the match between Kim Hyeon-soo (LG), who wore a Doosan uniform and shared a moment of glory, and Yang Seok-hwan, who grew up at LG and established himself as Doosan’s giant.
Director Lee said, “I still can’t feel the rivalry,” but “I’ve heard a lot about the rivalry with LG. Having a good rivalry is an element that can attract even more interest.”