Bears manager not relaxing even with club firmly in KBO postseason position

As the South Korean baseball season nears its end, the Doosan Bears find themselves comfortably in the fifth and final postseason spot. With only 29 games remaining before their Friday matchup against the Kiwoom Heroes, the Bears boast an eight-game lead over their closest competition, the NC Dinos, who are sitting at 59-52-4. Meanwhile, the Dinos have six games in reserve, making it a challenging climb for them to close the gap.

Regardless of the Bears' seemingly secure position, manager Kim Won-hyong remains steadfast in his determination not to let up until his team officially secures a postseason berth.

Kim openly admits that he struggles to relax, both as a player and as a manager. He acknowledges that this trait is both his strength and his weakness, expressing that he has never been able to fully unwind. Despite this, Kim remains committed to the pursuit of victory, stating that he would love to be less anxious. He emphasizes the importance of preserving the Bears' winning ways, even with a commanding lead over the competition.

However, Kim also anticipates a significant blow to the Bears' season once some key players depart for the upcoming Asian Games. Each KBO team is permitted to send up to three players to participate in the international event, and Kim believes that the absence of these players will impact the Bears' performance moving forward.