Lions manager hoping for better defense with team off to Korean Series

Park Jin-man, the manager of South Korean baseball team Samsung Lions, expressed his desire for improved defensive performance as the team prepares for the Korean Series. The Lions secured their spot in the postseason by defeating the Kia Tigers 6-1 in Game 5 of the second round of the KBO playoff series. They achieved this feat by hitting 11 balls at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in the southeastern city of Daegu; however, two errors marred their otherwise strong performance, bringing their total errors to nine across five games.

Regularly, the Lions had the fewest errors in the KBO league with just 85 mistakes out of 144 games. According to Park, who is considered one of the best defensive shortstops in KBO history, the Lions' defense was a source of pride during the regular season. However, he expressed concern over the team's defensive performance in the postseason.

Park suggested that some players might be intimidated by the moment and advised that fielding requires the same level of confidence as hitting. He emphasized that passive fielding can lead to delayed reactions to incoming balls. As the Korean Series progresses, any errors could have a significant impact on the outcome.