“If only I had been smarter…”
Doosan coach Lee Seung-yeop (47) looked back on the 2023 season. He reached the top 5 in his first season in charge and succeeded in advancing to fall baseball. He lost on the 16th, clinching 5th place, but it clearly paid off. But he expressed regret.
Coach Lee Seung-yeop, who met at Jamsil Stadium on the 16th, said, “When I look back on the season, I have more regrets. There were also some immature aspects. “There were things I was lacking in, whether it was harmonizing with the players or the process of solving the game,” he said.
He continued, “I think that’s why we are ranked now. “I think if I were a little more smart, I would definitely be ranked higher than I am now,” he added.
Coach Lee Seung-yeop was suddenly appointed as Doosan’s 11th coach on October 14 last year. The name value was clear. He was Samsung’s franchise star and reigned as a ‘national hitter’ loved by the entire nation. He was also the first player in KBO League history to go on a retirement tour.
However, he had no leadership experience. He served as a public relations ambassador for the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), special assistant to the governor, and technical member of the national team. He also spent quite some time as a broadcast commentator. Although he was the manager of the baseball entertainment show ‘The Strongest Baseball’, it was difficult to view his career solely as a leader.
That’s how unconventional Doosan’s choice was. Director Seung-yeop Lee said at his inauguration ceremony, “The word that comes to me the most right now is ‘beginner director.’ When the 2023 season begins, I will change to ‘prepared manager’. He raised his voice, saying, “I will achieve better results next year than this year and the year after next, so that I can stand on the Korean Series stage in the third year of my term.”
Although he is a manager who has not even received leadership training, he advanced to fall baseball.
From July 1st to 25th, they had an 11-game winning streak, the longest since the team was founded, and based on this, they rose to 3rd place at one point, threatening their lead.
After that, it slowed down.
It fell to 7th place in mid-August.
They rebounded again and fought for third place until the end.
The result was disappointing, but it is definitely not a bad performance for a novice director.
However, coach Lee Seung-yeop was not satisfied.
“As it is only my first year, I think there are definitely some immaturity.
I had a lot of experience.
I will do my best until the end of this season.
I will prepare again for next year.
“I will try to become a better leader,” he emphasized.
Doosan has advanced to the Korean Series for seven consecutive years since 2015. Reached the top three times. It was disappointing as it fell to 9th place in the 2022 season. Going to the postseason again.안전놀이터
There is no satisfaction. Coach Lee Seung-yeop is like that, and so are the players. Fans are equally dissatisfied. It’s not the end. Fall baseball remains, and there is also the 2024 season. 2023 is a year when a novice director may have felt quite a lot.