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Coach Sun Dong-yeol Confident of Victory Over Taiwan

Posted December. 01, 2007 01:56,   

한국어

Team Korea head coach Sun Dong-yeol (44, Samsung manager) gave team Taiwan and Japan the beating of their lives 25 years ago.

In the 27th Seoul World Baseball Tournament in 1982, during his sophomore year in Korea University, Sun, along with Han Dae-hwa (Samsung coach) spearheaded blowouts against the national teams of Taiwan, Japan and the U.S. on the way to winning the tournament. It was a first for Korea, and he won the tourney MVP award.

Sun joined Haitai (Today’s Kia) in 1985 and recorded 146 wins, 40 losses, 132 saves in his 11-year career. In 1996 he joined Chunichi of NPB, recorded 98 saves and retired in 1999, earning the nickname “The Sun of Nagoya.”

As a coach, Sun proved to equally effective against Taiwan and Japan. He led team Korea to the semifinals of the 2006 World Baseball Classic, beating Taiwan 2-0 and recording two wins and one loss against Japan.

But he has had some worries this year. Sun has not decided who will play against Taiwan and Japan yet because Park Chan-ho and Ryu Hyeon-jin are not in the best condition.

Sun said “We’re not giving up yet.” He vowed that he would unleash his best lineup against Taiwan on December 1 and win. He believes that a victory against Taiwan will give Korea a mental edge against Japan on December 2.

“During my time, we would have one pitcher starting and finishing the game. If need be, any pitcher would willingly step up to the mound and pitch all game long. But now it is required to rotate pitchers. In the qualifying rounds, the best pitching line up will win games.”



beetlez@donga.com