WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL B - AUSTRALIA VS KOREA

March 9, 2023

Lee Kang-Chul

Tokyo Dome

Team Korea

Postgame Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Now let's have the 2023 World Baseball Classic Australia versus Korean post-game press conference begin.

Q. You mentioned before the game started this is the most important game and then you lost it. What's in your mind right now?

LEE KANG-CHUL: Yes, a lot of things happened and that my players worked so hard and they gave us all effort.

Q. Tell us about the lineups offense. You were so close to get a win. What's your impression?

LEE KANG-CHUL: Yes. The beginning of the game, early in the game we were behind, but during the game we got some RBI base hit and we look forward for the next game.

Q. You mentioned that you're going to announce tomorrow's probable starter right after the first game. Are you ready to announce?

LEE KANG-CHUL: Yes. Kim Kwang-hyun will be our starting pitcher.

Q. You are going to have a Japan game tomorrow. What's in your game strategy? What is your game plan?

LEE KANG-CHUL: Yes. We lost the first game, so we cannot lose anymore. We are not doing anything special because we have a Japan game, the game versus Japan. We have nothing special. We try to get our first win.

Q. Japanese probable start will be Yu Darvish. Tell us about your impression, for Yu Darvish.

LEE KANG-CHUL: Yes. I've been watching Darvish for a long time. He's a great pitcher. And we have a scouting report and our offense player is well prepared against him.

Q. Team Japan have a couple major leaguers as well as yours. What's your aiming for tomorrow's game?

LEE KANG-CHUL: Yes. No matter if you are a major leaguer or a KBO player or NPB player, just a player is a player. Each individual player needs to concentrate to get the win for the next game.

Q. I have two questions: The first, Baekho Kang, I remember during the game at second base after he hit the double he got a tag out. What was in your mind? And also the pitching switch, the Australians used nine pitchers as well as you used seven pitchers. What was the point? What's your opinion using a lot of pitchers during the game?

LEE KANG-CHUL: Yes. Regarding Baekho Kang, he hit very good. On the base his celebration was a little too early, so I want him to forget about it and nothing more. And either we and Australia, this is a must-win game to advance to the best of 16. So that's why we, I'm guessing we put a lot of pitchers for the game. For the Korean pitchers we have a lot of younger potential pitchers, so we'll be well prepared for the next game.

Q. Before the game started you mentioned that you tried to minimize the pitchers, but you spent nine -- seven pitchers, and I think you changed your plan. What's your strategy for tomorrow?

LEE KANG-CHUL: Yes. The first game is over, so I am going to check the pitchers' condition. The good thing is we have a night game for tomorrow, so we have a little time for rest and we have, we still have three games to go. So we'll put all the effort into get a win.

Q. What was the key point, the turning point, of the losing this game?

LEE KANG-CHUL: It was 4-2. We are ahead during the game, and I put Won Jung Kim on the mound, our fourth pitcher, and he gave up three runs. That was something I didn't expect and that was a turning point of the game.

Q. Tell us about the starting pitcher for tomorrow. He's well known among the Japanese baseball fans and Japanese players. What is your point?

LEE KANG-CHUL: Yes, he -- well, I am planning -- well, the story will be different if we would have a tie-break game today. But anyway, the reason why Kim young Yu will be the starting pitcher for tomorrow, he has some, he has been a well-experienced pitcher, so I think he could lead the team in a good mood for tomorrow.