Crushing the Lions in the Korean Series Opener

The Korean Series begins with the first two games at the home of the regular-season champions. Then three games at the runner-up's home, followed by the final two back at the champions' stadium. Our home as regular-season winners was Mokdong Baseball Stadium, but after discussions with the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠city of Seoul, the team pushed to hold it at Gocheok Dome instead. The dome had its temporary opening in September, and yesterday they held Media Day. Luckily, the city confirmed it was ready, and since our regular-season championship would mark the dome's official debut with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Korean Series, it seemed like a solid start for them too—they gave the green light.

Until yesterday, the place didn't even feel like a ballpark with all the indoor setup, but now it truly looked like one. The turf and field conditions were excellent. Players arrived early to try out the indoor bullpen and training areas. Being brand new, all the facilities were state-of-the-art. They seemed proud, knowing this would be our official home next year, and they were enjoying every bit of it.

While checking on the players' training, the operations team brought the Lions' roster. Reviewing the paperwork confirmed my suspicions were spot on. Yoon Hwan-seong, An Jin-man, and Lee Chang-yong were all excluded. Leaving out a 17-win pitcher, the holds leader, and the saves king? It was absurd. Now I understood why Lions manager Ryu Il-jung looked so grim yesterday. With their starter, bullpen, and closer gutted, the talent drain was massive—I couldn't even imagine the extent.

For us, it was like losing Lee Ji-seung, Jo Sang-hoon, and Son Seung-hyuk. Sure, the opponent was weakened, but I had no intention of going easy.

I agonized until the end over Im Byung-yoon or Seo Dong-hoon, but with so many outfielders, I went with Seo Dong-hun. Now the question was whether their tattered shield could hold back our massive spear. I was eager to find out.

...

I gathered all the players. Those training hurried over at my call, lining up in perfect rows and columns. Their discipline was razor-sharp on the surface. It showed just how much they trusted me. I'd led them to a proud regular-season championship, after all.

"The Korean Series starts soon. Last year, I wasn't the manager, but who did we lose to?"

"The Lions!!!"

Many players from last year remembered falling short against the Daegu Lions at the championship threshold.

"Now we show them! Who the real winners of this year are. Everyone knows the Daegu Lions are in a tough spot right now. Does that mean we go easy on them?"

"No, sir!!!"

The players' voices boomed in response.

"Right! We crush them so hard they can't even breathe when they see us! Got it!!!"

"Yes, sir!!!!"

Their resounding reply told me their mental armor was solid. I could feel they'd give everything for revenge on last year and a decisive finish this season.

...

Was it because we'd won the regular season? The announcers ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were singing our praises. Partly due to the Lions' issues, but our odds looked strong. Plus, Lee Ji-seung's season was legendary—even better than Daejeon Eagles' symbol Ryu Jin-hyun.

"And there he is—Lee Ji-seung takes the mound. Let's see if he delivers another monster performance today."

After a 20-day rest, Lee Ji-seung's stamina was back to early-season form. But he was on another level now, with velocity, control, and breaking stuff all dialed in. I couldn't wait to see his monster evolution next year.

His first pitch: a four-seam fastball. Whoooosh!Thwack!! 151 km/h straight into the mitt. His velocity and command just kept improving.

"Strike!"

Park Yi-han couldn't touch the outside corner heater.

Thwack!! Second pitch, another four-seam, high borderline. Park Yi-han flailed again.

Park Yi-han went through his signature routine, glaring at Lee Ji-seung while adjusting his elbow guard, glove, and helmet to find his timing. Lee Ji-seung fired again. Park swung big, but the changeup dropped off the table—whiff, strike three.

Lee Ji-seung stayed stone-faced after the K, maximum focus intact.

To No. 2 hitter Park Hae-jin, an inside four-seam. Crack!! He swung, but the bat shattered into an easy grounder. Second baseman Seo Geon-cheol fielded and threw to first for the out. A glimpse of the heat Lee Ji-seung brought.

Three inside four-seams to No. 3 Navarro—strike three. Those packed heaters owned the inner half.

Lee Ji-seung breezed through the top of the first, firing up our bats.

Thwack! Kang Hyun-jun laced a single to left against Figaro's heat.

Thwack! Thwack!! Kim Seong-ha and Kim Kang-jun followed with hits—three straight on, Kang Hyun-jun scoring.

Next, cleanup Park Byung-hyun. 53 homers, regular-season homer king, fourth straight title. MLB-bound, he was burning to cap it with a championship.

Thwok!!! First-pitch fastball—he turned on it. Linedrive straight into the scoreboard.

"Park Byung-hyun!! Park Byung-hyun!! Park Byung-hyun!!"

Unbelievable crowd for what felt like our home. Korean Series magic? Gocheok Dome? Our championship form? Whatever it was, a packed house of fans cheered wildly. Park Byung-hyun circled the bases leisurely, pumping his fist to the roaring crowd.

4-0 in a blink. Figaro looked pale.

Thwack! Thwack!! The onslaught continued—Seo Geon-cheol, Yoo Jun-han, Kim Seong-min all singled.

In Park Won-dong's at-bat, he crushed a homer. 8-0, no outs in the first.

Park Won-dong had rested fully for the Series. No backup catcher in the regular season meant he'd grinded through hell, but refreshed, he showed his true skill. Next year, we'd need new signee Joo Hyo-seong to step up.

The Lions yanked Figaro after one. Relievers couldn't stem our spear either. Ignoring unwritten rules in the Series, we ran wild with aggressive baseball and every strategy in the book. We took Game 1 in a 27-2 rout, perfectly executing my order to turn the Lions' house into a funeral parlor.