Real Korean baseball “ A world without self-defense and competition ” Why did Japan’s nemesis fall? | Professional baseball | Shueisha’s general sports magazine Sportiva official website web Sportiva

I no longer feel threatened by Korean baseball. The 5th WBC (World Baseball Classic) this time also lost in the first round for three consecutive tournaments. They ended up losing 7-8 to Australia and 4-13 to Japan.

South Korea, who were eliminated in the first round of the WBC for three tournaments in a row
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[Korean baseball salary soars]

Why, then, did this situation occur? The answer could be seen before Korea’s first match against Australia. The players jumped out of the benches to introduce the players and lined up near the home. The uniforms they were wearing were clearly baggy. In particular, there are no muscles that move around the buttocks.

“I haven’t practiced as usual.”

I couldn’t help but think so.

Korean professional baseball has become boring. How long will it take for me to feel that way? If you’ll forgive my personal opinion, I think the peak of Korean professional baseball was around 2008, when they won the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, and around 2009, when they competed with Japan for hegemony at the 2nd WBC and finished second.

Players at the time were aggressive in all aspects of mind, technique and body. There were many naughty players, but they were also enthusiastic about baseball. I would never say that the current players are lazy. However, the environment is clearly too different between then and now.

In recent years, salaries in the Korean professional baseball world have skyrocketed. For example, Kim Kwang-hyung, who started the match against Japan, has an annual salary of 1 billion won (about 100 million yen) this season. In addition, last year’s double crown (leading hitter and RBI king), Lee Jeong-hoo, earned 1.1 billion won (approximately 110 million yen). there is

In the past, in Korean professional baseball, it was said that an annual salary of 100 million won (approximately 10 million yen) was the mark of a first-class player. It is now 10 times. Aside from the fact that the majors are still a dream destination, if you can get that much annual salary, there is no need to come all the way to Japan and play.

If that happens, we will inevitably come to protect ourselves. Prioritize staying safe rather than taking the risk of failure. Moreover, Korea has a thin amateur player base, so once you secure a regular, you will be safe for several years. A world without self-defense and competition—this is the reality of Korean baseball and a major reason for its decline.