ID :
211509
Thu, 10/06/2011 - 11:10
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/211509
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Manager of struggling LG Twins steps down on last day of season
SEOUL, Oct. 6 (Yonhap) -- Park Jong-hoon, manager of the struggling LG Twins in the top local baseball league, resigned Thursday, the final day of the regular season.
"I am stepping down as manager to take the fall for the poor season," Park told reporters before the Seoul-based Twins' game against the Samsung Lions in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). Park said this would be his final game.
"This is a great franchise and the front office and fans have given so much love and support. I felt it was my fault that we didn't perform well," Park added.
Park, who was named the LG manager after the 2009 season, had three years left on his five-year deal.
The Twins had a great start to the season, reaching first place in April and staying inside the top three through mid-June. But after winning 30 of the first 52 matches -- the fastest to 30 wins among eight KBO teams this year -- they picked up only 29 victories in the next 80 contests, dropping into a tie for sixth place entering Thursday night's finale.
In the KBO, the top four teams after the regular season advance to the playoffs. The Twins haven't played in the postseason since 2002.
The Twins inked Park for five years to give him time to work with young players but Park acknowledged his failure to live up to the expectations.
"As we kept falling in the standings, the thought of resigning entered my mind," Park said. "I am happy to have been a manager, but it's disappointing that I wasn't able to sustain the good momentum from the early part of the season."
Park, the 1983 KBO rookie of the year, is the third KBO manager to leave the bench. Earlier, the Doosan Bears' Kim Kyung-moon resigned to take responsibility for the team's struggles. Kim Sung-keun of the SK Wyverns was fired after squabbling with the front office over his contract extension.
"I am stepping down as manager to take the fall for the poor season," Park told reporters before the Seoul-based Twins' game against the Samsung Lions in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). Park said this would be his final game.
"This is a great franchise and the front office and fans have given so much love and support. I felt it was my fault that we didn't perform well," Park added.
Park, who was named the LG manager after the 2009 season, had three years left on his five-year deal.
The Twins had a great start to the season, reaching first place in April and staying inside the top three through mid-June. But after winning 30 of the first 52 matches -- the fastest to 30 wins among eight KBO teams this year -- they picked up only 29 victories in the next 80 contests, dropping into a tie for sixth place entering Thursday night's finale.
In the KBO, the top four teams after the regular season advance to the playoffs. The Twins haven't played in the postseason since 2002.
The Twins inked Park for five years to give him time to work with young players but Park acknowledged his failure to live up to the expectations.
"As we kept falling in the standings, the thought of resigning entered my mind," Park said. "I am happy to have been a manager, but it's disappointing that I wasn't able to sustain the good momentum from the early part of the season."
Park, the 1983 KBO rookie of the year, is the third KBO manager to leave the bench. Earlier, the Doosan Bears' Kim Kyung-moon resigned to take responsibility for the team's struggles. Kim Sung-keun of the SK Wyverns was fired after squabbling with the front office over his contract extension.
