LG Twins manager Cha Myung-seok (54) resigned on Friday, but he was still busy ahead of the team’s upcoming game against the Lotte Giants. The team had clinched the pennant race and held a victory ceremony the previous day (April 4), so he had some time to spare. On the 5th, he took some time to sit down for an interview in the team’s quarters. “I was happy for a while, but I knew I had to prepare for the next one. I’m the kind of person who says things first and then tries to keep them, so I’m always living in a state of tension, like I’m being chased,” he laughed.
Cha was a member of the 1994 team, the last time LG won the overall title. Cha and strength and conditioning coordinator Kim Jae-hyun, who returned to his family this year, are the only two members of that squad who are still with LG today. Recalling his memories from 29 years ago, Cha said, “We were very strong back then. Three straight losses was probably the longest losing streak. They didn’t lose that easily and won a dominant regular season title. The Korean Series was no different. There was no one left out,” he recalls.
But he didn’t think much of his role. He shrugged it off, saying he just played a variety of roles as a middle reliever. “At the time, coach Lee Kwang-hwan often bought us meals because he said that the middle pitchers were struggling. At that time, we were called ‘unsung heroes’. We were probably somewhere between a supporting actor and a minor character. Still, we were proud to be part of a winning team,” he recalled.토토사이트
In the middle of this season, Cha “took a chance” and made a surprise trade. He acquired right-handed starting pitcher Choi Won-tae from the Kiwoom Heroes. With Choi’s arrival, LG stabilized its starting pitching staff, overcame a crisis, pulled away from second place, and established a dominant system. “Choi Won-tae is almost the only example of a trade that I personally initiated since I took over,” Cha said. I reported to the club and said, ‘We’re going to win the championship,’ and got the approval of the club’s leadership. I basically stuck my neck out, and the team is better and more stable as a result.”
“After winning the pennant race, I thought, ‘This is what I’ve been waiting for,’ and now we have one last goal. We are desperate to win the Korean Series. The fans have waited too long. I will support the team for the rest of the season until the Korean Series.”