In the 2007 regular season, pitcher Ga Deuk-yeom, who had only 40.1 innings pitched and a 4.02 ERA, was deployed as a closer in the Korean Series using unconventional tactics.
And Ga Deuk-yeom lived up to expectations, striking out 2 batters with just 3 pitches against left-handed hitters Lee Jong-wook and Kim Hyun-soo, contributing to SK's victory.
In the postseason where winning was everything, SK created a legend by recording 4 consecutive wins after 2 losses, making history as the first team to achieve this in the Korean Series, clinching their first championship.
Even though Kim Seo-hyun has been underperforming recently, the important thing isn't just calling a closer a closer and putting him in during crucial moments or bringing him in for the 9th inning—it's about using smart player management tactics to deploy the right players in the right situations based on what the game demands.
It's interesting that both the current Hanwha manager and the Doosan manager back then are Kim Kyung-moon, which raises questions about Hanwha's prospects for winning the Korean Series.