Should I do something good? Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto Blue Jays), the “Korean Monster,” is not getting any defensive help.
Ryu Hyun-jin gave up 4 hits (2 homers) and 2 runs in 5 innings against the Cleveland Guardians on the 27th (Korean time). In front of the home fans, he succeeded in winning 3 starts in a row and harvested the 3rd win (1 loss), but the first quality start of the season (QS, 6 or more starting innings and 3 earned runs or less) was postponed to the next opportunity.
On this day, Ryu Hyun-jin had 60 pitches up to the 5th inning. For Ryu Hyun-jin, who was the best in 5 innings in the previous 4 games, it was a trend worth aiming for QS. Ryu Hyun-jin’s last QS was against the Cincinnati Reds on May 21 last year. He was on the verge of achieving QS against Cleveland, but it was his teammates who held him back. A series of mistakes provided an excuse for the steel plate.
Ryu Hyun-jin guided Jose Ramirez to a grounder from third base at the top of the 6th inning, leading 5-2. It was a course that led to a double stroke, but third baseman Matt Chapman made a catch error, and runners piled up on 1st and 2nd base safely. Then, Oscar Gonzalez’s shortstop grounder also failed to catch Santiago Espinal’s backhand. Hyun-jin Ryu, who was expecting a bad fight, expressed his regret by jumping up and down.안전놀이터
Toronto is a strong defensive team. According to Fangraph.com, a site specializing in MLB records, as of the 26th, the Toronto club’s cumulative DRS (Defensive Run Save) is 74, overwhelmingly ranked first (2nd Milwaukee Brewers, 47). DRS is an index that indicates how many goals were prevented by defense, and the higher the number on the basis of 0 (average), the better the defense. In addition, UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating), which is calculated by dividing the ground into a total of 64 zones and weighting each ball, is 26.7, which is second (Milwaukee, 26.7). The defensive structure is so different, but the day Ryu Hyun-jin takes the mound is different.
In the game against the Chicago Cubs on the 14th, a catch error by first baseman Brandon Belt in the first inning led to a run. Against Cincinnati on the 21st, Chapman’s error at the end of the second inning led to a run. Chapman is a “defensive master” who has won the Gold Glove three times in his personal career, but mistakes pile up when only Ryu Hyun-jin starts. Ryu Hyun-jin’s season conceded 11 points, of which only 6 earned points.
Ryu Hyun-jin, who does not have a high strikeout rate, is the type to build up an outcount by inducing a beating. He needs to be supported by a solid defense. This is why Toronto fielders need to wake up.