Hanwha wants to avoid last place for the fourth year in a row.
One win in the three-game series against Lotte is enough to break the deadlock.
A fight for 8th place with Samsung is also on the line
Noh Si-hwan, 3-for-30 with 100 RBIs + 3 championships means something
I may not be glorious, but I want to avoid the worst, so I’m more eager. It may not mean much to some, but for Hanwha fans, this weekend could mean a lot.
The Hanwha Eagles are preparing for their 2023 finale against Lotte at home. Sure, they won’t have the grand finale to celebrate fall baseball like the top teams. But they are still preparing for what could be their most meaningful finale in the last four years.
For starters, the outcome of this three-game series will determine whether Hanwha finishes last for the fourth straight year.
If Hanwha loses all three games against Lotte, they will definitely finish last. On the other hand, a win will put them out of their misery. Kiwoom has already completed the 2023 season, so the match between Hanwha and Lotte will serve as a standings decider for last place. For Hanwha, finishing last for four years in a row is a nightmare. More than anything, the fans are desperate to see Hanwha escape last place.
That alone is enough reason to fight to the end.
But that’s not all. Not only is last place at stake, but also eighth place. In fact, for Samsung, eighth place doesn’t mean much. But for Hanwha, it’s different. Hanwha is more than willing to climb one more step if it means moving up to eighth place. Samsung will face SSG in Daegu. SSG is desperate to secure third place.
However, Samsung will also have their ace Buchanan on the field to defend their 8th place. Next up is the final game against NC in Masan.
If Samsung loses two games in that match and Hanwha wins two and loses one, the standings will flip. Hanwha will move up to eighth place. However, if Samsung wins even one game, Hanwha will need to sweep Lotte in three games to take the eighth spot. Hanwha will be spearheading the three-game series with Peña. Lotte is currently downsizing by removing all of their mercenary players from the roster. Therefore, the chances of the upset are even higher.
Also at stake in the three-game series is Noh’s 30-homer, 100-RBI season. Hanwha fans are hoping that Moon Dong-joo, the rookie of the year, and Noh will win MVP honors this season. However, the MVP race is currently dominated by NC’s foreigner Eric Pedroia, so Noh needs to have a weapon against him.
The Hanwha Eagles have produced two home run champions in their history. Jang Jong-hoon and Kim Tae-gyun. In addition to home runs, Noh also leads the league in RBIs (99) and total bases (0548). He can win three batting titles. The last time an Eagles hitter, including former Binggrae, won the batting trifecta was Jang Jong-hoon in 1992, when he led the team in home runs, RBIs, and runs batted in. It’s been 31 years since he did it.
Currently, Noh is hitting .299 with 99 RBIs. With Choi Jeong-jeong, who is second in home runs, out for the season due to injury, the de facto home run king, it will be interesting to see if he can reach the trifecta and 100 RBIs at the same time. A 30-homer, 100-RBI, and triple crown would give him a legitimate shot at the MVP award.메이저놀이터
What will Hanwha’s final standings look like, and will Noh achieve a meaningful milestone? All eyes will be on the Hanbadbees as they head into the final three-game series.