Dinos Take Charge in KBO
Wednesday, September 30th, 2020The Dinos lost their ace Koo Chang-mo back in late July. They lost their slugger Na Sung-bum for about ten days in mid-September. They also began losing their lead to the LG Twins and the Kiwoom Heroes, falling to just half a game at one point.
That no longer is the case as the Dinos have stormed to a 10 game winning streak and increased their lead to seven games. The Heroes and Twins have been relegated to .500 ball and have now dropped to third and fourth in the standings. It is the KT Wiz that have taken over the second place spot. The Wiz arrived as an expansion team the same year as the NC Dinos, but unlike the Dinos they have yet to make the playoffs.
Addison Russell has found the KBO a little more difficult, his batting average dropping to .258. The Heroes fortunes have also been dropping with his batting average. Russell only has one hit in his last 18 at bats. He has only hit one homerun and his slugging average is creeping closer to below .300. When he first arrived to the KBO scene Russell was an RBI machine, driving in at least one run in his first four games, but that production has also disappeared.
The defending champion Doosan Bears have lost their hold on the final spot in the playoffs after being one hit by Warwick Saupold and the last place Hanwha Eagles 10-0. The Kia Tigers have taken over the fifth place spot after their 3-2 win over the sliding Kiwoom Heroes. The Lotte Giants still have faint playoff hopes, but find themselves five games back of the Tigers.
With only about 25 games to the season it would take a Dino collapse to lose their first place spot.