“In our Dominica…” Containment of squat anomalies? Perspective of the only foreign commander in Korea

The so-called ‘squat’ check at the center of repeated controversies. What is the position of the only foreign commander in Korea?

The Lotte Giants will play the last game of the weekend series against the KIA Tigers at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 13th.

It is a matchup between foreign pitchers from both teams. Charlie Barnes for Lotte and Mario Sanchez for KIA.

It is Sanchez’s first appearance against Lotte since joining the KBO League in July. The Lotte command tower is Larry Sutton, the only foreign command tower in the KBO League. He has a lot of experience in American baseball as a player and coach. As much as he lives in Dominica off-season, he is also familiar with so-called ‘Latin baseball’, such as the winter league.

Sanchez made his impressive debut against the KT Wiz on July 9, giving up 1 run in 6⅓ innings. But what made him more famous than his good grades is his unique containment moves.

He faces first base and sits halfway down with his knees folded wide as if he were doing a squat. He twists toward first base, then looks at the batter again and throws the ball.

However, this move became the main object of protest from KBO commanders, starting with KT coach Lee Kang-cheol. It is pointed out that he commits a balk that deceives the runner by leaning toward first base.

In particular, the point of criticism was that it was an ‘inconsistent routine’ in which runners were on first base and not when they were on second and third base.

Regarding this, the KBO Referees Committee interpreted that ‘it is forbidden to put the right foot on the pitch and check toward first base while leaning down’. But Sanchez’s move often came out like a habit. Commentator Lee Soon-chul, who relayed Sanchez’s match against the Gwangju Hanwha Eagles on the 6th, said, “The movements are not constant. I don’t know if I don’t check, but I do. This is a problem for Sanchez, who does that action, but KBO, which does not regulate, is more problematic.” He has been subject to strong criticism.

On the other hand, Sanchez is full of dissatisfaction, saying, “A movement that has not been pointed out in the United States or Taiwan is only a problem in Korea.”

Coach Sutton replied, “I have a variety of checks that are different from existing foreign and Korean pitchers. I prepared enough while watching the video.”

“There are pitchers who make so many irregular movements in the (Dominican) Winter League or the US (Minor League). It’s not new,” he said. It’s the key. If there are two moves, one of them is a balk,” he said forcefully.안전놀이터

In August, Sanchez showed a sluggish performance with 7 runs in 4 innings (against Samsung Lions on the 1st) and 4 runs in 4⅓ innings (against Hanwha on the 6th). Is it because of the burden of not being able to take an irregular action?