``No Problem on The Plate.``

Baseball Commentator Ha Il-Sung pointed out that the playoffs between the Hyundai and the Doosan have one thing decisively different from last year`s Korean Series. It is the game-managing ability of Doosan catcher Hong Sung-Heun.

Commentator Ha said, ``As I was watching the semi-playoffs between the Doosan and the Hanwha, I found that Hong Sung-Heun was much improved in the pitcher-leading and game-managing abilities, which had been inferior to Hyundai catcher Park Kyung-Wan last year. Now, he moved to the same level as Park.``

The baseball history proves that there have been good catchers as well as good pitchers in the strong teams. The Hyundai and the Doosan were also able to take their places in the high rank because they have possessed the excellent catchers just like Park Kyung-Wan (29) and Hong Sung-Heun (24).

Park Kyung-Wan is the nation`s best catcher who led the team to the top of the Korean Series twice in 1998 when he was traded from the SBW, and in 2000. He is a flawless commander of the ground, checking the runners with strong shoulder and leading the pitchers beyond the hitters` anticipation. In particular, Park won a regular season MVP last year with the powerful offensive ability smacking 40 home runs.

Compared to a `full-blown star` Park Kyung-Wan, Doosan`s Hong Sune-Heun might be called as a `rising star`. Hong had not received much attention at his amateur days in Joongang High School and Kyunghee University, but he succeeded to change his fate in the professional stage. Hong has taken the team`s leading catcher position for the past three years, since he earned a rookie of the year title in his 1999 professional debut. Hong was selected as a catcher with Park in the Korea`s dream team III to bring up the bronze medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Even though he has a weaker bat than Park`s, Hong has played a role to enliven the enthusiasm of the fielders with the terrific pitching lead, blocking ability, and unbeatable fighting spirit.

It is a matter of course that the role of `Field Commander` catcher is the key to the flow of game. Therefore, this year`s playoffs will also be determined by how well Park Kyung-Wan and Hong Sung-Heun are leading the pitchers and fielders on the plate.

Moreover, both should take a grave mission to prevent the opponent`s fast runners such as Jung Soo-Keun (Doosan) and Jeon Jun-Ho (Hyundai) from stealing base. Through this season, Park recorded the better stolen-base checking percentage (0.467) than Hong` 0.246. however, Hong expressed his enthusiasm to win, saying, ``It will be different from the pennant race. This is the third postseason for me. I`m gonna pay back the last year`s loss with more matured play.``

Kim Sang-Soo ssoo@donga.com