Li Dongming's 10 first‑half victories followed by slump, blames perfectionism.

Fubon Guardians' young pitcher Lee Tung-ming experienced a dramatic, roller-coaster season this year, becoming a focal point of intense discussion within the team. During the first half of the season, Lee delivered an impressive performance, securing 10 wins on his own. He showcased exceptional dominance and the value of a starting pitcher, briefly being regarded as one of the prime candidates to inherit the role of the local ace for the Guardians. However, as the season entered its second half, the competitive landscape shifted dramatically. Lee's win count stalled and he has yet to record a victory since, a stark contrast that has not only affected his personal statistics but also impacted the team's overall standing. To find the root of the problem and readjust his state, the coaching staff decided in mid-August to option him to the minor leagues, hoping that through scientific training and adequate rest, he could rediscover his form from the first half of the season.

Facing the brilliance of the first half and the slump of the second, Lee candidly faced the scrutiny of the media and fans while traveling with the first team. He provided an in-depth analysis of the main causes behind his decline in form, pointing out that the issue was not simply physical fatigue or bad luck, but rather steming from over-adjusting out of high self-expectations. In professional baseball, every player strives for perfection, and Lee is no exception. He admitted that although he achieved 10 wins in the first half, he always felt internally that certain aspects could be handled better and his pitches could be more aggressive, prompting a desire to innovate and change midway through the season. He attempted to make minor adjustments to his pitching mechanics and delivery in hopes of upgrading his overall performance.

However, these changes, driven by the pursuit of excellence, produced counterproductive results in actual competition. Lee stated that when he deliberately altered specific movement details, it confused his accustomed and stable muscle memory, causing his overall pitching mechanics to break down. In the high-pressure environment of professional baseball, even slight deviations in pitching mechanics are acutely captured by batters. Incoordination not only directly affected his velocity and stuff, but more fatally, led to a decline in command. This frequently forced him into behind-the-count situations against batters, preventing him from effectively suppressing opponents as he did in the first half, which ultimately reflected in his box scores as a prolonged drought in the win column.

This slump and the experience of being sent down to the minor leagues is undoubtedly a valuable lesson in the professional career of the young Lee. A professional baseball season is long and full of challenges; maintaining consistent performance throughout a year of first-team intensity has always been a major hurdle that all young pitchers must overcome. The 10 wins in the first half proved Lee's talent and ability to dominate games, while the second-half slump and mechanical breakdown highlighted areas—such as mental maturity, technical stability, and crisis management—that still require learning and refinement. The coaching staff's decision to temporarily option him to the minor leagues was not only for performance considerations, but also to protect the player, allowing him to review and lock in the correct pitching mechanics in an environment free from the pressure of wins and losses.

With Lee currently traveling with the first team, it signifies that his adjustments have entered the evaluation stage, and he is ready at any moment to return to the pitcher's mound and contribute to the team. For the Fubon Guardians, consistent output from local starting pitchers is an absolute and indispensable key to maintaining competitiveness in the second half of the season and in future campaigns. If Lee can learn from this setback and master the art of finding a balance between pursuing improvement and maintaining stability, this experience of stark contrasts between the two halves of the season will transform into the finest nourishment for his future growth in professional baseball, helping him evolve into a more mature and reliable frontline pitcher.