episode_0229

“Ji Maeng-ho! “You had a great performance with 4 hits in 4 at-bats in the first game of the second half. How do you feel?”

“It’s not particularly good.”

“Yes, as expected… , yes?”

“Actually, I was in a good mood because I thought I would hit a home run when I came to Munhak, but I didn’t hit a home run today, so I feel a little bad. In fact, does it feel like a loss if you don’t hit a home run in literature? Next year, I think I’ll have to ask the leader to at least pull up the fence. haha.”

“As expected, an unhesitating answer… ! Where does Ji Maeng-ho’s confidence come from? .”

Ji Maeng-ho’s interview, which the UG Overlords players were watching, was cut off there.

“What do you think when you see it?”

“… … .”

UG’s players all fell silent at the low voice of UG’s coach, Moon Ki-taek.

“How long are you going to keep losing because you can’t stop this one arrogant bastard? huh?”

“… sorry.”

“You guys. Do you guys have no pride? Do you think it makes sense to be humiliated like that by a young guy? huh?”

After Ji Maeng-ho’s ‘Sniping Ceremony’ incident, Moon Ki-taek was one of the directors who criticized Ji Maeng-ho. Of course, even leaving that aside, Moon Ki-taek had quite a few reasons to be angry at Ji Maeng-ho.

First of all, looking at the relative record, with 10 games played, AT and UG’s relative record was 6 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw, with AT leading. The relative head-to-head record of being behind by 5th place AT was not very suitable for the strong team UG Overlords, who beat 2nd place Hyunseong by 2 games and are in 1st place.

“Is it possible for last year’s winning team to be held back by AT like this?”

And at the center of it all was Ji Maeng-ho, who was performing like a monster. Ji Maeng-ho, who played yesterday’s game with 4 hits in 4 at-bats, said it was no big deal.

“Are you guys professionals? “Do you think such performance makes sense as a professional?”

Director Moon Ki-taek sometimes wields a whip,

“Still, I trust you guys. You can do it. Think about the championship competition with Hyunsung last year. Was it harder than it is now? Nope. These guys are capable of doing everything, so I’m not doing this because I’m frustrated. huh?”

Sometimes he gave carrots to instill a competitive spirit in the players’ hearts. At Moon Ki-taek’s words, lights began to light up in the players’ eyes one by one.

One of Moon Ki-taek’s greatest strengths was his ability to dominate such players. He recovered the team that had fallen to 7th place in 2017 and ranked 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, and 1st after first place in 2018, his first year in office, and based on such achievements, it would be sad to be second when selecting a great general in the current KBA League. The director was Moon Ki-taek.

“Director, I understand what you are saying. But I am afraid of Ji Meng-ho.”

Of course, even so, not all players deeply accepted Moon Ki-taek’s words. Most of the players who accepted Moon Ki-taek’s words were batters who did not play against Ji Maeng-ho directly. However, the pitchers who competed directly with Ji Maeng-ho were under a lot of pressure, so there was a fear of Ji Maeng-ho in their hearts.

It was a statement that could have lowered the team’s morale, but only by acknowledging one’s own condition can one move forward. Kim Seong-gyeol had the courage to speak out about the hardships that only players who play on the field can know.

And when Kim Seong-gyeol, the leader among UG’s pitchers, said that he was afraid of Ji Maeng-ho, Moon Ki-taek sighed inwardly.

“Seonggyeol, are you afraid of Ji Mengho? “That young guy.”

“Honestly, I’m scared. Same thing during the All-Star Game.”

The pitcher was a creature full of pride in himself. If you don’t have the pride that you are the best at any time, you will not be able to withstand the pressure of the mound and will collapse. And among those pitchers, Kim Seong-gyeol, who has the highest stock price, was saying that he was afraid of Ji Maeng-ho.

“Seonggyeol said something like that… .”

Although all teams in the KBA tried to attack, the batter who could not be targeted was Ji Maeng-ho, so Kim Seong-gyeol’s words did not feel like mere complaints. Since Kim Seong-gyeol’s words were those of a pitcher full of pride, one could feel his respect for the hitter who is currently performing the best in the league.

“I have no idea how to deal with it. Curves and changeups don’t work either. However, when I decided to compete with a fastball, even balls over 160 went over the fence with ease, so… . Why are you playing in Korea? . “I feel like I want to compete, but no matter how I throw it, the only image that comes to mind is that it goes over the fence.”

Just before the atmosphere that Moon Ki-taek had worked so hard to create was destroyed by the words of Kim Seong-gyeol, UG’s ace and representative of the KBA League, Moon Ki-taek opened his mouth again in a low voice.

“Yes, it can be scary.”

“Director?”

“I was a professional player too, and every time I met, there was a hitter I was afraid of. “This is Joo Hyung-jin, whom you all know well.”

Around the time when Joo Hyung-jin, the hero of Korean baseball, broke out of his egg and soared, Moon Ki-taek was also a pitcher who enjoyed the same era.

“Every time we met, I felt like he would hit a home run, and the media also used to spotlight Joo Hyung-jin. But that’s it. I didn’t lose to Joo Hyung-jin. “Do you know why?”

All the UG players in the meeting room listened intently to Coach Moon Ki-taek’s story about his time as a player, something that even the UG players who had been together for over 5 years had not heard before.

“… “Director?”

“I threw it towards the body. The place that hitters fear the most. “After getting it right about three times, I didn’t stand inside the batter’s box after that.”

“that… .”

“Why do you think my methods are cowardly? But, that’s baseball. Doing everything your opponent doesn’t like, that’s baseball. “If you can’t win, fight with the intention of destroying your opponent.”

“But unlike senior Joo Hyung-jin, Ji Maeng-ho is a dangerous runner even on base.”

One pitcher asked that question. The biggest difference between Joo Hyung-jin and Ji Maeng-ho is their focus. To date, no catcher has been able to snipe Ji Maeng-ho from stealing a base. Even if he hits Ji Maeng-ho, Ji Maeng-ho was a runner who could run to third base at any time.

“Destroy the opponent. It’s the same with beasts. “Don’t make pitchers carry that burden on their own.”

“yes?”

“Since when did baseball become about thinking about your opponent and being careful? The beasts are the same. If Ji Maeng-ho runs, defend with the intention of breaking his legs. Block the base with your feet, step on your hands and raise your knees when sliding to prevent your head from coming in. Don’t let that arrogant bastard run amok any longer! “Baseball is war!”

“Director… .”

“Make sure you never underestimate our team again. “I am responsible for the rest.”

The hearts of the UG players, who had almost collapsed, began to burn again at Moon Ki-taek’s declaration that he would use any method to help the team win.

*

“Senior Jinmo, are you the designated hitter today?”

For a first baseman, defensive ability was not considered a very important factor, but it was also an ability that was difficult to ignore once the defensive ability exceeded a certain level. From that perspective, there were only a few first basemen in the KBA league who were recognized for their defensive skills.

One of those first basemen was Koo Jin-mo, who is currently on second base. From the manager’s perspective, I thought it would be difficult to give up on Koo Jin-mo’s first base defense ability, but I thought it was a bit surprising to see Koo Jin-mo play as a designated hitter like today.

Well, that’s what I thought, but I was just a little bored and wanted to talk. Because not a single ball has come my way since the game started. So, in this ball-dead situation, I talked to a familiar face, Jinmo Koo.

“The speed is good. “I just scored first, and you don’t mind?”

“Hey, my relationship with you is not normal.”

“What are you and I doing?”

“Hey, didn’t we share a bat?”

Of course, throughout the national team period, Koo Jin-mo and I were in a relationship that cannot be said to be good even with empty words. Because I bumped into a lot of things. However, after hitting the decisive home run by borrowing Koo Jin-mo’s bat, I thought it was okay to joke around like this.

“Is it really difficult, Senpai? But is it difficult enough for a first baseman to manage his physical strength? Even though it’s summer… . ah! Is it because I’m older? But weren’t you the same age as Suho? “Is summer already having a hard time?”

“Are you trying to scratch me?”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

How did know? Gu Jin-mo was a straightforward person, so when he scratched, his reaction was quite interesting. Of course, because I was a straightforward person, there were times when I clashed even more.

“Tsk… .”

Gu Jin-mo clicks his tongue strongly. Gu Jin-mo clicked his tongue and moved his lips as if he was trying to say something.

“Why, do you have something to say?”

“Write it. hey.”

“yes.”

“be careful.”

“suddenly?”

What is this guy out of nowhere?

“Just be careful.”

I tried to ask him why he said that, but after a short break, Jang Yoon started pitching again. Several balls went into the catcher’s mitt, and soon the batter’s bat and ball collided.

Perfect!

A high flying ball. Perhaps because I relieved my boredom while talking to Gu Jin-mo, the batted ball floated to a position where I could catch it.

“My ball.”

After shouting a call, I approached the batted ball and easily caught it. Taking advantage of the inning shift, he tried to scratch Koo Jin-mo one more time, but because it was two outs, Koo Jin-mo had already disappeared.

‘But what were your last words? I feel uncomfortable for no reason.’

And it didn’t take long to see what that meant.

“cheek!”

“Ha, fuck. How many are these? Senpai, you’re throwing three in a row towards yourself? “If I throw it one more time, you really won’t hold back?”

These kids seemed to have made a plan today and kept hitting the ball towards their bodies. And that too, in a location far outside the strike zone. Considering Kim Seong-gyeol’s control of the ball, the situation is thought to be intentional.

But what was more annoying was that the ball was coming to such an ambiguous location that it wouldn’t hit me even if I didn’t dodge it. A ball that comes to such an ambiguous place that if the pitcher fails to control the ball even slightly, it is immediately called a dead ball.

If I had thrown it in a position that suited my body, I would have been able to run away, but since I was in an awkward position that was getting on my nerves and just watching, I had no choice but to just talk.

“… … .”

‘I’m going to keep shutting up, right?’

Moreover, I didn’t like the catcher who kept his mouth shut even when I spoke to him.

“I got 1 point, can I just skip it? “I’m going to run to third base?”

Since I came out as the leadoff hitter in the top of the second inning, there were no runners to block my path to third base. In such a situation, you would think of putting me on base by walking. Either my liver was swollen or I was afraid of hitting a home run.

“cheek.”

And Kim Seong-gyeol’s fourth ball flew in a similar manner this time. If you had bent your elbows a little more, you would have been hit directly.

“Hey, fuck. “It makes baseball sound bad.”

I thought about running, but since I had no chance of hitting a home run if I got ejected early in the game, I held back and walked to first base.

‘If you filtered me out, you’ll have to pay, right?’

‘Are you going to run right away?’

‘yes.’

And the opportunity to run came quickly. Kim Seong-gyeol, who is already not good at checking due to his side arm, grabbed a curved grip on the second ball. I ran to second base without missing the timing.

‘done!’

Familiar timing and familiar sliding. I just stretched out my hand to second base.

‘Huh, huh?’

At that time, I felt the second baseman, who was guarding second base, turn his knee toward my hand. The senses I had developed through countless slides sounded a warning that it was dangerous. In a movement that seemed different from his usual base cover, he withdrew his outstretched left hand.

“out!”

“Oh, Mr.!”

And because of the hand he took, he suffered a second stolen base failure of the season. But more than that, I was more angry about that arrogant position.

‘Mr. Rossby, did that bastard just try to stamp my hand with his knee?’

However, since we were not sure, we asked Rossby, an expert in this field, a question.

‘It was clumsy. Hehe, if it were me, I wouldn’t have been able to even hold a bat for half a year. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been a bad idea to shoot it with spikes. ‘People these days are so soft-hearted.’

And Rossby confirmed my thoughts.

‘I wondered why these bastards were like this today, so I told them to be careful, right?’

Gu Jin-mo’s face came to mind as he told me to be careful with an uncomfortable expression. Now I felt like I could clearly see what that meant.

‘How dare you play a prank on me like this? ‘I’ve searched everything, you motherfuckers.’