episode_0253

“Base on balls!”

“ha… . Can we continue to compete outside like this? “I’m going to run right away.”

“… … .”

I tried to somehow scratch the catcher as the outside game continued, but the catcher remained silent.

‘Tch. Well, it’s a walk, but a walk isn’t that bad.’

An outside battle that continues from the first at-bat. He touched that ball in his first at-bat, but in this at-bat, he waited for a better pitch and ended up getting a walk. Of course, the walk wasn’t a bad thing. The field in front of me was empty, and the score was currently tied 1:1, so the only thing left to do was punish the guys who lost their senses and gave up a walk.

One out, 1st base. It’s a very difficult situation to score, but if I run and get to third base with one out, it’s a different story.

“Are you going to run again?”

As I walked to first base, Koo Jin-mo spoke to me.

“of course.”

“You have a history of injuries, so be careful. “You just run around because you’re young, and then you end up having a hard time.”

“You should play while you are young. “I need to steal about 1,000 bases before I get old.”

“When I talk to you, I feel like I’m in another world. The units are different. “Unit.”

I exchanged a brief greeting with Gu Jin-mo and got ready to run right away. And as soon as UG’s pitcher threw the ball, he ran toward second base.

“Safe!”

The result is, of course, three leaves.

“I will run one more time.”

“What are you saying?”

“If you don’t want to be embarrassed, do your best from the next at-bat. … “Are you going to tell me?”

“… “You crazy bastard.”

And then he started running toward third base again. The game at third base was close, but my hand went in first by a narrow margin, and I was able to get a three-leaf decision.

Perfect!

And taking advantage of Kim Soo-ho’s subsequent hit to center field, he was able to step on home plate more comfortably than at the previous at-bat.

‘Is this a reversal? At this level, you won’t insist on winning on the outside anymore, right?’

“Meng Hao, it was really good. “You completely caught me today?”

“No, they only throw outside to get you on base so you can go out and run, but wouldn’t it be polite to run at this level?”

“We’re glad you’re on our team. “I don’t have the confidence to stop you either.”

“Senior Yoon Cheol, it’s okay for me not to stop, so please catch the other runners.”

“Big, big. “You should also try getting older.”

Perfect!

“Nice weather manager!”

While he was talking with his teammates in the dugout, a series of meteorological hits occurred and the situation became 1 and 2 bases with one out. However, Choi Jin-cheol’s subsequent double play ended the bottom of the third inning, and we were able to enter the top of the fourth inning with a one-run lead.

*

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Even if you try to filter out a fierce defender, you get a real lesson for stealing bases, right?

Wow, it’s so fucking fast.

-Wow UG these bastards are fighting so fucking hard that I won’t give them records. They’ve been on the outside since the first episode.

ㄴBut you still can’t stop the fierce tiger, right?

Who’s going to stop that speed? It seems impossible as a Korean catcher.

ㄴMoon Ki-taek was boring for a day or two? Haha

-Seeing how the fierce defender steals bases, I wonder if it will work in the majors.

I think it would work at about the speed of the Galaxy???

ㄴI heard that Ji Maeng-ho is 4 runs and a few seconds away from reaching first base, but if I’m being honest, I think he’ll hit .300 even if he just hits a single.

ㄴIt’s so amazing, how is he so good at stealing third base?

ㄴThere is an analysis of this, check it out (link)

-The reason Maeng Ho-shin is good at stealing third base = He only plays when timing a breaking ball. I looked at all of Ji Maeng-ho’s games where he stole bases, and strangely enough, it only depends on the timing of the breaking ball. To be honest, I thought it was a coincidence at first, but he stole close to 60 bases, so it can’t be a coincidence. Maybe it’s because it’s above the battery’s head, so it’s obvious what kind of ball is going to be thrown. First of all, I’m sure he has a really good head. And it doesn’t work well with the inspectors either. Is it like a magician of psychological warfare?

ㄴㄹㅇ Looking at the video, you only run when timing a breaking ball?

Wow, this guy is really crazy. How can a rookie do that?

ㄴㅋㅋㅋ This is why you shouldn’t give a walk to Meng Tiger.

ㄴHonestly, I think I could do a home steal if I wanted to.

-Ha, you should get punished rather than giving me points like this.

ㄴㄹㅇ If you allow a stolen base and give a point, it feels like you are being played by Ji Maeng-ho.

Public opinion on the operation, which focused only on the outside to block Ji Maeng-ho, was not very positive. Although UG’s head coach was also unaware of public opinion, he had a strong feeling that something was uneasy.

“Is this really the right way? “I’ve already donated two items.”

“I can’t help it. Since we decided to do this before the game, we have to see the results.”

Coach Moon Ki-taek responded to the head coach’s anxious mutterings.

“under… . It’s already 2 points. “Bellingham looks good today, but I’m worried.”

As the head coach said, AT’s starting pitcher, Bellingham, looked to be in quite good condition today, although he allowed 1 run while pitching 3 innings. In particular, the angle of the curve is so sharp that most batters are striking out. It was a situation where I couldn’t say anything was good even with empty words.

However, director Moon Ki-taek had a slightly different idea. In September, due to the starters complaining of fatigue, they had no choice but to use Song Ho-jun, a replacement starter, who was brought up to the extended list, and the two points against AT, a hard-hitting team, exceeded expectations.

Especially considering Ji Maeng-ho, who shows devil-like behavior against pitchers whose velocity is below a certain level, 2 points would have been a save.

‘Song Ho-jun’s average velocity is 146. Considering Ji Maeng-ho, who openly beat up pitchers below 150, it’s fortunate that he didn’t hit a home run in two consecutive at-bats.’

Moreover, Choi Jin-cheol, who became the 5th hitter following Ji Maeng-ho and ranked second in the league in home runs, felt like he was blocking well without Ji Maeng-ho.

‘Whoa, considering Choi Jin-cheol’s performance last year, it’s normal to be like this. All this time, because of Ji Maeng-ho, I had a very difficult time competing with Choi Jin-cheol.’

Choi Jin-cheol’s performance last year was .233 and 28 home runs. I think there are many reasons why Choi Jin-cheol, who everyone said was over, was able to rebound by hitting 41 home runs this season, but in Moon Ki-taek’s opinion, the biggest reason was the presence of Ji Maeng-ho.

Ji Maeng-ho is a hitter that all pitchers must be on guard against and put their heart and soul into each and every pitch. Naturally, after dealing with Ji Maeng-ho, since the pitcher is also a human being, he may lose concentration and may not be able to show his true skills due to the runners on base. And Choi Jin-cheol was a veteran hitter who could take advantage of that opportunity.

The synergy between those two was the core of AT’s batting lineup, but when Ji Maeng-ho came out as number 1, it felt like that synergy was missing.

‘In fall baseball, the batting order will be back to normal, right? Lee Soo-hyun, unless that guy is an idiot. Well, I’ll think about that later and focus on the game for now. ‘It’s a big achievement that the game didn’t break out even though we only hit Ji Maeng-ho with an outside ball.’

Coach Moon Ki-taek was satisfied with finding positive points even though he was losing. In fact, in cases where AT suffered a crushing defeat, there were many cases in which Ji Maeng-ho hit a home run or a timely hit early in the game, ruining the structure of the game before he could do anything about the big inning. From Moon Ki-taek’s perspective, the game was normal. I was satisfied with just the progress.

‘The question is whether Kyeong-ho’s mentality can endure… .’

Manager Moon Ki-taek looked at Baek Kyung-ho, who was resting in the dugout without his catching gear. In fact, not being able to catch a runner who was blatantly stealing base was very stressful. It is not surprising for a rookie catcher to have a mental breakdown. Director Moon Ki-taek was a little worried about Baek Kyung-ho, who always took care of the dirty work.

However, contrary to his worries, Baek Kyung-ho’s expression looked quite good. A poker face that gives the impression of a veteran. If the catcher could hold his ground like this, it was clear that replacement starter Song Ho-jun would not be shaken either.

‘I feel good about today’s game.’

The moment Moon Ki-taek checked the condition of catcher Baek Kyung-ho and turned his head to the ground, second baseman Won Joo-hyuk approached Baek Kyung-ho.

“Brother, Ji Maeng-ho is telling you to compete properly? It seems like he’s very upset because he keeps competing on the outside. Wow, I saw that bastard getting upset. “Are you sure today’s strategy is working?”

“okay? “What did that bastard say?”

Ji Maeng-ho’s words from his junior. Baek Kyung-ho came to his senses at Won Joo-hyuk’s words.

‘What on earth was that crazy bastard talking about?’

“Did I tell you to compete properly if you don’t want to be embarrassed? Anyway, that was the nuance.”

“… okay?”

‘discredit? Could it be that that psychopath… .’

Baek Kyung-ho quickly thought about what disgrace meant. The first thing that comes to mind is a body slam at home. After home collision prevention regulations were introduced, collisions at home disappeared, but it wouldn’t be strange if that psychopath didn’t care about such regulations and just body-butted someone. When I was a rookie, before home collision prevention regulations were established, I remember having to use my whole body to block big players, and I broke into a cold sweat.

‘If it wasn’t a headbutt, would you have hit me with a bat? No, that’s not right. So are you planning on stepping on me while I’m running to second base?’

No matter how you think about it, it’s your loss. I don’t know if he was young when he had nothing to fear, but Baek Kyung-ho, who was at an age where it would not be surprising if he retired after one injury, was afraid of Ji Maeng-ho.

‘Housing loan, children’s school fees, retirement funds… . ‘It’s still too early to retire.’

And I was afraid that I might have to retire due to an unexpected injury. A house that is still paying off its loan. The eldest child has now entered a private high school and is earning a living through tutoring, and the second child is entering elementary school. A fox-like wife who does nothing and is obsessed with stargazing, and even money for retirement.

Baek Kyung-ho did not want to lose his happy family by being bitten by a crazy person.

‘It’s not fall baseball, it’s just one game anyway. No, let’s just take a break from this series. ‘Because our team won’t lose even if I’m missing.’

With his mind made up, Baek Kyung-ho approached coach Moon Ki-taek, who was watching UG’s attack closely, in the top of the fourth inning.

“… “Director.”

“Yes, guard.”

“Anyway, I’m not in a very good condition. “It seems like lunch was strange.”

“okay? What’s going on? “You, a veteran, failed to manage your condition.”

Moon Ki-taek was quite surprised by the words of Baek Kyung-ho, who had never once mentioned that there was something wrong with his body. How can a silent veteran who always protects the team say something like this during a game? Even if Baek Kyung-ho’s condition was wrong, it seemed like it was definitely wrong.

“sorry. “Director.”

“okay. It must be difficult because of my age. i get it. I guess I’ll have to bring in Jeong Wan from the next inning. Kim Jeong-wan!”

“Yes, director.”

At Moon Ki-taek’s call, candidate catcher Kim Jeong-wan came running.

“Get ready for the next inning. “The security is in bad shape.”

“yes? Are you a senior guard? All right.”

“You know today’s strategy, right?”

“yes. “A thorough external competition.”

“Yes, it will be difficult, but persevere.”

“All right. “Director.”

“Guardian, you should leave the game to Jeongwan and rest first. Because managing your condition is important.”

“… thank you “Director.”

‘You can’t ruin your life by getting caught by a baseball psycho. I’m sorry to my teammates, but you never know.’

Baek Kyung-ho, who misunderstood Ji Maeng-ho as a psychopath crazy about baseball, was replaced like that, and from AT’s attack in the bottom of the fourth inning, candidate catcher Kim Jeong-wan sat at home plate wearing a catcher’s mask.

And in the bottom of the 5th inning, with the game still tied at 2:1, two outs. Ji Maeng-ho came to bat again.