episode_0103

The world is wide.

Actually, I knew it. Since Sung Hyun and Jung Woo-sung threw a lot in the match against Japan, there was no hope for the finals. And Joo Seung-cheol, who can be considered the center of Korea’s batting lineup, was missing due to injury.

As expected, the US national team advanced to the finals. And the total number of Major League All-Stars. American starting pitcher Verlander finished the top of the first inning with a three-way error. And then the bottom of the first inning began.

Korea’s starting pitcher was NV Rex’s ace, Kim Si-hyun. The ace who led the weak NV Rex to 5th place in the 2021 season. He was a pitcher with high expectations in Korea, as he was aiming to advance to the majors as a free agent.

But America’s number one hitter is Trout.

Why is Trout batting first? There may be people who question this. When I looked at the lineup, all the players on the national team also had doubts.

But if you look at the lineup, you see, Trout can play number 1. They just put good players at the top of the batting order. Everyone was convinced.

Although there was an injury last season, the number one hitter, Trout, who hit 40 home runs with a batting average of 0.283, and the number two hitter, Judge, who hit 62 home runs, a clean home run record, and won the American League MVP award. And Goldschmitz, the National League MVP and third hitter, hit 35 home runs with a batting average of 0.317.

In the bottom of the first inning, when the best sluggers in the major leagues came out, I could only stare blankly at the sky, admiring the flying batted balls.

‘It’s gone again.’

Trout’s walk gets him on base, Judge’s two runs. And Goldschmitz’s back-to-back home runs. Kim Si-hyun collapsed, giving up 3 points from the first inning. Korea’s plan was to have Kim Si-hyun eat at least two innings, so there was no pitcher in the bullpen. Although Choi Joong-hoon was in a hurry to prepare. I won’t put it in in the first inning.

Moreover, the next batter was Harper. Harper also didn’t play in many games, but he hit 18 home runs with a batting average of 0.286. If it weren’t for injuries, he would have been competing for MVP this season as well.

“… … .”

“… … .”

The infielders were in no mood to shout “fighting” due to the continued battering. It was the same for me too.

‘hmm… . ‘When will it end?’

Rossby also seemed bored. Sweat was pouring down Kim Si-hyun’s body like rain, and Harper entered the batter’s box. Ball, ball, ball. The ball thrown by Kim Si-hyun leaves the strike zone three times in a row.

“Seniors. “It’s a refreshing shot at the walk bar, right?”

“Ji Maeng-ho, are you going to blow your mouth again? “Are you still out of your mind?”

“… sorry.”

Choi Joo-tae’s words scolding me. However, unlike last time, the voice was soulless. Because I never thought I could win. Moreover, America’s benches were also full of monsters. Stanton or Freeman or something.

“Base on balls!”

Regardless, the next batter is also a slugger. Betts bats 5th. A typewriter who has a hard time explaining things.

Perfect!

The ball that Betts lightly hit flew far into the outfield. Center fielder Lee Eun-chong is doing his best. Eun-chong Lee dived and caught the first out count near the fence.

“One out! One out! Let’s catch two more! “Only two!!”

Eun-chong Lee is heard shouting from the edge of the outfield.

“Fuck. Did you try throwing it? under… .”

And the sound of Kim Si-hyun muttering on the mound.

We didn’t know each other very well because the pitching and batting teams were separate, but we knew each other to some extent. Kim Si-hyun is a good person. I never saw him swear during training, and I heard he was a good senior who even bought food for the young pitcher.

But Kim Si-hyun was swearing on the mound. As I watched from behind, it was clear that an unimaginable pressure was pressing down on Kim Si-hyun.

“Sihyeon! Send one my way! “I will stop everything!”

Still, Choi Joo-tae’s mouth relaxed, perhaps because he got one out count. However, Kim Si-hyun’s expression was still unresolved.

‘That guy is completely screwed. I lost my fighting spirit.’

‘It looks that way to me.’

I would have done anything to show any signs of life like Seong-hyeon, but Kim Si-hyeon’s eyes were already dead. And as I expected, Kim Si-hyun collapsed on the mound after hitting a huge home run from the next batter, Arenado.

“Change pitcher. Choi Joong-hoon.”

A worse manager came up and announced a replacement pitcher.

“Sihyeon, you worked hard.”

“… sorry. Director… .”

Kim Si-hyun’s eyes sparkle. The helplessness of not being able to do anything was welling up in those tears.

“Let’s gather around the infield. Let’s block just one. just one! You can do it, right? “We have to help Joong-hoon!”

While Choi Joong-hoon was practicing pitching, Koo Jin-mo called us together.

“You don’t have to do anything until the ball comes.”

“… Ji Maeng-ho.”

Yikes, as my true feelings came out without my knowledge, Kim Su-ho glared at me.

“… sorry.”

“Brothers, Meng Hao is also telling us to do well. under… . Let’s score some runs next inning. okay?”

“Joo-tae, you know that if a guy who got kicked out in the first pitch says something like that, it’s not credible, right?”

Still, thanks to Choi Joo-tae, the dark atmosphere was slightly relieved.

… And it took less than five minutes for the atmosphere to darken again.

Walks, hits, walks. With one out and bases loaded. The batter is Trout.

“[hey! Hit me gently!]”

Choi Joo-tae shouted at his teammate Trout. Trout also seemed to have understood Choi Joo-tae’s words and smiled. And then Trout came to the plate.

‘hmm… . If it’s the usual cliché, here’s a grand slam… ,’

Dang!

As Trout’s batted ball flew by, I stopped thinking and went straight to second base.

“Brother Joo-tae!”

“receive!”

shortstop.

“out!”

Second baseman.

“First base!!”

“Throw it!!”

First baseman. A 6-4-3 double play that connects like water!

“nice!!”

“I blocked it!!”

“Joo Tae-ya, good defense!”

“Meng Hao, nice cover!”

The long first inning ended like that.

“Guys! The game isn’t over yet! Everyone focus! 5 points difference is no big deal! “We can do it!”

After the end of the first inning and entering the dugout, Ki Ki-joo called the players together. There were people older than him, but Ki Ki-joo paid them no heed and continued to spit out words.

“Verlander? That bastard is a piece of shit. They say he throws it at 95 mph, but it’s just a ball in the low 150s. I can hit it well enough. These days, pitchers who throw 150 degrees are common in Korea, right? Otani Think about it, Otani. “That bastard is just a piece of shit!”

There were many pitchers who threw 150. Of course, that wasn’t the average velocity. The problem is that the average speed is 152km/h. But that wasn’t important right now.

Everyone knew that, including me and the other players, but none of them complained about what Ki Ki-joo said.

There is no player who wants to lose even if the defeat is heavy.

“Sangju Mai has grown up. Ham will show you.”

Kang Han-beom, the fourth batter, sprays spray on his bat and leaves the dugout.

“Hanbeom hyung! Go for it!”

“Let me show you one!”

“If you can’t hit here, you’ll lose! Strong Beom!”

“What are you doing?!”

Kang Han-beom looks back at the dugout with a smile. Are you confident… ?

‘Your face is frozen.’

Rossby, who remained on the mound to check Verlander’s grip, mutters. After all, even a batter as strong as Kang Han Beom would feel burdened… .

*

[Verlander dealing with Kang Han-beom. Throwing the seventh ball!]

Ta – evil!

An ordinary ground ball rolling in front of the shortstop. Even if Usain Bolt bats from the left-hand side, it is a ball that is sure to be out. Kang Han-beom ran to first base carrying a large body weighing over 100 kg. It was slow, but at this moment, it was a sprint that was faster than anyone else’s.

[out. Kang Han-beom gets out at first base.]

[ah… . hmm… . Oh, Kang Han-beom is currently the most senior member of the national team, right? The players sitting in the dugout need to see this and learn. Even when it is 99.9% certain that we are out, we believe in a 0.1% chance and run with all our might. Even though you may be 5 points behind, you should never give up. We achieved a miraculous comeback victory over Japan, and our players can do it.]

[That’s right. It’s not over until it’s over. As the old adage in baseball goes, you must do your best until the end. Still early in the second inning. There are a lot of games left. Now the next batter, Koo Jin-mo, comes in.]

[Koo Jin-mo showed a bad performance in the last match against Japan, but he is showing a good performance throughout the WBC, right? I hope to show you a great side this time too.]

[Verlander’s first pitch. This is a strike that goes fully into the zone. Velocity is 96.2 mph. Koo Jin-mo shook his head.]

[How old is Verlander now, and does he throw a ball like this? ah! This ball really makes no sense.]

[Goo Jin-mo won the Golden Glove again after three years by hitting 43 home runs in the KBA League last season! I need to show it here. The second ball is a slider. Gu Jin-mo, I will endure it!]

[As expected of Gu Jin-mo! Although he is a player with a lot of strikeouts, his eye for the ball is quite good!]

[Three-ball strike! This batted ball falls exquisitely in front of right field! Koo Jin-mo gets on base for the first time! He doesn’t seem to be intimidated by Verlander!]

[Now the next batters are Ki Ki-joo and Ji Maeng-ho. These are hitters with one shot, so they can make up for it!]

‘can do. You’ve also dealt with Verlander, right?’

Ki Ki-joo walked to the plate with a nervous heart. During the WBC period, Meteorological Week’s batting average was 9 hits in 20 at-bats. Although the batting average was close to .500, Ki Ki-ju was not satisfied with that batting average.

-‘Geunsangju, is there a reason why this bastard was released? They play really well against Australia, Panama, China, and Taiwan, but they can’t play at all against Japan or the United States. They say that weather forecasting is just for domestic use.’

After the dinner party was over, I turned on my phone and saw this post. Although it was malicious, Ki Ki-ju could not refute those words. Even though it was a lie to say that I couldn’t hit even one, it was true to some extent. In addition, the batting order was adjusted against the United States. The director must have known that fact deep down.

However, Ki Ki-joo was a hitter who had reached his peak in Korea, and instead of venting his anger, he looked at the pitches of Verlander, who was expected to be the starting pitcher all night.

‘… ‘You can do it well, right?’

But even so, I couldn’t help but feel my heart tremble. Last season, Verlander’s pitching was ‘monster’ as his nickname suggested. And what he showed today was not much different from what he showed last year.

“Stop!”

Verlander’s curveball fell like a waterfall and passed through the strike zone. The ball appears too low to the meteorologist’s eye.

“[Wasn’t it low?]”

“[I came in. Are you dissatisfied with the decision?]”

“[no.]”

I tried to complain to the referee using the English I had learned during my three years of living in the U.S., but it didn’t work either.

‘I didn’t even expect it in the first place.’

Verlander takes the setup position again. I played it so many times yesterday that I can now see the pitching form even if I close my eyes.

The baseball leaves Verlander’s hand and curls in from the outside.

‘Slider… !’

Ki Ki-ju turned the bat smoothly as he trained while watching the video and practiced his swing according to the trajectory.

Perfect!

[Water alert! Technical blow! It’s an exquisite push!]

[I aimed well at Verlander’s backdoor slider. This is it! Weather warning! There was a strong shift to the left, and the clever Ki Gi-ju pushed it in exquisitely!]

[Now the situation is 1 out, 1st and 2nd bases! Ji Maeng-ho comes to bat!]