episode_0116

There are many derbies in the Korean professional baseball world. Representative derbies include the Charlotte Blue Mariners, based in Busan, and the Yeonghonam Derby, between the Future Buffaloes, based in Gwangju. Hyunseong Mad Cats’ classic derby based on Charlotte and Daegu. NV Rex’s Nakdong River Derby featuring Charlotte and Masan.

And the AT Thunders, who were competing for last place in the 2000s, and the Charlotte Blue Mariners, also known as Colot’s bizarre performance, face each other in Etcolashco.

Perhaps these rivalries arose because the original team, the Charlotte Blue Mariners, based in the old city of Busan, was very popular. In addition, fans were paying more attention to Charlotte because they had a performance that made them feel like they would lose no matter which weak team they played against and win no matter which strong team they played against.

For reference, the Mirae Buffaloes were also the most popular team in Korea, but they showed dominating performance in strong years and were too weak in weak years, so there were not many famous rivalries.

Anyway, aside from the games between Charlotte and other clubs, there was one more famous rivalry in the KBA. It is the Jamsil rivalry between AT Thunders and Hancheol Grizzlies, the only team that shares the same stadium.

From the perspective of AT, which had used Jamsil as its home from the beginning, it was natural that the tenant, the Hancheol Grizzlies, was not happy with it, and since the Hancheol Grizzlies had also received a promise from the KBA and moved down to Chungcheong Province and then moved up, the AT Thunders pretending to be the owner of Jamsil. I didn’t like it.

Moreover, in the 90s, the AT Thunders completely crushed Hancheol during their heyday, and Hancheol’s inferiority complex deepened. That structure changed in the early 2000s with the collapse of AT. At the same time as AT’s fall, the Hancheol Grizzlies emerged as a strong team, and the gap has widened completely as they won several championships in the 2010s.

The relative record is at a level where AT has not beaten Hancheol in nearly 10 years, and with only one win in one season, the relationship has become such that it can hardly be called rivals, but the emotional goal that AT Thunders has against Hancheol is It got deeper.

It was the AT Thunders’ pattern every year that when the team was doing well, they were swept by Hancheol and fell.

In the case of Hancheol, it seemed like they cared more about the championship contenders Hyunsung, UG, and Silla than AT, but AT Thunders fans hated losing against Hancheol more than being swept by another team.

How do I know that when I’m not interested in Korean baseball?

“… therefore! Hancheol must win no matter what! got it? Is it Meng Hao? “What’s more frustrating than dying is losing to Hancheol!”

Soyoung, who had been talking passionately in front of me for 30 minutes, kept repeating the same story like a drunk person! From the history of Korean baseball to the meaning behind hometown rivalries, I felt like I was bored to death.

“Okay, stop now.”

“Really, definitely! Losing in the opening game? I won’t leave you alone! Just try to lose to the kids who live in rented rooms. really!”

“But you also lost to Jo-eun, who lives in a rented room, right?”

It wasn’t really a rented room. Because Jo-eun was living in the spare house by paying rent. Well, the price is cheaper than the market price.

“… “This is the same as that?!”

When I mentioned what happened last night, Soyoung got upset and screamed, then went back to her house.

“sister! “You have to take your panties with you!”

Anyway, it’s cute.

Anyway, Soyoung started watching baseball in earnest around 2002. Since it was a time when AT was on the path to decline, it seemed like she could sense her inferiority complex to the Grizzlies without having to speak out loud like that.

‘hmm… . Now that you think about it, AT has been ruined since Soyoung saw it? ‘Is Soyoung perhaps the culprit of the defeat?’

If I tell you these thoughts, Soyoung will probably beat me to death, right? I won’t talk about this until the day I die.

-Soyoung: I really can’t lose! Maengho, I will only trust you!!!♥♥

Did you send a message as soon as you got home? Anyway, even if Soyoung didn’t ask for help, I didn’t want to lose. Since I was a player, it was natural to win.

*

“Today’s starting lineup will be as discussed yesterday.”

AT Thunders’ conference room, the manager’s words are relayed through an interpreter.

“First batter, second baseman Ji Maeng-ho. Second batter, third baseman Kim Su-ho. Third batter, left fielder Ki Ki-joo. Batter number 4, designated hitter Boer. 5th batter, first baseman Choi Jin-cheol, 6th batter, right fielder Woo Kwan-hyung. 7th batter, catcher Jeong Yun-cheol. 8th batter, shortstop Kang Hee-seok. Batter number 9, center fielder Kim Joo-yeop. “Does anyone have any objections?”

“doesn’t exist.”

The lineup was no different from what was described yesterday. The fact that Kang Hee-seok came in instead of Yoon Seong-tae, who hits some hits, means that the defense will be more stable since it is the opening game, right?

“The coach specifically asked Hee-seok to pay more attention to defense. “I guess it’s because the Keystone duo are rookies.”

“Tell him not to worry.”

“yes.”

Kang Hee-seok says that and looks at me.

“You’re the youngest. Just trust your brother.”

“Ah yes.”

The reason Kang Hee-seok was able to remain in the first team for nearly 20 years despite his poor batting skills was because of his defense. I felt more comfortable with Seongtae because I had been working with him since the finishing camp, but I also understood the coach’s choice.

But what did they really talk about at the dinner party? When I saw Kang Hee-seok’s friendly smiling expression, I became even more curious.

“Today’s starting pitcher is Jansen, as we have been talking about. Jeong Yun-cheol, please pay special attention to ball mixing. Since this is his first appearance in the KBA League, he wants veteran Jeong Yun-cheol to lead Jansen.”

“okay.”

“now. Today’s opponent is the Hancheol Grizzlies. You know everything, right? “If you lose in the opening game, you can’t say anything even if stones are thrown at you by car.”

Coach Kim Byeong-cheol, the most experienced Korean coach, encouraged the players on behalf of the foreign coaches. But throwing stones… ? Since it’s Soyoung’s car, I shouldn’t get offended… .

“yes!”

“I will do my best!”

“Let’s win!”

While the players were answering, I immediately asked Woo Kwan-hyung next to me what I was curious about.

“Senior, are you really throwing stones?”

“… “When I was a rookie, there were fans like that sometimes.”

Looking at Woo Kwan-hyung’s expression, it seemed like it was true. Does that mean the match against Hancheol is that important? But the good news is that that’s not the case these days… .

“… “These days, there are a few fans who scratch their cars, even if they don’t hit rocks.”

“For some reason, your car has a lot of wear and tear. Has it been 10 years since you bought it?”

“… “I picked it last year.”

Fuck! But there were that many scratches? I heard it from Soyoung, but it’s really like this… ! I heard that the thing AT fans hate more than death is losing to Hancheol, but I guess Soyoung got scratched a few times when she was young, right?

Anyway, in order to protect the car Soyoung lent me, I must win today!

*

“Maybe because it’s a daytime game, the sunlight is strong.”

14:00. It wasn’t the best time to play baseball. Even though it was spring, there was this much sunlight. It was scary to think of playing a daytime game in summer.

“If the sunlight is strong, please wear sunglasses.”

“Is it because we played a lot of daytime games in the second team? “Thank you for the advice.”

“A shameless bastard… . “It would be nice to be a starter.”

“Well, if you try hard, you can do it too.”

“Okay, do well.”

Yun Seong-tae seemed to be very heartbroken, seeing as he didn’t react much to my scolding. I heard you hit a bit during the exhibition game.

“Meng Hao, are you ready?”

While I was chatting with Seongtae Yoon, the hitting coach called me.

“yes.”

“You remember the power analysis, right? “Would you like me to explain this one more time?”

“it’s okay.”

Since you are already familiar with the opponent’s selection, there is no need to hear it separately.

“Okay, just show it to me.”

“All right.”

It’s been quite a while since I played in a game as the number one hitter. Was it a phoenix flag? I think it was my first business trip at that time.

Playing as the number one hitter was at a disadvantage because Rossby had less time to look at the pitchers’ grips, but he wasn’t facing Ohtani and that was it.

The starting pitcher for the Grizzlies today is Denilson Radet, who was recruited this season. Average speed is 153km/h. He was a pitcher who threw a sinker, slider, and changeup. He is of Dominican descent and has a tough personality… . It was a face. Why was it a girl?

He is about 155cm tall and has a cute face. Moreover, it was a girl with a face I felt like I had seen before. I feel like I’ve seen it recently… .

‘It looks like I want to eat it.’

‘… Mr. Rossby too? me too.’

Rossby, a racist, means that he wants to fuck her because she is beautiful. I also agreed with Rossby.

[Today’s first pitch is Joo Seung-cheol’s younger brother. This is influencer, Joo Jia Yang. It is said that they are here to pray for the victory of Hancheol Grizzlies and for Joo Seung-cheol’s speedy recovery.]

The announcer’s words can be heard. that’s right. In professional baseball, there was a first pitch. I was embarrassed for no reason. But Joo Seung-cheol’s younger brother? When I came to my senses and checked her face, I saw that it was the girl from the video I saw on Soyoung’s cell phone yesterday.

By the way, Joo Hyung-jin and Joo Seung-cheol were quite tall, but he is a bit short.

“hello! This is iTuber, Joo Ji-Ah. I am grateful to the team members who invited me, and I hope Seungcheol gets better quickly and shows a good performance this year as well! thank you! Hancheol Grizzlies Fighting! “Fighting, the strongest Hancheol!!!”

The volume of voice that was hard to believe coming from a small body resonated through Jamsil Stadium through the microphone. And then Joo Jia’s first pitch began. As expected, her posture and motor skills were unusual, proving that she was Joo Hyung-jin’s daughter.

“Oh, that’s a bit of a throw.”

“Is that so? I think he’s better than most kids. After all, a bloodline is a bloodline?”

A familiar voice was heard from home plate. National team catcher Lee Yong-gi… . My seniors told me to be careful because I was quite good at trash talking.

“Oh, Senior Courage. hello. Long time no see.”

Still, I was a Confucian man who knew how to respect my seniors, so I greeted him lightly.

“okay.”

“Please be kind to the referee as well.”

And for the first time in a while, I said hello to the referee. During the WBC period, I didn’t say hello to them because they were foreign referees, but since they were faces I would get tired of seeing in the KBA, it would have been better to say hello. From what I heard from Woo Kwan-hyung, there are referees who give you half an extra point if you don’t say hello.

“Seniors. How do you like his balls?”

“Feel it.”

Is it difficult to get information from Lee Yong-gi? After all, you have no choice but to deal with it in person.

While he was talking to Lee Yong-gi, Joo Ji-ah came down from the mound and Hancheol’s starting pitcher Radette went up to the mound. As you can see in the video, I have a ferocious-looking face and a beard, so I’m a fastball pitcher. It seemed like he was doing it.

‘The world has really gotten better. These niggers also climb on the mound.’

‘Was there a Negro League back then? There’s also Satchel Paige.’

‘He threw the ball well for a nigger.’

Among the legendary pitchers brought in by Ross Bee, Satchel Paige, a black man, threw the most powerful pitch. Because 160 seemed easy. Rossby was also inclined to acknowledge Satchel Paige.

‘now. Don’t talk nonsense. Please take care of me today as well.’

‘OK.’

As usual, Rossby moved to a position where he could clearly see the pitcher’s glove.

“Play ball!”

And with the umpire’s declaration that the game was starting, my first professional baseball game began.