episode_0151

“Director, you’re late… .”

On Monday, when there was no game, he was in excellent condition thanks to plenty of rest and sex, but strangely enough, even 30 minutes after training started, Coach Sands did not show up at the training ground.

After 30 minutes of warm-up, without both the manager and the head coach, Kim Byeong-cheol, the most senior of the coaches, was leading the players.

“Coach, we’re late too. Should we run one more lap?”

One more lap? Not bad?

“I am okay.”

The gazes of my seniors pierce my skin. But maybe because I took a break from playing over the weekend, I felt like I had some stamina left.

“Ugh, that tactless bastard.”

“Hyung, then I got beaten to death like my senior Doo-hyung.”

“Meng Hao, are you going to hit me?”

“Hey, why am I hitting you?”

“Okay, looking at you chatting, I guess you have some energy left?”

“”no!””

“Try to use half that voice in competition. “Why is the dugout so quiet these days?”

“I train so hard in the morning, but I don’t have any strength left to scream. Coach! With that in mind, let’s rest a little until the director comes, right?”

The weatherman who liked the training put on his rifle and suggested rest. Of course, Ki Ki-joo didn’t miss a single game, so it seems like it was going to be difficult. For some reason, seeing as I haven’t been invited to do special training or special training together these days, I feel like I’m in a situation where I’m struggling physically.

Of course, people who have never played it before may ask how hard it is to just stand there, but it goes without saying that the pitcher’s stamina wasted and it was quite difficult for the fielders as well.

No matter what the situation, if you are extremely focused, you will inevitably feel fatigued. And players who are not that focused will not reach the top. The reason why mistakes are made in games that even amateurs would not make is because of such concentration.

Anyway, as I was concentrating on the pitcher’s pitches one by one, the two hours went by without me even noticing, and the amount of time I had to not only stand on the field but also run for cover plays or broadcast plays was considerable. Especially infielders and catchers.

… Are you a little more comfortable in the outfield? I’ve never played an outfield, so I’m not sure, but it must be difficult anyway.

‘What’s so difficult about being an outfielder? All you have to do is just stand.’

‘Of course it is, right? In baseball, after all, it’s the infielder.’

‘yes. The outfield is a place where only those who were left out because they couldn’t see the infield go. Ruth, that guy wasn’t talented either so he ended up in the outfield.’

‘… I’m jealous again.’

‘He may be great as a batsman, but as a fielder, I’m one step above him.’

‘yes yes. ‘You must be young.’

Ignoring Rossby’s nonsense, I sat on the floor like the other players.

“Then let’s rest a little until the director comes.”

“Coach. But what should we do? “The pitching coach didn’t even come.”

“No director, no Suco, no Tuco? what? “Did we drink together yesterday?”

“Well, seeing the director makes me feel like drinking these days. “The media said it was shit.”

“What can I do? “It’s your fault.”

“Coach. “Are you telling this to the director?”

“I’m closer than you, brat.”

“So what should we do?”

“Hey, pitchers, come and get some rest.”

As more than 20 men gathered in one place while exercising, the smell of sweat was in the air.

‘I’m going to go crazy if I stay in a place like this any longer.’

‘I agree.’

“Hey, where is Ji Maeng-ho going?”

“The bathroom.”

As I left the sweat-smelling place and headed to the bathroom, I saw the club’s manager running from afar. That expression full of embarrassment. Did something bad happen?

When I left the manager and went to the bathroom, the resting players looked quite dark.

“Brother, what’s going on?”

I immediately approached Seongtae Yoon, the person I was most comfortable with, and asked why the atmosphere was like this.

“I couldn’t contact you from the director.”

“I’m not a kid so I can’t be contacted. It’s nothing special… .”

“mind! “It’s not that I’m worried, it’s because I made them fall behind in training and didn’t show up.”

“okay? “It’s funny when you think about it that way.”

Certainly, as Seongtae Yoon said, Director Sands’ lateness without notice was outrageous. I can’t believe that someone who put so much emphasis on training ends up being late without notice. Besides, I haven’t even received a call.

“I’m not some kid who doesn’t go to school. “Why aren’t you answering the phone?”

“That’s right.”

While Seongtae Yoon was talking about Sands, someone spoke to the hitting coach.

“Coach! I think the director will be late today. “Let’s get some rest, right?”

Park Jun-hyung was the starting pitcher in Sunday’s game.

“Hmm. Is that so? “We didn’t get much rest, did we?”

“yes. Ha, honestly, maybe it’s because the manager isn’t a pitcher, so he pushes the pitcher too much.”

“okay? “What doesn’t Tuco say?”

“Honestly, I’m saying this because I don’t have any, but Coach Smith is almost at the level of a coach… .”

“Bitch, what’s wrong with being a coach?”

“… sorry.”

“With your director, huh? You can’t just ignore someone because they’re a foreigner. know?”

“I didn’t mean to ignore it.”

“Okay, get some rest first. I have to go find out too. It’s not like something happened, right? “Kwan-hyung, take care of the kids.”

“All right. “Please come back.”

As the coaches, including the hitting coach, left the training ground and only the players remained, complaints began to arise here and there. Just looking at Park Jun-hyung’s tone, it seemed like the pitchers were very dissatisfied.

‘Somehow, the atmosphere seems better than when I was there. After all, do we have to talk behind each other’s backs to get together?’

‘Making enemies is the basis for strengthening solidarity.’

‘is it?’

‘Hehe, even when I was a director, there was a time when I punished some idiots and took joint responsibility… .’

‘… … .’

I was just thankful that I wasn’t playing under a coach like that.

*

An hour before the game started, the atmosphere in the locker room was quite noisy. The reason is, of course, because Coach Sands and foreign coaches have not arrived yet. I heard from Soyoung that the front desk was asking everywhere, but they still couldn’t get in touch.

Soyoung’s voice on the phone was so cold that it scared me… . How can your face and voice become so relaxed when having sex, but then become so cold when it comes to baseball? It was such a mysterious thing.

“now. I know it’s a mess. Nothing really changes. know? The lineup goes as usual for now. Jang Yoon, do you know today’s selection?”

“yes.”

“Still, I’m glad you were the starter today. I will do my best to replace the pitcher. If you think things are going to be difficult, call me. okay?”

“All right.”

“Then, Coach Daeyoon, please coach me as a pitcher today.”

‘Still, I’m glad we have a bullpen coach.’

The atmosphere in the locker room was chaotic, but hitting coach Kim Byeong-cheol was trying to calm the team’s mood.

“Coach. But isn’t it really wrong, director? “I haven’t received any calls and haven’t come back to this day.”

“hmm… . well. I told the police, but I don’t know what will happen since he is an adult male. And it’s a little strange that all three of them didn’t come… . Ha, I don’t know. Manager, please let me know as soon as you get in touch.”

“All right.”

“Well then, let’s go as usual. I’ll start with the lineup. Maengho, Suho, Sangju, Boer, Jincheol, Gwanhyeong, Seongtae, Yuncheol, Jooyeop. okay? It’s Meng Hao. “It’s not like you lost your sense of the game just because you missed two games, right?”

“no.”

With Rossby and imagination training, my batting sense was sufficient. Moreover, I was confident because I was training based on the KBA players I had met during the break.

After the batting coach announced the lineup, it was time to take a short break before the game. Even before Volcano, Kang Joo-hyun, who had been called up to the first team to replace Kang Hee-seok, approached me. Instead of me, you played second base before Hwasan and recorded 2 hits in 9 at-bats, right?

“Meng Hao.”

“Yes, senior.”

“If it seems difficult, tell me. “Because I’m behind you.”

Kang Joo-hyun’s expression looked quite nervous as she said that. I feel like I want to show something, but I can’t figure it out.

“Hey, talk to Seongtae instead of me. I am okay.”

“It’s good to see your confidence. “I had a time like that too.”

I felt like Kang Joo-hyun’s eyes, which were facing me, were looking somewhere other than me. You’re probably thinking about your past self. When Soyoung took me to the 2nd team stadium, I remembered that Kang Joo-hyun also said that she was pretty crazy in high school.

But Kang Joo-hyun is Kang Joo-hyun. I am me. Like Kang Joo-hyun, I had no intention of thinking about the past and being pushed out as a candidate. I was at a completely different level from the guy who couldn’t push Kang Hee-seok out in the first place and started in the 2nd team.

“Joohyun hyung. “How about the 2nd district these days?”

As Kang Joo-hyun and I were talking, Yoon Seong-tae approached us. They seemed to be quite close, perhaps because they both served in the second division.

“Group 2, it’s the same.”

“Are there any kids who play well?”

“There’s a kid from Silla. “Outfielder, Baek Jeong-jin.”

“Ah, I was traded with senior Jang Hyun-ho.”

“Well, he does hit it pretty well.”

“What should I pay?”

“It’s the infield. Well, no one else but me. “The new rookie also played pretty well in the outfield.”

“new man? “My motivation?”

“Uh, is it Jeong Hwi-cheol? There’s a kid who was reported. “The contact was good.”

“hmm… . “Is he the one who tidyed it up?”

Well, it seemed like he had a knack for guessing things. Although I remember him stealing my home run more than that.

“Wow, now that I think about it, I’m hanging out with senior Hyeonho today.”

Today’s opponent is JT Gold Eyes, which has Jang Hyun-ho, who was traded last year. There, I heard that Jang Hyun-ho was playing decently as the number 3 hitter. Thanks to his performance, JT was currently ranked 5th.

“Hyeonho, seeing that guy go out and do well, I wonder if I should go out too. “Jamsil is too big.”

“Ah, those two were classmates. Brother, but don’t go out. Ji Maeng-ho, this bastard is such a dick that you think you’ll push him out?”

“Seongtae, worry about your place. “Because I’m number one in home runs.”

“I’ll hit four today and follow you.”

“But aren’t there five? Still doesn’t work for me. Anyway, try your best.”

If you want to be on the same level as me, you have to bring in Choi Joo-tae. Well, Seongtae Yoon, who I trained with all winter, was better in terms of defense. Anyway, I left the two infielders behind and left the locker room to have one last phone call with Soyoung before the game started.

-“… … … .”

Aren’t you answering the phone? Are you very busy? Well, this is the first time the manager and coaches have disappeared, so they must be busy. When I called you earlier, you said you forced yourself to make time. At that time, Soyoung received a message.

-Soyoung: Sorry, my sister is too busy. I don’t have time to talk.

-Me: ㄴㄴ ㄱㅊ. Anyway, I have a game coming up soon.

-Soyoung: Sorry, you played well today. Be sure to win. Understand?

-Me: ㅇㅋ

I wanted to give busy Soyoung a gift of victory today.