episode_0186

[AT Thunders won a draw after a fierce battle with JT Gold Eyes! Today’s match ends in a draw!]

[I thought AT would lose as the bullpen was unable to protect Jansen’s victory, but in the end, the game ended in a draw. It’s great power. AT!]

[It must be a shame from JT’s perspective, right?]

[you’re right. They were able to deal a blow to the AT Thunders, who were in good spirits these days, and the competition for rankings was in full swing. It’s painful that I couldn’t catch this game.]

Even after the game against Hancheol ended, AT Thunders’ momentum continued. They seemed upset after drawing the first game of the midweek series, but they won both of the following games and took the winning series. In the following game against Shilla Triggers, they suffered a losing series, but the team’s mood did not deteriorate.

Rather, the players were on the verge of excitement for the upcoming big event. And the AT Thunders front office was also excited about the event.

“The situation with the club is really good these days. Right?”

“That’s right.”

“We played a losing series in the game against Silla. How was the mood of the players?”

On Monday, during a break without a professional baseball game, the AT Thunders front office and coach Lee Soo-hyun gathered at the club and were holding a meeting. Coach Lee Soo-hyun was quite accustomed to the meetings that had already been held three times since taking over as AT’s head coach in place of Coach Sands, who ran away.

“The team atmosphere is… . As expected, I’m a little excited about that. “The Losing series didn’t really have any influence on me.”

“That’s a good thing.”

Especially to Cheon So-young, the operations team leader who leads the meeting.

When Lee Soo-hyun first saw Cheon So-young, the first emotion he felt was the question of why the owner’s family joined the baseball team. And I was a little annoyed. A parachute like this for the baseball team that supported his youth. If it weren’t for the chairman’s granddaughter, she would have been so angry. No, it would have been meaningless in the first place because it would have been impossible for a young woman to become the head of a baseball team unless she was the president’s granddaughter.

And that feeling did not change even when I was coaching the second team.

“Then let’s prepare a grand event to celebrate our 3,000th hit. Because this is the first time this has happened in Korea. There are 3 left, so we can achieve them in this series, right? “It is unfortunate that there is a high possibility of achieving this on a weekday, but since the game is held in Jamsil, we will make it a grand event that will rival any other event.”

However, what I felt while meeting together for three weeks was that he surprisingly had extensive knowledge of baseball and had a good eye for players. Moreover, seeing that he was aware of the characteristics of even the second-team players, it felt like I was seeing the president who even remembered the names of the second-team players.

In particular, his eye for players was no less than that of a scouter. The anecdote that strongly advocated for Ji Maeng-ho’s first round nomination even when Ji Maeng-ho was unknown was a famous anecdote within the club.

“Now, let’s talk about first team management in earnest. “Captain?”

“Yes?”

Would you be more trustworthy than the leader making stupid noises over there?

“Ah, trade, trade. Well, there wasn’t a trade that suited our tastes. Coach, what we need is a bullpen.”

Director Lee Soo-hyun nodded and responded to Director Yoon’s question, which he asked using polite language as it was a public event.

“Yes, it is. There isn’t much room for improvement in the batting lineup, and the starting lineup is unstable with Jansson and Kim Chan-young, but not to the point where they can’t perform. However, the bullpen… .”

“As expected, the problem is the bullpen… .”

The atmosphere in the conference room, which was excited with thoughts of the 3,000-hit commemoration event, darkens again. The bullpen is the AT Thunders’ Achilles heel. In fact, if you look at the games AT lost, most of them were lost because the bullpen collapsed.

Even the ace of the bullpen, closer Park Jin-hyuk, was showing signs of uncertainty with 1 win, 3 losses, 6 saves, and an ERA of 3.26.

“It would be nice if we could finish like Go Young-hwan.”

“Iknow, right. “Isn’t there a finisher that can make 40 saves at 1 point?”

“If we had a finish like that, we could have won… .”

“Ah, but winning is a bit… .”

And the slightly dark atmosphere suddenly became cold when the scout team leader mentioned the championship.

“manager… .”

Seeing Cheon So-young’s cold eyes, an employee tapped the scout team leader’s thigh. After the previous team leader, Hong Hyun-cheol, resigned because he could not overcome the cold look in Cheon So-young’s eyes, it was not a stretch to say that the scout team was completely in Cheon So-young’s hands.

“Oh, sorry.”

“That’s it. If we don’t have a player like Go Young-hwan, we need to find one. “Within the team.”

“Team Leader Cheon, is there a player like that on our team?”

“Coach Yang, what do you think of Kang Se-ho and Kim Yun-ho in the second team?”

In response to the general manager’s words, Cheon So-young asked the second team coach a question.

Se-ho Kang and Yun-ho Kim. The two pitchers were acquired in the triangle trade that sent starting right fielder Jang Hyun-ho to JT.

Kang Se-ho was a prospect with good ball control and breaking balls, and Kim Yun-ho was evaluated as having good velocity and stuff. And although the ERA in the second team was not very good, they were showing off their strengths.

“hmm… . Se-ho Kang has a walk rate of 0 per 9 innings, and Yun-ho Kim has an average of 1.7 strikeouts per inning, but these players have clear weaknesses. Se-ho Kang has a velocity in the 140s, and Yun-ho Kim walks a lot.”

The 2nd team coach, Yang Cheol-won, looked through the record sheet and answered Cheon So-young’s words.

“Coach Soo-hyun Lee, what did you think of these two players when you saw them in the second team?”

“These are players who still need to warm up. “If I spend a few years in the second team, won’t I be able to do my job well?”

“How does it compare to our current bullpens?”

“After all, first-team players are first-team players for a reason.”

“Of course it is. But if those players aren’t playing their role in the first team, wouldn’t it be good to bring in some fresh air?”

“Well, that’s right, Team Leader Cheon. “I’ve been trading for a long time, but I need to try using him in the first team as well.”

Director Yoon supported Cheon So-young. From the perspective of General Manager Yoon, who received a lot of criticism when trading Jang Hyun-ho, it was natural that he wanted to see the players he received in the trade quickly play an active role in the first team.

Of course, the trade was carried out under the leadership of Cheon So-young.

“Well, Director, putting players who aren’t ready yet on the first team… .”

“Director Lee.”

Director Yoon cut off Director Lee Soo-hyun’s words.

“So are the first-team bullpens ready to blow?”

“… “That’s not it.”

“Coach Yang, I heard those two guys have something special about the second team?”

“Yes, it is. Captain. Seho’s ball control is definitely at a level that can be used in the first team, and Yunho’s ball control is the same.”

“Look at Jeongjin too. “He was recognized for making one contact in the 2nd team, and then he joined the 1st team and is now doing well as a pinch hitter or defender, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

There are so many outstanding players in the outfield that he cannot be included in the starting lineup, but when you watch him training, he is a player whose growth is noticeable.

“The bullpen is currently not good anyway, so let’s give the second-tier players a chance. Since you were the manager of the second team, don’t you know how the players feel? Also, our AT has the image of an iron rice bowl, so wouldn’t it be time for an overhaul?”

“hmm… . All right.”

With Manager Lee Soo-hyun’s approval, the meeting that day ended with a celebration of Woo Kwan-hyung’s 3,000th hit and a talk about the unstable bullpen. When all the meetings were over and Director Yoon was wiping his sweat in the director’s office, Soyoung Cheon opened the door to the director’s office and came in.

“Team Leader Cheon.”

“Captain. “You did well today.”

“Oh, I see, haha.”

Director Yoon was also uncomfortable with Cheon So-young. A subordinate holding on to his or her lifeline. It wouldn’t be inconvenient if I were the boss… .

“yes. Se-ho Kang and Yun-ho Kim. “They are definitely talented players.”

“Hmm, but they are players with certain shortcomings… .”

“What makes the first team successful is not a player who is good in all aspects, but a player who is exceptional in one aspect. And if you want to win, you need players like that. Right before Choi Jin-cheol exploded, he was just a player with exceptional power, right? Once you taste success, those secondary abilities will naturally follow, right? “Shouldn’t we try to win too?”

“Win, win.”

“yes. Championship. The leader is also the winning leader. “I guess I should give it a try.”

“That would be nice, but the director also has authority… .”

“Captain. “Trust my eyes.”

Director Yoon had no choice but to quietly wipe his sweat after Cheon So-young’s confident words.

*

“Wow, it’s a weekday and Jamsil is almost full.”

“I heard it’s sold out from today to Thursday.”

“After all, we gathered together because of Kwan-hyung, right?”

Before the game against Hwasan, the players’ attention turned to Woo Gwan-hyeong, who was quietly meditating.

3,000 hits, a record that every hitter dreams of. It was a record recognized even in the major leagues as a guarantee for joining the Hall of Fame, and it was a record that could only be achieved by a hitter who possessed both skill and consistency.

“Hyung Kwan, are there three left?”

“They said 3,000 hits, 3,000 hits, and we finally see the record.”

Players who whisper so as not to reach Woo Gwan-hyung’s ears. Just as he would not put pressure on the pitcher before a perfect game or a no-hitter, he was speaking quietly to try not to put pressure on Woo Kwan-hyung as much as possible, but Woo Kwan-hyung could already sense that atmosphere.

‘Whoa…’ . Now 3… .’

In fact, I couldn’t help but notice that atmosphere. A week ago, articles started pouring in, and I felt that even my wife and children were secretly caring about me.

‘I’d rather do it as usual… .’

However, Woo Kwan-hyeong felt uncomfortable with such consideration. Rather, it felt like this kind of consideration was telling him that 3,000 hits was the last goal he could achieve in his baseball career. This was especially true because it was not the first time such a record was achieved.

When Korea achieved 2,500 hits for the first time, players and reporters talked about it indifferently. At that time, everyone thought that Woo Kwan-hyung had a lot of life left in his career. But this atmosphere right now… .

‘Other people probably think this is my last record.’

At that time, someone approached the bench where Woo Kwan-hyung was.

“Senior, I heard there will be 3,000 soon?”

“huh?”

It was Ji Maeng-ho.

“Wow, that’s crap. “Isn’t it possible to get 4 hits a day against a volcano?”

The players’ expressions are colored with shock at Ji Maeng-ho’s unexpected behavior.

“hey! Ji Maengho! What are you doing?”

“Ahu! “I thought that bastard was going to cause an accident.”

“Oh, what! To be honest, it’s against a volcano, and even if I can’t do it, I’ll achieve it tomorrow. Well, it’s not that hard to hit. “So is it a company dinner tomorrow?”

“Hey, you’re still a brat!”

When the other players tried to cover Ji Meng-ho’s mouth and drag him away, Woo Gwan-hyeong stopped them.

“Meng Hao is right. Hey, you think I can’t get 3 hits? Just carry on as usual.”

“brother?”

“yes?”

“Let’s just go as usual. Well, that’s better than putting effort into your body to try to beat your senior’s record.”

The embarrassed AT players could only nod their heads at the expression of Woo Kwan-hyung, who was smiling widely for the first time in a while.