episode_0370

[Kim Suho’s hit soars high! The center fielder rushes forward to make the play. Jung Wooju saves the crisis of runners on 1st and 3rd base. Now, the game transitions to the bottom of the 1st inning.]

[Jung Wooju, truly remarkable. While he did give a walk to Gisangju, striking out league’s top home run hitters Ji Maengho and Choi Jincheol and catching Kim Suho with an outfield fly, it seems fitting to now call him the ace of the Future Buffaloes.]

“Now, the Future Buffaloes’ bottom of the 1st inning attack, let’s announce the lineup. Leadoff hitter… 4th batter Lee Jin-hong, 5th batter…”]

“The Future Buffaloes, currently positioned 4th with a record of 27 wins and 26 losses, owe their success to the performances of ace Jung Wooju and 4th batter Lee Jin-hong.”

“Jung Wooju on the mound, Lee Jin-hong at bat. Moreover, whenever Lee Jin-hong shines for the Future Buffaloes, memories of autumn baseball appearances come to mind, right?”

“That’s correct. Since Lee Jin-hong’s debut, one could say that the Future Buffaloes’ postseason fate rested in his hands. Especially during their championship seasons in 2009 and 2017, where Lee Jin-hong led them to victory with an OPS exceeding .1000. This season, albeit early, Lee Jin-hong boasts an OPS of 1.175, raising high expectations among Future fans.”

“If Lee Jin-hong can navigate the season without injury, those expectations might just turn into reality, don’t you think?”

“Indeed. To achieve that, they must defeat the strong championship contender AT. After yesterday’s loss, today’s game needs to balance the scales.”

“Now, Crong’s pitching begins.”

The Future Buffaloes, who finished last season in 8th place, have secured a spot in the upper ranks this season not only due to the minimal gap in win rates between top and bottom teams but also thanks to the stellar performances of two key players at the core of both pitching and hitting.

Ace Jung Wooju, recording speeds of up to 100 miles per hour and averaging mid-150s, and 4th batter Lee Jin-hong, who played 45 games last season, hitting 15 home runs while successfully recovering from previous injuries, were enough to excite the hearts of Future fans.

“3rd batter Yoo Junho walks to first base. Now, with 2 outs and a runner on 1st base, 4th batter Lee Jin-hong steps up to the plate. Oh, the Champions Field is buzzing! One can gauge how much the Future Buffaloes’ fans adore this player.”

“Crong, a foreign pitcher highly regarded in the league, is someone to watch closely.”

An ace showdown. It’s no exaggeration to say that scoring first is crucial in this matchup. As 4th batter Lee Jin-hong steps up to the plate to secure that lead, the cheers from Future fans grow louder.

“Crong versus Lee Jin-hong! The first pitch is…!”

Responding to the voices of the fans, Lee Jin-hong wastes no time and swings at the first pitch,

Crack!

Lee Jin-hong’s hit splits the gap between left field and center field, heading towards the wall.

“This hit…! Left-field wall! Left-field wall! It hits and drops! The runner already sprinting from 1st base is heading home! Home! He slides in! Lee Jin-hong lands on 2nd base! A timely 2-base hit by Lee Jin-hong in the bottom of the 1st inning explodes! The Future Buffaloes take the lead by 1 run!”

*

Thud!

Lee Inhyuk’s hit rises high. And as Jung Wooju handles the pop fly, the 5th inning attack ends with a three-man out.

“Heh, he sure can pitch well.”

As expected, Jang Woo-joo’s pitching was formidable, much like how records never lie. He used to be a nobody until last year… From the first inning when Jung Hwi-chul and Ki Sang-ju reached base, up until the fifth inning, our only baserunner was my walk. Jang Woo-joo stifled our lineup by allowing just three hitters to reach base through the fifth inning.

Fortunately, Crongs also held the future lineup at bay with only one run allowed through the fourth inning. However, if the runs don’t come, pitchers are bound to get chased. It was urgent for someone to tie or take the lead.

“[Alright! I’ll keep this inning scoreless as well, so I’m counting on you for the next inning!]”

Looking at Crongs’ condition, it didn’t seem like he was in a rush.

“Why does that starting pitcher act so cocky? Geez.”

The fifth inning, along with the first, is the most dangerous inning for pitchers. It’s when batters usually come around for their second or third at-bats, slowly wearing down the pitcher’s stamina. On top of that, now it was time for Lee Jin-hong, whose form hasn’t been great lately, to step up to bat. Although I hoped Crongs would focus, after observing him for about a year, I knew better than to expect that from him.

“Well, as long as he throws strikes, whether he’s cocky or not doesn’t matter.”

In the bottom of the fifth, Future’s leadoff hitter was the second batter, Kim Yoon-il, who used to play second base like me. I heard he had good hand-eye coordination, but he wasn’t particularly threatening. Batting average around .280?

Crongs seemed to underestimate him as he threw a fastball inside from the first pitch, and Kim Yoon-il smoothly rolled the ball into right field for a comfortable double. After casually catching it with his glove, I tossed it to first base.

“Out!”

“Ah, damn it!”

Kim Yoon-il stomped on first base late, throwing his helmet in frustration. It wasn’t even a hit worth getting mad over, but seeing him angry indicated that Future’s batters were feeling the pressure.

-Go Jun-hwan, fighting!

-Go Jun-hwan, home run! Go Jun-hwan!

And then, Future’s third batter, Yu Jun-hwan, stepped up to the plate. He had drawn a walk in the first inning, scoring a run, but in his second at-bat, he hit into a double play, easing Crongs’ burden.

Conscious of this, Crongs once again threw a fastball inside from the first pitch. There was a clear determination not to give up a walk.

“Strike!”

“Strike!”

“Strike! You’re out!”

He managed to strike out three batters in a row by placing two consecutive strikes in the zone. Frankly, it was convenient when Crongs started as a pitcher. He exuded confidence, and his pitching tempo was fast.

Thud – Oops!

“Damn it! Slow down a bit!”

Lee Jin-hong’s hit soared high and far, disappearing over the left-field fence. Even though it was a weekday, fans who came to watch the game joyfully retrieved the ball. The score now stood at 2-0.

“Fuck! Fuck!”

Despite throwing the ball like crap, Crongs covered his mouth with his glove, cursing.

“Is that asshole really our ace pitcher? Well, maybe he’s relieved because it was a solo home run?”

But Crongs, still unable to calm his excitement, aggressively battled inside from the first pitch,

Bang!

“Damn, that was close. It could have been dangerous.”

A line-drive hit towards my position ended the inning.

“[Ji. I’m counting on you. Can you give up two runs?]”

Crongs’ confident attitude made it seem like he had already given up the runs.

“[Sure thing, buddy. Just wait.]”

“[I trust you. My friend.]”

“Friend my ass. Ugh… But I have to do my part.”

Although it was bewildering to concede runs and then ask for help, it was my duty to support this Crongs guy. After all, I’m the cleanup hitter.

“Aren’t you supposed to be the second batter today?”

“Just a feeling, you know. Don’t you know that these days, the cleanup hitter goes second? Judge, Trout, they all bat second!”

Ignoring Rossby, who still can’t keep up with the trend and keeps making outdated remarks, they called upon Jung Hwichul, the leadoff hitter in the sixth inning.

“Hey! Hwichul!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Get on base.”

“…Sure?”

“To tie the game, we need a runner on base. Get on base.”

“…Yes, I’ll try my best.”

“Hey, what did I tell you earlier?”

“Oh, I’ll do well!”

“That’s right. Get on base. Got it?”

“Yes!”

The lad responded thunderously. Frankly, not expecting much.

‘But why did I call that guy?’

‘…It’s amusing.’

‘Worthless jerk.’

“Hey, isn’t it harsh to call him trash just for that? Where’s the senior who looks out for his juniors like me?”

After cleaning time ended, it was Jung Hwichul’s third time at bat.

“Ack!”

Jung Hwichul’s scream echoed as he collapsed at the plate. The scoreboard displayed a pitch at 158 km/h. It was a fast pitch, but judging by the hit on his hip, it didn’t seem too painful; he was just being overly dramatic.

“Wait, is this a strategy to make him uncomfortable rather than him overreacting? Well, getting hit on the hip shouldn’t hurt that much.”

Probably a tactic to make it uncomfortable for him to face inside pitches. Although it didn’t seem like Jang Woojoo would back down, it was commendable.

“This could lead to a runner on first. Would Jang Woojoo walk me? Highly unlikely.”

Slowly, it seemed like the perfect timing to use what he had practiced.

—

[Top of the 6th inning, runner on first base. Jimangho steps up to the plate.]

-Wow!!!!

-Jimangho! Jimangho! Jimangho!

[The fans in Gwangju are really fired up, aren’t they?]

[Well, it’s understandable. It’s Jimangho after all. With a batting average of .437, hitting 14 home runs in 25 games this season, aiming for a record of .400 and 60 home runs. Whether you’re an AT fan or just a baseball enthusiast, everyone must be curious about Jimangho’s records. Haha.]

[In his previous at-bat today, Jimangho struck out once and walked once.]

[When he struck out in his first at-bat, there was a bit of a dispute with the umpire, but it ended with Jimangho apologizing, right?]

[That’s correct.]

[To be honest, from the perspective of a baseball fan aside from being a commentator, it was a bit disappointing, wasn’t it?]

[Was it?]

[Yes. Jang Woojoo and Jimangho. They are pillars of Korean baseball, and as a fan, you want to see these two players compete head-to-head, don’t you?]

[And now, we have a situation with a runner on first base that cannot avoid a fierce battle. Oh? Oh! Jimangho raises his bat and aims at the fence! Jimangho’s predicted home run is back this season!]

[Oh, Jimangho’s predicted home run! Except for the Korean Series, he has a 100% accuracy rate so far with intentional walks or walks! Will Jang Woojoo break this streak?]

[Is Jang Woojoo smiling too?]

[As far as I know, these two players are quite close, having played together in the WBC and Asian Games. Especially in the Asian Games, they were close enough to share a room, so they must know each other well, right? It seems like an exciting match.]

[Now, Jang Woojoo throws his first pitch!]

As Jimangho stepped into the batter’s box, pointing his bat towards the fence, and Jang Woojoo smiled at his stance. Watching the two players, the fans couldn’t contain their excitement. And then, Jang Woojoo’s first pitch.

“Outside! It’s a strike! The pitch is 161.6 km/h! Jimangho nods his head.”

“Jang Woojoo’s fastest pitch was 162.1 km/h last year. He might even throw faster.”

“Jang Woojoo’s second pitch! Jimangho swings big and misses! Uh…?”

Thrown was the second pitch of Jang Woo-joo’s high ball. As Ji Maeng-ho swung widely, his hand slipped, causing him to miss the bat. The bat, slipping from Ji Maeng-ho’s hand, flew towards the home plate umpire.

“Ahh!”

A loud scream echoed through Champions Field as everyone watched in shock. The umpire, who had been looking at Ji Maeng-ho, fell backward. The fallen umpire, the bat lying askew, and Ji Maeng-ho with a bewildered expression. Just as everyone watching the game was engulfed in confusion, the caster, hiding his surprise, continued speaking.

“Did Ji Maeng-ho’s missed bat hit the umpire? Oh, it shouldn’t be a serious injury, right?”

“Just now, Jang Woo-joo’s pitch clocked in at 162.7 km/h, marking the KBA’s highest speed record. Even for a player like Ji Maeng-ho, it was an unpredictable pitch, and due to Jang Woo-joo’s incredible speed, Ji Maeng-ho might have exerted too much force, leading to him missing the bat. Although he wears a helmet, practically, a bat is no different from a weapon, you know? Let’s hope it’s not a serious injury.”

– What’s up with Ji Maeng-ho? Did he really miss the bat?

– The sound was so loud, wasn’t it?

– What? Oh, the umpire got hit, damn it.

– Is Ji Maeng-ho intentionally doing this?

– What are you talking about?

– There was a dispute over the decision earlier. So, it seems like he deliberately threw the bat, right? Considering his character, it doesn’t seem out of the ordinary, does it?

– Seriously, down by 2:0, why would anyone damage their ball count like that? Do you think that makes sense? Also, even if he wanted to aim for it, the umpire’s position is further back than expected, making it difficult to deliberately hit him.

– Did Ji Maeng-ho give the umpire a lesson? Haha

– Haha, that’s it!

– Wow, it’s the first time I’ve seen an umpire being carried off in 10 years of watching baseball. Haha

– Why are you laughing when the umpire is being carried off?

– Does he not look funny? Haha Let’s not watch 1st league games, Dong-hyuk.