episode_0414

[In the 7th inning, Choi Junghoon is still on the mound. …Choi Junghoon catches Tetsuto! One out!]

[Great job, Player Choi Junghoon! Excellent.]

[Now, the 7th batter Genda Soosuke steps up to the plate. He made a crucial error in the last inning, didn’t he?]

[It’s often said that after good defense comes good hitting, but players who make errors should also be cautious. Sometimes they need tremendous focus to make up for it in their hitting.]

[Oh! A hit dropping in front of the center fielder. Soosuke reaches base. One out, runner on first. …Yuuhei Nakamura with a consecutive hit! It seems like Choi Junghoon’s time on the mound is coming to an end. Korea’s next pitcher is Kim Wonho.]

[Player Kim Wonho didn’t perform well in the Netherlands game, but in the Panama game, he held off Panama’s lineup with 2 scoreless innings. Also, he has good control and impressive records in the league, so he might be able to hold them off.]

[Strike! Out! Kim Wonho handles the 9th batter Kensuke in a critical situation! …The ball goes high! Shortstop Choi Jutae signals that he’ll catch it himself! Out. Korea holds off Japan’s lineup in the bottom of the 7th inning without allowing any runs! The crisis with one out and runners on first and second is over.]

[In the bottom of the 7th, Ohtani is still on the mound. …Strike! Out! Ohtani finishes the inning with three strikeouts.]

[Sigh…. Player Ohtani. He’s truly a monster. Usually, one would crumble after giving up a home run, but… we really need to get Ohtani out quickly. By the bottom of the 7th, he’s thrown 81 pitches. Still looking comfortable, right? We have to persist. Persist.]

He tormented the pitchers while executing his cuts, but against overwhelming control, such tactics were futile. Korean batters tried their best to take Ohtani off the mound, but Ohtani seemed to know this fact as he toyed with Korean batters by delivering precise pitches.

[In the top of the 8th, UG Overlords’ closer Kim Woojun takes the mound for Korea.]

“Is this a pitching change to face Japan’s lefty lineup? Kim Woojun is a southpaw and has a very low pOPS against left-handed hitters.”

And then came the top of the 8th. Japan’s leadoff hitter was Ohtani, who had hit two home runs. Kim Woojun, since Young-ho Go’s departure from UG, had been one of Korea’s top closers alongside Shin Suho. However, facing Ohtani, who had proven his hitting prowess with two home runs, he couldn’t help but feel shaken.

“Ball.”

“Ball.”

“Ball.”

[Yong-gi walks. It’s essentially an intentional walk. Kim Woojun gives Ohtani a walk. Leadoff batter reaches base.]

“It’s better this way. No need to challenge Ohtani with his good hitting skills. Besides, Ohtani can steal bases, but he needs to defend the mound now, so he’s in a situation where he can’t run or be replaced.”

-Phew, that’s a relief. Just walking him is better.

┗For real, better than getting smacked trying to compete.

-But what if he steals a base? Isn’t Ohtani quite fast?

┗Come on, seriously? He’s still pitching.

With Ohtani’s leadoff batter reaching base, true to his reputation, Ohtani annually recorded double-digit steals in the Major Leagues. However, almost no one believed that Ohtani would attempt a steal in this situation. He was still pitching, and judging by the movement of his pitches, it didn’t seem likely that there would be a pitching change in the next inning.

No coach wanted to exhaust the pitcher by making him steal when he reached base. But Ohtani was different. Needing one run, Ohtani ran for the team’s victory.

“Ohtani is running! Yong-gi hits the ball to second base!”

And… Yong-gi, who had been paying close attention to Otani, shone on his shoulder.

[From second base! From second base! Out! Yong-gi catches Otani!]

[Oh, this is it! Even Otani finds it hard to steal second base in front of Yong-gi, who boasts the best defense in Korea!]

[Yong-gi, who had been silent with no hits in three at-bats today! He makes a crucial out!]

“Nice!”

“Almost Ray-like?”

The threatening situation of the leadoff batter reaching base with a walk ended in a failed steal, easing Kim Woo-jun’s mind.

[Strike! Out! … Fly ball to right field! Caught! Kim Woo-jun finishes the top of the 8th inning! Now it’s Korea’s turn to attack in the bottom of the 8th!]

[Bottom of the 8th inning. It’s important. With a lineup following Kang Han-beom, Choi Joo-tae, and Ji Maeng-ho, all three players have reached base against Otani today, right? They will score here.]

In the bottom of the 8th inning, with just one run, victory could be within reach. The fans watching the game with a strong batting lineup had high hopes as they looked at the TV. However, Otani’s pitching remained formidable, dealing with the batters as if atoning for the failed steal in the previous inning.

[Kang Han-beom’s hit is trapped in the infield. One out. … Choi Joo-tae’s hit! High fly ball! Center fielder! Caught…! Ah… Two outs. Now, Ji Maeng-ho, who produced all three runs for Korea today with a double and a home run, steps up to the plate!]

[If it’s Ji Maeng-ho, he can do it. Handling situations like this is what Ji Maeng-ho does best.]

[Strike! Clocks in at 99.4 miles. Crossing over 90 pitches, how can he throw such a pitch? Otani. Despite being the opponent, he’s impressive. … Foul! Ji Maeng-ho is pushed to two strikes.]

[It’s okay. It’s still okay.]

[Otani throws the ball. Swing! Strikeout…. Ah… Otani’s slider guides Ji Maeng-ho’s bat.]

[…Well thrown. Seems like he missed by about two at the strike zone, it’s still Otani.]

As Korea stops, so does Otani in the game. This pattern continued into the 9th inning. Korea’s closer Go Young-ho came in and closed the 9th inning, while Otani also struck out Korea’s batters in succession. Thus, with a 3-3 tie, extra innings were brought in.

[Top of the 10th inning, now the game will be decided by a showdown. Japan has Sosuke and Yuhei as runners on first and second base, and the batter is Kondo Kensuke.]

[To briefly explain the showdown, when two teams are tied until the 9th inning and go into extra innings, to shorten the game time, the game proceeds with runners on first and second base. In events like the Olympics or the WBC, this rule wasn’t applied in the finals, but in this Olympics, even in the finals, this rule was applied. So, this final is the first showdown in the finals.]

[It’s probably an effort to reduce game time, right?]

[Exactly. Such spectacles also increase the popularity of baseball.]

[And in the top of the 10th inning, Jung Woo-sung takes the mound for South Korea!]

[Jung Woo-sung! Currently a starter, but in the early stages of his career, he was a top closer who recorded 36 saves in the Major Leagues. Jung Woo-sung! He will overcome this crisis!]

*

“What the hell is this shitty situation?”

It seemed like Rossby didn’t understand the concept of a showdown. No, it seemed like he had no intention of understanding. It was clear from his continuous muttering beside me. I also questioned why such a rule was introduced in the finals, but that doesn’t mean the established rules will change. Perhaps this, too, is one of the various efforts to revive the popularity of baseball.

“I told you.”

“Damn it! Is this what they call baseball? No, this isn’t baseball…”

Continuing to ignore Ross B’s incomprehension, I focus on the game. On the mound is Jung Woo-sung. Given his knack for throwing ground balls as an underhand pitcher, I needed to concentrate even more.

“If Kensuke is leading off, he’ll probably bunt, right?”

The reason for not putting Ohtani as the leadoff batter was obvious: to advance the runner. As expected, Kensuke bunts. The moment Kensuke bunts, I swiftly move towards first base to cover it.

“First!”

“Out!”

And an out at first base. Now we have a situation with one out and runners on second and third. The batter is Suzuki Seiya. This is where the real battle begins. The coach seems to be opting for an aggressive defense, possibly not willing to give up a single point. Then, Jung Woo-sung throws his first pitch.

Thunk!

“A hit on the first pitch!”

Seiya’s hit quickly heads in my direction. It’s fast but a fair bounce. Thwack! I feel the ball securely landing in my glove.

“Home!”

“Home!”

Ross B and Lee Yong-gi’s judgment aligns. Lee Yong-gi is stationed at home plate. I throw the ball towards home as practiced. The ball lands accurately in Lee Yong-gi’s mitt.

“Out!”

“Got it!”

“Nice!”

Lee Yong-gi tags the arm of the runner on third base, swiftly securing two outs.

“Let’s handle just one more!”

Now, Ohtani is up to bat. Our choice was intentionally walking him. Ohtani walks to first base with a lonely gaze. Only one out left!

At the crossroads of victory, Jung Woo-sung pitches.

“Strike!”

“Strike!”

Thunk!

Murakami’s hit soars high. And Kim Jung-hyun catches it. Three outs are made! A crucial out count, almost crossing the ninth baseline.

“Alright! Just one run for victory now!”

Kim Su-ho is on second base, Yang Ji-hyuk replaces Kang Han-beom on first base, and Choi Joo-tae is at bat.

Our strategy was aggressive. Whether Choi Joo-tae bunts or faces me, it ends when he bypasses me and confronts the next batter. With bases empty, the decision was made based on the assumption that he would avoid me at all costs. Moreover, considering Ohtani has pitched until the 10th inning, there was a chance he might falter.

Thunk!

However, Ohtani remains steadfast. Choi Joo-tae’s hit flies towards right field.

“Out!”

As the right fielder catches the ball, Kim Jung-hyun dashes towards third base. And the throw from the right fielder comes flying.

“Safe!”

“Nice!”

Now it’s one out with runners on first and third, with Park Cheol-young coming in as a pinch runner. My turn at bat arrives. Both the infield and outfield are playing forward. Since one run would end the game, their defensive stance was the right call.

“Their defense implies they won’t walk me, right?”

There was a possibility of executing a bases-loaded play with one out, but judging by the defensive setup, they seemed inclined to face me directly.

Probably, if the ball count piles up, they might walk me, but they won’t do so right from the start. After all, the world’s best pitcher wouldn’t necessarily want to avoid facing me. Moreover, the guy who struck me out in the previous at-bat was much more cautious with his pitching than when he gave up a home run.

“Ball.”

His first pitch is a ball. As the catcher tosses the ball back, Ohtani and I lock eyes.

Those eyes seemed to say, “Not gonna swing? You could walk to first base, you know?” That’s how it felt. My on-deck hitters are Ki Sang-joo and Ju Seung-chul. While Ki Sang-joo did manage a hit, I didn’t think he would produce a good hit against Ohtani. This was the situation I had to handle.

“Well, no need to make it difficult, right?”

One out with runners on first and third. Despite the forward defense, it’s all over once I connect properly. After signaling to Park Cheol-young on third base, I wait for the easiest pitch…

“It’s a slider. Outside.”

“Now!”

As Otani takes his pitching stance, he lowers the bat. The Japanese infielder looks bewildered. Thwack! After making contact with the bat, he runs towards first base.

“Homu! Homu!”

The first baseman urgently shouts. I don’t know what they’re saying in their Japanese-style English, but judging by the situation, it must be “home.”

“Safe!”

Hmm, his bunting skills still seemed sharp. Perhaps all that practice during the Korean Series was for this day.

“Waaaaah!!!!”

Otani, as if unable to imagine bunting, puts his hand on his side and shakes his head in dismay.

“Fool, did you think I’d play along?”

“Damn. This… this isn’t baseball. This isn’t the baseball I love!”

“When did you love baseball?”

“Shut up! This girl’s joke isn’t baseball! Who made up this damn sudden-death rule?!”

“I told you. It was made to shorten game times in the Major Leagues. Rumor has it that if it’s well-received at the Olympics, they’ll introduce it in the Major Leagues too.”

“Damn! This isn’t baseball!”

But Rossby’s outburst is soon drowned out. Players with drinks and water are shouting while splashing me with water.

“Wow! Damn! Maeng-ho! I really love you!”

“We won! Victory! Damn! Victory!”

“Maeng-ho!!!! Seriously!! This crazy guy…!!!”

It’s a disappointing end to the match against Otani, but that’s the rule. Well, if you can’t handle it, filter it out. Honestly, if we had gone into extra innings, we probably would have lost. That monster, he seemed poised to pitch until the 13th inning at least.

“What’s this? Why does this guy look like that after the game-winning hit?”

“Okay. Victory.”

“Hey! Gather around! Let’s take a picture!”

“Sure!”

All the players gather near the mound. Ending with a bunt didn’t quite feel real, but it was a victory nonetheless. And at the Olympics! Seeing the players gather around the mound, it finally started to sink in.

“Gather around! Gather around! Say cheese!”

“Hey! What’s ‘cheese’ for a Korean? Shouldn’t it be ‘kimchi’?”

Amidst the chatter of the players,

“…this isn’t baseball.”

Muttered Rossby.

“Well, Mr. Rossby, it may not be baseball. But winning makes it baseball.”

“Shut up!”

Rossby’s curse followed by a flash. And just like that, my first Olympics came to an end.