Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 114

#113. Narrow the Elbow Angle…

The infrastructure gap between Japanese and Korean baseball is so vast that it hardly needs mentioning anymore.

Just considering the foundation of professional baseball—the high school teams that supply players—Korea has a mere 80 teams compared to Japan’s 3,600.

The players cultivated by these numerous high school teams disperse into professional baseball, corporate baseball, and social baseball, continuing their careers with the hope of one day reaching the pros.

The market size of professional baseball is also on a different scale, varying from at least three times to up to ten times larger, depending on the calculation method.

In this situation, demanding a guaranteed victory against Japan in national team games might be a bit cruel.

The problem lies in the expectations and standards of the public.

Twenty years ago, when Korean baseball was at its peak, the intense memories of defeating Japan in major tournaments like the WBC [World Baseball Classic] and Olympics still linger in people’s minds.

Let’s look at the objective data.

In head-to-head records between the adult national teams of both countries, Japan clearly dominates with 68 wins, 2 draws, and 40 losses.

Narrowing the scope to games involving professional players from both countries, Japan holds a slight edge with 11 wins and 10 losses. It might seem surprisingly manageable.

The problem is that most of Korea’s 10 wins were recorded in the 2000s.

Simply put, Korea has not defeated Japan in the Olympics or WBC in the 17 years since 2010.

We must admit it.

Korea is clearly a weaker team compared to Japan.

We’ve been living under the illusion that Korean baseball’s level has improved due to abnormally high FA [Free Agent] contracts, but the truth is that Japan is a force Korea can hardly overcome.

Thwack!

Of course, all of this is without considering my existence.

– Ah! Han Su-hyeok’s hit is soaring incredibly high!

– The Japanese players don’t seem to grasp the reality yet. They look like they can’t believe it might go over? Look. The left fielder is cautiously backing up while watching the ball.

– Yes, yes, that’s exactly right. We had the same reaction when we first saw Han Su-hyeok’s home run! Ah! As we speak, the ball continues to fly and lands in the top tier of the Citi Field stands! Home run! Home run! Ladies and gentlemen, Korea takes a 1-0 lead with Han Su-hyeok’s home run!

* * *

‘Seriously? It went over like that?’

Tanaka Yamato, the ace of the Japanese team, who conceded the first run with an unbelievable hit, stared blankly into the sky with a pale face, much like most pitchers who give up a home run to Han Su-hyeok for the first time.

He is one of Japan’s best pitchers, having recorded 9 wins and 4 losses in the first half of the season as the Chicago Cubs’ number two starter.

Armed with a 158 km/h (98 mph) fastball, a 150 km/h (93 mph) two-seamer, and a forkball that drops sharply into the ground, Tanaka had absolute confidence in today’s game.

There was a time when Korean baseball threatened Japan, but back then, the Korean national team had starting and closing pitchers who were dominating the major leagues, as well as pitchers and hitters who were making a name for themselves as aces in Japan.

In other words, the national team’s roster was strong enough to compete with Japan.

But what about now?

All they have is a washed-up thirty-nine-year-old hitter who was kicked out of the major leagues after two years and a pitcher who is well over forty.

Of course, Ryu Han-gyeol, who started today, is a pretty good pitcher, but he can’t be recognized until he’s been verified in the big leagues.

Han Su-hyeok?

The fact that Seattle offered him $3.5 million and was turned down, and that he throws a ball over 165 km/h (102.5 mph), has earned him the reputation of being a once-in-decades genius in Korea, but…….

Well, in Japan, several amateur players receive multi-million dollar offers from big league teams every year, and there are many pitchers who throw 160 km/h (99.4 mph) but ultimately fail in the face of the professional barrier.

In other words, no matter how much hype there is in Korea, he’s just an unproven rookie.

To that guy, to that rookie.

He gave up an unbelievable home run.

A perfect two-seamer that curled low and inside, the pitch that made Tanaka the Cubs’ number two starter this season, was perfectly targeted.

The feeling at the moment of impact was an outfield fly, and although it made a tremendous sound, the launch angle was too high.

But the ball that soared so high didn’t seem to fall, and eventually landed on the top tier of the outfield in this massive stadium.

“Wow!”

But what’s even scarier is the attitude of that Han Su-hyeok.

I made eye contact with the guy as he rounded third base and headed for home.

He’s only in his first year as a pro, and it’s even his first time experiencing a national team game.

If he had hit a home run in such a game, it would be normal for him to be a little excited, but he had a nonchalant expression, as if he had done something natural, like sweeping the front yard in the morning.

He stepped on home plate.

A huge roar erupted from the Korean fans sitting in the first base visitor section.

I turned to see what was going on and saw a pretty girl performing the stunt of climbing upside down on the safety net.

What on earth is she doing?

Tanaka Yamato’s mind was becoming more and more of a mess.

* * *

“Strike! Out!”

└I was mistaken for a moment

└About what

└I thought the Japanese pitcher was trash because he got hit with a home run right away ㅋㅋㅋ

└Crazy, he had 17 wins last year and is on pace for 15 wins this year

└I know, I know. I just got confused after seeing him get hit with a home run by Han Su-hyeok

└It’s already the bottom of the 3rd and he already has 6 strikeouts… is it that hard to hit?

└It’s hard, a 157 km/h (97.5 mph) fastball, a 150 km/h (93 mph) two-seamer, and a 145 km/h (90 mph) forkball are coming in fast

└If he had pitched in Korea, he would have had an ERA [Earned Run Average] in the 0s

└Ha… it’s so frustrating, can’t they even get on base? It’s Han Su-hyeok again with 2 outs and no runners

└Maybe it would have been better to put him in the 1st spot, so he could get another at-bat

Tanaka Yamato, who gave up a home run to me in the first inning, completely shut down the Korean lineup until the bottom of the 3rd inning, except for one walk.

The Korean hitters swung wildly at his perfectly controlled 155 km/h (96.3 mph) fastball and his forkball with a tremendous angle, which are hard to see in the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization].

Of course, there are a few pitchers in the KBO who throw 155 km/h (96.3 mph).

The problem is that the 155 km/h (96.3 mph) that those pitchers throw is a ball that they barely manage to create by squeezing their whole body, while the 155 km/h (96.3 mph) that Tanaka is throwing now is a ball that can be controlled in at least four zones.

He’s a pretty good pitcher. To be more precise, he’s about 60, no, 70% of the pitcher I was when I gave up my desire for speed after my shoulder injury and focused on control.

I don’t remember exactly because I’m not interested in guys who are worse than me, but I think he recorded about that much success in my previous life.

“Damn… Su-hyeok, I’m sorry. I was going to try to watch the ball for a long time, but I’m ashamed.”

“It’s okay, senior.”

“Haa… his ball seems to be even better than it was 4 years ago. What are the Japanese guys eating to improve their baseball so much?”

To be honest, I wanted to say that the problem was not that Japan’s baseball skills had improved, but that the KBO’s level had stagnated, but I didn’t bother to say it out loud.

With the score tied 1-1 after Eto Iori’s double in the top of the 3rd inning, the Korean offense began in the bottom of the 3rd inning.

Kim Se-jun, followed by Lee Chan-ho, struck out in succession.

Lee Chan-ho, the 간판타자 [star hitter] of the Seoul Fighters, who is secretly aiming to advance to the big leagues after this season, entered the dugout with a bewildered expression.

From his point of view, he seems to be intimidated by the thought that he will have to face such pitchers every day if he advances to the big leagues.

Although there are occasional exceptions, one of the reasons why hitters who played in the KBO have difficulty adapting to the big leagues is the fundamental difference in athletic ability.

From dynamic visual acuity that can distinguish balls thrown by pitchers who are on average 10 km/h (6.2 mph) faster than in the KBO, to reaction speed, strength, agility, and balance, the required abilities in all those areas increase dramatically.

Anyway, if Lee Chan-ho really wants to advance to the big leagues, he shouldn’t show such a performance in a game like today. And he needs to modify that hitting mechanism of watching the ball as much as possible until the end.

Anyway, that’s that.

Hmm.

“Hey.”

Flinch.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“…Do you know how to speak Japanese?”

“A little. More than that, is that the guy? The one I said had obvious weaknesses?”

“Nani [What]?”

“Hmm, judging by your expression, I guess so. Good. Tell that pitcher later.”

“Tell him what?”

“If he can’t narrow his elbow angle, he’s going to have a hard time in the future.”

“What are you talking about, what is that……”

“I’ve said everything I need to say, so shut up and play baseball.”

“This… what a lousy……”

The catcher stuttered and answered my words, probably because he couldn’t imagine that a twenty-year-old Korean punk would speak Japanese.

I was just probing. It would be good if the catcher was shaken by my words, and even better if he went to the pitcher and told him what I said.

The thing about narrowing the elbow angle is actually a meaningless story. What do I know if that guy’s elbow is attached or detached.

I just want to make him pay attention to his elbow every time he throws the ball.

“Ball.”

“Ball.”

Should I say he’s a guy with learning ability, or should I say he’s the type with good intuition?

Even though he gave up a home run in the first at-bat, he should have been filled with confidence after striking out other hitters like that.

Tanaka Yamato, with his lips tightly closed, tried to tempt me by continuously putting the ball in and out of the zone, about half a ball away from the edge.

“Ball.”

The ball that almost grazed the zone continues to tempt me.

It’s clearly more than half a level ahead of the ace-level pitchers I’ve faced in the KBO so far, such as Ryu Han-gyeol, Im Jun-yeong, or foreign pitchers.

Especially in terms of control.

I can’t help but laugh when I’m about to face a ball that’s worthy of the big leagues after a long time.

Just a little bit, just a little bit more into the zone. I’m going to smash it.

“Ball.”

But Tanaka Yamato ultimately didn’t throw a single strike against me.

Considering that Lee Su-yeong, the hitter behind me, struck out with three ridiculous swings in his first at-bat today, it might be a natural result.

“Su-hyeok, good job.”

“Thank you, coach.”

I handed my glove and protective gear to the first base running coach and conveyed the steal sign.

The coach hesitated for a moment, so he seems to think it’s a bit of a reckless attempt.

Indeed, the ability to suppress steals, which combines the Japanese pitchers’ ability to check runners and the catcher’s shoulder, boasts a level that is incomparably higher than the KBO.

Considering that Lee Su-yeong has a chance for a hit even though he struck out in the first at-bat, it might be better to just leave it to the hitter.

The coach’s sign with that meaning was conveyed to the dugout. But manager Jeong Yun-seok gave the approval sign without a moment’s hesitation.

It seems that manager Jeong Yun-seok has realized my intention.

Tanaka, the ace of the Japanese team, whom we will meet again for at least 2 innings in the future, and again if Japan and Korea advance to the 2nd round.

If we don’t shake that guy’s pace here, it will continue to be difficult in the future.

A little wider than usual, half a step, no, half of half a step.

Tanaka’s complexion began to turn red little by little, as if my lead was getting on his nerves.

Then just a little more, half of half a step forward.

Baseball is funny. It’s not like there are measuring instruments attached to the eyes, but sometimes you can intuitively feel the small movements and minor changes of the opposing player.

The psychological warfare between Tanaka and me was exactly like that.

I am constantly moving to find a gap in that guy’s pitching form, and Tanaka is watching my lead and the movement of my lower body to create a check timing.

“Safe!”

That’s how several checks and psychological warfare ended.

My lead is already back to normal.

Considering that the Japanese catcher sitting behind home plate has a season stolen base percentage of 43%, he probably doesn’t think there’s a very high chance that I’ll run on the first pitch.

Even if I do run, he might be thinking of a hit-and-run or something.

That’s why now is the time to run.

The very moment the pitcher takes the set position, the very timing when he can’t move even though he notices the runner’s movement, the very timing when he can induce a balk [illegal movement by the pitcher].

Tadat [sound of a quick step].

“Chikusho [Damn it]!”