Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 292

#291. What Needs To Be Done Now

‘Hmm.’

A small officetel [a Korean term for a multi-purpose building, often used as both residential and commercial space] located right in front of Jamsil Baseball Stadium.

Many people find it strange that Cheon Sang-jin, the superstar of the Seoul Warriors, lives in this simple officetel, which is mainly inhabited by students or young professionals.

With Han Su-hyeok’s regression [referring to Han Su-hyeok’s return to an earlier point in time or skill level], the Seoul Warriors once again stood at the top, and now with a power that is not ashamed to be called a dynasty, the position of the players within it has changed a lot.

Seo Hyeong-ju, An Chi-wook, Jang Deok-su, Choi Min-seok, and Yang Gi-cheol, who were unknown players, have now grown into players representing Korean baseball beyond the Warriors, and have gained wealth and fame accordingly.

And the player at the pinnacle of such players is Cheon Sang-jin.

A figure who had no first-team game appearances until before his military service, but appeared like a comet in 2027 and became the pitcher representing the Warriors.

The club gave Cheon Sang-jin a generous annual salary that was not inferior to FA [Free Agency, allowing players to sign with any team].

However, Cheon Sang-jin’s life has hardly changed from three years ago or now.

A monastic lifestyle that only goes back and forth between home and the baseball field.

Cheon Sang-jin’s interest was not in large houses, good cars, or delicious food.

There is only one thing he is interested in.

Only baseball.

‘Is this possible?’

Cheon Sang-jin, who recorded 8 innings and 1 run in the game against the Magicians that just ended and became the winning pitcher, was lying in bed watching a video.

It was a video of Han Su-hyeok’s left-handed pitching from the recent All-Star Game.

Back then, when he couldn’t see a way out of the minor leagues, Cheon Sang-jin had also considered switch pitching [the ability to pitch with both arms].

No matter how fast he threw with his left hand, it was only 140 km/h [approximately 87 mph], so he thought that if he threw with his right hand, he might be able to throw a more powerful ball.

Of course, as he learned more about baseball and pitching, he realized that there were more important things than speed.

At the time, Cheon Sang-jin was that desperate.

‘Is Su-hyeok not getting injured because of this?’

Baseball fans around the world, including the United States and Korea, were amazed at Han Su-hyeok, who was maintaining perfect condition in both pitching and hitting aspects while playing nearly 100 games.

Perhaps the biggest result Han Su-hyeok has shown this season is not records such as home runs or ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance], but his incredibly solid and stable physical condition.

That’s why Cheon Sang-jin is now paying attention to how Han Su-hyeok’s switch pitching affects physical condition.

Basically, that’s the theory.

Some experts argue that switch pitching is helpful in that it divides the body vertically and uses both muscles in a balanced way, while others think that injuries can occur if perfect symmetry is not achieved.

Since there are few players who switch pitch, the matter has not yet been concluded…….

‘Should I try it once?’

Cheon Sang-jin is now almost thirty years old, and his originally ordinary speed and control will gradually decline, and he may eventually reach his limit.

What Cheon Sang-jin wants now is only one thing,

To play baseball for even one more day.

There was nothing he couldn’t do for that.

‘Is Su-hyeok coming to Korea this winter? I wish I could ask him.’

After finishing his thoughts, Cheon Sang-jin turned the video back and observed Han Su-hyeok’s pitching form.

A perfect pitching form with nothing to criticize no matter how you look at it.

For Cheon Sang-jin, who knows nothing but baseball, watching his junior Han Su-hyeok’s pitching was a pleasure that he couldn’t trade for anything in the world.

* * *

The day after winning the first game against the Marlins by a large score, it was my turn to pitch again.

Among all the records in baseball, what I like the most is recording a shutout as a pitcher and hitting a home run as a batter.

The reason is simple. That is the most sure and fastest way to lead the team to victory.

Baseball is the sport with the most diverse number of cases, tactics, and strategies in the world, but in fact, if you have just two things, victory will follow naturally.

If the pitcher doesn’t give up a single run until the 9th inning, and one of the batters hits a home run, you can win the game.

And a player who pitches and hits can do it alone.

That’s why I can’t give up this difficult task.

Whoosh

Bang

“Strike! Out!”

The Seattle’s attack at the top of the 1st inning ended without a score, and the Marlins’ attack at the bottom of the 1st inning began.

With the season heading towards almost two-thirds, there are many discussions about my ERA, which is still in the 0s.

In fact, even I didn’t expect this kind of figure.

It seems that my control and pitching pattern, which have changed a lot from my KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] days, have played a role.

The lowest ERA in a single Major League season in history is 1.12, recorded by Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals.

But it’s a long time ago. It’s a record set in 1968.

What if I finish this season with an ERA of less than 1 point?

Along with breaking the 62-year-old record, I will remain as the first pitcher to record an ERA in the 0s.

Whoosh

Bang

“Strike! Out!”

Of course, to get there, you have to overcome several problems.

First of all, to fill the regular innings, you have to throw more than 162 innings.

Considering that I have thrown 116 innings before today’s game, it seems possible, but you never know.

The body of a player who continues to pitch and hit should be seen as an extremely sensitive precision machine.

If something goes wrong, the operation will be stopped immediately, and I have no intention of forcibly turning on the switch of that machine.

What I want is to see how far I can go as a player, not to burn myself out just to break a record.

Whoosh

Thwack!

“Out!”

Nevertheless, the reason why I keep paying attention to the ERA record is…….

“Damn, it’s terrible again today. I almost feel sorry for the Marlins guys.”

“So, is that why you struck out in the first inning, Tai?”

“Huh? Haha, damn it, you got me. Okay, I’ll show you a home run that goes over the fence in the next at-bat.”

For some reason, I have a feeling that I will be able to put my name at the top of the ERA record at the end of this season.

The most home runs in a single season, and the lowest ERA.

Hmm,

Should I seriously try it?

* * *

“I want to be a better hitter. Is there any way?”

“Well, I don’t think this is something to talk about during the game.”

“I know, I’m just, damn it, I’m so frustrated that I said it. I said something useless to the starting pitcher. Just pretend you didn’t hear it.”

Seattle’s shortstop Josh Oliver, who struck out in the top of the 2nd inning, scratched the back of his head and sat down next to me.

The most competitive position in our team’s starting lineup is second base and shortstop.

At the beginning of the season, second base was dominated by Jonathan Owens and shortstop by Josh Oliver.

Two young infielders whose hitting is a little, no, honestly, very lacking, but whose defense is worthy of a Gold Glove [an award given to the best defensive players].

However, due to the growth of existing backup member Ronnie Montalic and the hard work of Liam Landman, who came over from the Marlins, the competition for the starting position at second base and shortstop has begun in earnest.

In the current situation, it seems that second base has become Liam Landman’s position.

A second baseman who can show an OPS [On-Base Plus Slugging, a sabermetric baseball statistic] of 0.850 with some problems in defense is not something you can easily find.

On the other hand, shortstop has the most appearances by Josh Oliver, the existing starter, but recently, Jonathan Owens or Ronnie Montalic have been playing more often.

Again, it’s a hitting problem. Our team’s starting shortstop, Josh Oliver, is, to put it simply, a typical defensive shortstop who puts too much weight on defense.

“Josh.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Han.”

“As you know, there is no right answer to hitting. If there was, we wouldn’t be having this trouble.”

“Well, I guess so.”

“The upper and lower body are separate. Because you’re in a hurry, your body is heading to first base before the follow-through is completely finished… Well, you’ve heard a lot of these things before, right?”

“That’s right. I’m still trying to fix it.”

“Hmm, maybe this is something that the manager or coach can’t say easily. Okay, then I’ll tell you. How about gaining some weight this winter?”

“Weight?”

“That’s what I see. If you gain a little weight in your current hitting mechanism, the results may be completely different.”

“Honestly… I’ve thought about it, but wouldn’t it make it difficult to play shortstop?”

“Defense? Are you aiming for a Gold Glove?”

“Of course. Isn’t the first goal of a shortstop to win a Gold Glove?”

“I see. But I think you’re forgetting something important.”

“What?”

“Don’t you think you need to keep your starting position first to win a Gold Glove or anything else?”

Josh’s face showed embarrassment at my words.

Shortstop, which has not had much competition compared to other positions, Josh may not have thought about this problem.

However, considering that there is talk that our team’s holes are second base and shortstop, what he should be worried about now may not be the Gold Glove, but survival.

Well, I guess he understood roughly.

“Okay, back to defense. Focus! Crush the Marlins guys!”

Seattle failed to score in the 2nd inning, following the 1st inning.

It’s not strange at all.

After winning by a large score like yesterday, the batters’ swings naturally get bigger, and this can lead to a slump.

What I need to do now is to hold out on the mound until our team’s youngsters come to their senses.

This is how veterans contribute to the team.

Of course, on the surface, I’m just a rookie in the big leagues.

Hmm,

Whoosh

Bang

“Strike!”

After yesterday’s game, Bruce Matthews, the starting catcher of this team, came to my accommodation.

I let the guy in who was awkwardly smiling with two bottles of beer, and he told me something I didn’t expect.

‘Damn it, Han, to be honest, I was thinking of leaving this team.’

Bruce, the oldest of the team’s fielders, will be a FA [Free Agent] at the end of this season.

He was said to be the type who had no interest in anything other than personal performance until before this season, positioned between the veteran players who had already left the team and the young players who were newly raised by the team.

Of course, now he has become one of the team’s leaders who actively looks after the dugout atmosphere.

‘I’ve never told anyone, but I’m honestly a Phillies fan. Don’t look at me like that. I know, I know I’m crazy. Damn it, but what can I do? My childhood memories are buried in that shitty Citizens Bank Park [the Phillies’ baseball stadium].’

Honestly, this is the first time I’ve heard this story.

Before regression, he did transfer to the Giants as a FA, but not the Phillies.

Was the negotiation not successful at that time?

Bruce’s story continued.

‘But um… the kids I didn’t care about until last year keep catching my eye. What are those guys going to do if I leave… What? Are you actually greedy for a championship ring? Damn it, it was impossible to fool you. That’s right, hehe, I want to stand at the top of the World Series [the annual championship series of Major League Baseball]. And I realized that the fastest and surest way to do that is to stick with you.’

I sent the guy back who was chugging two bottles of beer and kept rambling about something, and leaned back on the bed.

Bruce Matthews’ fate, who would have left Seattle and become the starting catcher for the Giants in the original history, has been changed by me.

Of course, it’s not my responsibility. This is his choice.

However, I had a thought.

Since the fate of many people has changed because of me anyway, shouldn’t at least the result be better than before it changed?

Then what should I do now?

Whoosh

Bang

“Swing! Out!”

Needless to say.

Championship, Seattle’s championship.

I think it’s time to think about it a little more seriously now.