Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 303

#302. I’m Ready

Every success is bound to be followed by the slander and machinations of those who envy it.

Although overshadowed by the popularity of American football and basketball, baseball remains America’s pastime.

To some conservative Americans who believe they are the best, the sight of an Asian single-handedly crushing Major League Baseball and the fans cheering him on was nothing short of an eyesore.

Of course, to those with a normal way of thinking, Han Su-hyeok is a baseball hero who has never existed before and will never exist again.

Anyway,

A special broadcast about Han Su-hyeok was aired on a sports talk show for those with such closed-minded and conservative views.

– Isn’t the bubble starting to burst?

– That’s right, Gerick. There was all sorts of hype about a 0-point ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance], a .400 batting average, and a new home run record, but if you look at this player’s performance in the second half of the season, you’ll see how absurd it all was.

– Oh, you’ve even prepared data. Good. Let’s take a look.

– Okay. Look here. In the second half of the season, this Han Su-hyeok has started in a total of two games. 8 innings, 1 run against the Miami Marlins in the second game, and 9 innings, 2 runs against the New York Mets in the second game. You can see that his pace is dropping at a glance, right?

– That’s true. If you only calculate the second half of the season, his ERA is 1.59!

– That’s right. The same goes for hitting. His batting average, which fluctuated between .420 and .430, has continued to decline, recently falling to .417. At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before the .400 mark collapses.

– What about the home run record?

– No way. They made a fuss about him hitting one home run every two games, but in the second half of the season, he’s barely hitting one every five games. I guarantee it. This is definitely going to fail.

– Oh dear… It’s clear how much hype there was about calling this player the second Babe Ruth. Okay, let’s move on to the next graph…….

Overall, it was a ridiculous claim.

Of course, it was true that Han Su-hyeok’s pace had slowed down somewhat compared to the beginning of the season.

Including the game against the Detroit Tigers, which ended with a 2-1 winning series for Seattle, Han Su-hyeok had started 18 games as a pitcher, throwing 140 innings, resulting in 15 wins and an ERA of 0.45, even after recording 7 innings and 1 run in his last appearance in the third game against Detroit.

As a hitter?

A batting average of .418, an on-base percentage of .530, a slugging percentage of 1.007, and 49 home runs.

Just looking at this, it was needless to say how absurd the claims of Han Su-hyeok’s slump and bubble were, as argued by some.

Of course, Han Su-hyeok didn’t react to those people’s words at all.

Rather, it was the people around him who were furious.

Especially Ty Johnson, who had moved to the team to play with Han Su-hyeok and had been America’s leading baseball player until recently.

The night after the three-game series against Detroit, Ty Johnson accepted an invitation to appear on ESPN’s special broadcast.

“Welcome, Ty. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you on my show.”

“It’s only natural when there’s a friend who’s better at baseball than me, right?”

“Yes. Let’s talk about that friend who’s terribly good at baseball. There have been many stories surrounding Han Su-hyeok recently, and I’d like to hear your thoughts on them.”

Ty Johnson, who represented America, no, Major League Baseball, before the emergence of Han Su-hyeok.

The story about Han Su-hyeok flowed from his mouth.

“People don’t know. What kind of player Han Su-hyeok really is, what he’s doing right now.”

“Hmm, it doesn’t seem like you’re just talking about his performance, can you tell us more details?”

“Okay. At the beginning of this season, I had a conversation with him about baseball. I asked him. What kind of hitter, what kind of pitcher do you think is a good player?”

“That’s a philosophical question. So what was his answer?”

“He said this. It’s all bullshit that a good hitter is a hitter who can continue the flow of the game, that it’s just passing the burden on to other teammates, and that to become a really good hitter, you have to rush in with the determination to end everything in your at-bat.”

“Wow!”

“That’s not the end of it. Not only me, but most baseball players try to have this kind of thinking. Yeah, baseball is a sport you learn from failure. You can get paid hundreds of millions of dollars a year if you only hit 3 out of 10 at-bats, right? So don’t stress too much and think comfortably. Otherwise, you’ll never last long, something like that.”

“I’ve heard that a lot.”

“That’s right. It’s incredibly stressful to take care of both the team’s performance and your own performance while playing 162 games a year. A normal player has to think like that to continue their career. Including me, of course.”

“Hmm, but it sounds like Han Su-hyeok is a little different?”

“Yes, I was shocked to hear his answer. Han Su-hyeok said that’s all bullshit. You can never get good results if you go into a game expecting to fail. You have to play with the determination that you’ll die if you fail here.”

“Hoo…….”

“What I want to say is this. Fans who support Seattle, or baseball fans who don’t support Seattle but want to see new records being set, if you’re one of those people, just watch Han Su-hyeok without saying anything. Right now, that player is sharpening and wielding himself like a sharp knife for the team, and for baseball. Even knowing that he might get hurt in the process.”

“Ah…….”

“And to the few who are talking nonsense about Han Su-hyeok, I’m warning you. I’m telling you in advance that I won’t stand still if you keep talking nonsense. So shut your mouths and just watch. The great season of a great player who may never come again.”

The public opinion, which had been shaken by Ty Johnson’s outburst, an idol of white people as well as a simple baseball player, quickly subsided.

This was because they could fully sympathize with the attitude of Han Su-hyeok towards baseball, even if it wasn’t Ty Johnson’s words.

Of course, the dissatisfied voices of a few bigots who judged everything by skin color continued, though.

Meanwhile,

“Yerin… are you really going to do this?”

“Of course. Why else would I have practiced so hard and gotten my license? Of course, I have to do it.”

“Haa… you might really end up on world news.”

“What are you talking about? The city authorities have given permission, and the club has also approved it.”

“That’s true, but… think about it one more time. Do you really have to go this far?”

“Of course. I’m going to give him a time he’ll never forget in his life. Just you wait and see.”

As Han Su-hyeok’s presence grew, his name began to be mentioned among sports fans all over the United States, beyond just baseball.

In fact, the Han Su-hyeok slump and bubble theories were also possible because of this interest. In short, you could say that as the ‘fans’ increased, the ‘haters’ also increased.

Anyway, for Han Su-hyeok, who is playing a central role in the team this season, and for the fans who love him,

The Seattle Mariners were preparing a surprise party for the first game of the weekend series against the Oakland Athletics tomorrow.

Daniel was an extraordinary general manager.

He knew exactly who the best person was to give Han Su-hyeok strength.

“Oppa [Korean term for older sister used by a female], just keep checking the weather tomorrow. Especially focusing on the wind direction.”

* * *

I didn’t care what they said about me.

I knew from experience that even if I performed well, I wouldn’t always get praise, from before my regression, through my time with the Warriors, and up to now.

That means that the antics of a few anti-forces mean nothing to me.

What’s more important is that my pace is actually slowing down, even if only slightly.

But there is no definite solution.

This is because it is due to the stamina that gradually decreases as the season progresses, and the deepening analysis of me.

In times like these, you just have to endure.

Enduring the desire to sit down and rest, and somehow moving forward step by step.

What I need right now is such equanimity [mental calmness and composure].

“Hey, Han. Are you okay?”

“Derek.”

“Hmm?”

“I don’t think you have time to worry about me right now? You know your batting average for the last week is less than .200, right?”

“Damn… you’re hitting me where it hurts.”

The gazes of my teammates towards me contain concern.

This is all because of the TV show that Ty appeared on.

“Damn it, Ty. You didn’t have to say that.”

“Hehe, no, I have a duty as a veteran of this team to take care of the rookies.”

“If you really think so, why don’t you take care of those guys over there.”

“Hmm? Hmmm… that’s true. Okay, you youngsters over there! Gather around here!”

Two minor league rookies who were called up before the game against Oakland were startled by Ty Johnson’s words and ran over.

At the point of playing 107 games this season, we are running first in the American League West Division.

But there was no room for complacency.

This is because the Yankees, who are frantically buying players with the sole aim of winning the World Series, and the Chicago White Sox, who are sweeping victories from the same division teams, have a higher winning percentage than us.

In order to go straight to the Division Series without playing in the Wild Card Game, we have to get rid of one of the two no matter what.

Until some degree of superiority is determined, every day will be an all-out war.

“So, youngsters. What do you think baseball is?”

“Yes? Ah, yes, yes!”

I returned to the locker room, watching Ty Johnson reassure the youngsters in his own way.

Today, we still have to fight a decisive battle with Oakland, the second-place team that is not giving up on winning the division.

In our team, Mike Warren, the third starter, will be playing, and on the other side, Devin McPherson, the ace of Oakland, will be playing.

Even though the game difference with Oakland is 4 and a half games, it is not yet time to rest assured.

If we happen to get swept, we will be allowing them to chase right under our noses.

“Okay, here’s today’s lineup. Everyone check it, and if there’s anyone who has a problem, you can come to the manager’s office.”

The lineup sheet was posted on one wall of the locker room.

1st Center Fielder Derek Fleming

2nd 3rd Baseman Han Su-hyeok

3rd 1st Baseman Ty Johnson

4th Right Fielder Chuck Clark

5th Designated Hitter Antonio Garcia

6th Left Fielder Jim Brown

7th Catcher Bruce Matthews

8th 2nd Baseman Liam Landman

9th Shortstop Josh Oliver

Starting Pitcher Mike Warren

Except for the fact that the 5th and 6th have switched places, it is the best lineup that our team can currently field.

Jonathan Owens, who has now been completely pushed out of the starting lineup, has a darkened expression,

But there’s nothing I can do.

The manager has decided to use him as a defensive replacement.

If he can’t accept the changed situation, requesting a trade from the team would be one way to go.

“Okay, everyone gather on the field!”

At the words of the head coach, the players took their butts off the chairs and ran towards the ground one by one.

The time of the decisive battle has come again.