The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 296

296. Look Over There (5)

On game days, I was so focused that my mind was clear. But maybe because I had a day off before pitching, thoughts of Se-jeong kept bothering me.

To put it coldly, Se-jeong wasn’t a good wife. No, she was beyond that; she was a bad wife. This isn’t me disparaging her because we’re divorced—it’s the truth. But if you ask if she was a bad person, well…

In my opinion, Se-jeong became a bad wife not because she was a bad person at heart. The reason she became a bad wife was simply because she was too vulnerable to handle being the wife of a major leaguer.

“Are you not coming home again? Do you remember we were going to travel together after this season ends?”

“Later. You saw my performance at the end of this year. My batting form is a bit off. If I don’t fix it properly during the winter season, I don’t know what will happen next year.”

“But!!”

“First, go back to Korea, meet some friends, see your parents, and be a good daughter. I’ll give you my card, so buy some gifts and go in. Oh, you can take the brandy I received as a gift to your father. I heard it’s a liquor you can’t even buy with money anymore.”

During the eight months of the season, I came home for about 80 days. Weekends were naturally out of the question, and even then, the time I spent at home wasn’t very long. Moreover, at the time, I was in the running for MVP [Most Valuable Player], so my head was filled with the thought that if I could just take one more step, I could win it.

And when that MVP runner-up became two and three times…

The relationship between my ex-wife and I had already reached a point of no return. At the time, I resented her for not fully understanding and supporting me. Yes, I didn’t have the余裕 [yoyuu – leeway, margin] to consider her at the time.

Looking back now, maybe I was a little too immature to be someone’s husband at the time.

“Yes, it’s all in the past, and it’s something that will never happen again.”

In many movies, dramas, or even cartoons dealing with time slips, they realize that the regrettable married life was due to each other’s immature mistakes. And in the end, they realize that they are each other’s destined partners, meet again, and become happy, which is the story in most cases.

But I guarantee that’s a terrible result created by the inadequate and misguided imagination of people who haven’t experienced a truly unhappy marriage.

-Buzzz

The smartphone on the desk rang.

It was Park Eun-jin.

“Oh, Eun-jin.”

“Choi Soo-won. When did you say the All-Star Game is?”

“All-Star Game? July 11th. Why?”

“Well, I might be able to clear my schedule around that time. So, if things go well, I might be able to go to America to see it in person?”

“Huh? Didn’t you say you were starting activities again around June?”

“Yeah, we were originally planning to make a comeback in June, but Tiny’s schedule, which was supposed to be in May, got pushed back a month. The company said that we have to avoid them no matter what, even if it’s just the other members. So, we decided to postpone it completely to the end of July.”

“Ah, but then that means your comeback is less than a month away, so is it okay for you to come see me? There are a lot of reporters here, so wouldn’t it be troublesome if you get photographed?”

“Oh my, as if that would happen. Honestly, in our current situation, if we get involved with you, we should release a promotional article saying ‘That’s right!’ instead of a rebuttal article.”

“Really? Then should we take a friendly picture together?”

“No thanks? Our new song is good, so there’s no need to create anything like that with you and me because of our relationship.”

Park Eun-jin, who was stuttering with a complex and subtle expression about the relationship for a moment, continued. Even if I wanted to pretend I didn’t know, it was so obvious that it was hard to ignore.

“Anyway, don’t be so cocky just because you’re doing well right now. Keep doing well and make sure you get to the All-Star Game. I need that much justification to go all the way to America.”

“That’s not something to worry about. More than that, are you coming alone? What about the other members?”

“Why? Do you want to see the other members? Who? Se-hee? Hee-jin? Or… Se-jeong?”

“No, I need to get tickets. And if too many people come, it’ll be hard to get good seats, so if you want to see it from a good seat, come quietly by yourself. And that way, even if you get photographed, it’s easier to do this and that with the media.”

“O-okay!! If you really want me to come alone.”

“No, come together if you want to come together. But it’ll be a little difficult to get premium seats.”

“Ah, no!! Since I’m going to America, and I might only see it a few times in my life. And it’s your first major league All-Star Game, so it’s also a friend’s duty to watch it up close from a premium seat.”

“Well, whatever.”

Ah, but could this be ‘human greed is endless and repeats the same mistakes’? So, the same mistake in the second life, or something like that?

***

-Thwack!!!

[Will it go over!! Will it go over!!! It went over~!!! Alexander McDowell’s eighth home run of the season!!]

Game 4 against the Phillies.

Alexander McDowell finally recorded his eighth home run of the season.

[Alexander McDowell hits eight home runs in just 13 games of the season!! It’s really an all-time pace.]

[Yes, that’s right. Eight home runs in the first 13 games since the opening game is the third-highest record in Major League history, with only Pujols in ’06 and Luis Gonzalez in ’01 hitting more home runs. It’s a record that surpasses Ken Griffey Jr.’s seven home runs, which was the previous third place. If he can add seven more home runs in the remaining 15 games, he can aim for the most home runs in April in history.]

[I can’t say anything but that this player is really amazing.]

Just yesterday.

Choi Soo-won finally recorded a nine-game hitting streak, reaching the same level as Ted Williams. Therefore, Alexander McDowell, as his rival, couldn’t just stand by and watch.

Late at night after the game was over.

“What? Why does a guy who even hit a home run today have such a shitty look on his face? Don’t tell me it’s because you lost the game?”

“No, I was going to hit three home runs today. I only hit one.”

Bryce Harper ruffled Alexander McDowell’s hair.

“Why? Did you want to set a record because Choi Soo-won set a record?”

“No, it’s not that…”

“Well, try hard. But don’t forget this. Even if you don’t set a record, you guys are still very young. Randy Johnson couldn’t even keep up with Greg Maddux until he was 40, but after 40, he almost caught up with Greg Maddux.”

“You mean don’t be impatient?”

“No, if you’re going to catch up, 40 is too late, so you have to catch up before then. So, about thirty-six?”

Alexander McDowell chuckled.

“Is this your own story after all?”

“Yeah. I’m telling you this because I don’t like how you two youngsters keep acting like you’re the main characters of Major League Baseball. Especially with the real main character right in front of you.”

“Main character my ass… That’s a story from 20 years ago. Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. Honestly, Harper isn’t the main character.”

Bryce Harper got up from his seat.

“What’s wrong? Are you upset?”

“No, it’s almost time for the meeting. Well, and it’s not wrong. Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. But do you know what?”

“What?”

“It’s not over until it’s over. Remember that story that some old man who used to be your team’s manager left behind. When I see it, this story seems necessary not only for me but also for you in the future.”

“That’s not a word I agree with at all.”

“Whether you agree or not. I’ll replace the cost of today’s meal with this advice that will become my blood and flesh, so know that.”

“No!! You make a lot of money too.”

“Originally, the host buys this kind of thing. If you want to hear the sound of the King of New York, you should at least treat the guests who came to New York to a meal.”

Bryce Harper left the restaurant, leaving behind the word King of New York.

Yes, the King of New York.

That very seat that has been vacant for over 15 years.

Sunday evening.

The first game of the Subway Series [games between the two New York teams] to determine the King of New York began.

***

[Hello, baseball fans across the country. Sunday Night Baseball. Today’s game will be broadcasted between the two New York teams, the Yankees and the Mets. I’m David Cone.]

[I’m Luis Gonzalez.]

[And today, instead of Josh, who is always with us in the commentary box, we have invited a very special guest with great difficulty. There’s no particular problem with Josh. As you know, there are only three seats here, so there was no choice. Okay, enough with the jokes. Let me introduce today’s special guest. No.2. Derek Jeter.]

[Hello. This is Derek Jeter, who pushed Josh out and took this seat.]

[Today’s game. The New York media is competing to say, ‘Who will the throne of New York return to?’ I would like to hear the thoughts of Derek, the former King of New York. What do you think?]

[Well. It’s hard to say which team will win because both teams have formidable power. However, the Yankees, who swept the four-game series by excellently filling the void of Aaron Judge, a strong captain and franchise player in the last series, seem to have a better momentum than the Mets, who split the previous series 2:2.]

“Are you really okay?”

“Yes, you know. There are cases where a person who used to play as a fielder suddenly becomes a designated hitter, and even though his body is more comfortable, his performance actually declines. It’s a routine I’ve been doing for almost a year. Rather, that’s more comfortable.”

In the last two appearances, my batting order was 9th.

The reason was that if I, a sensitive starting pitcher, started batting before pitching, my balance could be disrupted.

[Another unique point today is Choi Soo-won’s batting order. He has been coming out as the 9th batter in the games he starts, but today he is 2nd. As today’s game is an away game, he will start the game as a batter unconditionally before pitching.]

[I think that until now, it was a process of adapting to the major leagues, and now he is slowly regaining the routine he used to play in his home country.]

[Well, today’s Mets starter is Lenniel Diaz. He debuted in September of last year and has an ERA [Earned Run Average] of 3.71. And this year, he has recorded only two runs in 11 innings in two games, recording an ERA of 1.64. Personally, I’m very much looking forward to his future.]

-Whoosh!!!

“Strike!! Out!!!”

[Ah, Anthony Volpe’s swing and miss strikeout. He’s been having a pretty good batting feel lately. Lenniel Diaz’s ball is quite good today.]

[Choi Soo-won is at bat. Choi Soo-won is coming up. Choi Soo-won has been recording a nine-game hitting streak since his debut. Will he be able to continue that record today?]

[Well. This player hasn’t recorded multiple hits in the last four games. The home runs he hit in the beginning are also quiet. Personally, I think his batting feel has dropped a bit. Maybe today’s game will be a crisis…]

-Thwack!!!!!!

[First ball!! He hit it!! Choi Soo-won!!! Strong hit!! It stretches out!! Outfield!! Outfield!!! Over the!!!!! Fence!!]

[Oh my gosh.]

[······.]

[Choi Soo-won’s sixth home run of the season. He renewed his consecutive game hit record with a home run.]