The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 363

363. The Decisive Difference (1)

As is the nature of the human heart, Alexander McDowell’s feelings for Choi Su-won were complex. As a baseball player, he often couldn’t help but marvel at Choi Su-won’s plays.

From the way he effortlessly shattered records that had stood for over a century to the overwhelming confidence that radiated from his every move. Even the fact that he could confidently say he still made his mark after giving up 5 runs in 3.2 innings but scoring 6 RBIs that day was incredibly cool.

At that moment, Alexander McDowell found himself drawn to the idea of a two-way player for the first time. ‘I gave up 5 runs but brought in 6, so I still won.’ Could there be a cooler statement in baseball?

However, his feelings towards Choi Su-won weren’t unconditionally positive. He often felt a hard-to-describe bubbling emotion whenever he saw Choi Su-won, and whenever he felt that way, he either improved significantly or faced a slump.

Jealousy.

Yes, according to his psychologist, who charged $750 an hour, it was all jealousy. To him, who was ashamed of such negative emotions, the psychologist explained that it was a natural emotion that everyone experiences, and the important thing was how to manage it.

“Do you think Su-won feels that way too?”

“Of course, he’s human.”

He tried.

Alexander McDowell, a natural genius, pushed himself to the limit of his talent. And he reached that limit.

Without realizing it, he went to find Choi Su-won.

The guy warmly welcomed him, and Alexander McDowell, ridiculously, drew strength from that warm welcome.

Thus, 62 home runs.

Yes, in 2022, his second year in the majors, 20-year-old Alexander McDowell etched his name alongside Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees. And suddenly, Alexander McDowell wondered: Does Choi Su-won not feel jealousy?

No, no. According to the disgustingly expensive psychologist, he is also human and naturally feels such emotions. So, this just proves that Alexander McDowell himself hasn’t yet reached a position to inspire such feelings in Choi Su-won.

News arrived. News about the most dominant team in the 170-year history of baseball. They dominated the season with overwhelming power and utterly crushed the Division Series and Championship Series.

Their return from Missouri felt like they were simply reclaiming a victory that was rightfully theirs.

“Ella, you really can’t get tickets?”

“Alex… Well, I mean, if it’s just decent seats, maybe. But getting a skybox the day before the game is a bit much, even for me… Besides, the prices are insane right now. Even if Alex makes a lot of money, you can’t think of it as the regular season price, you know? It’s in the tens of thousands. Tens of thousands. How about premium seats instead? I might be able to get those somehow.”

“No, it’s just that my friend is so famous…”

“Most of the people coming these days are the same. With that Swan guy [likely referring to a celebrity or popular figure] around? And baseball is so popular in many ways. Premium seats will be mostly filled with celebrities.”

“It’s because I’m thinking of inviting that friend, Su-won.”

“!?”

He asked the clubbies [team staff who assist players] several times if they could get him skybox tickets, but even the most resourceful clubbie shook his head.

But surprisingly, things were easily resolved.

Because the rumor that started spreading among the lowest-level clubbies quickly reached the top in just one day.

“So, you’re inviting Choi Su-won?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm… Okay. Then I’ll help you.”

“Yes? Really? Ah, then what about the ticket price?”

“Haha, ticket price. Let’s just say this is my pure goodwill.”

Surprisingly, Steve Cohen, the owner of the Mets, readily gave up his seat. There were no conditions attached, such as using it for publicity. Pure goodwill? It was hard to believe, of course. As Alex looked at Steve Cohen with a puzzled expression, he smiled and explained.

“People often forget, but money is ultimately a medium for exchanging something. However, there are some things in the world that are so rare that they are sometimes difficult to buy with money alone. Of course, overwhelming amounts of money can overcome even those difficult cases. For example, if you offer a player who loves the Yankees about twice as much money, you can bring him in. Well, if that’s not enough, you can offer him three or four times as much. But that’s too inefficient, isn’t it?”

“Ah, don’t tell me you want to bring Su-won to our Mets?”

“Yes, of course, I have that in mind. But the target of my favor right now isn’t Choi Su-won. It’s you. Alexander McDowell.”

“But I don’t love the Yankees.”

“Kekeke, yeah. That’s why I like you. Anyway, I’ll send you the tickets through Ella, so show our Mets game to that Mr. Baseball of yours. It’s been a while since I’ve watched a game from close to the catcher.”

As Steve Cohen said, he was sitting in the third row of the premium seats.

Ranked 27th among the richest people in the United States. Countless cameras focused on the king of hedge funds, who earned a whopping $1.4 billion last year alone.

Of course, that was only for a moment.

The 6th game between the LA Dodgers and the New York Mets began.

[The 6th game of the Championship Series between the LA Dodgers and the New York Mets. This is Citi Field.]

[The Mets lost 2 out of 3 games in their last LA trip. A disappointing result, wasn’t it? In fact, today is virtually a do-or-die game. What do you think?]

[Ah, that come-from-behind loss in the 4th game was a shame. The atmosphere was really good when they won the 2nd and 3rd games in a row. But today, Spencer Cano is on the mound, isn’t he? I believe Cano can definitely hold down the Dodgers’ lineup.]

***

-Crack!!!!

Mookie Betts pulled the ball.

“Wow!!”

My aunt, who knows the least about baseball among us, exclaimed the loudest.

“No, he looks so small, but how can he hit the ball so far? Honey, this is amazing, right?”

“Of course. That guy has won the MVP [Most Valuable Player award] and been an All-Star 10 times, and he’s almost certain to be in the Hall of Fame even if he retires now. Besides, the other players there are so tall and big, but he’s 175cm tall [approximately 5’9″] and weighs about 80kg [approximately 176 lbs].”

“Oh my, he’s that big? He looks similar to our Hyung-seo when you look at him like this.”

“Oh, come on. It’s different when you see it like that. Look at Su-won here. He looks so small on TV, but he looks so reliable when you see him like this.”

“Well, I was worried that our Su-won wasn’t eating enough when I saw him on TV. But he looks so good when I see him like this.”

“Haha, thank you.”

Spencer Cano is originally a good pitcher. A pitcher who gets $320 million for 9 years can’t be a bad pitcher. Of course, Steve Cohen tends to spend money recklessly, but he was still evaluated as a pitcher who could get at least 30 million a year at the market price at the time.

The problem is that today, the Dodgers’ fielders are strangely targeting Cano well. It’s like they’ve discovered some kind of weakness.

It’s the top of the 3rd inning, and the score is already 4:1.

-Crack!!!

[Ah, Diego Vegas with a timely hit!! The Dodgers add another point.]

[Spencer Cano is having a hard time today.]

5:1

The Mets pulled their ace and started running the bullpen [using relief pitchers] in just 2.2 innings. And it seemed like a pretty good choice. The inning ended safely without any additional points in a situation with two outs and runners on 1st and 3rd.

And Alex came to bat.

“Ah, Su-won. It’s your friend’s turn.”

“Yes.”

“That kid is a really good baseball player, right? He just hit a home run.”

“Alexander McDowell. There’s Su-won in the AL [American League], and there’s Alexander McDowell in the NL [National League]. That’s the kind of evaluation he got. He also won the Rookie of the Year last year. He’s the most likely player to win the MVP this year.”

“Huh? Isn’t our Su-won going to win the MVP?”

“No, it’s because the leagues are different. Our Su-won is the AL MVP, and Alexander McDowell is the NL MVP.”

“Oh, my. Why is baseball so complicated? Anyway, Su-won’s friend is as great as Su-won. Is that what you’re saying?”

“Not exactly. Actually, if you compare the levels…”

“Ah, yes. That’s right. He’s a very good baseball player. When I played in the postseason with the Marlins last year, he even came to Korea to watch the game in person.”

“Ah!! So, he gave you this as a thank you for getting him tickets back then?”

“Uh… Yes. I guess so?”

The price difference is at least 100 times. So, it seems like there’s a difference of hundreds of millions, but anyway, a thank you is a thank you.

-Whoosh!!!

“Strike!!!”

Alex’s bat swung through the air.

“Wow… His ball is really alive. It’s alive.”

“Honey!! Su-won’s friend just messed up, so why are you happy about it?”

“No… Ohtani…”

“Ohtani or whatever!! You always hated Japan so much. Why do you suddenly like Japanese players now!!”

“Sports originally have no borders…”

“When I was young, they said the hot springs in Hokkaido [a Japanese island known for its hot springs] were so good. When I asked you to go with me, you wouldn’t go no matter what.”

“So, I asked you to go with me once recently…”

“Now it’s dangerous because of the radiation!!! Where are you going!!”

“…”

Just one swing caused a historical feud between the couple.

Yes, all of this is because Alex swung and missed.

“Su-won. No. Stop your aunt. She doesn’t understand how important Ohtani is to baseball history.”

“Aunt.”

“Yes?”

“Ohtani is also friends with me. He also loves the braised short ribs that you make.”

“Oh, really?”

They temporarily patched up the historical fight between the couple and focused on the game.

Alex glanced back at me.

What should I say? It was impossible because of the distance, but strangely, I felt like I made eye contact with him. And one more thing. I also felt like he had a strange smile on his face.

Second.

He tapped the falling splitter [a type of pitch] and fouled it off.

The count is 0-2.

Next to me, Uncle Kang-doo was explaining to my aunt why the strike count was going up. It was the second time he had explained the same thing today.

And third.

-Crack!!!!!

The ball, which was lifted high, stretched out, completely defying gravity.

2 hits and 2 home runs.

He raised his index and middle fingers at me.

Is it a V? Or is it a 2?

The game went on.