On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 264

While the average viewership for baseball hovered around 1%, the two teams consistently drew ratings in the 1-2% range.

Games between these two teams peaked at 3%, easily surpassing the viewership of most cable channels.

Before the game started, Lee Chang-hoon, the starting pitcher for the Goat, repeatedly took deep breaths.

Han Min-seok chuckled at this.

“Why? Nervous?”

“I get so anxious when we play against the Astros.”

“What’s there to be nervous about? Just throw the ball.”

“Those guys are relentless. They swing for the fences all the way down to the ninth batter, so there’s no room to relax.”

“Why are you so scared when you’re a ground ball pitcher and they’re just swinging away?”

“Ha… You’ll see tomorrow. Let’s see if you can say the same thing then.”

Top of the first, Goat’s attack.

The pitcher was Shin Gyu-won, the ace of the Astros.

Shin Gyu-won pitched with all his might from the first inning to make up for his previous slump.

Although Shin Gyu-won’s recent average speed was less than 145 km/h, he hit 147 km/h from the first inning, striking out the first and second batters in quick succession.

[Kim In-hwan steps up to the plate. This is where the frustrating part of the lineup begins, right?]

[That’s right. You can’t walk anyone from here on out. It’s a tough spot. Since Kim In-hwan is a left-handed batter, it’s better to challenge him rather than Song Seok-hyun.]

[First pitch. Ball. The changeup was a bit off.]

[Kim In-hwan’s plate discipline has improved a lot. It wasn’t that long ago that his career on-base percentage (OBP) was in the low .300s, but this year it’s up to .380. His batting stance has become simpler, which has improved his eye. Of course, the pitchers are also challenging Kim In-hwan because Song Seok-hyun is up next.]

[His slugging percentage is even more impressive, isn’t it? It’s .682. That means he’s hitting at least a double when he makes contact, or a home run if he really connects.]

[He’s currently the league’s home run leader, two more than Song Seok-hyun. If he gets a good hit, he can knock it out of any park, whether it’s Jamsil or Sajik.]

Shin Gyu-won took off his hat and wiped away sweat.

It was only the top of the first, but he was already sweating profusely.

“The pitcher looks very nervous.”

It was the Astros Boys’ pitching coach.

The manager frowned and remained silent.

Shin Gyu-won’s second pitch was an outside slider.

Shin Gyu-won’s slider was a pitch that dropped vertically and was optimized for inducing ground balls from both left-handed and right-handed batters.

A downward-breaking pitch was like prey to Kim In-hwan, who had switched to an extreme upper cut swing this season.

Bang!

[Left field fence!]

The bat left Kim In-hwan’s hand and spun in the air.

As the bat hit the ground, the ball sailed over the fence.

[He got it out! Kim In-hwan’s home run! Kim In-hwan starts the scoring with a solo home run in the top of the first!]

[That was a really clean swing. He pushed an outside pitch and lifted it. I thought he didn’t get enough power on it, but it was enough to get it over the fence.]

Jefferson, the manager of the Astros Boys, couldn’t help but sigh.

“His batting form is the closest to Major League style.”

The head coach said.

“I didn’t know there was a player in Korea who could turn his torso and hit it over the wall.”

“KS Duo, was it? Those two could make it in the Major Leagues. Especially that KIM. That guy is the strongest hitter I’ve ever seen. It’s hard to imagine a left-handed batter hitting a ball over 130m to right field with such a short swing.”

Shin Gyu-won’s face turned pale.

The next batter was Song Seok-hyun.

Shin Gyu-won relentlessly targeted the outside corner, making the count 2-2.

The catcher signaled for a slider inside.

Shin Gyu-won’s slider was similar to a cutter, making it effective for inducing ground balls by intentionally throwing inside.

A pitch aimed at a ball, not a strike.

If the batter swung, great, and even if he didn’t, he could throw an outside changeup as a finishing pitch.

As Shin Gyu-won threw the ball, it accurately cut inside.

As Song Seok-hyun started his swing, the ball began to curve and came in even deeper towards his body.

“Hmph!”

With a shout, Song Seok-hyun squeezed his groin harder.

As his back leg dragged, his body naturally leaned back, and his swing became smaller.

The ball hit a little more inside the bat’s sweet spot.

Up to this point, things went as the pitcher and catcher intended, but the next situation was not planned.

[A high fly ball!]

The ball, which should have been a weak hit, floated weakly in the sky.

The left fielder hesitated and took his position behind it.

The ball, which should have already fallen, weakly lingered in the air.

Clang!

The ball hit the foul pole and was sucked into the fence.

[Home run! Back-to-back! Is today going to be another home run festival? The Goat is putting on a home run show from the first inning. The score is 2-0! 2-0! The Korean mark KS is valid in baseball too.]

[How can it go that far? The ball really traveled a long way. Is there some kind of magic on the ball?]

Song Seok-hyun raised one arm and rounded the bases.

Jefferson shook his head.

“I really feel like kidnapping him and throwing him away in America.”

The hitting coach sighed.

“It was a weak hit, but it went over the fence.”

“It’s a technical swing. Instead of hitting a line drive over the fence, he puts spin on the ball to increase the distance. It’s different from the current trend.”

“His style and swing seem more suitable for medium to long distances, but his distance is greater than most home run hitters, so it must be difficult for pitchers.”

“I heard he uses a 1kg bat by himself, so if he hits it right, it’s easy to get it over the fence. Ugh, it’s terrible. If we meet that team in the post-season, I can’t figure out how to deal with them.”

Shin Gyu-won struck out Yoo Seon-ho after a full count to end the inning.

Two runs allowed in the first inning.

It wasn’t a big score, but the pitcher was already exhausted.

Bottom of the first, Astros Boys’ attack.

Why is it that sad premonitions never fail?

Lee Chang-hoon’s worries became reality.

[Hit! Hit! Another hit!]

[That’s already three walks and hits. No outs yet. He needs to control the ball lower, lower.]

[Top of the first, bases loaded. Lee Chang-hoon is already struggling.]

Fourth batter Choi Jae-guk stepped up to the plate.

As Choi Jae-guk stepped up, the Astros Boys fans stood up and sang the team’s cheer loudly.

-Oh oh! Choi Jae-guk of Busan! Oh oh! Choi Jae-guk of Busan! Oh oh! Choi Jae-guk of Busan! Home run! Home run! Home run!

[Bases loaded with no outs. It’s the most exciting moment for Busan fans.]

[Choi Jae-guk is having a great year, isn’t he? He’s already hit over 15 home runs. At this pace, he should easily hit over 30 home runs this season.]

[Choi Jae-guk was called one of the league’s leading hitters for hitting 30 home runs in Sajik, but wasn’t he also inconsistent?]

[That’s right. There were times when he played full-time and didn’t even hit 10 home runs. But he’s still young and has a good physique, right? He’s over 190cm tall and weighs 110kg, but he doesn’t have much fat. His whole body is muscular. It seemed like his performance didn’t match his potential, but this year, with the arrival of Jefferson’s team, he’s been completely transformed.]

[He used to be known as a thoughtful and timid player for his size, but these days he swings so freely, right?]

[He strikes out a lot, but he’s consistently hitting home runs. He increased his home runs with a flurry in the season he hit 33 home runs, but now he’s hitting home runs regardless of the team or pitcher.]

[Just as Kim In-hwan broke out of his shell, this year could be the season Choi Jae-guk breaks out of his shell.]

Song Seok-hyun called for an outside changeup for Lee Chang-hoon’s first pitch.

Choi Jae-guk swung so hard that his helmet turned.

-Strike.

Song Seok-hyun caught the ball and threw it back to the pitcher.

[That was a scary swing, even though it was a swing and a miss.]

[That’s the difference. He’s not afraid of swinging and missing.]

Lee Chang-hoon’s eyelids flickered incessantly.

He licked his dry lips and threw an outside slider.

Choi Jae-guk swung again this time.

[Second baseman! Second baseman! Second baseman! Ah, he couldn’t catch it! Lucky hit! The score is 2-1. Choi Jae-guk somehow manages to get a run.]

[That was really just a slight touch on the end of the bat, but because he’s so strong, the ball still managed to travel.]

[Both teams’ hitters are incredibly powerful, without a doubt.]

The next batter was fifth hitter Oh Chung-jin.

Lee Chang-hoon threw a high fastball as the first pitch and got Oh Chung-jin to fly out to the infield, then induced a double play with a sinker inside to the next batter.

The pitch count for the first inning was twenty-nine.

Lee Chang-hoon wiped away sweat and came down from the mound.

“Good job. You did well to hold them.”

“Thank you.”

Lee Chang-hoon sat down on the bench, exhausted.

Song Seok-hyun also sat next to him, catching his breath.

“The signs were good.”

Song Seok-hyun smiled at Lee Chang-hoon’s words.

“The pitches were good.”

“I need to pitch to contact, but it’s not easy. It feels like my body and head are working separately.”

“Senior. Just think about giving up a home run and pitch easily. We’ll take care of the rest.”

“I need to, but my hand doesn’t listen to me. Everyone’s swinging for the fences, so I must have gotten scared without realizing it?”

The game was back and forth.

If the Goat hit a home run, the Astros Boys would hit a home run in the next inning, and if the Goat had a big inning, the Astros Boys would have a big inning in the next inning.

The score in the 5th inning was 7-6.

In the bottom of the 5th inning, seventh hitter Lim Sang-joon hit a three-run home run, putting the Astros Boys ahead 9-7.

[The Astros Boys’ lineup has exploded! Is this the Dion effect? It seems like all the hitters have become home run hitters since the hitting coach changed.]

[The Astros Boys are really strong. There are no clear stars, but all the hitters seem capable of hitting 10 home runs. There are four or five players who could hit 20 home runs.]

[The Goat has the strongest core lineup, while the Astros Boys have all their hitters with good power. They are both good offensive teams, but they have different styles.]

The game ended 13-11 that day.

A narrow victory for the Astros Boys.

Neither the winning team’s manager nor the losing team’s manager looked happy.

Ham Seong-hoon wrote down the game in his notebook.

-High scoring game.

-Starting pitchers are too weak.

-Change is a must!

Catching to Success

Change (1)

The Astros Boys’ midweek games 2 and 3 were easy wins for the Goat.

Han Min-seok pitched a quality start, and Hong Dae-seong held the Astros Boys to 3 runs in 5 innings.

Interview time after the game.

The interviewee was Goat’s manager Ham Seong-hoon.

“Congratulations, Manager. You’ve won the series against the Astros Boys and are now only one game behind the Astros Boys. Can you tell us how you feel?”

“The team struggled a bit in April and May, but I think we were able to get this far thanks to the players uniting and doing well. I want to thank the players.”

“As you said, the Goat has had some difficulties recently, right? Unlike last year, the starting pitchers are underperforming. Do you have any plans in mind?”

“Hmm…”

Ham Seong-hoon gave a bitter smile.

“Well… If I could fix the starting pitchers just like that, how great would that be?”

“Pisch returned from injury, but his performance in the minor league wasn’t very good. Recently, Mackenzie’s performance has been inconsistent. Are you considering replacing the foreign players?”

“Both players performed well last year, and I don’t think their skills have declined this year. This kind of fluctuation can happen during the season, so I’m watching them closely.”

“The Goat’s strength is the explosive power of its lineup, but there is a cycle to the lineup. Many people say that if the lineup starts to slump, the Goat will be hit the hardest. Do you have any countermeasures for this?”

“Any team will have difficulties if their starting hitters are underperforming. No matter who we bring in, we can’t replace Song Seok-hyun and Kim In-hwan, but we have many good players in our minor league. I believe that young and inexperienced players will do their part for the team when the team is struggling.”

The day after returning to Seoul.

Ham Seong-hoon attended a meeting led by the general manager.

It was usually a routine meeting, but this time it was a little different.

“There are some replacement foreign players available in June. But as I said before, there are no players at the same level as Pisch or Mackenzie.”

“However, in the case of Owell, he has Major League experience and his speed still reaches 148km/h. His career ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance] in the Major League is 4.56, so he is perfect as a starting pitcher. He played as a relief pitcher for the Cardinals until mid-April.”

Ham Seong-hoon shook his head.

“If you take away his name value, Owell is not a good alternative. He is thirty-six years old this year, and it has been over five years since he played a full season. He keeps repeating surgeries and rehabilitation, so in fact, he should be seen as a relief pitcher who cannot start.”

“Then how about Scott? He is still twenty-eight years old, and his speed is 152km/h, and he throws four pitches: fastball, curve, slider, and changeup. He has been a full-time starter for three seasons, so his stamina has been verified.”

“He only played in Triple A [the highest level of minor league baseball], and his ERA is 4.88. His ball is fast, but he also walks a lot and has a high fly ball rate. We use Jamsil as our home field, but it’s hard to see it as a good thing in the current situation where pitching is strong and hitting is weak.”

Ham Seong-hoon looked around as if he was frustrated.

“Are there any other pitchers?”

The front office staff were silent.

The general manager, who was watching this, said.

“Why don’t we just sign the best player, even if it’s expensive?”

Kim Hak-in, the operations team leader, said.

“Our team’s foreign players, Pisch and Mackenzie, are all top-notch players, so it’s difficult to match them. Players at this level are currently registered on the Major League roster-”

“Roster?”

“Ah, that… You can think of it as a list, a member. They are registered with the team, so we can’t bring them in.”

“Really? Then is there no way?”

There was only silence in the conference room.

After the meeting, which had no answers, the rumors spread like wildfire.

It was only a matter of time before it reached Mackenzie’s ears.

“Hoo.”

Mackenzie came to work with a dark expression and sat on one side of the locker room.

Song Seok-hyun greeted Mackenzie, saw Mackenzie’s expression, and sat next to him.

“What’s wrong?”

Mackenzie replied briefly in English to Song Seok-hyun’s question.

“It’s nothing.”

“Is something wrong?”

“It’s okay. Thanks for worrying.”

Song Seok-hyun returned to his locker room without any gain.

Kim In-hwan, who was next to him, whispered to Song Seok-hyun.

“There’s talk about a replacement.”

“Replacement? Talk about replacing the foreign players?”

“Yeah. The rumors have already spread. It was somewhat expected.”

“Ah… I see.”

Song Seok-hyun looked back at Mackenzie with a gloomy expression.

“Still, it won’t be easy to find a pitcher as good as Mack.”