Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 137

Pitcher done, batter up -136

Two at-bats. Only one swing.
But that alone erased 80% of the criticism directed at Lee Jung-woo. It was a home run created by perfectly attacking the slider, which had been considered a weakness, without hesitation.

He struck out in the next at-bat, though.

No one remembered that.

“Wow… it’s actually a bit scary. It all disappears with just one home run.”

“I told you, if you do well, everyone will shut up.”

His teammates expressed disgust at how the media, which had been full of criticism before the game—no, even before the substitution—changed their attitude in the blink of an eye. But Lee Jung-woo didn’t care.

‘At this rate, it won’t be bad in the regular season either.’

Lee Jung-woo was just pleased that his hitting was becoming more familiar. He didn’t particularly care about anything else. Starting with that first home run, Lee Jung-woo gradually improved his form.

[‘Starting to spread its wings?’ Lee Jung-woo, 3 hits in 4 at-bats, 3 RBIs, 1 walk.]

[Lee Jung-woo! Another home run! Three-run homer against Houston!]

“Lee! I believed in you!”

“You son of a bitch! Is it starting again? Is it starting again?”

“Keep doing as well as you are now in the regular season! I’m cheering for you!”

“Just get lost, you bastard!”

As his performance improved, the reactions at the stadium were always mixed.

Braves fans, of course, cheered for Lee Jung-woo, who had returned as they had hoped. Fans of other National League teams cursed him as always, as he once again turned into a nightmare.

Perhaps because he got used to being cursed, Lee Jung-woo developed the ability to pick and choose what he wanted to hear, waving to the fans while only taking in the cheers.

[Jung-woo Lee is coming up to bat.]

[There were a lot of concerns at the beginning of the exhibition games. But now they’ve almost disappeared. He’s truly an amazing player.]

[He’s a brave player. I don’t know if it’s because he’s still young, but he boldly abandoned what had already produced good results and took on a new challenge. And so far, the results haven’t been bad.]

As the situation changed, the perspective on his hitting, which had simply been a source of criticism, gradually changed as well.

When experts wearing tinted glasses were busy criticizing him, neutral or friendly people had only expressed concern.

They were worried that a promising player who would lead the league’s popularity in the future might collapse.

But now they, too, slowly opened their mouths and began to analyze Lee Jung-woo’s hitting in earnest, rather than simply criticizing it as they had done so far.

[There were a lot of concerns about the new batting style. But looking at the immediate results alone, it’s not that it doesn’t suit Lee. No, it suits him rather well.]

[Is that so?]

[Lee’s power is strong. Enough to hit the ball over the fence with a forced hit.]

[Yes, his power is already well-known in the league. He hit 28 home runs, starting in June.]

Of course, it was those with a pro-Braves leaning who were the first to scratch the fans’ itch [satisfy their desires].

As the atmosphere began to change, they seized the opportunity and launched a full-scale counterattack.

[In other words, he’s a player with good power tools. That’s an element that doesn’t change even if the form changes.]

[Is that so?]

[Of course, it could decrease… but more accurate contact has taken its place. Also, the speed of the batted ball has actually increased.]

[The speed of the batted ball?]

[That’s right. The combination of a shorter bat and a faster stance than before, and a simple form, has increased the bat speed. In addition, being able to watch the ball longer has added good judgment, enabling accurate and fast batting.]

As the advantages that had been hidden by sharp criticism began to emerge one by one, expectations began to arise instead of worries.

Until recently, people had been talking about the sophomore slump [a decline in performance during a player’s second year], but now they were filled with anticipation about what kind of performance Lee Jung-woo would put up this season.

[‘Not arrogance, but a challenge’ Lee continues to evolve!]

-So, to put it simply, his contact and eye have improved compared to last year, but his power remains the same? That’s crazy.

-Wow… then are we really going to see a 40-homer shortstop for the first time in a long time?

-Seriously possible. He hit 28 even though he only played from June last year.

-Lee, what happened during the off-season? You were already amazing, but now you’ve come back as a complete player?

-Those who cursed him, those who didn’t believe in him, bow your heads and repent!

With the media sensing the atmosphere again and fanning the flames, Braves fans, who had believed in Lee Jung-woo but were a little worried, became confident again.

In fact, they were already confident in the much stronger team atmosphere than last year, but now it seemed like there was no one to stop them.

-I’m predicting at least a .300 batting average, 30 home runs, and 100 RBIs this season.

-Isn’t that too low?

-That’s the minimum, the minimum. In fact, even if he only does that much, he’s a shortstop, and he even has Gold Glove-level defense [award for best defensive player at each position]. Isn’t that just MVP [Most Valuable Player award]?

-Let’s just give Lee the MVP and start this season.

-Braves fans are crazy. Do you seriously think a shortstop can achieve those stats? That’s delusional. MVP? What a load of crap.

-I smell Phillies from you. You defeated bastard, keep your tail between your legs.

-Look here! The Phillies fan of the 3-0 division has something to say?

-The fans are just as shitty as the shitty bastard.

The Braves were unintentionally attracting the aggro [aggression] of other teams’ fans because they were too confident. But the fans didn’t care.

Because they believed that these hopes would become reality without a doubt.

####

[Arthur Hunter, big deal with the LA Dodgers finalized! 11-year, $446M contract! Breaking the record for the highest FA [Free Agent] amount!]

[Arthur Hunter, ‘I will be the king in the National League too.’]

As the exhibition games progressed, and each team’s fans were either anticipating or disappointed, news broke that instantly drew all attention.

The contract of one of the two biggest free agents on the market this year was finally finalized.

As there were many teams rushing in, one of the contracts that had been dragging on was finalized, and all eyes were focused on San Francisco. Naturally, the National League was shaken.

“Hah, Harding is difficult enough, and now Arthur Hunter too? Wow….”

“You never know, Harding might go to the American League, right?”

“If this happens, the Giants are good too? They have a definite ace card, and Hunter too…”

“He kept singing about wanting to go to the National League, and he finally came.”

The league’s rival team had brought in what is arguably the best player in the major leagues right now. Those who had to face them couldn’t help but feel burdened.

People were amazed by the huge deal that easily exceeded the luxury tax limit [limit on team payroll]. Among the colleagues who were talking about it, Lee Jung-woo was calm.

‘Nothing’s changed. The butterfly effect isn’t reaching this far yet?’

In his memory, Arthur Hunter had gone to the Dodgers. It was a huge deal, so even if he wasn’t paying attention, there was no way Lee Jung-woo wouldn’t know about it.

That’s why Lee Jung-woo, who was already aware of the future, was quiet among the shocked players. But he couldn’t help but be surprised by the news that followed.

[‘We’ve brought in the best hitter.’ Vincent Harding, 11-year, $482M contract with the San Francisco Giants! Record broken in 3 days.]

It was Harding’s contract. It was also a huge deal, and a mega-contract that broke the all-time high amount that Arthur Hunter had broken again. But it wasn’t just because of that.

“Wow… the Giants are taking Harding? The Western Division is going to be a complete bloodbath?”

“Crazy, crazy. No, how do both of them come to the National League? It’s going to suck for the pitchers.”

“Can the Giants handle it? Isn’t the average annual salary around $43 million?”

“Why not? We’re fine even after signing the Captain, Joey, and Ian.”

“Well, it’s not like I’m worried for nothing. It’s not like the Giants are lacking in market size.”

“That’s true—but Lee, what’s wrong? You don’t look good. Is there anything you’re worried about?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

“Is it because of the salary? Haha, I was surprised too, but how much more surprised must you be. But when you become a free agent, the team will give you much more than that, so don’t be too impatient. No, what free agent? The general manager will come running to offer you an extension, right? You’ll get about $500 million.”

“$500 million? He’s worth bringing in even if you give him $600 million. Frankly, from the pitchers’ point of view, they’d want to chip in their own salaries to bring him in.”

“It’s really not that. There’s just a different reason.”

After the exhibition game. When the players were roughly cleaning up in the locker room, they were amazed by the huge news coming out of the TV screen. Lee Jung-woo sat on one side and froze like a stone. Lee Jung-woo waved his hand at Derek and the surrounding players’ jokes. But this contract was shocking to him too.

It’s not about the meaning of the salary. Comparing the enormous amount of over $43 million in average annual salary with his own salary makes him feel a little deprived. However, the Braves gave him an exceptional salary of $900,000 as a second-year rookie with plenty of service time left, so he has no complaints. And in the first place, what made his head complicated was not Vincent Harding’s contract amount, but the contracted team.

‘Why… isn’t it the Yankees?’

Arthur Hunter went to the Dodgers as before. Up to that point, it was the same as before the regression. But the problem was Harding. If his memory is correct, Harding will definitely fly to New York with the Yankees’ spending spree, who were blinded by their arch-rival Red Sox’s World Series victory. That’s how it should be.

But this time, he came to the Giants instead of the Yankees. This was no ordinary butterfly effect.

The media speculated that the Giants signed him because they felt a sense of crisis when their rivals, the Dodgers, brought in Hunter. But Lee Jung-woo thought there was another reason. If that was all, he would have gone to the Giants in his previous life.

‘What was the trigger… what exactly—ah! Us.’

Lee Jung-woo turned his head for a moment. Why did Vincent Harding go to the Giants? In the end, the destination was the Braves.

‘One more competitor has increased. The Braves, who eliminated them from the wild card [playoff spot], have additionally brought in a big pitcher named Ian Field. Did they feel a sense of crisis there?’

He couldn’t be sure. But Lee Jung-woo thought that was also one of the reasons. There was nothing else in particular.

‘Anyway… all the best hitters in the majors are flocking to the National League.’

Arthur Hunter and Vincent Harding.

The two giants’ free agency will cause a stir. The two players were originally considered rivals due to their great performances. But they even transferred to rival teams.

‘It’ll be good for popularity. The pitchers will die.’

Lee Jung-woo chuckled. But perhaps because of the great shock he received from the different transfer from his memory, he didn’t realize it. The fact that he himself is one of those groaning hitters in this life.

‘This season is going to be damn fun.’

As the major league’s representative hitters all flocked to the National League. The league began to shake little by little.

####

When the United States, or most countries that love baseball, were burning with the transfers of Harding and Hunter, one place continued to fuel that heat.

“Keep adding fuel. Are you giving them enough sources? Not too much. Moderately.”

“Yes, we are. But, aren’t we focusing too much on the two players….”

Robert Oldman, the commissioner who was diligently giving instructions to his subordinate who was raising objections, stared at him with cold eyes. Whether he had no sense or just wanted to rebel. Anyway, he didn’t like it.

“Then, who should we focus on? Harding and Hunter. Is there a player with more box office appeal than those two?”

“……No.”

“And, I’m not just doing this with the two of them, right? Harding-Hunter Giants-Dodgers. Doesn’t the picture come out perfectly?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Tsk.”

Robert Oldman clicked his tongue and licked his lips. In fact, the most beautiful picture is when the two players meet in the World Series. Although he created it, they are the best rivals, so they will receive a lot of attention.

But if you think about it a little, this side is better. In addition to the existing rivalry, the feelings between the Dodgers and the Giants are mixed in.

‘So we have to create storytelling so that the fire doesn’t go out. It’s not a one-time thing like the World Series, but they’ll be constantly facing each other. So they’ll get used to it quickly. To maintain it as much as possible—wait….’

Robert Oldman grabbed his chin. His subordinate’s words were not wrong. If you focus too much on the two of them, the public’s interest will drop even faster. So we need one more player who can be a good pacemaker [someone who sets the pace]. When I think about it, there is one player who fits.

‘Originally, I would have attached Joey Fredman. He’s also a top hitter and a player who can aim for MVP. But… there’s a more delicious player.’

His eyes turned to the screen located in the upper left corner of the TV screen filled with the room. A player who hits a home run and runs the bases leisurely. When I think about it, there is one more player who can help with box office appeal besides the two. There was also an element to create a story.

“White, black, yellow… it’s really coincidental.”

“Yes?”

“I’m talking about Lee. This… your words are not entirely wrong. That’s right, there was one more player to focus on besides the two.”

White Vincent Harding.

Black Arthur Hunter.

Yellow Jung-woo Lee.

It was a story that couldn’t help but be coincidental. The players who are currently receiving the most attention in the league are of different races.

Since the Hispanic population is significant in the United States, it would have been better if Lee was Hispanic. But it wasn’t bad.

“There’s no particular rivalry… but at least there’s something to talk about. First of all, the Atlanta Braves are also one of the most popular clubs. Last year, the Giants fell to the Braves. The Braves were defeated by the Dodgers and fell.”

Looking at him muttering to himself, the surrounding employees muttered, “It’s starting again.” But even so, they listened carefully. Although he is a bit dogmatic, he is the one who has grown the league’s popularity.

Robert Oldman, who was gradually expanding his thoughts, remembered what he had seen a while ago. He glanced at it while looking at public opinion. But now it was quite interesting.

‘Was it a fan vote?’

It was a prediction of the fans’ MVP winners for the next season, announced by a baseball magazine. There, Arthur Hunter ranked first in the AL [American League], and Harding and Lee Jung-woo ranked first and second in the NL [National League], respectively.

To some extent, it was popular. And Lee Jung-woo, in particular, was able to take a high ranking by riding on the Atlanta Braves’ vast fandom [fan base]. But if you think about it differently, it meant that there were that many fans who loved him so much.

“Anderson?”

“Yes.”

“It wasn’t bad. As you said, if there are two cards, it’s too cliché. Let’s include Lee and grow it more. National League MVP competition. Isn’t this enough?”

“Yes!”

Robert Oldman, who gave clear instructions, smiled. Jung-woo Lee, he simply thought of him as a next-generation star. In terms of box office appeal, a slugger is always right, and if a position with a high defensive burden such as a shortstop, center fielder, or catcher is included, it is always right.

That’s why he paid attention to it. He also pushed him a little. But he became a big shot much faster than he thought. At least, countless media and netizens were shaken by one of his gestures.

He didn’t like the fact that he lowered the box office appeal of a home run hitter a little and installed a new batting style. But he turned the criticism back to his side. And now, the criticism that it was a reckless act of courage has become praise for a great challenge.

‘In addition to his skills, he has the charm to attract attention. It’s the most necessary quality for a superstar.’

As it is, he had to become a true star. Whether it was fate or out of necessity. And Robert Oldman himself had the ability to make him such a hero.

‘At least he’ll be a pacemaker. A pacemaker that can consistently maintain interest. But, if he goes up beyond that….’

An early coronation will be held.