Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 13

※ Episode 13. Goddamn It

Our third baseman, Lee Seong-hoon, whom I naturally expected to call it foul, just spaced out for a moment before reacting to the base umpire’s call. But the ball had already rolled far away.

The ball, which went out along the line and rolled near the fence, was picked up by left fielder Hoon, who threw it to shortstop Myung-jin, and Myung-jin relayed it to second baseman Seong-moon.

“No, why is that fair?”

“It’s fair because it hit the line.”

“It didn’t hit the line!”

“It touched the line.”

Does he have dead fish eyes or something?

As soon as the play was over, Seong-hoon approached the base umpire to argue, but the umpire shook his head, seemingly unmoved.

Judging that there was no point in arguing further, Seong-hoon glanced at our dugout, but it seemed they decided to let it go since there was a significant point difference in the bottom of the ninth.

That doesn’t make any sense…

I tilted my head and returned to the mound. It’s the ninth batter. I took a breath to compose myself and waited for Kyu-hak’s sign.

Outside fastball.

“Ball!”

Outside slider.

“Ball.”

One more outside fastball.

“Ball.”

Seriously…

Thwack!

I caught the ball that Kyu-hak returned in my glove as if snatching it out of the air, and cursed inwardly as I walked to the mound.

Bias?

No, to be precise…

“That’s some compensation call.”

I understand that not everything can be accurate in sports played by humans. Players and umpires are bound by trust.

But isn’t it a bit much to blatantly favor them like this? How are they going to respond to the online comments?

In the top of the fourth inning alone, there were two consecutive calls in our team’s favor. I see this as compensation for that. But why, of all times, does it have to be at this moment?

The strike zone has definitely narrowed too much. About half to just under one ball’s width.

For me, who naturally aims for every corner of the zone and has a series of motions for that space as if breathing, this is a huge disadvantage [debuff].

“Ball!”

I tried to force it in about half a ball more, but the added pressure only made the ball go further off course. Without needing to complain, the runner walked.

With runners on first and second and no outs, the first batter struck out swinging, and the next batter was caught out on an infield fly to the third baseman, making it two outs with runners on first and second. And then…

– Third batter, Hong! Seok! Jin!

The stadium announcer, sensing the building tension, announced the appearance of the third batter in a loud voice, followed by the passionate cheers of the home fans.

I’m screwed…

Two outs, runners on first and second. Hong Seok-jin, whose eye for the ball even League Great Demon Park Hae-jin would concede a few steps to. If we stop him here, the game ends as is. If we can’t stop him and he gets on base, it’s a showdown with Park Hae-jin with the bases loaded and two outs.

Bottom of the ninth, two outs, bases loaded, one-point difference, a showdown with Park Hae-jin.

“Why did I bring up that kind of nonsense first and set the flag [a self-fulfilling prophecy]? What an idiot.”

I muttered, watching Hong Seok-jin slowly enter the batter’s box.

It wasn’t just the opposing team and fans who felt that this situation was turning strange. Our team also instinctively felt that if we slipped up here, a strange result could occur.

Since he isn’t rated as a particularly powerful hitter, the right fielder moved in a bit, but since his distance on strangely pushed hits is surprisingly good, the left fielder moved back slightly from his position.

It seems difficult to get a clean out in this atmosphere. I’m not being pessimistic. It’s the ‘gut feeling’ I’ve developed from playing baseball for decades.

Kyu-hak seems to have the same thought, wanting to play it safe rather than greedily trying to get an out from the batter. Worst case scenario, even if we get hit with a single here and then Park Hae-jin hits a home run, it’s still only a one-point difference.

We’re still winning.

“Hoo…”

A slider that dives deep inside, seemingly intending to make him pull the ball, was signaled.

“Strike!”

I caught the first pitch, watching the ambiguous ball that made me wonder why he didn’t swing. The next pitch was a fastball filling the inside. Even if it’s a ball, it’s fine.

Clang—!

The cleanly hit ball bounced off the foul line right next to first baseman Ki-sung before he could react.

Hoo…

If they had called that fair too, my mentality would have melted away like Emmental cheese.

The following sign was a sinker dropping outside. It seems he had a hunch after seeing the batter, who usually hits to the opposite field well, intentionally trying to pull the ball. I nodded and adjusted my grip. As my fingers hooked onto a satisfying seam, I lifted my leg.

Tick!

Even with the best spin, the weakly hit ball rolled slowly towards Ki-sung. My body, which had been playing baseball for decades, instinctively sprinted towards first base the moment the ball rolled to my left.

Ki-sung, who caught the ball with ease, momentarily glanced at first base. It’s too late for him to step on it himself, but don’t worry, I’m here!

After making eye contact with the first baseman, he lightly tossed the ball to me in a sidearm motion. If I step on this and then step on the base, the inning ends as is, the game ends as is.

Thud!

The baseball god doesn’t seem to want to end this game as is.

Ki-sung, who isn’t known for his great fielding, cleanly caught the ball for once, and the throw to the covering pitcher at first base, which he claims is the most difficult, came perfectly for once.

“Agh!”

I miss it. With my own hands.

E1.

Error, position number 1. The scorekeeper’s judgment: an error by the pitcher.

I might as well dig my own grave!

Fortunately, second baseman Seong-moon, who had come to back up at the same time as the hit, quickly grabbed the ball, preventing the runner on second from running home.

“Hyung [older brother/senior], why are you in such a hurry?”

“I don’t know, damn it…”

As I was holding my knees and laughing in disbelief, Ki-sung came up and tapped me on the back.

“It’s okay to get hit. It’s an error anyway, so it won’t count against you [affect your ERA].”

“Easy for you to say.”

– Fourth batter!! Park!! Hae!! Jin!!

He’s saying that kind of thing because it’s not his problem.

There was no time for disbelief or time to reorganize my mentality.

At the umpire’s gesture to continue, I trudged back to the mound. In frustration, I glared at all the runners on first, second, and third. What a mess.

“Ha. Damn it.”

I couldn’t help but curse. How did it come to this?

“Are you okay?”

“What are you going to do if I’m not okay?”

I snapped at Kyu-hak, who had come up to break the timing for a moment.

“A few days ago. I had a conversation with Hyung Kyu-jin.”

“Yes?”

“Bottom of the ninth, two outs, bases loaded, and the batter is Park Hae-jin. What would you do?”

“Uh…”

“I said I’d go for the showdown. But Hyung Kyu-jin told me not to talk nonsense. But I think it’s nonsense.”

“Walk him? We’re at full base now?”

“But there’s still a point difference. Let’s go as if we’re going to walk him.”

“Yes.”

Talking about a difficult action as if it’s not difficult makes the difficult seem not so difficult.

First pitch, outside fastball. About one ball’s width, blatantly out of the zone.

“Strike!”

Huh?

Seriously, did all the umpires eat something wrong today?

Even Park Hae-jin, who doesn’t change his expression, seemed a little flustered by this call, glancing at the home plate umpire before readjusting his stance. I can see the batter’s wavering.

I have to get him.

I showed my fourth and fifth fingers to my left shoulder [grip for a curveball].

“Ball!”

The slow curve I threw with the thought of ‘just hit it’ became a ball, and,

“Strike, two!”

The slider I threw to the outside thankfully got the call.

Count 1-2. No need to give him a good ball. It’s okay to give up a walk. But what should I throw?

Inside low fastball, inside high fastball, dropping slider, fading sinker.

I shook my head at all of them and stepped off the plate. I gestured an apology to the batter and organized my thoughts.

That spot from before.

That spot that made Park Hae-jin, who doesn’t change his expression, feel uncomfortable and tilt his head. Outside fastball.

I showed one pinky finger to my shoulder [grip for a fastball]. Kyu-hak gave various signs again, and I nodded in response.

Bases loaded, there’s no steal anyway, so I slightly pulled my left foot back and threw with all my might. This control skill doesn’t go anywhere, even though I threw it awkwardly enough to ruin my balance, the ball went where I wanted it to go the most.

Outside low fastball. A ball that fades out about one ball’s width to the side.

At this count, if it’s the location the home plate umpire called earlier, the bat will inevitably come out.

The area that’s a ball receives a ball call because the batter can’t hit it in the first place. But he called it a strike, so I threw it again, and I thought it would go well.

But there was one thing I overlooked,

Clang—!

The batter was Park Hae-jin.

Wowwwww!!

“…Holy crap.”

I wonder if I should think it’s like me to be relieved that, even in this situation, my earned runs aren’t included in the four points coming in.

Or should I be fed up with the power to forcibly pull an obvious outside ‘ball’ and hit the foul pole? Or…

As I watched the ball hit the pole and fall weakly, Park Hae-jin, who had finally hit his 20th home run of the month and was heading towards third base, overlapped in my vision.

You know how there are people like that? People who are so good and amazing that you don’t even feel jealous. People who go beyond envy and jealousy and even inspire awe.

As always, he slightly lowered his head and stepped on third base, but something caught his attention, and he slightly raised his head and made eye contact with me. Only then did I regain some sense.

“…”

“…”

Soon, he lowered his head as usual and started running slowly, and I also returned to the mound. I showed my glove to the home plate umpire as if to say I was okay.

With a look that said, ‘Enough, just give me the ball already.’

The stands are going crazy. It’s already heated as a Jamsil rivalry [a major rivalry between two Seoul-based baseball teams], and we haven’t taken a winning series in years.

How upset would they be if it was broken when they came to watch in person?

I turn the ball around in my glove, repeatedly checking if there’s anything strange about the feel. I find a satisfying seam and take a deep breath. I step on the plate and check Kyu-hak’s sign.

But I’m sorry, what should I do?

“Strike!”

The game isn’t over yet, and it’s not even a tie yet.

“Strike!”

And I don’t care about what Won-ha said about Sang-soo winning or whatever.

“Strike, out!!”

Waaaa…

“Hoo.”

The team is a team, but I’m me too.

Clap clap clap clap—!

In a slightly chaotic atmosphere, I greeted the cheering squad that came to support us and went into the dugout.

“…Ha, hahaha…”

“Hyung?”

“Aha, ahahaha, hahahaha!!”

Has he finally gone crazy?

Yes. I think so?

I ignored Hyung Kyu-jin and Kyu-hak’s conversation behind me and put my glove in my equipment bag. Even so, the laughter didn’t really go away.

I think I’m really crazy…

I’ve been hit by Park Hae-jin so many times, it’s about time I went crazy.

Should I tell the manager?

Leave him alone.

Ignoring their conversation, I turned my gaze towards the opposing dugout. Park Hae-jin, who didn’t have much of a change in expression, was slowly packing his equipment bag and going outside.

Ding—

[Sometimes getting hit is also studying!]

Allowed 1 home run while pitching (1/1)

Reward ― Four-seam +3

Control ― Top

Power ― Medium +???=Top

Stamina ― Low

Four-seam ― 43(+3)+17=66

Curve ― 39+9=48

Slider ― 26+16=42

Splitter ― 31+7=38

Changeup ― 36

Sinker ― 34+12=46

Traits

Enlightenment ― Accepts any situation as it is.

Uncomfortable ― Makes the opposing batter feel uncomfortable when looking at the pitcher from the plate.

Special (Temporary) ― All stats +2 when relieving in a winning situation / Four-seam +3, breaking ball +1 up to 20 pitches when relieving

I won, it’s enough that I won. Baseball is a team game. I blocked Sang-soo, who has Park Hae-jin, without giving up any earned runs, haha.

I suddenly remembered what Won-ha said about Sang-soo about 3 minutes ago, but I shook my head and erased it, and put my hand on Hyung Kyu-jin’s shoulder with a smile still on my face.

“Hyung, let’s go eat.”

“What do you want to eat?”

“Kimchi stew, call [deal]?”

“Call.”