Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 52

The gap with 4th place didn’t seem to close, no matter how hard we tried.

We won the games on Tuesday and Wednesday, closing the gap to just one game, but then we lost cleanly on Thursday, putting us back two games behind.

In the meantime, the Sungwoon Hawks swept the KP Stars, closing in to within one game of us.

For the weekend 3-game series, we went up to Seoul and played against Sangsoo.

We use the same Jamsil Baseball Stadium as our home, but this time it was Sangsoo’s turn to host.

We won one game decisively, then got overwhelmed in another, and then clinched the series with a 2-inning save.

I thought I might face Park Hae-jin in the bottom of the 9th, but I escaped the crisis before that happened, so that misfortune didn’t occur.

Meanwhile, Sungwoon had a 3-game series against Gaya in Daegu.

Which team should you root for in a 3-game series between the team right above you and the team right below you? Especially when the teams above and below are only one game apart.

“Hehe.”

The best outcome would be to split the 3 games evenly, but unfortunately, Sungwoon took 2 wins and 1 loss.

“It’s a mess.”

*Sniff*

Thanks to that, we became tied for 4th place while sitting still, and Sungwoon was only 6th in name only.

It’s already a mess up to this point, but Visco getting crushed by Dongsung made the difference between 4th and 3rd place only one game.

A mess.

Sangsoo still held onto its place as the strongest in the league, and Dongsung still maintained its position as the eternal runner-up.

From 7th place onwards, they were basically out of the running. A mess unfolded where the game difference between 3rd place Visco and 6th place Sungwoon was only two games.

I was aiming for 4th place this season as well, but if it’s like this, wouldn’t aiming for 3rd place be reasonable?

“Jiho, you’re up in the 5th.”

“Yes!”

Jiho, who was to the right of me, was called out.

Hyung-gyu is a pitcher who can calculate things from the team’s perspective and the manager’s perspective.

He can estimate how many innings he can last against which team and how many runs he’ll allow.

Today was a rare day when that calculation went wrong. He allowed 8 runs in 4 innings.

If it was because of a sudden home run, it wouldn’t affect the number of pitches, but today his control was completely off.

He walked 7 batters alone.

He was taken off the mound after throwing 102 pitches in just 4 innings.

Visco’s second starter, Park Geon-ha, also didn’t contribute much, though in a different way from Hyung-gyu. He allowed 9 hits in 5 innings.

The difference was that Visco’s lineup made good use of the free bases they got, while we dug our own graves.

“Are you feeling alright?”

“No, it’s just not working out today.”

There are days like that.

Before I knew it, I was chatting with Hyung-gyu, who was sitting next to me. Bottom of the 5th, down 4 to 0, Jiho came out to try and close the gap. I opened my mouth while watching the pitcher warming up.

“Hyung.”

“What.”

“Let’s get 3rd place.”

“Is that something you can just decide to do?”

“I don’t think there’s anything we can’t do.”

“Haven’t you heard that you should dream big?”

“Then 1st place.”

1st place…….

I put myself in Jiho’s place and Park Hae-jin in the batter’s place.

The imagination ran wild, leading to the bottom of the 9th inning of Game 7 of the Korean Series [the championship series in Korean baseball], with two outs and the bases loaded. Before I knew it, the score was a one-run difference.

“Hyung.”

“What.”

“Do you remember what we talked about before? About what if Park Hae-jin comes out in the bottom of the 9th with a one-run difference.”

“What did I say then?”

“You said you’d walk him even with the bases loaded.”

“Ah… right. I remember. Why?”

“I think I’ve changed my mind a bit.”

“In what way?”

“I’ll still walk him.”

“Park Hae-jin?”

“Yeah.”

“What made you come to your senses?”

“Just… I think the best thing to do is to do what I can do right now, so that’s how it turned out.”

“Have you given up on your love for Park Hae-jin?”

“Don’t use such creepy words.”

Hyung-gyu chuckled at my reaction.

“I had dinner with Hyun-jin before.”

“Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve heard about Hyun-jin.”

“He asked me something before. ‘Do you have any goals as a baseball player?’ I thought a lot about it in my head. All sorts of things came to mind. But before I could even think, I blurted out something. Do you know what I said?”

“What did you say?”

“To strike out Park Hae-jin.”

“Hoo.”

In the past 6 years since Park Hae-jin debuted, I haven’t gotten a single strikeout or even a single out from Park Hae-jin.

Park Hae-jin is also human, so he gets outs and strikeouts, but why only to me?

“You really do like Park Hae-jin.”

“Oh, please.”

We lost cleanly.

We lost to Visco, and the game difference quickly widened to two games. On the other hand, Sungwoon sniped Gaya and won, and an even bigger mess unfolded as the number of teams tied for 4th place increased to three.

Nevertheless, I didn’t feel too bad. Maybe it was thanks to the last part of the conversation with Hyung-gyu.

We can do it.

It was a nonchalant remark that bordered on vagueness, but it allowed me to put down some of the heavy weight in my heart. I wanted to convey it to the teammates who were stuck somewhere. We can go up. We can go up.

* * *

“What brings you here?”

“Just visiting.”

“You’re really taking it easy.”

Youngjin deflected the preemptive jab with a laugh.

“Let’s go for a smoke.”

“Sure, sure.”

The meeting of the two smokers naturally led to the smoking room. It hadn’t been long since he had his last one, but Youngjin couldn’t resist.

Naturally, they each put a cigarette in their mouths and lit them. As soon as he lit his cigarette, Youngjin spoke first.

“I’ve been so busy lately. I came out to the field for a bit to clear my head.”

“Why? What’s been keeping you busy these days?”

“Because of the trade discussions.”

“Ah.”

As July began, the frequency of humid and uncomfortable weather increased. It was the time when stamina and performance plummeted.

Each team was considering trades as one of the ways to replenish the stamina of these players.

July 31st is the trade deadline. There’s still about a month left, but you have to start working now to head towards the win side in a win-win or at least a not-losing trade.

“Do we get offers too?”

“Of course, we do.”

“Who are they asking for?”

“Kang Sung-hyun and Han Gyu-jin are the most requested. Oh, and Lee Myung-jin too, quite a bit.”

They are the ones who don’t have much time left until their respective free agency [FA; the period when a player can sign with any team] eligibility.

Especially in Sung-hyun’s case, he will become a free agent at the end of this season.

“Are you going to send them?”

“No way.”

He shook his head firmly.

“Then what about our side? We need to bring some players in too, if we can.”

“Hmm. Then, if Han-wool could bring someone in, what position would you want to bring in?”

“…Too many.”

“Too many? I thought you’d only mention one.”

“Bullpen?”

“Yes. Anything else?”

“No, that’s enough for the bullpen.”

“Um?”

Of course, you’d be surprised if someone who was always complaining about the bullpen suddenly had an enlightened expression.

“Then… where?”

“Some fielders. Is there any way?”

“Fielders… where?”

“One outfielder, one infielder, and one catcher.”

“Why?”

“We only have young players. It’s okay because they’re still young and energetic, but what if they get old, get hurt, or something? What are you going to do about those empty spots?”

“I’ve thought about that too…….”

Team management is easier said than done.

“How’s our minor league team doing right now?”

“Not so…….”

“Not good?”

“Yes. Both the veteran players and the rookie players are not so…….”

The 8 fielders, excluding designated hitter Seung-joo, are playing almost every game.

Occasionally, 1.5-tier and 2nd-tier players rotate for stamina management, but every time that happens, the performance of that position becomes a bit pitiful.

In the outfield, Byung-chun is on the major league team as a backup, but he’s basically a 2nd-tier hitter. His defense is decent, but his hitting is a nuisance.

In the infield, Gi-beom is on the team as an all-around backup, but his stats are a bit skewed.

Joo-ho, who is a backup catcher, also has hitting stats comparable to Gi-sung or Sung-hyun, but his defense is really… you’re really…….

Really, literally, inevitably. Yes, inevitably, we are continuing to survive with the same old stuff.

“Try to bring some in through trades.”

“It’s not as easy as you think. Do you know who the counterpart is when we talk about 1.5-tier backup members? It starts with at least Jeon Seong-moon.”

“Um…….”

No matter how good a backup is, they’re still a backup. It’s a time when they can grow, but in the end, they’re an unproven lottery ticket.

Who would be stupid enough to trade that player for a second baseman with good eyes, speed, and defense…….

“But that’s the case with all the other teams.”

There are a lot? Quite a few. It’s a relief that we’re not the only ones.

“Well. Our weaknesses are pretty obvious.”

“There are quite a few for something that’s obvious.”

“But the bullpen is really okay now.”

“Really okay?”

“…No. It’s a bit lacking.”

Udyr becomes me [a reference to a character in the game League of Legends known for changing stances, implying a change in opinion].

“Because we put out the immediate fire. Senior Eun-gu and Senior Shin Kyung-seok are doing their part. I’m still holding my place. Jiho is growing up well.”

So…….

“Just think about throwing only the games we can win. If we don’t go out in the games we’re going to lose, we can conserve our stamina, for now. This part is up to the manager’s discretion, but… I’m sure he’ll do well.”

“Now the stamina of the fielders is the key?”

“Seong-hoon is thirty-one. Seung-joo and Hoon are thirty now. Seong-moon is twenty-nine, and Seong-hyun, Myung-jin, and Gi-sung are twenty-eight. We need to prepare.”

“That’s true.”

The cigarette smoke mixed with frustration looked more cloudy than usual.

“Or we can raise the rookies quickly.”

“You know that’s even harder.”

“It’s not like I’m going to do it.”

“Wow, your personality.”

*Chiiik*— [sound of a cigarette being extinguished]

He put out his cigarette and left the smoking room. He didn’t forget to say a light greeting before parting.

“If I had my way, I’d like to secure at least… 4th place by the All-Star break.”

“4th place?”

“Yes. Shouldn’t we secure our position to get into the post-season stably?”

“You’re saying it so easily.”

“Because it’s not me who’s going to do it.”

“Wow, your personality.”

The two smokers chuckled and admired each other’s personalities before parting ways.

* * *

About 10 days until the All-Star break.

The remaining three 3-game series schedules are as follows: Sungwoon, KP, Hanseong. The rankings go down in order. The schedule seems to be better than expected.

Aim for at least 6 wins and 3 losses. Of course, it would be better to get more.

Today is the first of the 3-game series against Sungwoon. As soon as we finished the 3-game series in Incheon yesterday, we relieved our fatigue and went straight down to Daejeon without anything else.

“Are you doing okay?”

“Save me.”

“You’re doing okay.”

I met Woosuk after a long time.

“Myunggyu, long time no see.”

“Do you still go to Full Count [a bar]?”

“Sometimes. Not as much as before. You don’t tell me…….”

“Why not?”

“No. You can do it. Fighting.”

“Ahn-hee [No, I can’t].”

Three classmates from middle school to high school gathered in one place. The awkward relationship was able to unite thanks to Lee Yongho, a rare piece of trash.

The same classmates gathered and chuckled, and a promise was made to go out for dinner after it was over. I nodded and shouted “call” and returned to my seat.

“Hyung, I’m going to have dinner with Woosuk and Myunggyu, are you coming?”

“I’m going to rest.”

The pitcher, who is scheduled to start tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, seemed more sensitive than expected. Moreover, if he had the memory of overturning the previous appearance with his own hands, even more so.

He was looking back and forth between the notebook and the J-pad [tablet computer], writing something. Analyzing the opposing hitters or something.

“Anything to watch out for?”

“No… not really.”

“Key hitters?”

“Same as usual.”

If this was Sungwoon until last year, it would have been quite good for us. Woosuk was doing all the crazy things alone in the 1st batter position, grabbing the team by the hair and hard carrying [single-handedly carrying the team].

A picture of losing if you stop him, or if the rest of the people refuse Woosuk’s touch.

The same expression has changed its usage this year. They are staying in 6th place, but they are only three games behind 3rd place. It is not Sungwoon when they were playing with Hanseong at the bottom.

There are several factors, but the biggest advantage is none other than hitting. The defense was slightly above average, but the hitting was far below average.

The hitting has grown more than last year and has risen to slightly below average, and of course, the speed at which wins are accumulated has become a little faster.

The hitters to watch out for are, of course, Woosuk, Kim Taehoon, who was placed in 5th due to increased power, Oh Youngbin of a similar type, and Myunggyu, who came up to 3rd in the lower batting order.

A team that only had to watch out for one person has turned into a team with landmines planted everywhere. It’s going to be tiring.