Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 54

A broke down. So I fixed it. But this time, B broke. So I fixed it. But this time, A broke down again. So I fixed it. But this time, C and D were wrecked.

That’s how the Wonha Challengers were in the 2018 season. When the bullpen broke down and was fixed, the batting lineup collapsed, and when the batting lineup collapsed and was fixed, this time the starting lineup was wrecked. Does this team even have a complete form?

Amidst these worries, we played three series of three games against Seongun, KP, Hanseong, 6th, 7th, and 8th place teams. We finished with 7 wins and 2 losses.

Huh?

Let’s look at the average performance of the pitchers who started during these 9 games. For 4.444… innings, the average ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance] was a whopping 7 points!

We continued to win in a fight that we absolutely couldn’t win.

Wow! Wonha! So strong!

There was absolutely no room to be happy about that.

The strategy of a team with a wrecked starting lineup, a solid batting lineup, and an average bullpen was naturally modified. First, induce a slugfest and then suppress it with the bullpen that makes a comeback in the later innings.

In all nine games played during this period, the sum of both teams’ scores exceeded double digits. Knowing the importance of this period, we couldn’t afford to miss a single game.

The starting pitchers were spraying walks to try and hold on even a little bit. The batters became more cautious at the plate to pay them back.

The bullpen was on standby for every game. Naturally, the game time increased exponentially, and the players became exhausted.

[Hanwool, are you free on Monday?]

A message from Minyoung before the game against Hanseong started after the KP game.

Yes! Even if I’m not, I have to make time!

I would have answered that way normally, but I couldn’t do that at all.

The answer that came back after I politely declined was so detailed that it seemed to have voice support, but I couldn’t help it. I’m only human.

In that sense, this All-Star break was too big of a break.

I hoped the starting pitchers would come to their senses, the hitters who had headaches every game would cool their heads, and the bullpen who had been burning up every game would warm up their bodies.

But I can’t.

“Ah…….”

1st place in the bullpen pitcher All-Star vote for two years in a row!

I should be happy. I should be glad.

…Again?

It’s funny how fickle people are. After beating the Gaya Perfectors by two games and reaching a stable 4th place, I felt relieved, and even the huge event called the All-Star Game felt like a nuisance.

“Ah, I want to go home.”

“Are you saying that with a clear mind?”

“I’m very clear-headed. Don’t worry.”

“Don’t say that anywhere else, hyung [older brother/male friend]. Get a grip—”

“—In this harsh world!”

F***.

Three men were in the car. Me in the driver’s seat. Seonghyun in the passenger seat. Myungjin behind Seonghyun.

Yes, these three are the All-Star members representing the Wonha Challengers. Me and Seonghyun by fan vote, Myungjin by manager recommendation.

Sangsu’s Hong Seokjin, who was competing with me, unfortunately lost. Hyukjoon also received a manager’s recommendation, but his recent performance wasn’t great, so he declined.

“Anyway. That’s your problem, hyung. I understand you’re tired. I understand, but how can you say such things? Don’t you feel sorry for the fans?”

“Mhm!”

“You’re a professional. If you’re a professional, you shouldn’t say such things. It’s okay because you’re with us, who know the team’s situation best, but would you have said that if a team fan was sitting here?”

“I wouldn’t!”

How far does the ripple effect of a single word that comes out like a habit spread?

Seonghyun was diligently scolding me from the passenger seat, and Myungjin was turning my mental state into Emmental cheese from behind.

It’s melting away. I really want to go home.

In the end,

“F***! Shut up before I crash!”

“…….”

“…….”

The person behind the wheel won.

I arrived at Incheon Munhak Stadium with difficulty. This year’s All-Star Game venue is the Visco Runners’ home stadium. I arrived, but I didn’t have any particularly close friends.

The state of the two guys who I can definitely say I’m close with is,

“Put your clothes on properly. You’re already looking at the fans.”

“Or, hyungnim [another term for older brother/male friend], how about wearing the jersey backwards like me?”

As soon as I took my hands off the steering wheel, it was a replay of earlier.

I feel like I’m going crazy.

I struggled to regain my dizzying mind and entered the stadium. I didn’t have any particularly close friends, but I knew everyone. And they couldn’t not know me either.

After exchanging somewhat perfunctory greetings, I met with Director Kim Seokju, who was in charge of the Eastern League again this year.

“Ah, Director. Hello.”

“It’s been a while, Hanwool. Still no offer for a pitching coach?”

“I still have three and a half years left on my contract.”

“Too bad.”

I didn’t dislike the way he used slang that even kids these days don’t use.

“You’ve been tired lately, haven’t you?”

“Uh…….”

1 second.

A crazy number of answers flashed through my mind in 1 second.

“How about it, are you going to pitch today?”

I got 2 seconds of extra time.

“I feel sorry for Director Lee Hanju, but you know that there’s already talk of you being overworked this year, right? But if I make you pitch here too, I’ll get cursed at, so I’m honestly a bit reluctant. I guess it was okay last year.”

It’s gone now, but until a few years ago, the Major League All-Star Game had more meaning than just an All-Star Game. The league that won gets home-field advantage in the World Series!

However, the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization], which forcibly divided a single league into East and West, coldly has no benefit to be gained from the All-Star Game itself.

For young players whose fame is still ambiguous or who are still untainted, it’s a special feeling, but for an old-timer like me who’s all worn out, it just feels like overtime. Without extra pay.

“I’ll trust the director’s judgment.”

“You little rascal. You’re slacking off.”

“Hey, you know I love you.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Go warm up.”

“Yes, sir.”

I started to greet the players I hadn’t greeted yet. Whether it’s the Eastern League or the Western League, everyone knows each other if you go through one or two people.

Which school was it? Ah, there!

I roughly exchanged greetings and was about to go to the dugout when,

“Hanwool-ssi [Mr. Hanwool]!”

“Ah.”

“You look like you hate it.”

“It’s not like I look like it, I do.”

“Wow.”

The team’s little manipulator appeared.

“Take pictures of Myungjin over there instead of me. Or Seonghyun.”

“I already took them.”

“What did you take of them?”

“Things like their determination and impressions of the All-Star Game?”

“Is that all?”

“For now? The rest will be editing videos during the actual game. Like our players playing, or reactions.”

“I guess… it would be a shame if Eunseo-ssi was missing from this.”

“Therefore, Kim Hanwool player! How do you feel about participating in the All-Star Game for the second year in a row!”

As soon as she finished speaking, she picked up the camera and transformed from a little manipulator into a PD [Production Director].

“I just hope Seonghyun doesn’t scold me.”

“Pardon?”

“…People who know will know, so just take this as it is and use it.”

“Uh…….”

Seonghyun’s pickiness, or should I say sensitivity?

Those things weren’t directed at his skills or performance. It’s solely directed at the ‘fans.’ What a true professional player.

He’s a great guy who thinks it’s his duty to repay more than the love he receives as a national-level player.

The problem… is a bit of an exaggeration.

I also think that gratitude and repayment to the fans are never enough, but Seonghyun is excessive.

It would be fine if he managed that overflowing energy well, but it unknowingly spreads to the people around him.

A video of Seonghyun witnessing a rookie-of-the-year-level rookie refusing to sign autographs out of arrogance and getting into a fight on the spot is already famous on Mytube [Korean version of Youtube] under names like ‘_Fan service of a professional baseball player.avi.’

That kind of guy participated in the All-Star Game. He’s been attending the All-Star Game every year since becoming a Tier 1 player, but he took a break last year due to mild hamstring strain. And he’s back this year.

“Hyungniim [another term for older brother/male friend].”

Well, that’s what I mean.

I also think Seonghyun’s attitude is cool. I want to follow him, but realistically, my body can’t handle it right now, so I unconsciously try to avoid it.

I don’t know if I’ll be playing in the game, but I’m confident that I’ll never refuse a single fan who comes to me.

However…….

“Is this the All-Star Game?”

Myungjin is a baseball player who is at least at the national level, but strangely, he has no connection with the All-Star Game. This is his first appearance this year.

I’m worried about what this guy, who has the most unique mindset in the team, will do today.

“Myungjin-ah [Myungjin – term of endearment].”

“Yes, hyungnim [another term for older brother/male friend].”

“Let’s make a promise, hyung [older brother/male friend].”

“Yes. Tell me.”

“After today, I don’t want the reporters to ask me, ‘Does Kim Hanwool know what that action of Lee Myungjin meant?'”

Don’t put a question mark on your face, you little s***. It’s a true story.

He doesn’t seem to understand, but what can I do? He has to at least pretend to understand since a senior is talking.

The serious talk was up to there, and then it was a feast of nonsense. We were talking with a smile when,

Hanwool-ssi [Mr. Hanwool]~!

“Ah, yeah. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay. See you later.”

I found someone and ran to the side of our dugout.

“You’ve arrived.”

“Yes! Now that I think about it, isn’t this the first time we’ve seen each other at our stadium?”

“Ah… that’s right.”

I politely refused, and I understand the reason, but I was still sad.

The expression on the emoticon that came with the reply was the same as the tearful expression of Minyoung-ssi that I usually think of.

That was during the weekend series the week before last. So I suggested it in reverse. Let’s meet on Monday the week after next. I’ll be fine then.

Since I was resting due to the All-Star break during the time when the weekday series should have been, there was no strain at all. Minyoung-ssi was in a frenzy to revise her annual leave right away.

I couldn’t betray that trust, so I had to prepare something… so what I prepared was three All-Star Game tickets.

In fact, the club only gave me two tickets. And these two tickets were going to be given to my parents, but my father said he was too lazy, and my mother said she couldn’t leave him alone, so she passed too.

The one ticket I personally got was only for Minyoung-ssi… but since there were two more left by chance, I just gave all three to her and told her to bring her parents.

“But your father…….”

“Ah, he went to buy beer and chicken.”

“Has he been to the All-Star Game a lot?”

“He wanted to come, but he couldn’t. The competition is so fierce…….”

“Since you’ve come all this way, have fun watching.”

“Hanwool-ssi [Mr. Hanwool], you’re not going to pitch today, are you?”

Most of the real Wonha fans react like this. Don’t overdo it even at the useless All-Star Game.

“The director said he’d give me convenience for now… but I can’t help it when it comes to image or being mindful of others, haha.”

“You should have just said you were sick somewhere.”

“Wouldn’t Wonha fans be more worried about that? If you count injuries, this is the second time this year.”

“That’s true, but…….”

What have you been doing for a week, what’s the team atmosphere like these days, stories that couldn’t be fully conveyed in the occasional texts were transmitted.

Talking with a net between us was more fun than I thought.

“Oh, you.”

Until Minyoung-ssi’s parents came back.

As soon as I heard her father’s voice, I bowed my head.

In one hand, a large 2,000cc glass of beer, in the other hand, a whole chicken. His clothes were ordinary *ajeossi* [middle-aged man] *bae-baji* [comfortable pants] with a Wonha Challengers jersey and hat.

He was a typical old-time baseball fan *ajeossi* [middle-aged man].

I greeted Minyoung-ssi’s mother for the first time. In some ways, she was a more nervous opponent than her father, but she was also a good person.

I think I found another reason why Minyoung-ssi can always be cheerful.

As the assembly time approached, I went back to the dugout. I said goodbye and headed to the dugout.

I kept drinking the drinks her father gave me while talking, so I suddenly thought of the bathroom.

“Euheo.”

I relieved myself and headed back to the dugout. There were still about 5 minutes left.

I was thinking of going to sit down for a bit when.

“Hello, senior.”

“…Hello.”

Park Haejin and Hyun Jin were there. In a strange atmosphere.

I can’t rest.