Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 59

※ 59. Pitchers Should Throw Like Kim Han-wool

[Kim Hyung-cheol’s Straight Talk – Pitchers Should Throw Like Kim Han-wool]

When you watch Kim Han-wool pitch, there’s something that stands out, a certain uniqueness compared to other pitchers. What could it be?

His velocity, which is still considered slow, even though it’s improved?

His unwavering, pinpoint control?

His consistent delivery that never falters?

The fact that he seems unfazed even when his pitches are hit for home runs?

These observations aren’t wrong. In fact, Kim Han-wool possesses many special qualities beyond these.

However, what I want to discuss today is different, so let’s set those aside for the moment.

[Kim Han-wool touching his elbow with his index and middle fingers while exchanging signs]

How do readers interpret this photo? Does it appear to be a standard set position or simply exchanging signs?

[Covering the cap with the middle, ring, and pinky fingers]

[Touching the glove web with the pinky finger]

[Touching the left shoulder with the index finger]

Then, how do these actions appear?

Those who are perceptive will understand what I’m implying. But for those who don’t, allow me to explain.

Baseball involves a wide variety of signs.

Flash, block, touch, shift up and down, patterns, etc. For more in-depth details, please refer to my previous column.

Discussing that here would overwhelm the readers.

In this episode, I want to focus on pitch signs.

These are primarily signals that the catcher gives to the pitcher. When the catcher is inexperienced, or the coaching staff needs to intervene, the bench relays the signs to the catcher.

The catcher then communicates the signs to the pitcher, and these signs can also be observed by the second baseman and shortstop.

A sharp keystone duo [second baseman and shortstop] can relay this information to the outfielders or corner infielders next to them to anticipate the play and position themselves accordingly.

The crucial point here is that the pitch signs originate from the catcher or, occasionally, the bench.

Almost all pitchers simply nod in agreement. Even when they actively offer their opinion, it usually amounts to shaking their head in disagreement.

[Kim Han-wool designating the defensive position to shortstop Lee Myung-jin with the index finger of his right hand holding the ball before pitching]

But today’s subject is different. Very different.

How different? So different that it sometimes seems like he’s giving more signs than the catcher.

He even actively directs the defensive positioning of the fielders.

Watching Kim Han-wool exchange signs, it sometimes feels like he’s having a conversation with the catcher.

“Here, locate it here.”

“No, not that one. If you throw that now, the batter won’t bite.”

“Then how about this?”

“That looks like it’ll end up in the outfield. I’d rather throw this. Then we can turn a double play with a ground ball to the shortstop.”

“Okay.”

And he executes the play he envisions with remarkable accuracy.

A play that’s only possible when you possess a deep understanding of your team’s defense, the opposing hitters, your own pitches, and your physical condition. Above all, a play that’s only possible when you have a high understanding of ‘baseball’.

[Kim Han-wool celebrating after getting a double play]

When I watch Kim Han-wool pitch, I get excited. It’s entertaining. It feels like I’m watching real baseball.

It’s undeniably challenging to challenge your seniors in Korean culture.

But this atmosphere is gradually changing. This kind of healthy communication between the pitcher, catcher, and dugout is always a positive development.

―aqe****

└Oh, that was a sign. I thought he was just scratching his elbow because it was itchy lol

Recommended 2,523 Disliked 84

―ujee****

└Is it possible because the catcher is a junior [younger/less experienced]? If he did that to a senior, he’d get his head cracked

Recommended 2,211 Disliked 378

alsd****

└My head hurts…….

Recommended 1,495 Disliked 243

* * *

In the nine games leading up to the All-Star break, we achieved a strong record of 7 wins and 2 losses, solidifying our 4th place position.

Considering we started from the bottom due to the severe slump that began with the bullpen issues at the start of the year, our winning percentage from late April and May is expected to be quite significant.

During the same period, the Seongun Hawks recorded 6 wins and 3 losses, climbing to 5th place, while the Gaya Perfectors, a team we were directly competing with, seemed to be falling apart with 3 wins and 6 losses.

A three-game difference might not seem like much, but considering it included a stretch of 2 wins, 1 loss, 1 win, and then 5 consecutive losses, it won’t be easy for them to turn things around.

The real problem is the Visco Runners.

While we had 7 wins and 2 losses, Visco had an even more impressive record of 8 wins and 1 loss.

Unlike our good performance, which was achieved by barely overcoming the starters’ struggles, Visco’s wins were due to a very stable balance of pitching and hitting, making their success more sustainable.

Two games.

The gap between Visco and us had actually increased. We kept chasing, but our starters’ slump persisted.

I hoped they would clear their heads during the All-Star break, but if anything, they pitched even worse than before.

During the 3-game series against Dongseong, we had 1 win and 2 losses. Hyuk-joon seemed to be regaining his form to some extent, allowing 2 runs in 4 innings, but Joon-hyuk allowed 8 runs in 5 innings.

In between, Hyu-jin showed signs of improvement, allowing 3 runs in 6 innings.

After that, we had a sweet time during the weekend 3-game series against Gaya at our home stadium. We won all three games, pushing Gaya further down in the battle for 3rd place.

Visco also swept Sangsu, and the gap remained the same.

I remember battling Visco until the very end last year, and it seems like it will be a similar situation this year. As July ended and we entered August, the gap between us and Visco remained unchanged.

“Hyung [older brother/senior teammate], get your act together. Try doing it like this, huh? Why can’t you throw?”

“You son of a bitch!”

“Ouch!”

I giggled and ran away from Hyu-jin, but a baseball hit me in the back.

I wouldn’t have played this kind of prank if he had performed poorly in his previous appearance, but I teased him because he was showing signs of recovery among the three main starters, and it backfired spectacularly.

“Hyung.”

“What.”

“You pitched well last game.”

“Did I pitch well?”

“Considering you used to give up 5, 6, 7 runs every 3 or 4 innings, isn’t that pretty good?”

“It’s a quality start [at least 6 innings pitched with no more than 3 earned runs allowed], 6 innings and 3 runs allowed.”

Gyu-hak even joined in.

“That’s right.”

“Is there anything different?”

“I don’t know.”

“Hmm…….”

“Why?”

“You need to know so you don’t repeat the mistakes.”

“That’s true…….”

“What does the pitching coach say?”

“He was talking about my leg.”

“Leg?”

After hearing that, I focused on his leg movements. The sense of distance from usual that I had felt before had disappeared.

It’s like my body was floating a bit.

That’s how Hyung was when he wasn’t pitching well.

“When did you start feeling that?”

“About two weeks ago?”

“So how did you fix it?”

“Downsizing [shortening the stride].”

Ah.

“How about now? Does it seem to be working?”

“I don’t know.”

Bang!

“That’s enough.”

“Already?”

“It’s better to stop when you have a good feeling.”

“Yes, yes.”

After finishing the bullpen session, Gyu-hak went to the batting cage, and Hyu-jin sat quietly on the bullpen bench. I deliberately sat next to him and poked him.

“…Hey.”

“Yeah.”

“What does it feel like to be tall?”

“Suddenly?”

“Just wondering. I was wondering if it would have been better if I was a little taller. I’m not doing well these days, so I’m thinking all sorts of things.”

I’m 188cm [approximately 6’2″]. Hyu-jin is…….

“How tall are you, Hyung?”

“Do you want to die?”

“Sorry.”

Somewhere in the mid-160cm range [approximately 5’3″ – 5’5″].

“I think it works because I throw Hyung’s pitches with Hyung’s physique.”

“Why? It’s common sense that it’s good to be tall.”

“Why is common sense common sense? Because you can think normally.”

“Oh. You’re talking plausibly.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Whoosh―!!

Attention, spectators, please be careful of the batted balls.

Whoosh! Whooosh!!

As the batters’ batted balls slowly began to fly, all sorts of whistle sounds and inorganic recorded announcements flowed through the stadium.

Quietly, silently.

Now, the familiar sound, like the cries of an egg vendor passing by in front of the house, became a comforting background sound.

“…Hyung.”

“What.”

“Lee Yong-ho will come out today, right?”

“Probably.”

That damn bastard.

I hate him, but Hyu-jin hates him even more.

Recently, he has been used as a left fielder more frequently, with a semi-fixed feeling.

Choi Hyung-sun, the starting left fielder of Hanseong, hasn’t been able to regain his form lately, perhaps the hamstring injury he suffered earlier had a significant impact.

Starting left fielder, 8th batter for the last 5 games in a row.

“Maybe that bastard will come out laughing at Hyung.”

“Probably.”

“How about it? This is a chance to hit him in the head this time. Challenge?”

“No, I don’t want to. My performance is already a mess.”

“Too bad.”

Hyu-jin’s ranking, which was leading in strikeouts with more than 10 more than second place Hyun-jin, has now fallen and is not even visible on the first page.

Because other stats have also deteriorated in a chain reaction, he has become a very inconsistent pitcher.

“Try to get your sense back. Your ball was good.”

“You’re coming up today, right?”

“Maybe? I’ve been resting for about 3 days. Why, do you need my strength?”

I asked back with a sly smile.

“Why else? Are you going to lose the game?”

“I have to win.”

I have to win.

It was a simple phrase that anyone could say, but Hyu-jin seemed different today.

The walk allowed after the start of the game was 1 in 2 innings. He struck out 4, and the other two outs were double plays including the runner who walked. Until then, the number of pitches was only 23.

I feel good today.

Jung Seong-hoon, who entered the plate at the beginning of the 3rd inning, also struck out swinging at a high fastball in just 4 pitches, and one out was easily recorded.

Hyu-jin’s expression hardened a little after receiving the ball that was circulating in the infield and stepping on the plate.

You?

Lee Yong-ho appeared with a terrible smile as always. Ah, I really want to hit him hard in the face. I grit my teeth.

“What’s wrong?”

Joon-hyuk, who couldn’t stand it, asked from the side.

“It’s nothing.”

I answered roughly and watched the match. The two wishes that the ball leaving Hyu-jin’s hand would meet the opponent’s face and that it would hit Gyu-hak’s mitt collided fiercely in my heart.

Strike!

The pitcher fortunately chose reason. The fastball heading high was judged to have passed through the zone sufficiently.

After that, there was a weak foul ball with a tick! sound on the curve. The high fastball that flew once more was barely touched and became a foul, and then he barely endured a ball that was much higher than that.

The way he flailed to stop the bat was quite funny.

His fastball is good today.

It was a pretty high ball, but the speed itself seemed to have recovered to its usual level. 154km [approximately 96 mph]. If I were him, I would throw a changeup inside next.

Bang!

“Swing!”

That’s cool.

He just overpowered him with force. Even if a 153km [approximately 95 mph] fastball was stuck in the middle, the batter stared blankly and then went back grinding his teeth. I hope I can meet you later.

After taking a breather for a while, I looked at Hyuk-joon and he was still pitiful. He’s getting worse and worse. He even pitched once yesterday, which was originally his scheduled appearance date.

“Hyuk-joon.”

“Yes.”

The sight of a child who should be answering cheerfully like Yes Hyung! Why? Why? Why? answering in a drooping manner was not very pleasant.

The back of the head and the temples can no longer help.

“You must have thought about it too. Why are you like this these days.”

“Yes… I have. Of course.”

“What do you think it is?”

“…I don’t know. It just doesn’t go in, and if it goes in, I get hit. If I think I’ve executed the pitch well, I see everything and just…….”

It’s like me when I’m not doing well.

“It’s like me.”

“Hyung?”

“When is it? Don’t you think it’s like me 2 years ago? If it goes in, I get hit, and if I think I’ve caught a swing, I let everything go.”

“Ah…….”

Don’t tell me…….

“Hey.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t tell me you’re copying me?”

“Hyung?”

From around the time of the complete game win in the semi-playoffs last year.

Looking at this guy’s behavior, this is a reasonable suspicion.

“Do you have a role model or something similar?”

“Why?”

“I think Hyung is really cool.”

“Even if someone who throws better than me says that, it only looks like flattery.”

“Hey, Hyung throws better than me.”

“Who keeps saying that kind of bullshit?”

“Fans.”

“They’re people with very accurate eyes.”

“…….”

“What.”

I avoided the guy’s gaze.

“Hyuk-joon. Don’t copy Hyung.”

“Why?”

“Then why are you trying to copy me in the first place? What part of me are you looking at?”

“You’re cool.”

“So what.”

“Like, you put the ball exactly where you want it, and it’s like playing a game and it’s fun, isn’t it?”

“So. You feel like my control is cool?”

“Yes.”

Hmm…….

“I understand. But don’t get too immersed, Hyuk-joon.”

“What do you mean by getting too immersed?”

“Why haven’t you heard that saying? A pine caterpillar has to live on pine needles [meaning: stick to what you know and are good at].”

“…Is there such a saying?”

“Kids these days don’t even know these words?”

“Wrong…….”

“Do you want to die?”

Ahem.

“You can just throw in your own style. I’m very jealous of you too? Until recently, I was someone who thought it would be nice to just get 145km [approximately 90 mph].”

“Is there anything you can’t do? Hyung is still getting faster even at that age.”

“At that age?”

“…….”

“…There’s something I think about as if it were my life motto.”

“What is it?”

“Just, let’s do what I can do.”

What I can do…….

“What I can do. What I’m good at. Control, lots of breaking balls. Good defense and pretty good pickoffs. That’s all. Slow ball. Not a good fastball. Not a lot of stamina. I’m just doing my job. What can you do?”

“…….”

The guy was silent as if lost in thought. I thought that was enough. I tapped him on the shoulder and went out of the dugout and slapped Hyu-jin on the back, who had finished the inning cleanly and returned.

“Ah, nice pitching!”