Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 60

I think it’s safe to say that Gyu-jin *hyung* [an honorific term for an older brother or male friend] has entered a stable phase again. He allowed only 2 runs in 7 innings.

He gave up those two runs because of a two-run homer he allowed to Jo Tae-pung in the 6th, but he announced his revival by striking out a whopping 11 batters.

The batting lineup also diligently continued to do its job, and as a result, we scored 5 runs.

In the remaining 8th and 9th innings, Ji-ho and senior Shin Kyung-seok allowed only one run each, securing the victory.

Meanwhile, Visco faced Sung-woon and suffered a loss after getting hit hard. The gaps between 3rd, 4th, and 5th place are now all one game apart.

If Gyu-jin *hyung* has truly entered a stable phase, then there are only two left: Hyuk-jun and Jun-hyuk.

Looking at these two, whose names are just reversed, it’s like seeing senior Shin Kyung-seok and senior Choi Eun-gu at the beginning of the season.

Control, hits allowed.

But the reasons are completely different. We can’t apply the stability that came from switching the positions of the two seniors to these two.

Jun-hyuk didn’t pitch well again today. He allowed 5 runs in 5 innings. Is it a stamina issue because it’s August, the hottest time of the year? I wondered. Would it be better if he took a break?

After that, senior Choi Eun-gu, who rested yesterday, came on in the 6th and 7th innings and cleanly shut them down. You might think, can we put up one of the must-win pitchers when we’ve already given up 5 runs, but it was a possible strategy because the batting lineup had already scored 6 runs first.

“Jun-hyuk.”

“Yes, senior.”

Let’s talk for a bit.

“Is it tough?”

“Ah, no.”

“No, I’m not scolding you. Don’t be scared.”

“Yes…”

“Let’s talk frankly, okay? Your recent performance hasn’t been good. Let’s think about it together.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“What do you think is the reason?”

“First of all… my control is really off.”

“Your control is off?”

“Yes.”

He’s not a pitcher with great control to begin with. As a pitcher, you naturally aim for the edges of the zone, so your body remembers and goes there, but getting it to go exactly where you want is not something anyone can do.

But right now, Jun-hyuk can’t even do the ‘minimum’.

“Hmm. Is this your second year as a full-time player?”

“That’s right.”

“Do you feel physically burdened?”

“I can’t say there’s none at all… but I don’t think that’s it.”

It’s not a stamina issue…

I sat next to Jun-hyuk, shaking my leg and thinking. Soon, I stopped shaking my leg when I saw Jun-hyuk’s back was straight.

“Relax a bit. I’m more uncomfortable.”

“But, but…”

“Ah, if you say ‘but’, I’m really going to scold you.”

“Yes!”

I think there’s about a 7 or 8 year difference between us. It’s understandable that he finds it difficult.

Squeak—

“Ah, senior!”

“Yeah?”

Just in time, senior Shin Kyung-seok came into the bullpen.

“Please say something to him.”

“Why? Jun-hyuk is doing well.”

“He can do better, can’t he?”

“That’s true.”

This person is such a nice guy that he really can’t say bad things. Even though his performance is obviously terrible, he says he’s doing well.

Just enduring a full-time season in your second year is enough to praise him, but in the end, it’s about performance.

It’s not like he’s someone with no expectations, and he’s reached his peak before, so I feel even more disappointed.

“But what can I say to Jun-hyuk?”

“Aren’t you and Jun-hyuk a bit similar in style?”

“That’s true.”

Three-quarter sidearm and sidearm. The difference in speed between the two is also exactly the angle of the arm. The pitches they throw are also the same curveball, and only the changeup and sinker are different, but the concept itself is similar.

In that sense, wouldn’t senior Shin Kyung-seok be able to give Jun-hyuk some good advice?

“He says his control is off, constantly.”

“How off is it?”

“If he aims for the edge, it just goes right into the middle, so there’s nothing he can do…”

Hmm.

Me and senior Shin Kyung-seok made similar noises and made eye contact.

“Have you ever had this happen before, senior?”

“I have.”

“What did you do?”

“I tried all sorts of things. Changed my form, changed my grip.”

“It seems like something wasn’t working in the game.”

“That’s right. When I see Jun-hyuk, I don’t think it’s a mental issue. Even if it is, it seems like a secondary problem.”

“He gets intimidated because he keeps missing?”

“That’s right.”

Hmm.

“Jun-hyuk.”

“Yes, senior.”

“Or, has anything changed recently?”

“What kind of change?”

“Did you change your form on your own? Or did you change your grip?”

“Well… stepping on the plate?”

“What did you do with the plate?”

“I moved from 1st base to 3rd base.”

“When?”

“Was it from last month?”

Is this it?

“What did the coach say?”

“He said something like… try it your way for now.”

“But why did you move? Where did you originally step?”

“Originally, I stepped on 1st base and threw.”

“Why did you move?”

“Well… I saw on communities that it would be better to step on 3rd base and throw…”

“What community?”

“Baseball community.”

“…What did they say was the reason? There must have been a reason why you were persuaded.”

“They just said that all right-handed pitchers step on 3rd base and throw…”

Oh my.

Generally, right-handed pitchers step on the 3rd base side and throw. Generally.

But that’s just the majority, and there’s a reason why not everyone does it.

“What was the reason you stepped on 1st base and threw?”

“Me? Well, it was mentally comfortable.”

“Why? Were you afraid of hitting someone if you stepped on 3rd base?”

“Yes. It seems like all my pitches are twisting and flying.”

“But knowing that, you’re going back to 3rd base?”

“Well… they said that the angle doesn’t come out when I step on 1st base and throw now. They said the angle of my breaking ball is flat and my speed doesn’t come out…”

No, what are you talking about.

“Jun-hyuk.”

“Yes.”

“Just do what you used to do.”

“Just step on the 1st base side and throw?”

“Yeah. I think half of what the senior said is right and half is wrong.”

“I guess so. You’re used to 1st base, so there’s no reason to gamble by going to 3rd base, right? Like you said, you might hit someone if you go to 3rd base, and that’s why your control is off, right?”

“Ah…”

As if he had gained some great enlightenment, Jun-hyuk was just blankly staring. I hope this leads to good results again.

“Jun-hyuk. Let’s look at the long term.”

“Long term?”

“At the beginning of this year, you were in the 1-point, 2-point range. Even if you go back to 1st base, your ERA won’t dramatically decrease. What’s your ERA now?”

“Well… it’s in the early 5s now.”

“Maybe this year, it’ll be in the early 4s at best. If you’re really good, maybe late 3s? But let’s look at the long term, Jun-hyuk. You’re still young. It’s not like you have to retire if you don’t get a 1 ERA right away.”

“Yes.”

“Take it easy, man. I like that you’re trying to do well. But don’t go learning weird things from somewhere.”

“Yes.”

“Han-wool, get ready.”

Just as I was patting Jun-hyuk on the shoulder, the order to get ready came down. I called Gun-young and started throwing the ball lightly, but I felt a bit of a stinging gaze from the side.

When I glanced over, Jun-hyuk was looking at me with sparkling eyes. It was a bit *b 부담스러울 정도로* [to the point of being burdensome].

Bang—!

While warming up in the bullpen, I happened to see something whitish streaking across the sky.

“It’s going! It’s going!!”

“Turn slowly!!”

Judging from the commotion right behind me, it seems Sung-hyun hit one over. I leaned against the bullpen railing while throwing the ball and leisurely watched Sung-hyun circling the bases.

I watched him round 3rd base and extend his palm to Hoon, who had arrived at home plate first.

My eyes glanced slightly to the right. Bottom of the 7th. 5 to 8. The *y 여유* [leeway] of the top of the 8th, which had to start with only one point, is expected to increase to three points. In addition, I looked at the opposing batting order for the top of the 8th.

“…Starting with Chae Ji-hoon.”

6th, 7th, 8th. I’ll meet them.

I took my body off the railing and stood on the plate again.

Bang!

The strength in my grip, which I had been trying to loosen appropriately, increased.

“Oh, *hyung*. Take it easy.”

“I’m taking it easy.”

Calm down, calm down. What’s the point of pouring unnecessary strength here?

“Han-wool.”

“Yes.”

As soon as the pitching coach opened the bullpen door, I *s 설설* [hurriedly] ran towards the mound.

The entrance music and the crowd singing along that I hear as soon as I cross the 1st base foul line.

I picked up the rosin first, with the now familiar background behind me.

Play!

I saw the guy who was upset after getting struck out by Gyu-jin *hyung* yesterday. If you’ve been screwing around for 10 years, no, more than 10 years, isn’t it about time you knew your place? Well, there are people like that.

Ding—!

[Mentor, and Mentee]

– Shut out the inning in front of 배준혁 선수 [Bae Jun-hyuk, player’s name]. (0/1)

– Reward ― Splitter +2

The text floats above Chae Ji-hoon’s head as he heads towards the plate. I quickly took my eyes off it and recalled information about Chae Ji-hoon. But I soon gave up.

He’s batting 6th for now, but he’s not a notable hitter. It’s better to be careful of the next hitter, Jung Sung-hoon.

Let’s try poking one outside here first.

“Strike!”

But it went inside. 138km.

It was a complete *y 역투* [reverse throw/mistake] that Gyu-hak, who was sitting outside, had to reach out with his left hand to catch, but it went in, so I was able to get the call.

What, is there any reason for my control to be this shaky?

It became a *y 역투* from one end of the strike zone to the other. It was an unintentional way to go inside from the start.

Let’s use it without making a fuss.

“Ball!”

I threw a sinker inside with a slightly *b 불안한* [uneasy] mind, but fortunately, the sinker listened properly.

The disappointing thing is that I threw it the way I wanted, but Chae Ji-hoon didn’t react much, as if he was planning to watch it from the start.

I think the sinker is good today. Let’s go with the sinker a lot. One more.

Tick!

“Foul―”

It was *s 쎄하긴* [a bit chilling/unpleasant] that he nonchalantly picked out the second pitch, but it seems he really decided to watch it. Same course, same ball, this time the bat came out.

I decided to go with the sinker as the main pitch, so let’s pick a ball that goes well with the sinker. What would be good?

Should I let it ride the line as it is? I shook my head at Gyu-hak’s finger. Let’s go the other way.

I lightly stuck the ball to the palm of my glove and put my thumb inside. The ball *m 밀리며* [pushed] on my thumb, and the ball rotated *b 반 시계 방향으로* [counterclockwise] very slightly. Naturally, the slider grip I learned from Hyun-jin was completed.

Throw it like a fastball.

That’s what Hyun-jin said. To create the picture I wanted, I focused on throwing it low on the outside, where I usually throw.

Whoosh—

“Swing, swing!”

Inside, inside, inside, outside.

Ah, good. How great would it be if baseball was only as good as you thought it would be. Then I would have already struck out Park Hae-jin and won the Korean Series.

I received the ball from Sung-moon while thinking silly thoughts.

As I went back to the mound, I grabbed the ball and showed only one index finger to Gyu-hak. When I signaled that it was one out, Gyu-hak nodded as if he understood.

In the meantime, Jung Sung-hoon appeared on the opposite side of where Chae Ji-hoon was standing. A right-handed left-handed *g 거포* [slugger] outfield prospect.

It would be better for the team and for himself to leave him in the minors a little longer, but the team’s situation is so bad that they’re using him for now.

He’s an outfield prospect, but his outfield defense is not good! He’s a *g 거포* prospect, but his contact is not good!

But his shoulder is *j 작살 나* [amazing/deadly]! The ball that hits his bat is really *j 작살 나*!

Bang!

“Ball.”

Huh…….

Bang!

“Ball―”

Two fastballs in a row missed. The height is going the way I want, but the left and right are shaking a lot. It’s almost a full zone to the right. Why is this happening? I *a 애꿎게* [angrily/in vain] picked out the spot where my left foot touched with my spikes and got angry.

Let’s go with the sinker. It’s good today and it listens well.

“Foul―”

I’ll grab one with an outside sinker for now,

“Swing!”

I added another swing on the changeup to make a good count.

In the end, I have to throw either a changeup or a sinker, but which one would be better?

The fingers rolling the ball inside the glove stopped.

Curveball. Let’s go with a curveball that I haven’t thrown even once today.

I’ve decided on the pitch, so next I need to decide on the course. Inside? Outside?

Bang―

“…Ah.”

Ding—!

[Mentor, and Mentee]

– Shut out the inning in front of 배준혁 선수 [Bae Jun-hyuk, player’s name]. (0/1)

– Reward ― Splitter +2

– Failed quest.

Was the outside the answer?

I watched Sung-hyun, who was not the ball flying far away but standing still and watching the batted ball. I ended my disappointment with the sound effect of *j 쩝* [smacking lips] and turned back.

It went inside very well. A perfect *k 꼭짓점* [apex/peak] pitch.

However, a slow and gentle curveball of only 109km was no match for a lucky swing. Especially if it’s a hitter with *j 작살 나는* [amazing/deadly] power.

It was a course that I used often when facing Jung Sung-hoon, but I think I’ll have to revise my strategy for facing him for the time being.

I took my eyes off the home run hitter who was entering after rounding all the bases and high-fiving Lee Yong-ho, and received the ball from the umpire.

I *s 살살* [gently] turned the *s 심* [seam] and checked if there were any rough spots.

It’s okay.

I stepped on the plate again. Even if I give up one run, there are still two points left. Moreover, the batting order that will come out from now on is only 8th and 9th. I just need to *k 깔쌈하게* [cleanly/neatly] shut them down.

“Strike!”

But why, I’m really curious, but really why. Does he still think he’s such a great person?

Lee Yong-ho, who entered the plate laughing at me, immediately froze when the curveball fell in a place that seemed very far from him.

He seemed to be looking at the umpire to ask if it was really a strike, but the umpire was only looking at me as if he wasn’t worth dealing with.

Yes, that’s right, of course.

Tick― Tack!

“Foul.”

After that, an *e 어쭙잖은* [pathetic/ludicrous] foul on a sinker digging into his body. It was quite *k 꼬셨다* [satisfying/tempting] to see him hit his own foot with the batted ball and be in pain.

Ah, I want to throw another sinker.

If the *j 자유족* [free spirit], who should be blocking *g 관성* [inertia] with a brace off, gets hurt, the wall will naturally collapse.

Naturally, the posture and center will lean forward, resulting in the side effect of contact coming from behind.

Lee Yong-ho is exactly like that right now. In this case, let’s go for a *s 승부* [showdown] to the inside, where we need to show a quick reaction.

It would be good to give *w 완급* [pace/modulation] with a curveball or changeup, but it’s more of a loss to give him time to recover.

When I touched the glove and hat, elbow and glove again with my index finger, Gyu-hak showed his index and middle fingers. He confirmed that it was correct and took one step back with his left leg.

“Hoo…….”

As quickly as possible. High fastball inside.

Thud!

“Ouch!”

The sound of the ball and leather meeting was right, but I didn’t know it would hit human leather.

I forgot that the fastball had been flying to the right since earlier. Ah, I should have aimed for the outside, I was regretting it, but at that moment,

“You X발새끼야!” [You X bastard! – strong curse word]

Lee Yong-ho, who was hit in the butt with the ball, started to *g 급발진* [suddenly explode in anger].