Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 107

I’ve been to the All-Star Game, pitched in the Elimination Game, and even made it to the Postseason.

Could there be a moment more nerve-wracking than this?

“…Oh, my.”

Turns out, there is.

Waaahhh-!!

“…….”

The Korean Series.

The feeling of arriving at the final chapter of the year for the first time is… how should I put it….

Victory Wonha! Our Wonha! Go out and fight, mighty Wonha!

Overwhelming.

Looking at the packed stands is more familiar than I thought. Yet, today feels different.

People waving huge Wonha flags.

The pounding drums squeezing the hearts of everyone in the stadium.

Fans waving their hands, spitting as they shout.

“Wow… this is the Korean Series.”

“It is the Korean Series.”

Practically, among the main members, the ones who have experienced the Korean Series are,

“…Hey, give me some advice.”

“Hanwool, you know what you always think about. You have to think that way.”

Senior Kyungseok, who arrived about 5 years ago as part of Visco,

“It’s nothing special. Just another game.”

And Senior Eun-gu, who most recently won the championship two years ago as part of Sangsoo.

I think I was wrong. I was being overwhelmed by the stadium, not by Sangsoo.

Even when singing the national anthem for the national ceremony, even until the first pitcher who showed a wonderful pitch went back.

I stood there dumbly, looking around at the flow of the game.

I wonder how the kids are doing.

Play!

Hyukjoon, who didn’t avoid eye contact with Gyuhyuk, nodded and went into his windup.

Bang-!

“Strike-!”

The first pitch is a 154km fastball.

Bang!

“Swing!”

A swing and a miss on a 156km fastball.

Bang-!

“Swing, swing-!”

A swing and a miss strikeout on a 138km slider.

Hyukjoon, who took care of the leadoff hitter with three pitches, spun around the mound.

“Come to think of it… Hyukjoon is really strong.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“We’ve won all our Game 1s.”

100%.

During the two semi-playoffs and one playoff, we won all the first games in all three series.

And Hyukjoon was the starting pitcher in all those Game 1s.

“Ah, nice ball!”

“Good, good!”

I thought as I greeted Hyukjoon, who finished the first inning cleanly and returned.

We can win if Hyukjoon starts in Game 1. No,

Bang-!

“Swing-, out!”

We are winning.

Clap clap clap-!

Wonha Challengers’ first starter returned to the dugout without allowing a single run in 7 innings.

I didn’t go out to the bullpen because I was warming up, but leaned against the railing and clapped with both hands outstretched.

He smiled brightly and raised his left hand, acknowledging the commotion from the bullpen.

“Ugh!”

Bang-!

“Hey! It’s good now!”

I was careful not to let my upper and lower teeth grind to avoid using too much force. Gunyoung, who received it, nodded his head to boost the pitcher’s morale.

“Hup!”

Bang-!

“Ah, I think you can hit it a little harder!”

“Okay!”

Feedback on the slightly missed slider is received immediately,

Bang-!

“Ahhh! Good!!”

And revised.

I don’t know if 15 minutes is a long or short time,

“Let’s go up.”

“Yes.”

But it’s enough time to use for refinement.

Your love is a wildcard, Folding is the hard part―

Waaahhh-!!

Hooo-!!

Kim Hanwool! Kim Hanwool! Kim Hanwool!

I headed to the mound, watching the electronic display filled only with my appearance and information, not the status of the game.

Cause your love is a wildcard―

Tuk tuk tuk―

When the entrance video ended, the situation board appeared again. It was announcing the two teams running side by side, divided into top and bottom.

Looking at the Sangsoo lineup at the top, it was a series of 0s. Looking at the Wonha lineup at the bottom, the number ‘2’ was visible under the number ‘4’.

“Hyung!”

Gyuhyuk, who happily broke the procession of 0s that had been nicely connected, called me. He threw the bouncing rosin bag behind the plate.

“Hoo!”

I, who had been overwhelmed just before the start of the game, now, well, I should say I feel comfortable.

Ding-!

[The First Start of the Final Chapter]

– 1 Inning No Runs Allowed (0/1)

– Reward – Changeup +1

Seeing the familiar quest, I was able to relieve my burden once more.

However, I didn’t suppress all the tension that had spread throughout my body. The trembling that remained beautifully at the tips of my index and middle fingers will definitely,

Bang-!

“Swing!”

Leave me with just the right amount of pressure.

148km.

“Good. Good.”

Everything is good.

The chin that threw a pleasing ball repeated its up and down movement with an irregular rhythm.

I kept my mouth open stupidly and shook my head about twice. Then, I nodded much faster than the previous speed.

Bang-!

“Strike-!”

I pointed at our manager with my right index finger, accurately at the first base dugout, and said.

Whoosh―

Bang-!

“Swing, out-.”

Today, at least for Game 1 of the Korean Series, you guys will win.

The batter who struck out went to the dugout, and the batter who was about to be out went to the plate.

Shin Taebum only had his left foot on the plate and continued to make unnecessary movements. It seems like he’s trying to buy time somehow…….

Bounce bounce―

So what.

When the batter finished his routine again, I took my foot off the plate this time. The excuse that there wasn’t enough rosin on my fingers is always great.

Why bother starting a war of nerves.

Once you gain an advantage in the primary battle,

Bang!

You can easily win in the 2nd, 3rd, and the 4th that will follow soon after.

Clack-!

“To first base-.”

“Myungjin, take your time!”

I don’t understand at what angle he hit the inside slider. Myungjin, who caught a common infield fungo-like hit, simply,

“Out-.”

Takes another out at 1st base.

It’s a night well past mid-October. Until recently, I was sweating profusely, but now I’m even feeling a slight chill.

“Let’s go in quickly.”

Quickly, quickly catch the last batter and go back to the dugout. Go back, put on a jacket, and warmly,

“Ugh!”

Watch the Game 1 victory.

Clack-!

The 8th batter swung his bat coolly from the first pitch, but the coolness was ultimately ours.

Control – Top Tier

Power – High

Stamina – Medium

Four-seam – 84

Curve – 79+1=80

Slider – 76+1=77

Splitter – 75+1=76

Changeup – 77+1=78

Sinker – 78+1=79

Traits

Detachment – Accepts any hit or situation as it comes.

Discomfort – Makes the opposing batter uncomfortable when they look at the pitcher on the plate.

Comfort – Those who look at him feel comfortable.

Focus – The number of targets he can focus on increases.

I waited without going in until Hoon, who caught a fly ball in the shallow area, came close to the dugout.

Slap-!

A pleasant sound came from the right hands of the bullpen pitcher who blocked the 8th inning with six pitches and the left fielder who caught the last out of the 8th inning.

Hiding the emotions that arose when there were no Wonha players left on the ground except for me with a blank expression, I went into the dugout.

The spot where I was throwing the ball a little while ago was taken over by another Sangsoo bullpen pitcher.

Bang-!

Bang!

Thanks to the unexpectedly quiet dugout, the sound of the opposing pitcher’s practice pitches was transmitted without filtering.

It’s not just any game, but in Game 1 of the Korean Series, with only one step left to victory, they’re so calm.

“Ah, Myungjin!”

“Let’s go, batter!”

Only the necessary cheers.

Clack-!

Only the necessary hits.

Thud-!

“First base! First base!!”

Only the necessary bunt [a sacrifice hit where the batter intentionally hits the ball softly into the infield, allowing a runner to advance to the next base].

Clack-!

“No cut! Second, get out of there!!”

Whoosh-!

“Safe!”

Only the necessary points.

In every scene, the Wonha Challengers were only taking what was necessary.

What are the necessary elements to create something? Of course, it’s a puzzle for victory.

“Senior, fighting!”

“Kyungseok’s ball is good!”

Many puzzles have been gathered to finish Game 1, but there are still three more pieces needed.

Senior Kyungseok headed to the mound to collect the last three pieces.

Every time Senior Kyungseok, who was wearing a long-sleeved undertie [a thin, long-sleeved shirt worn under a jersey] in the chilly weather, threw the ball, a yellow light quickly came on.

“Out!”

Two yellow lights are soon replaced by one red light,

“Out-.”

Two red lights going out means the game is over.

“Out!”

Clap clap clap―

Did everyone have a meeting without me?

The Wonha players simply stood up and gave a pleasant applause, as if they thought so.

Waaah!! Or, Uora Wang!! Or, Heoheoheong-.

Without any emotional excess, all the players stood in front of the first base foul line.

The fans, who willingly accepted all the emotions that we had largely suppressed, shouted all sorts of cheers and screams.

I watched Gyuhyuk’s MVP interview, who hit the final two-run home run, with a satisfied smile.

“Yo, MVP man.”

“It’s all thanks to you, hyung [an honorific term for older brother or senior].”

“Why am I coming out again.”

“You know what you said back then, right?”

“When?”

“Why… you said that you put a quest on yourself.”

“Ah….”

I flinched at the word quest, but I felt relieved when I recalled the conversation from a while ago.

“It’s thanks to that.”

“What….”

That doesn’t mean I understood.

Gyuhyuk, who was talking nonsense that I couldn’t understand, smiled strangely and passed by me.

I stared blankly at the catcher’s nigu cushion [a protective pad used by catchers], then came to my senses and quickly followed him.

* * *

In a series where the scale has increased from a best-of-five to a best-of-seven, Game 1 may seem less important at first glance.

Even if you lose, you have more chances to make up for it, right?

But no,

Wonha, who grabbed an ‘80%’ chance, who is the Game 2 starter?

Rather, it’s the opposite.

Like a news headline that appeared on a portal site as soon as Game 1 ended, the path to winning the championship becomes even more distant because it is a multi-game series.

Gyujin hyung, who was scheduled to start Game 2, was warming up in a relatively calm manner, preparing for the start of the game.

Han Gyujin vs. Sung Sangjin.

Game 2, where the team’s second starters clash head-on, clearly showed the trend of pitching over hitting that was sweeping this season, or even the day before.

– Clack-!

“Ah….”

Only our team.

Gyujin hyung did well. He blocked well with only 1 run allowed in 6 innings. However, every time Wonha’s lineup struggled, Sangsoo’s lineup moved further away,

– Strike, out-!

In the bottom of the 9th inning, Sangsoo confirmed a score of 4 to 0 with Sunghyun’s looking strikeout as the final step.

The Game 2 MVP was Park Haejin, who swept 3 RBIs [Runs Batted In] alone with two home runs. His face seemed quite indifferent for someone who was advertising that he would receive a bonus of 1 million won.

“…Hoo.”

The phone screen, which had been obscured by cigarette smoke, went dark and fell on the desk.

With 1 win and 1 loss, the home games of the upper team were primarily concluded. On the day of rest before the 3rd game, I woke up and wondered if I had seen something unnecessary.

“Sigh….”

Cheek―

I put out the cigarette and went into the bathroom. The faint sleepiness became even weaker when I closed and opened my eyes once.

Whoosh―

I received warm water on my face with my eyes closed. I opened my eyes slightly to find the shampoo…….

“Ugh-.”

…and felt a stinging sensation and made a fuss by myself.

Now that I’ve come to my senses and finished preparing, the way I go to the stadium is clearly the same as the day before yesterday, even though it’s an away game.

Tung-!

If I took out the bag that was sleeping inside the trunk, from here on out, it would be different from Game 2.

I have to go right instead of left, and I have to go down the road I went up.

Third base dugout.

It was clearly the same stadium, but the way I approached it, which had changed 180 degrees, wasn’t very appealing. I was in a somewhat hazy state.

“Hanwool.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

“Yes, yes.”

I was spacing out for a while after arriving when the manager called me. With a slightly heavy face, I also hardened my face and followed him.

“Is something wrong?”

“It’s nothing like that. I just have something to say to you separately.”

“Yes.”

“No, I don’t know if I should say I have something to say or if I should ask you a favor.”

“Yes….”

What is it, what is it, why are you making me feel so uneasy.

“Um….”

I waited for the fingers tapping on the desk to stop. After exactly 14 taps,

“It’s not that, but.”

“Yes.”

The manager finally opened his mouth.

“I was wondering if it would be okay if you took on a lot of innings in this series.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Uh….”

Take on a lot of innings. A similar phrase is that the number of appearances increases.

As I was calculating for a moment, the manager added an explanation.

“I have a bad feeling. It was like that during the playoffs last year, and it was like that during the semi-playoffs the year before last….”

“Ah….”

Even though I gave up on the Korean saying that you have to listen to the end, the intention was clearly judged.

“We’re basically a team with three starters and three and a half bullpen pitchers.”

Three starters: Hwang Hyukjoon, Han Gyujin, and Bae Joonhyuk.

Four bullpen pitchers: Kim Jiho, Choi Eungu, Kim Hanwool, and Shin Kyungseok.

All that 4th starter Taewoong can boast about is still his inning-eating ability, and Donggyun, who is settling in as the 5th starter, has not yet been fully verified.

The relief pitchers are…….

“…That’s right.”

…Let’s stop finding out.

“Joonhyuk will probably allow about 2 runs in 6 innings. Or maybe about 3 runs.”

“Um….”

I listened to the manager and calculated today’s matchup.

“If he does well, that’s about what he’ll get.”

“Kyungseok is fixed in the 9th inning, so I feel more comfortable. But the problem is the 7th and 8th innings.”

“What do you think of Senior Eungu? And Jiho.”

“Jiho and Eungu do well too. But depending on the score difference, I was hoping you could do a little more.”

“Ah, if that’s the case, then it’s fine. It’s actually better.”

The season innings that were emptied due to the poor performance at the beginning of the season and the rest period of a little less than a month after the regular season.

Strictly speaking, it can be pointed out as overwork within the series, but there is sufficient justification for this season.

“Additionally, just know that you may be able to go out even in a tie.”

“A tie?”

“It’s not mandatory. When you block it and it’s our turn to score in the next inning. Just around that time.”

“Ah….”

The sufficient justification needed a little more additional justification.

But,

“Yes. Anytime.”

The justification of winning the Korean Series was a greater justification than any other justification. None other than the person involved was nodding his head.

“Please.”

“Yes!”

When I smiled brightly and gave a salute, the manager told me to stop messing around and get out quickly.

“Haa….”

It will be difficult.

“Is something wrong?”

“I heard something very comforting.”

But the mentality was feeling more stable.

Confidence.

The mentality bonded under the belief that I can block it if I go out evolved into a will to block it if I go out.

“What did you hear?”

“If I do well, I might be able to pitch in all the remaining series.”