Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 181

Wahhhhhh-!!

Seungju-yaaaaaaak!!

Yoon Seungju! Yoon Seungju! Yoon Seungju!

Everyone cheered for Seungju, who had rounded all the bases and returned to home plate.

Teammates clapping.

Reporters taking pictures.

Fans screaming.

As Seungju rejoiced, hearing the mix of sounds, he saw me and said,

“Huh? Why are you here?”

I replied, “Why wouldn’t I be here? I’m a Wonha teammate.”

Then Seungju said,

“What are you talking about? You were traded to Sangsu yesterday.”

I tilted my head at his absurd statement.

“Why would I go to Sangsu?”

Seungju replied again,

“Look at the uniform you’re wearing. It’s a Sangsu uniform.”

Hearing that, I looked down at the uniform I was wearing, and the letters ‘SANGSU’ were written on it.

“Huh? Why am I with Sangsu?”

Before that thought could even finish,

“Hey! That bastard’s a spy, get him!!”

Suddenly, my teammates rushed towards me.

“Eumheo!”

…and the dream ended at that scene.

“…….”

Ah, damn it, it was a dream.

Was my desire to win so great that I had a dream like this?

No, but did we even win in the first place?

If so, what time is it now, and what is the date?

“…Ah.”

I quickly picked up my phone to check the date, and it was September 26th.

“Aigo…you startled me. No, what am I saying? I’m so surprised I can’t even speak properly.”

I guess prematurely marking us as the pennant race [championship race] champions was quite shocking. Seriously, what kind of dream do I have to have?

“Eueu….”

Normally, it takes some time to come to my senses in the hazy morning, but because I had such a strange dream, my mind cleared up right away.

However, as a side effect,

“…Euhuk.”

The order of haziness and clarity was temporarily reversed.

“Huu….”

To shake off the sleepiness, I reached out to the desk next to the bed where I had spent the night….

“…Ah.”

…but stopped.

“Ah, no, no. How did I endure it?”

Day 6 of quitting smoking.

The aftereffects of twisting the habit in a different direction feel bigger than I thought.

“Huu….”

I ran a hand over my face and got out of bed.

Thinking it wouldn’t hurt to have just one, I searched the house for a cigarette, but couldn’t find any.

“Eum….”

Good job, past me.

You stupid past me.

“…Ehyu.”

To wake myself up, I sat down in a chair and watched the moment Wonha Challengers confirmed their regular season championship again.

Ttaak-!

– Ohhhhh! This hit!! Towards the center-right fence!! It goes over, Wonha Challengers, for the second year in a row!! Confirm their regular season championship, the hero is Yoon Seungju, who no one expected!!

“…Soolju bastard.”

Xibaaaaaaaal!!

If swear words are caught on the broadcast screen, how loud did he have to yell?

In fact, this scene became quite a hot topic. At first, the reaction was like, ‘Why is he like that?’ But as Seungju’s backstory became more and more famous, reactions like, ‘Wow, that’s so cool,’ overshadowed all other opinions.

The next scene was, well, everyone beating Seungju to death to celebrate the victory, standing in front of the first base stands to greet the fans, and interviews with key players.

If you had to pick the player you’re most grateful to for winning the regular season, who would it be?

From the manager’s point of view, I’m grateful to all the players, of course. But if you really want me to pick one…

“I’m most grateful to Hanwool.”

I’m most grateful to Hanwool.

“Everyone did well, but Hanwool’s impact is so great, isn’t it?”

Everyone did well, but Hanwool’s impact is so great, isn’t it?

“We’ll definitely be planning around Hanwool as the central axis when we go to the Korean Series [championship series in Korean baseball].”

We’ll definitely be planning around Hanwool as the central axis when we go to the Korean Series….

“Huu!”

I’ve been watching the scenes after Seungju’s walk-off home run so often that I’ve memorized the lines that follow.

After cutting off the manager’s interview,

Beep―

I opened the car door and finished preparing to go to Jamsil Stadium.

“Only two games left already.”

The fact that there are only two days left to go to Jamsil Stadium at this normal time and on this normal route makes me feel strange.

Of course, we’ll be using Jamsil Stadium as our home next year too.

Of course, I’ll be playing for the Wonha Challengers next year too.

Forget all that, we’ll be playing the Korean Series at Jamsil Stadium soon.

I know, I know.

“It really feels like the year is coming to an end….”

The regular season creates a strange emotional line for the players.

The disappointment that the end of the year is already approaching.

The confidence that I did well in this area.

The regret that this was a bit disappointing.

And if I think that this list of emotions will continue next year,

“Hi!”

It makes me raise my right hand above my head with a bright expression again.

* * *

They say you’ve been spoiled when you hear the ending in advance.

“Hyungnim [term for older brother or respected male figure].”

“…What.”

“Actually, I’ve had the ability to see the future since I was young.”

“…….”

“I’ll tell you what will happen to you in December of this year in advance.”

“No, it’s okay….”

“Nyaahotnyareumhunmeheoeaeneo….”

“…….”

“Ha! On December 12th of this year, you will get married!”

“…….”

Not like this.

“Is he crazy?”

“Thank you.”

“That’s not a compliment!”

“Thank you!”

Xibal.

The 2020 KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] League eventually determined the rankings of all teams with a few games remaining.

Wonha, Sangsu, Sungwoon, Dongsung, Hanseong, KP, Gaya, Visco.

“Would you like to have a drink after tomorrow’s game?”

“What drink, again.”

“A celebratory drink for being league champions.”

Therefore, even though there are still league games left, congratulations and praise for being league champions are already pouring in from everywhere.

“I don’t really want to drink….”

“Too bad.”

So, how should the Wonha Challengers approach these remaining two games?

The fans’ perspective on us is simple yet subtle.

Um…there are only two games left, so try not to get hurt and just do it moderately. But…we hope you win if possible?

“Why don’t you drink after the Korean Series? Today’s game isn’t that important, to be honest.”

“I can’t wait until then….”

“You’re not even a heavy drinker, why can’t you wait for a drink?”

So, how should our players accept the fans’ feelings?

“Hey, we confirmed first place much faster than last year, can’t we be a little happy?”

“We still have a long way to go, Myungjin.”

Our feelings aren’t that far from the fans’ feelings either.

Let’s play to win if possible, but it’s okay to lose, just don’t get hurt. Let’s finish the season well.

“So go and prepare for the game.”

“Hing.”

“Don’t say ‘hing’.”

“Hinghinghing.”

What a crazy bastard.

I left the dugout and headed to the ground, worried that Myungjin’s strange energy would rub off on me.

Heoncheol was chatting amiably with Hyukjun.

Kiseong was discussing something in depth with Seong Sangjin.

Min Jonghyun, for once, made a smile bloom on Seonghoon hyung’s face.

“Are these the teams that will soon be fighting tooth and nail?”

When I look at them, I wonder if they are really the teams that have fought so hard and will continue to fight so hard.

Not only today and tomorrow, but the two teams that are most likely to meet in the Korean Series,

“Hello.”

“…Ah, uh.”

I also wonder if it’s okay to talk so friendly like this.

“It feels like it’s been a while since we last met.”

“Ah…is that so?”

“It’s been quite a while since we’ve talked like this, hasn’t it?”

Park Haejin approached me without any hesitation and stood next to me.

I glanced at him, wondering what kind of face he could come up with,

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

He’s unnecessarily handsome.

“What did you come here to talk about?”

“I just came to say hello.”

“What kind of hello.”

Now, as we approach the end of the season,

“There’s no one as talked about as you this season, senior.”

There is a pitcher who has pitched in relief for about 60 innings with an ERA [Earned Run Average, a baseball statistic] of ‘0’.

And with two games left in the season,

“You’re the only one.”

There is a hitter who has recorded 58 home runs this season.

Interestingly, the teams to which each hitter and pitcher belong have two games left until the end of the league. Another interesting point is that the remaining two games are head-to-head matches between the teams.

With the fun of watching the league rankings virtually gone, fans have started to find fun in other areas.

Will Kim Hanwool be able to record an ERA of 0 until the end of the season?

Will Park Haejin be able to break the magic 60 home run mark before the season ends?

“Perhaps…if we each achieve the records we want, you’ll get more attention than me, senior.”

“Why?”

“Someday, when the number of professional baseball teams increases, the number of games per team will also increase…then the great achievement of 60 home runs will eventually be broken someday.”

“Easier said than done.”

“This is easy to say, but an ERA of 0 throughout the season is a record that’s hard to even mention.”

That’s…true, isn’t it?

“That’s why I’m more greedy.”

“What are you greedy for?”

“I’m greedy for you, senior…but why are you running away?”

“I’m getting married soon.”

“…….”

“…….”

Ahem.

“As a fairly successful hitter, if there’s an opponent like that in front of me, it’s natural to have greed.”

“You want to break that great record with your own hands, is that the greed you’re talking about?”

“That’s right.”

Well, well.

“I’ll hit a home run today.”

“You’re amazing, do you think you can just do that?”

“Yes.”

“…….”

“Actually, I can see the future a little bit.”

I’m sure that crazy guy from earlier said something similar.

“I think I’ll hit one home run today and one tomorrow, and that’s how I’ll hit 60 home runs….”

“Myungjin said that earlier.”

“Yes?”

“Myungjin said that future-seeing thing earlier.”

“…….”

Seeing Park Haejin’s head twitch, it seems like he’s busy looking for Myungjin.

“…Anyway, I’m also planning to get my revenge in my own way.”

“Stop watching movies so much, please.”

“I can’t forgive the Wonha Challengers for taking away the top spot from the Sangsu Tigers, who have always been in first place in the league.”

“Hey, I’m sorry, but.”

“Therefore, I’m going to judge them with my bat today and tomorrow.”

“Hey.”

“The ending is already decided.”

“Hey, Haejin.”

“The regular season will be relegated to second place, but the Sangsu Tigers, who have charged up their morale, will defeat the Wonha Challengers in the Korean Series.”

“Please, please, Haejin.”

“You better be prepared.”

“…….”

Thumbs up!

Park Haejin’s thumb brushed past his blank face.

“Ah, what did I do wrong to have this happen to me, please.”

* * *

Although his way of speaking seemed to have left out about two strands of sanity,

Ttaak-!

He is qualified to say such things.

In the top of the 2nd inning, Park Haejin, who created a hit comparable to a home run, just like the prediction he made before the game, walked to 2nd base.

Then, he scored the first point of the game for both teams when Ha Haejin, who has the same name as him, hit a single, and in his second at-bat,

Ttaak-!

Park Haejin swung his bat again and realized he was already on 1st base.

Park Haejin, who took off his arm guard in an area closer to the enemy camp than his own, had a brief conversation with Sangsu’s 1st base coach, and then,

“Second!”

Bbak―

“Safe!”

He even succeeded in a surprise steal and joined the 30-30 club [30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a season] for the first time in his career.

Is he even human?

And in the top of the 6th inning, his third at-bat was also worth watching.

With the score at 2 to 0, in a tight game, he stepped up to the plate and,

Ttaak-!

“Three!”

“Right away three!”

“Short stop is out, no cut!!”

Chwaak―

“Safe-!”

The hit cut through the center right and reached the fence, and he arrived at 3rd base.

“…Hey, this feels ominous.”

The fact that all three of his first at-bats were hits, but the detailed records are different, is quite uncomfortable for the opposing team.

Sure enough,

Ttaak-!

“…Xibal.”

In his fourth at-bat in the top of the 8th inning, he finally hit a home run over the left fence of Jamsil Stadium and recorded a cycle hit [hitting a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game].

In addition, he recorded his 59th home run of the season.

Naturally, all eyes were on Park Haejin.

How do you feel about recording a cycle hit?

How do you feel about breaking the new record with your 59th home run of the season?

With only one game left tomorrow, can you see the great record of 60 home runs this season?

His comments were full of somewhat trite content.

Of course, I feel good, I didn’t expect it, I’m grateful to those who supported me, I’ll try to show you a better side of myself, and so on.

“Then, one last question remains!”

“Yes.”

Even the reporter’s last question wasn’t that far from being trite.

“The Sangsu Tigers also have only one game left in the 2020 season!”

“Yes, yes.”

“Your determination to face the last game against the Wonha Challengers tomorrow! Please say a word about your determination!”

But his answer to that last question.

“Didn’t I hit a home run in the 8th inning today?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I didn’t even think about going to the plate in the 8th inning today, but when I actually went to the plate and realized it was the 8th inning, I thought about something.”

“Ah! What are you thinking!”

This answer had the power to make tomorrow’s game even more noteworthy than today’s.

“Tomorrow, I’m also planning to hit my 60th home run in the 8th inning.”