Korean Series (5)
The final Game 7 of the Korean Series had finally begun.
Today’s game would determine the winner of the Korean Series and mark the end of another season.
It was essentially a one-game showdown, drawing the attention of every baseball fan.
With no tomorrow, all the pitchers on both teams’ rosters were ready to take the mound at any moment.
Being the last game, Agency Live had a special broadcast starting an hour before the game.
They even had an event where they would draw some fans who correctly guessed the winning team and give them tickets to the upcoming Dream Agency charity event.
└The Buffaloes have been doing well, but the Jaguars are destined to win. The regular season winner almost always wins the Korean Series.
└That might make the Jaguars more anxious. The Buffaloes were in second place anyway, so they have nothing to lose.
└It’s only a 1.5 game difference between the two teams this season. Does it even matter who’s in first or second?
└I don’t care about anything else, I really want to go to the charity event! Please pick me.
└All the Dream Agency players will be there, right? If some of my favorite players come too, the lineup will be solid, right?
└At that point, it’s basically the All-Star game in winter, lol [laughing out loud].
Communicating with the fans, the hour flew by.
The long-awaited Game 7 of the Korean Series finally began.
-Play ball!
The starting pitchers from both teams pitched with everything they had from the first pitch, as if determined to shut down the first inning.
The first two innings ended quickly without any runs.
It seemed like it would be a pitching duel worthy of the final game, but as the game moved into the third inning, the pitchers from both teams started to tire after playing six games, and the game suddenly turned into a slugfest.
-Crack!
-Crack!
The batters swung aggressively, doing everything they could to win the championship for their team.
The exhausted pitchers struggled to get through the innings with the help of their teammates’ concentration.
The managers of both teams constantly strategized to score the first run as quickly as possible.
As expected, the most reliable way to score in an important game was a home run.
-Smack!
-Whack!
The Jaguars took the lead first in the third inning, scoring two runs, but the Buffaloes quickly caught up, tying the game at 2-2.
Home runs from the cleanup hitters [the fourth batter in the lineup, typically a strong hitter] of both teams, Han Gyo-jin and Park Seong-ju, brought the atmosphere of Game 7 of the Korean Series to its peak.
Throughout the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings, the lead changed hands, but neither team could maintain it.
The score at the end of the 7th inning was 5-5.
“We’ve gone through seven innings in Game 7 of the Korean Series, and we still don’t know who the champion of this season will be.”
“These two teams have been incredibly persistent this season. It might be fun for the fans and us watching, but the players out there must be feeling incredibly nervous.”
So Young-joon said with a mix of concern and excitement.
Now, it was the top of the 8th inning.
After allowing a leadoff hit, the Jaguars immediately brought their closer [a relief pitcher who specializes in pitching the final inning] to the mound.
Thanks to this, they were able to finish the inning without giving up any runs, despite the potentially dangerous situation in the late game.
Then, in the bottom of the 8th inning.
The Jaguars’ offense continued with the third batter.
They battled hard and managed some solid hits that made the opposing team nervous, but ultimately, they had to retreat with a flyout to the outfield.
Next up was the cleanup hitter, Han Gyo-jin.
The sharp hit, created with high concentration, went into the glove of third baseman Park Seong-ju, who made a diving play with animalistic reflexes.
And now, the fifth batter, Donald Watson, stepped up to the plate.
The Jaguars’ fans watched the field with their hands clasped together.
Watson carefully selected his pitches more than ever.
He succeeded in creating a favorable count.
And when he sensed the opportunity, he swung aggressively.
-Boom!
“Wow!”
The moment Watson’s bat made contact with the ball, everyone in the stadium, including the fans, the players, and us doing the live broadcast, had no choice but to stand up.
“I don’t think we need to check this one!”
The quickly flying ball crossed the fence in an instant.
The Jaguars’ stands erupted into a frenzy.
-Waaaaah!
-Watson! Watson! Watson!
Watson threw his bat high into the air and started walking towards first base.
As Watson stepped on home plate and returned to the dugout, he roughly exchanged high-fives with his teammates, further raising the atmosphere.
Finally, the score changed to 6-5.
Now, it was the top of the 9th inning, the Buffaloes’ last attack in regulation.
“The Jaguars already brought in their closer in the 8th inning. Plus, he’s already thrown a considerable 18 pitches. I wonder how they’ll manage to hold on in the remaining 9th inning.”
“If the pitcher loses his strength, they’ll have to bring in another pitcher. It’ll be quite a dilemma deciding when to take the closer out.”
Shortly after, when the commercial break ended and the broadcast screen returned to the stadium, I couldn’t help but doubt my eyes.
“Huh?”
Even after looking again, it was definitely that player.
“Michael Scott, who started in Games 1 and 5, is pitching in Game 7!”
“He threw 95 pitches in his Game 5 start. And he’s pitching again after only two days of rest.”
So Young-joon said, flipping through the data from the previous games.
“Scott finished the last game of the regular season, and now he’s finishing the last game of the Korean Series?”
My voice naturally rose in pitch.
-Play ball!
The game started after Scott finished his warm-up pitches.
This time too, Scott didn’t shake his head once at the signs Han Gyo-jin was sending.
-Thump!
-Thump!
-Strike out!
He easily struck out the first batter of the inning.
And then the second batter.
-Tick!
The mis-hit ball flew farther than usual, but
-Out!
It was impossible to overcome Scott’s power and get it over the fence.
Two outs in the top of the 9th.
The Jaguars’ fans all stood up, clasped their hands together, and watched the game.
-Thump!
-Thump!
The ball that Scott threw with all his might accurately passed through the strike zone at high speed.
The last pitch was a high fastball at 155 km/h [kilometers per hour, approximately 96 mph].
-Whoosh-
-Strike out!
The umpire’s call echoed through the stadium, and
-Waaaaah!
All the players, including Han Gyo-jin, ran to the mound.
That’s how all the Jaguars’ players, including Han Gyo-jin, Donald Watson, and Seo Seong-min, hugged each other and enjoyed the exhilarating moment of victory together.
-Jaguars! Jaguars! Jaguars!
The cheers of the Jaguars’ fans in the stands filled the stadium.
We, who were watching in the studio, also raised both hands at the same time.
“The Jaguars have succeeded in winning both the regular season and the Korean Series!”
I shouted with my voice raised to the highest pitch.
I could hear Jung In-gyu’s cheers from outside the camera as he watched the game.
“They’re really amazing! Amazing!”
So Young-joon shook his head in disbelief while clapping.
“You’ve all worked so hard this season.”
Even in the moment of enjoying the joy of victory, some players could be seen shedding tears.
While the Jaguars’ players were enjoying the moment of victory, the Buffaloes’ players stood in a row in front of the dugout, clapping and congratulating the opposing team.
“The Buffaloes’ players also fought really well. Both in the regular season and in the Korean Series, they showed a great game that was impossible to call.”
“Everyone worked hard, let’s all give them a round of applause.”
At So Young-joon’s words, we also clapped and sent our support to both teams.
Then, Park Seong-ju appeared on the screen, tears streaming down his red eyes.
Oh Seok-hoon patted him on the shoulder and tried to comfort him, but he couldn’t calm down easily.
“Park Seong-ju is crying a lot. He worked really hard this season and showed a great performance, so he had high expectations himself.”
Just seeing him unable to hold back his tears, I could feel the disappointment he must be feeling.
“He’s not quitting baseball this year. If he keeps working hard like he has been, the moment of winning will definitely come soon.”
Now it was time to wrap up today’s broadcast.
“Then, it seems like it’s time for us to wrap up our live broadcast as well. Already, a season has come to an end like this. They say today is the saddest day of the year. Because there’s nothing more disappointing than not being able to watch baseball from tomorrow…”
“But, Mr. Kang, this isn’t the end, is it?”
So Young-joon clenched his fist and looked at me.
“Of course. As you all know, there will be an international tournament soon. Many of our players will probably participate. So, you’ll be able to watch fun baseball again soon!”
“Aja aja! Let’s win, Korea! Fighting!”
So Young-joon stood up and encouraged, and Na Joon-ho, Choi Jung-hwan, Jang Soo-young, and Choi Woo-jin also stood up and shouted fighting together.
“It would be fun to see our agency’s players playing as one team, right? Please look forward to it!”
With my comment as the last, this season’s live broadcast came to an end.
└This is why they try to win the championship. Just watching it makes me feel like I’m flying.
└Wouldn’t you say this season was Michael Scott’s year? 20 wins in the league and even the Korean Series MVP [Most Valuable Player].
└When we first brought him from the US, he was a player I had never heard of, but in two and a half years, he’s become a completely different pitcher.
└Winning is because many players did well, but I think it was crucial that the foreign players were solid in pitching and hitting, and that a starting-level catcher emerged.
└So, it’s the same as saying Dream Agency made it happen? ㅋㅋ [Korean internet slang for laughing].
└Even if Kang Hyun-woo was a nobody as a player, I have to admit he’s the best as an agent.
└If they want to keep Scott and Watson, how much would they have to offer?
└If he stays with the Jaguars and continues his career, he might even become the only foreign player with a retired number. Is that too big of a dream?
└After performing this well in the Korean Series, it’s no longer a matter of money. If he gets an offer from the Major League, there’s no player who wouldn’t be tempted.
└I’ll think about whether he’ll be a Jaguars player next year later, and just enjoy today for now.
* * *
As the thrilling Korean Series came to an end, the fierce and intense season came to a close.
From now on, it was time for the stove league [the off-season period of player trades and contract negotiations], which unfolds outside the stadium as usual.
This year, there were more important things on the horizon than in any other season.
Not only did Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-ju of the Buffaloes become eligible for free agency, but it was finally time to pursue Major League contracts for Michael Scott and Donald Watson of the Jaguars.
Naturally, the attention of many baseball fans was bound to be focused on our Dream Agency.