A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 232

59. The Gizzard Shad Season (2)

That afternoon, the Jin Yang Bucks’ home stadium was buzzing as it hosted the Wild Card game.

A showdown between the 4th and 5th place teams from the regular season, battling for a coveted spot in the semi-playoffs. It was the opening act of the post-season drama.

The Cannons players, fresh from their visit to ‘Gizzard Shad’ Ham Joon-ik’s training center, were glued to the TV, watching the intense battle unfold.

“Wow, the Wild Card game is so nerve-wracking! Everything is decided in just one game… I wonder how everyone’s hitting today?”

“That’s why you have to give it your all during the regular season. Because of that, we’re sitting here comfortably, eating chicken and watching them sweat.”

No matter how crucial it is for athletes to maintain peak physical condition, watching baseball on an empty stomach was simply out of the question.

In front of the TV in the training center’s office, a feast of delivery food, all ordered by Ham Joon-ik, was spread out.

Chicken, jokbal [pig’s trotters braised in soy sauce and spices], golbaengi somyeon [whelk mixed with spicy noodles], and even a special order of grilled pork belly.

Initially, the sheer volume of food threatened to overwhelm the table, but it vanished quickly, leaving no trace behind.

“Hey, Lee Soo-bin! Are you eating way too much just because it’s a day off? We have training starting the day after tomorrow, you know!”

“Ah, senior! I didn’t eat that much today, I swear! Sun-woo and Sung-joon ate most of it. Look, they’re still gnawing on the jokbal bones!”

“…Guys, what will the coach think of our Cannons if you guys are acting like this? He’ll think we’re not feeding you properly.”

Team captain Chun Jin-woo, visibly embarrassed, playfully smacked his juniors on the back of their heads, but Ham Jeon-eo seemed to find their antics endearing.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. We have a big game coming up soon, so it’s good to have a hearty meal, even if it’s just delivery food.”

Then, Ham Jeon-eo turned his attention back to his hungry juniors.

“What should we do? Should I order a few more chickens? Or maybe some ramen?”

After consuming all that greasy food, his stomach must have been feeling a bit unsettled.

The moment the word ‘ramen’ escaped his lips, the Cannons’ young players practically dropped the jokbal bones they were holding.

“R-Ramen, did you say, coach?”

Kyung Sun-woo’s eyes lit up with excitement.

“Where is it? Sung-joon and I will go and cook a few packs right now.”

Kyung Sun-woo and Shim Sung-joon were already halfway out of their seats when Ham Jeon-eo chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.

“No, no. If you guys go, it’ll take forever just to find a bowl… I’ll go and cook it quickly. You guys can clean up the table a bit.”

With that, Ham Jeon-eo headed towards the small kitchen at the back of the office.

It was at that moment that Ji-seop, who had been quietly observing the scene, rose and followed him.

“Coach Ham.”

Ji-seop addressed the former 승부사 [Seungbusa, a player known for clutch performances] in a low, subtle tone as he took out the ramen from the cupboard.

“Oh, Ji-seop! Why, are you here to help me?”

“Yes, that too.”

Ji-seop selected a large pot and placed it on the gas stove, asking in a casual manner.

“Coach’s red bat… Could you possibly lend me one as well? One of the rookie players who was drafted by our Cannons this year is currently playing in the U-23 tournament.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Perhaps it was the disarmingly natural tone of Ji-seop’s voice.

Or perhaps it was the cumulative effect of the soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] he had been sipping since earlier.

Ham Jeon-eo didn’t seem to suspect Ji-seop’s true intentions and answered while tearing open the ramen packet.

“Just a moment. There are quite a few people who’ve been asking about that, so I put them deep in the storage… Let me cook the ramen for the kids first… Hmm?!”

And in the next instant, Ham Jeon-eo’s eyes widened in surprise as he turned to face Ji-seop.

“You… Noticed? That there are several legendary red bats?”

Ji-seop simply smiled.

“Yes, it was a bit obvious.”

* * *

“It’s not like I was intentionally trying to deceive you.”

After placing the water for the ramen on the gas stove, Ham Jeon-eo’s first words to Ji-seop were an explanation.

“To be honest… I don’t know exactly either. Which specific bat I used on the day I hit those three consecutive home runs.”

He explained that during his active career, he hadn’t meticulously selected bats for each game.

He would simply toss the 지급 [Jigeup, team-issued] bats into his bag and grab whichever one came to hand before heading out to the field.

Therefore, he only had a general idea that ‘it must have been one of these,’ but he couldn’t pinpoint the exact bat that had become a legend.

“But you talked a lot about the bat in 언론 [Eolleon, media] interviews? What was it? You found the perfect bat just before the Korean Series…”

Ji-seop referenced the contents of an article he had found before visiting the training center, but he was met with a peculiar smile from Ham Jeon-eo.

“That was just a story I made up at the time. Because when I told the truth, the reporters’ reactions were so 시금털털 [Sigeumteolteol, apathetic/unenthusiastic]…”

“Ah, because you told the truth?”

At this point, Ji-seop began to understand.

The true purpose of his visit to Ham Jeon-eo’s training center that day.

What truly sets apart the ‘Fall Guy’? How is a ‘Mr. October’ truly made?

He had a strong feeling that he was about to hear a genuine answer to that question.

So he asked.

“What was that honest answer? I’m very curious to know.”

“Oh, it’s nothing much.”

Ham Jeon-eo continued, his gaze fixed on the pot.

“I know what Ji-seop is expecting from me, but it’s really nothing special. It’s so ordinary that I’m almost embarrassed to even mention it.”

“The truth is often found in the most ordinary places, isn’t it? I’ll cook the ramen for you instead…”

As Ji-seop smiled and reached for the ramen soup packet, Ham Jeon-eo wore a dumbfounded expression.

“Seriously, it’s really nothing…”

Ham Jeon-eo scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

The next words that came out of his mouth were somewhat unexpected.

“Ji-seop, do you know why fall gizzard shad is so delicious?”

“Gizzard shad?”

A gizzard shad talking about gizzard shad?

Ji-seop chuckled inwardly, but maintained a neutral expression and asked back.

“Well, I don’t know much about fish…”

“It’s because they become comfortable.”

Ham Jeon-eo continued.

“Until summer, they’re constantly busy preparing to lay their eggs. So they lose weight and naturally don’t taste very good.”

“…”

“But when they’ve laid all their eggs in late summer and fall arrives? Then they become comfortable. Everything they eat goes straight to their flesh. And naturally, they become full of 기름 [gireum, fat/oil] and taste amazing.”

슥 [Seuk – sound of turning].

Ham Jeon-eo’s plump face turned towards Ji-seop.

“It’s the same principle…”

“Yes?”

* * *

The next day, in the afternoon.

Ji-seop, having returned to KH Cannons Field, was recounting his conversation with Ham Jeon-eo to General Manager Seo Chang-ki.

“Hmm, I see.”

GM Seo stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“Coach Ham, that guy, was a very meticulous person, contrary to his public image… Is that what you’re saying?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Ji-seop nodded in agreement.

“He said that when the 전력 [Jeonryeok, strength/power] analysis team’s data came out, he had to memorize every single detail to feel at ease. It goes without saying that he was fully prepared for every training session.”

“허어 [Heo-eo, an exclamation of surprise].”

Watching GM Seo lightly click his tongue in amazement, Ji-seop continued calmly.

“So the regular season must have been incredibly difficult for him. There was a mountain of information to prepare, but after playing just 3 games, they would immediately face a new team and a new set of data.”

“That’s right. With that kind of 답답한 [Dapdaphan, stifling/frustrating] style, he would inevitably have difficulties.”

GM Seo sighed briefly.

“But that damn personality actually worked to his advantage in the fall?”

“Yes, because in the post-season, they play more than six games against the same team… Moreover, thanks to having memorized all the data throughout the season, there was no additional information to learn at that point.”

Like a gizzard shad that has laid its eggs and finally feels relieved.

Here, Ji-seop offered a wry smile.

“So he couldn’t rest properly during the regular season, but he seems to have been able to spend his time quite leisurely during the post-season. Meeting friends, 지도 [Jido, even] visiting his alma mater to mentor 후배 [Hubae, juniors/underclassmen]…”

The more obsessed a person is with perfect preparation, the greater the performance they exhibit when that preparation is complete.

With adequate rest added to this equation, his overall condition improved, allowing him to deliver terrifying performances in the actual games.

GM Seo, having listened to the ‘birth story of the legend’ from Ji-seop, wore a very peculiar expression.

“Oh my, I’ve encountered all sorts of crazy individuals during my time in the 야구판 [Yagupan, baseball world]… But Ham Joon-ik is the first 변태 [Byeontae, pervert/weirdo] like that I’ve ever met.”

Should I praise this unique approach?

Or should I criticize it?

Even the seasoned GM Seo Chang-ki couldn’t easily come to a conclusion.

“To be honest, it’s a bit disappointing.”

GM Seo offered a slight smile.

“I was hoping that if Special Agent Kim met Coach Ham, he would be able to get a rough idea of who might step up and play the role of ‘Mr. October’ in this post-season…”

KH Cannons, having completed the regular season with outstanding results, had gained immense confidence in their overall 전력 [Jeonryeok, strength/power].

From GM Seo’s perspective, he seemed to be concerned about the possibility of a player like ‘Ham Jeon-eo’ suddenly emerging from another team.

“If we could know in advance which guy would ‘갑툭튀 [Gap-tuk-twi, pop out of nowhere]’, our Cannons could prepare accordingly.”

“Yes, in that respect, there wasn’t a specific result, but I believe I gained quite a bit of valuable insight.”

Ji-seop continued.

“I learned a lot about the Korean Series from Coach Ham. I think this will be a great help to the 고참급 [Gochamgeup, veteran-level] players. Besides…”

“Besides?”

In response to GM Seo’s question, Ji-seop pointed towards the ground visible through the window with his finger.

-Alright, everyone, look! This is the ‘legendary red bat’!-

-Ooh!-

-The bat that hit three consecutive home runs in the Korean Series! If you touch it, you’ll get good energy!-

-Ooh!-

The players were 떠들고 [Tteodeulgo, chattering/making noise] noisily with the bat they had received from Ham Jeon-eo.

Ji-seop shrugged his shoulders as he watched the players.

“We found something that will serve as the ‘승리의 토템 [Seungriui Totem, totem of victory]’ for our Cannons during this Korean Series period… Isn’t that a result in its own way?”

“Haha, that’s true. If you have something like that, it can certainly provide a sense of reassurance.”

GM Seo Chang-ki, who had been looking down at the players with a soft expression, suddenly seemed to remember something and turned his gaze back to Ji-seop.

“Ah, that’s right. Special Agent Kim, what does your schedule look like tomorrow?”

“There’s nothing special planned. It’s the day when 본격적인 [Bonkyeokjeogin, full-scale] training starts, so I was planning on heading out to the field…”

“Ah, then would you mind going to Mokdong for me tomorrow instead?”

“Mokdong means…”

Ji-seop already had an idea.

“Are you referring to the U-23 tournament?”

“Yes, I also received a report yesterday… You remember, right? Japan’s Iwata Director.”

Iwata Minoru.

The second director of [Iwata Medical Center], which Korean professional baseball players were all vying to get into.

“That guy seems to be traveling with the Japanese national team right now.”

“Ah.”

“The Japanese national team is now 확정이 [Hwakjeongi, confirmed] for elimination, right? Then Iwata Director… I was wondering if he could take a look at our players during the remaining period of the tournament.”

There weren’t any players with serious injuries, but there were still players who needed to be monitored and cared for proactively.

The plan was to invite Iwata Director and have him assess these players.

Ji-seop, understanding GM Seo’s intentions, quickly nodded his head in agreement.

“I understand, General Manager.”

Ji-seop said.

“I had a previous meeting with Director Iwata, so I believe I can secure his assistance.”

“Okay, I’ll leave it to you. If you have any time left, take a look around the 관중석 [Gwanjungseok, spectator stands] side.”

“The 관중석?”

In response to Ji-seop’s question, GM Seo smiled and answered.

“Coach Ham mentioned that he had some free time during the post-season, so he 괜히 [Gwaenhi, aimlessly/without a real purpose] visited his alma mater.”

You never know.

GM Seo continued.

“Because the guy who will become the second Ham Jeon-eo might be 괜히 [Gwaenhi, aimlessly/without a real purpose] killing time in the 관중석 [Gwanjungseok, spectator stands].”

“Ah.”

Ji-seop’s response to this was as follows.

“…Are you joking?”

“Then should I be serious?”