A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 386

The New Recruit is Too Good – Episode 386

86 Powerful, Truly Powerful (9)

The 45,000 spectators who visited Citizens Bank Park that day may have felt one of baseball’s oldest adages to the core.

Baseball is ultimately,

a pitcher’s game.

There was no other reason.

Vincent Hiyama, the starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6 of the World Series, was putting on an absolutely incredible pitching performance.

Whoosh- Bang!

Whoosh- Baaang!!

As if mocking the stories circulating among Phillies fans before the game—that his analysis was complete, his weaknesses were exposed, and his pitching habits were revealed—Vincent’s pitching was overwhelming from the start.

After striking out ‘Mr. Phillie’ Pedro Cartio, he retired seven batters in a row.

“Uryaahhh!!”

As Vincent finished the bottom of the 3rd with three strikeouts and roared like a beast returning to the dugout.

Philadelphia Phillies manager Miguel Costas was greeting bench coach Dean White, who was returning from a meeting with the players.

“So, did you check it out?”

The manager asked.

“What are the players saying? Why is everyone suddenly struggling so much? From here, it looks like Vincent is just throwing his fastball…”

“Yes, that’s right. His finisher is a four-seam fastball.”

Dean White replied.

“But according to Pedro, it’s a completely different kind of fastball than in Game 2.”

“Different kind? How so?”

“It feels like he’s putting everything into the velocity. You know? Not worrying about control, not thinking about game management. So…”

“He’s overpowering them with his velocity?”

The manager’s face twisted.

“Hey, does that even make sense? That’s Klemblas! The manager who’s famous for being the most timid in Major League Baseball… ordering his starting pitcher to take such a gamble? In Game 6 of the World Series, no less?”

Indeed. In Costas’s view, this was a clear gamble.

Overpowering with velocity? It could be effective in some cases. If a pitcher’s control is erratic, it’s hard for the opposing batters.

But with the same probability, the ball could end up right in the middle. Which means a high risk of extra-base hits.

For the cautious Mike Klemblas to order such a gamble… Costas couldn’t believe it.

“I can hardly believe it myself, but it seems to be true. The data from the front office also suggests so.”

“Damn it, are these guys all on drugs? Why are they suddenly doing things they’ve never done before…”

Manager Costas was taken aback by the unexpected pattern.

But even more shocking news awaited him.

“Manager, in this case… wouldn’t knowing Vincent’s pitching habits be a disadvantage?”

“What?”

As the manager turned his head, Dean White lowered his voice as much as possible.

“Everyone isn’t saying it outright, but they seem to be quite afraid of Vincent’s four-seam fastball.”

From the start, it was a four-seam fastball that easily exceeded 100 miles per hour.

If a ball like that comes inside and outside erratically, it’s inevitable that the batter would feel fear.

But the fear Dean White was talking about was a little different.

“Since Vincent’s pitching habits are all exposed, our players will know in advance, right?”

That a four-seam fastball is coming.

That an incredibly powerful ball is coming.

When they realize this in advance, what kind of reaction will the players have?

“Their bodies will stiffen.”

Costas muttered.

“Of course, it’ll be a short moment, but that momentary hesitation could disrupt the entire batting timing.”

“That’s right. The reason our batters can’t touch Vincent’s ball might be because of that…”

After hearing the bench coach’s words, Manager Costas had no choice but to rub his forehead with his thumb.

‘…I’ve been had.’

A perfect counter punch.

Costas smiled bitterly.

‘To think they’d use the exposure of his pitching habits in this way.’

It was a different feeling from the Tampa Bay Rays he had experienced so far.

Who could it be? Who brought such unconventional tactics to Tampa Bay?

Or rather, was Tampa Bay even a team that would accept such reckless tactics in the first place?

“…”

Manager Costas was speechless for a while, but he was also a veteran who had reached the top of Major League Baseball several times.

“Manager, what are you going to do?”

By the time Dean White asked this, his usual expression had returned.

“What are you asking? It’s obvious.”

The series record was 3 wins and 2 losses, a situation that was advantageous for Philadelphia from the start.

The score was also 2-0, still a close enough difference to turn it around with one chance.

Then there was only one answer.

“We have to maintain this score difference somehow. Until Vincent Hiyama comes down from the mound.”

Contact the bullpen.

The manager said to the bench coach.

“We’re going all-in today.”

* * *

The Philadelphia bench moved not long after that.

To be exact, it was right after the top of the 5th inning started.

When the Philadelphia starting pitcher gave up a huge double to the Tampa Bay leadoff hitter, Miguel Costas sent a signal without hesitation.

-Ah, is it a substitution? The pitching coach is taking the ball. This is unexpected, the starting pitcher still has plenty of pitches left, right?

-Yes, this seems to be a decision considering the condition of Tampa Bay starter Vincent Hiyama.

That was the commentator’s analysis.

-Currently, Vincent’s velocity is truly amazing. If they give up one or two more points here, it might be hard to catch up… Yes, so it seems they are activating the bullpen early.

-I see, a gamble to protect the 2-0 score! The one chosen by Miguel Costas is… Oh, my! It’s Derek Miller! The Philadelphia Phillies are putting in their must-win relief pitcher right away!

Waaaaah!!!

The Philadelphia Phillies, who have the most powerful must-win relief team in Major League Baseball.

As the pitcher who can be said to be at the forefront of that team appeared, Citizens Bank Park heated up.

With the introduction of Derek Miller, Costas’s intention was vividly conveyed to the Phillies fans.

The series will end today.

We won’t postpone the championship until tomorrow.

As if to repay the manager’s faith, pitcher Derek Miller struck out the first batter.

Around the time he was clenching his fist lightly, which was captured on the TV broadcast screen.

In the back of the visiting team’s clubhouse, in the Tampa Bay Rays’ Third Scouting Team office, a low exclamation was leaking out.

“In this case… the operation is half successful.”

One of the Third Scouting Team’s employees clicked the mouse and said.

“Vincent succeeded in suppressing the opposing lineup, but he failed to score more than 4 points against the opposing starting pitcher.”

This decision came from the fact that the Tampa Bay bullpen pitchers had been unreliable throughout this World Series.

The Phillies’ weakness is in their starting pitcher. So let’s score as many points as possible to reduce the burden on our bullpen pitchers.

But with the problematic starting pitcher being taken down with the score at 2-0, the Tampa Bay front office couldn’t help but feel disappointed.

“If we had scored just one or two more points here, today’s game could have entered a safe zone… It’ll be a little difficult to aim for additional points now, right?”

“You have to see it that way. Now that Derek Miller is out, then Mike, then Robert, then Reed… The Phillies’ must-win team will come out like a string of sausages.”

Unlike the Tampa Bay bullpen, the Phillies’ bullpen pitchers were practically flying.

The series was entering the 6th game, but the Tampa Bay lineup had only scored 1 point against the Phillies’ must-win team.

With that memory still vivid, the Tampa Bay front office couldn’t help but feel their blood drying up.

But they had someone who could offer a slightly different perspective.

“Don’t be too depressed. Still, looking at the entire series, the situation has become more favorable for us, hasn’t it?”

It was Jiseop.

He was also watching the game in the Third Scouting Team that day, and he said this with a faint smile.

“What do you mean? How has it become more favorable for us in the entire series?”

“I’m talking about the Phillies’ must-win team.”

It was Jiseop’s colleague, David Wilson, who answered.

“By appearing in today’s game, they will be on the mound for three consecutive games.”

“Wait a minute… Oh, that’s right?”

As the expressions of the employees who checked the record brightened a little, David Wilson calmly continued.

“Of course, there was a day off yesterday, but it’s hard to call that a complete rest.”

They had to travel 1,700km [approximately 1056 miles] from Florida to Philadelphia.

Even if they used the team’s private plane, it wasn’t a journey that would relieve the players’ tired shoulders.

“If we exhaust the Phillies’ must-win team in today’s game, we’ll have that much of an advantage in tomorrow’s game.”

“I guess so. No matter how good a bullpen pitcher is, it’s hard to pitch in 4 consecutive games.”

In a way, by declaring an all-out war, the Philadelphia manager had created an opportunity for Tampa Bay to counterattack.

The Tampa Bay starter for Game 7 was Brett Evans, who had recorded 6 innings of no-runs in the previous Game 3. They had a clear advantage over the opposing starter.

If they could just break the wings of the opposing must-win relief pitchers, Tampa Bay would have nothing more to fear.

Of course, all of this was possible under the assumption that they would win the 6th game right in front of them.

“Then the key is one thing.”

Watching the top of the 5th inning attack, which ended so quickly, the director of the Third Scouting Team said.

“A precarious score of 2-0, a strong opposing bullpen, and our relatively inferior bullpen pitchers…”

Then,

the key to today’s game is this.

“When to take our starter Vincent Hiyama down from the mound.”

* * *

According to the decision made at the team strategy meeting, Vincent Hiyama was only supposed to pitch until the 5th inning.

It was a natural decision. Vincent had been instructed to pitch at full strength from the beginning that day. It was right to assume that the consumption of stamina would be much greater than usual.

‘Yes, that’s what it was supposed to be…’

That day, Vincent Hiyama showed a great performance that far exceeded the expectations of the Tampa Bay front office, including Jiseop.

He didn’t lose any of that tremendous velocity even after the 5th inning, into the 6th, and again past the 6th into the 7th.

Whoosh- Bang!

Whoosh- Baaang!

It was truly a desperate effort.

It was as if he was going to get his team number permanently retired with just this one appearance.

This was partly because Vincent’s velocity itself was so outstanding, but it was also largely due to the fact that his great pitching heightened the concentration of the Tampa Bay fielders.

Taak!

Taaak!

From the 6th inning onwards, the Phillies lineup started to make solid hits little by little, but every time that happened, the Tampa Bay fielders snatched the batted balls with amazing defense.

-Caught it! The center fielder catches this ball! The Tampa Bay Rays run almost 90 feet to catch the ball!!!

-This ball also doesn’t leave the infield! The third baseman jumps up and snatches it! The third baseman catches the runner who hasn’t returned to the base… Double out! End of the inning!!!

The ace who steadfastly defended the mound even after throwing well over 100 pitches.

And the Tampa Bay Rays fielders who willingly threw their bodies for such an ace pitcher.

By the time their brilliant combined play ended the bottom of the 8th, there was almost a sense of thrill flowing through Citizens Bank Park.

‘Damn it… what is this?!’

No one dared to say it out loud, but the Phillies fans captured on the TV broadcast screen had exactly that expression.

‘Isn’t Vincent crazy? How can he throw such balls throughout the game?’

‘The pitcher is one thing… but why are the Tampa Bay fielders like that? Why are they suddenly flying around like crazy!’

Even those infamous Phillies fans were holding their heads and looking incredulous at this time.

The atmosphere in the Phillies dugout was also very gloomy. Manager Miguel Costas had left his seat, perhaps to go out for a smoke.

“…It’s done.”

As the situation turned out like this, the atmosphere inside the Third Scouting Team was also brightening little by little.

“It’s a little disappointing that the score of 2-0 continued until the end… but still, isn’t this great? The atmosphere has completely changed?”

“I agree, Vincent’s performance was huge! Who would have thought that he would block until the 8th inning!”

It was a natural story, but this wasn’t an atmosphere of নিশ্চিত [assured] victory.

Rather, it was closer to a sense of relief that they had successfully completed the role of the front office.

By sending information about the opposing lineup and information about our pitcher to the dugout, the role of the Third Scouting Team was over for the time being.

Now, the remaining 9th inning defense was entirely up to the field staff and players, and the front office people were preparing to enter ‘spectator mode’ and watch the end of the game that day-

“Hmm?!”

As the top of the 9th inning attack ended fruitlessly and the bottom of the 9th inning defense began.

An event occurred that changed the atmosphere of the Third Scouting Team, which had been gradually loosening up, all at once.

“…Vincent?”

It was Vincent.

Vincent Hiyama.

The Tampa Bay Rays’ starting pitcher, who had thrown 119 pitches through the 8th inning, was trudging towards the mound.

“Wait a minute… is this okay?!”

No one said it first.

“N, no! We have to replace him! The closer is all ready!”

“What if he gets a walk-off hit like that… Isn’t the manager taking too much of a risk?”

“Mr. Freed, what should we do? Shouldn’t we convey our opinion to the coaching staff?”

The people of the Third Scouting Team were greatly embarrassed by the appearance of Vincent Hiyama, who also appeared in the bottom of the 9th inning.

How to handle this. Whether to break the custom and convey opinions to the field staff.

As people’s confusion grew.

Brrr- Brrr- Brrr-

Jiseop’s cell phone, which was placed on the desk, started ringing.

“…”

The caller was,

Deputy General Manager Rebecca Carney.

It seemed that Jiseop’s work was not over yet that day.