A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 80

The Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good – Episode 80

Chapter 22: A Drink That Summons Victory (3)

No-hitter, no-run.

A monumental record achieved when a starting pitcher finishes a game without allowing a single hit.

Veteran catcher Chun Jin-woo had told the manager to give him a heads-up around the end of the 7th inning, but in reality, there was no need.

‘Well, how many people are in the dugout anyway….’

Around the time the first out count came in the top of the 7th, the atmosphere in the Cannons’ dugout had subtly changed.

“Wait, hold on!”

“I, is this….”

No one openly uttered the words ‘no-hitter, no-run’.

It was a kind of jinx.

The jinx that a great record would be ruined the moment it was mentioned.

So, the players’ eyes were wide, but their mouths were firmly shut, exchanging only meaningful glances.

“…….”

In fact, there were those who started moving a little ahead of the players.

Namely, the Cannons’ operations team staff.

‘Move quickly, quickly!’

‘Ah, yes, I understand!’

They were moving discreetly so that the players wouldn’t notice.

Ordering bouquets to bring out upon achieving the record, and taking out champagne to use for the after-party in advance.

The first-team manager even went around the locker room turning off the televisions installed on the walls.

Because the broadcast might mention something about a ‘no-hitter, no-run’.

‘Did you turn off the TV in the hallway too?’

‘Yes, I turned them all off.’

Ji-seop wasn’t sure if it would make a big difference, but it seemed the operations team staff wanted to ease the players’ burden even a little.

But,

Even such warm consideration was in vain.

“Ughhhhh…….”

It was the point when the top of the 7th ended.

Jimmy Morris, once again with a pale face, rushing to the bathroom.

At this time, Ji-seop was having the frivolous thought, ‘I wonder if there’s anything left to come out’—

“Huh?”

Whether he had finished his business already, Jimmy Morris’s loud voice was heard from inside the locker room.

“Hey! Who turned off all the televisions in the locker room? How am I supposed to watch the broadcast like this?!”

The next moment, Ji-seop could see the operations team staff, who had been busily moving around, with a look of bewilderment flashing across their faces.

“The remote control…… Ah, here it is! You guys, you have to let us see the game’s progress even in the locker room…….”

And then, a long silence.

It was at this moment that Arthur Freeman turned to look at Ji-seop.

“Did Jimmy notice?”

“It seems…… that he did.”

……That damn idiot.

It was probably the first time Arthur Freeman had cursed.

* * *

The fact that he was rapidly approaching the great record of ‘no-hitter, no-run’.

Ji-seop was honestly worried that if he knew this fact, his good pace might ‘collapse’.

But,

Jimmy Morris was,

Jimmy Morris.

Whoosh- Pow!

A veteran pitcher with 80 career wins in the major leagues.

The undisputed ace driving the Cannons’ rise this season.

As if to prove the modifier attached to his name, he finished the top of the 8th with excellent pitching.

Wowwww!!!

Jimmy Morris, who went to the mound in the ensuing top of the 9th as well.

Just when he struck out the first batter with three pitches, it seemed that the ‘no-hitter, no-run’ could be achieved without difficulty.

But, as they say, it ain’t over till it’s over.

Ball! Base on balls!

Could it be that even the great Jimmy Morris couldn’t help but be nervous in the face of a great record?

Jimmy Morris giving up a straight walk to the opposing team’s ninth batter.

Following him, the batter stepping up to the plate was the opposing team’s number one batter, who had the highest batting average.

It was perhaps natural that a tense atmosphere filled the Cannons’ dugout.

“As expected…… it’s not easy.”

“Jimmy’s pitch count has already exceeded 120, I wonder if he can overcome this crisis…….”

People watching the pitcher on the mound with anxious hearts.

Ji-seop was no exception, feeling like his mouth was burning dry.

Whether he knew these people’s feelings or not, Jimmy Morris, with a slightly tired expression, checked the catcher’s sign.

“…….”

At this time, veteran catcher Chun Jin-woo’s sign was a slider that would drift outside.

A strategy to tie up the opposing batter’s gaze to the outside before attacking the inside course.

Whether it was because of the alcohol or because of the nearly 120 pitches, Jimmy Morris was already quite exhausted.

He didn’t seem to have the leeway to argue with the catcher about the location of the first pitch.

“……Hoo.”

The pitcher sent an ‘okay’ sign with a short exhale.

He turned his head slightly to check the movement of the first-base runner and fearlessly went into his pitching motion.

He lightly lifted his knee to around his belt and took a long stride forward.

Having created a solid ‘axis’ in that way, the KH Cannons’ ace wrung out the remaining strength as he swung his arm.

Whoosh-

The ball location was good.

Exactly the course the catcher had requested.

However, perhaps because he lacked grip at the last moment, it was a slider that failed to escape the strike zone.

The opposing batter did not miss this ball.

Crack!

A truly fierce sound of impact.

The ball, which bounced right in front of home plate, flew like a bullet, grazing past the pitcher.

‘……It’s over.’

Ji-seop wasn’t the only one who thought so.

Because it was a hit that seemed to pierce right between the second baseman and the shortstop.

Just when it seemed that Jimmy Morris’s great record would go down the drain.

‘?!!’

Ji-seop’s eyes widened.

It was veteran infielder Ahn Young-chan, who was playing as the second baseman that day.

He, one of the causes of this ‘Jimmy Morris alcohol incident,’ had dove to dig out the ball.

Wowwww!!!

Amid the rising cheers of the crowd, Ahn Young-chan shook his glove ‘toss’ to pop the ball up.

The shortstop, who was running in, grabbed the ball with his bare hand and lightly stepped on second base,

“Out!”

Even before the second-base umpire’s call, he spun his body ‘whirl’ and threw to first base.

Whoosh- Pow!

The ball, which left the shortstop’s fingertips, accurately lodged into the mitt of the first baseman, who was stretching out forward.

“…….”

The shortstop’s throw came in almost at the same timing as the batter-runner.

The eyes of everyone in the stadium turned to the first-base umpire, who was watching the situation right next to the base,

‘……The call?’

‘What happened?!’

Please be out.

Or please be safe.

While everyone called upon their respective gods and offered fervent prayers, what came into Ji-seop’s view was—

“Out! Aaaout!”

The first-base umpire vigorously swinging his fist and declaring an out.

Two out counts at once.

Achievement of a no-hitter, no-run.

Wowwww!!!

The passionate cheers of the Cannons’ fans poured onto the ground,

“Wow! Wow! Waaaaow!”

Jimmy Morris on the mound screamed almost like a crazy person,

“Jimmmyyyyyy!!!”

“You rascal, Morris!!!”

The players, who had been anxiously fretting, all burst out of the dugout and ran towards their teammate who had achieved the great record—

“In the end, the company dinner the day before yesterday paid off! Don’t you think?”

The pitching coach approached with a truly pleased expression and said this.

“The company dinner paid off?”

Ji-seop tilted his head.

“Ah, you mean he was able to pitch well because of the alcohol…… Is that what you mean?”

“No, there’s that too, but…….”

Take a good look.

The pitching coach pointed to the ground with his finger.

“It was Young-chan who dug out the hit that almost got through the infield, right?”

Second baseman Ahn Young-chan.

One of the main members of the company dinner that had gone on until the 7th round two days ago.

“And it was Min-sung who received Young-chan’s ball and stepped on second base.”

Shortstop Shin Min-sung.

Also a key member of the company dinner two days ago.

At this point, Ji-seop could sense what the pitching coach was trying to say.

“Finally, the one who caught the ball at first base was…….”

“Kang Tae-min, who was also a member of the company dinner the day before yesterday.”

Ji-seop chuckled.

“So, you’re saying that the company dinner members who went all the way to the 7th round back then did a great job…… Is that what you mean?”

“That’s right, the alcohol we shared back then wasn’t just for getting drunk, but a drink for teamwork! Or…….”

The pitching coach ‘poked’ Ji-seop in the side.

“Could it be said to be a drink that summons victory?”

“Oh, really…….”

I don’t know why everyone is so good at talking.

Ji-seop couldn’t help but smile wryly.

* * *

Ji-seop left work late that day.

It was only natural.

With the great record of ‘no-hitter, no-run’ achieved, they couldn’t just pass it by without a congratulatory party.

Jimmy! Jimmy! Jimmy! Jimmy!

Of course, since there was a game the next day, they couldn’t drink ‘until their noses were crooked,’ as someone would say.

With a few bottles of champagne prepared by the club’s operations team in front of them, the atmosphere was one of congratulating Jimmy Morris’s great record.

Even though it was an after-party that they tried to end relatively early, it was already almost one in the morning when Ji-seop left the stadium.

“Hoo.”

It was truly a long day.

He felt all the strength draining from his body.

He thought he should catch a taxi quickly to get to work tomorrow, so he took out his phone, turned on the app, and just then.

“Ji-seop! Hey, Kim Ji-seop!”

A familiar voice was heard from the car parked up ahead.

“Oh…….”

The owner of the voice was Go Chang-deok.

As Ji-seop took a step closer, Ji-seop’s ‘entry classmate’ started the car with a ‘vroom’ and waved for him to get in quickly.

“Are you still not off work?”

As Ji-seop asked while fastening his seatbelt, Go Chang-deok slowly nodded.

“How could I leave work early? It was a situation where whether or not our team would have a no-hitter, no-run was on the line.”

After Jimmy Morris’s great record was achieved, there was also a small celebration in the analysis team.

Of course, Go Chang-deok, who had to drive home, couldn’t even put his favorite alcohol to his lips.

“I was about to finish up and leave…… and I heard the players’ after-party was over. So, since it’s late anyway, I was waiting to pick you up.”

At Go Chang-deok’s words, Ji-seop gave a smile.

“As expected…… classmate love is country love?”

“You rascal, do you even need to say that?”

Go Chang-deok ‘hehe’ laughed as he turned the steering wheel.

As the car left the stadium and stopped at a traffic light, he spoke again.

“It seems like it’s been a really long time since our team had a no-hitter, no-run?”

“Yes, I heard it from the reporters too. They said it’s been almost 20 years…….”

“20 years…… well, then it was about time for it to come out.”

As he ‘tsk’ smacked his lips, Ji-seop turned to him and asked, because his expression seemed somewhat displeased.

“What’s wrong?”

“Huh?”

“The nuance of what you’re saying…….”

It’s green [the traffic light].

Ji-seop told him about the changed traffic light and continued.

“It sounds like you didn’t want a no-hitter, no-run to come out…… Is that kind of what you mean?”

“R, really?!”

It seemed that Ji-seop’s words had hit the nail on the head.

Go Chang-deok ‘scratched’ the back of his head and licked his lips with his tongue.

After hesitating for a while, he looked in the rearview mirror and said.

“Actually, I’m probably not the only one who thinks that way. Maybe there are similar stories on the internet right now?”

“Similar stories?”

“Yeah, it’s good that a no-hitter, no-run came out, but I’m a little concerned that the person who achieved it is Jimmy Morris…… Something like that.”

You may or may not know.

Go Chang-deok continued.

“There’s been a strange jinx in Korean professional baseball for several years now?”

“A jinx?”

“Yeah, if a foreign pitcher achieves a no-hitter, no-run, that player…….”

Go Chang-deok rubbed his cheek.

“That player doesn’t make it past that year and ends up being 퇴출 [toe-chool, meaning released/cut from the team].”