A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 95

27. Left-Right Game (1)

It was the top of the 8th inning.

Two outs, runners on first and second.

As the opposing team’s pitching coach went to the mound, the KH Cannons’ dugout also began to stir.

“Manager.”

It was the Cannons’ hitting coach.

Jisub took a step back, ready to interpret his words.

“The Senators are likely to send out a right-handed pitcher. What should we do…? Should we use a pinch hitter?”

The score was 5-3.

The Cannons were down by two points.

That day’s opponent, the Geumwoon Senators, was a team that boasted the strongest closer in the Korean professional baseball league.

Considering that, it was crucial to at least tie the score in this top of the 8th inning.

“Using a pinch hitter, huh….”

The moment to gamble.

This also meant it was time to play the ‘numbers game’ [a strategy relying heavily on statistical analysis].

“What does the data say?”

Arthur Freeman’s question.

At that moment, a slight shadow crossed the hitting coach’s face.

“Well, that is….”

The Cannons’ dugout faced two main options.

One was to leave right-handed hitter Ahn Youngchan, who had started that day, in the game.

Or, to use left-handed hitter Kim Dojin as a pinch hitter.

The problem was that neither choice was a clear-cut, obvious decision.

“Honestly, it’s a bit… neck and neck.”

The hitting coach scratched the back of his head.

“This season, Ahn Youngchan’s batting average against right-handed pitchers is 0.258. On the other hand, Kim Dojin is recording 0.276.”

Looking only at batting average, using left-handed hitter Kim Dojin was slightly more advantageous.

However, in this day and age, what hitting coach can make a decision based solely on batting average?

“But Ahn Youngchan’s slugging percentage against right-handed pitchers is a bit better. Ahn Youngchan is at 0.360, while Kim Dojin is recording 0.324….”

The probability of getting a hit was slightly better for left-handed hitter Kim Dojin.

However, once a hit was made, the probability of a double or higher extra-base hit was slightly better for right-handed hitter Ahn Youngchan.

The hitting coach brought up several other hitting indicators, but in the end, he couldn’t give a definite answer as to which player was better.

“Hmph, this is….”

Freeman looked perplexed.

However, the head of a team couldn’t postpone a decision due to a lack of data.

As the opposing team’s pitcher change was nearing completion, Freeman turned to the hitting coach and gave instructions.

“I won’t use a pinch hitter.”

This meant he would give the opportunity to Ahn Youngchan, the right-handed hitter who had started that day.

“Two outs, runners on first and second… What we need right now is one big hit. Let’s trust our Cannons’ veteran here.”

“Understood, Manager. Then….”

The hitting coach, having received the manager’s instructions, hurried to Ahn Youngchan in the on-deck circle.

Ahn Youngchan, having received the manager’s instructions from the hitting coach, sent an intense look towards the dugout, as if to say, ‘Leave it to me,’ but-

Thwack!

After a long battle that went up to 12 pitches, the result of the Cannons’ veteran’s hit was-

“Mine! Mine! Mine!”

Center fielder,

Fly out.

* * *

That day, the Cannons lost.

Final score 5-4.

Thwack!

In the top of the 9th inning, they succeeded in scoring one point against the opponent’s 자랑하는 [boasting] national representative closer, but that was it.

In the end, they failed to make a tying hit and suffered a disappointing one-point loss.

For the KH Cannons, the chance in the top of the 8th inning with two outs and runners on first and second was a situation they couldn’t help but regret.

Perhaps that’s why public relations manager Kwon Daewoong said this to Jisub with a long sigh.

“Jisub, honestly, shouldn’t we have gone with Kim Dojin at that time?”

It was after the game had ended.

Kwon, who was loitering in front of the visiting team’s manager’s office, waiting for Arthur Freeman to finish preparing for his press interview, looked at Jisub and continued.

“I know Ahn Youngchan’s skills very well. He was once our Cannons’ fourth batter [cleanup hitter].”

“….”

“But at that time, the opponent was a right-handed pitcher… I thought it would be more reasonable to entrust it to left-handed hitter Kim Dojin rather than right-handed hitter Ahn Youngchan.”

To be honest.

Yes, to be really honest.

Jisub felt quite upset at times like this.

‘Well, I guess that’s true.’

A left-handed hitter is advantageous against a right-handed pitcher.

A right-handed hitter is advantageous against a left-handed pitcher.

It’s practically common sense.

‘But the manager, the coach, and I… we’re all people who have dedicated our lives to baseball.’

Those people chose a right-handed hitter instead of a left-handed hitter.

Those people chose Ahn Youngchan instead of Kim Dojin.

Then, instead of blindly criticizing ‘that shouldn’t be,’ shouldn’t we think, ‘there must have been a special reason’?

If it were fans who don’t know us well, that’s one thing, but if it’s a co-worker who lives and works together.

“….”

Jisub felt very upset with his co-worker who couldn’t understand the concerns of the field, as they had missed the victory by a paper-thin margin.

But then again, that feeling didn’t last long.

“Ugh, you 야알못 새끼! [ya-al-mot sae-kki: baseball-ignorant jerk!]”

Before Jisub could even say anything, an 아저씨 [ahjussi: middle-aged man] slapped Kwon Daewoong’s thick back with a ‘smack’ sound.

It was the KH Cannons’ public relations team leader.

“Someone who knows so well, why didn’t you run for manager when we were picking a manager at the beginning of the season? Huh? Manager Kwon Daewoong!”

“T, Team Leader! It hurts, it really hurts!”

Kwon really jumped at his direct superior’s ‘back slap’.

However, despite such resistance, the public relations team leader only hit the fleshy parts of Kwon with ‘slap, slap’.

“얀마 [yanma: a rough term for ‘you’], do you think the manager wouldn’t know what you know? Do you think Jisub wouldn’t know? Anyway, this guy only has a big mouth….”

“No, when did I ever have just a big mouth, Team Leader!”

Kwon, holding his back, sent resentful eyes to his direct superior.

However, he also seemed to have remembered something, and he turned to Jisub and bowed his head, saying, ‘Sorry, Jisub’.

“Listening to the team leader, I guess he’s right. The manager and Jisub would have worried much more than I did….”

Kwon Daewoong scratched the back of his head and apologized.

When the other party came out like this, Jisub couldn’t hold on to his sulky feelings any longer.

“No, I’m just an interpreter anyway, what worries would I have….”

“Eh, well, even so….”

Kwon, who was awkwardly licking his lips, carefully continued.

“It may seem like an excuse, but… I was actually worried, so I said that.”

“….”

“The story about today’s pinch hitter… Won’t it be mentioned 100% in the press interview shortly?”

Why did you choose a right-handed hitter when you should have put in a left-handed hitter?

Why did you stick with Ahn Youngchan instead of using pinch hitter Kim Dojin?

The public relations team leader nodded at Kwon’s words.

“Well, it’s right to see that more 날이 선 [nari seon: sharp, edgy] questions will come in today than usual.”

Whatever the reason.

The public relations team leader continued with a gloomy expression.

“Our Cannons, as of today… have recorded exactly 5 consecutive losses.”

* * *

The public relations team leader’s words were true.

The KH Cannons seemed to be starting the second half of the season smoothly.

However, as they entered the last week of July, they suddenly started to falter, and eventually recorded 5 consecutive losses in today’s game.

‘It’s the first 5-game losing streak of the season, but….’

No matter how perfectly a team is built, a losing streak is something that can’t be avoided at least once.

Moreover, if it’s a team like the KH Cannons, where the player depth is not yet fully equipped, a crisis can come several times in a season.

However, in the case of this 5-game losing streak, a slightly difficult situation was developing from the front office’s point of view.

“Isn’t it strange? How can we go through 5 consecutive losses with such a similar flow….”

“That’s what I’m saying. It’s as if someone is trying to throw ashes on the manager’s baseball [sabotage his strategies].”

Arthur Freeman, the manager of the KH Cannons.

As someone who has been active in the American minor league for a long time, he is known for running the game to suit the team’s situation rather than imposing his own style.

However, even Freeman had one ‘principle’ that he was emphasizing both inside and outside the team.

-As long as I am the manager of the KH Cannons, I will not use the ‘platoon system’ in player selection.

-Only send out left-handed hitters against right-handed pitchers, and only send out right-handed hitters against left-handed pitchers? Such a usage will only turn players into half-players.

-The same principle will apply to pinch hitter usage and bullpen operation. Rather than right-handed or left-handed matchups, we will prioritize the data we have secured….

A declaration that he would never do the ‘left-right game’ that baseball fans often talk about.

So far, there had been no problems, and rather, he was receiving enthusiastic support from the Cannons fans.

‘The Cannons’ former manager was crazy about that ‘left-right game’, right?’

He would change pitchers at the drop of a hat, and he would put in pinch hitters at the drop of a hat.

For the Cannons fans who were tired of the former manager’s ‘left-right game’, Freeman’s style was bound to be welcome.

However, in the last five games, coincidentally, the number of games collapsing due to Freeman’s ‘principle’ was increasing.

“Yesterday, we stuck with a left-handed pitcher against a right-handed hitter and got hit with a come-from-behind home run, and today, we insisted on a right-handed hitter against a right-handed pitcher and blew a chance….”

The public relations team leader sighed deeply.

“No matter how well we have built relationships with the reporters, if the situation becomes like this, there’s no way criticism of the manager’s style won’t come out….”

His gaze turned to Jisub.

“What do you think, Jisub? In my opinion, it might be better to skip today’s interview altogether.”

“Well, the manager says that press interviews are also part of fan service….”

It was a truly difficult situation as the manager’s interpreter.

Jisub was deep in thought, rubbing his face with his dry hands.

But right then, Jisub’s cell phone, which he had put in his pocket, rang once with a ‘buzz’.

‘Who is it at this hour?’

A message that came to the cell phone.

The sender was reporter Hwang Youngjoo.

Jisub was calmly reading the message sent by the infamous ‘Jomi’ [slang for a journalist known for writing sensational or gossipy articles].

It was right after that that a strange smile appeared on his lips.

“Team Leader.”

“Hmm?”

“If we play it right, today’s press interview… I think we can get through it without any major problems.”

“What… what are you talking about?”

The public relations team leader blinked.

Jisub continued.

“ST Rhinos is scheduled to announce a new manager in 5 minutes.”

“T, is that true?”

“Yes, a pretty reliable person just sent me that message.”

“ST Rhinos….”

The faces of the public relations team leader and his subordinate Kwon Daewoong ‘lit up’.

“Team Leader, if a new manager has been appointed… Won’t the reporters’ attention be focused on that side today?”

“Not just the reporters? The fans too! ST is saving us once!”

We’re alive, we’re alive!

The public relations team leader, who was sighing in relief, looked at Jisub and laughed loudly.

“No, Jisub! Where did you get that information? How can you have faster information than me, the public relations team leader?”

“Haha, somehow….”

“So, who is the Rhinos’ new manager? Did you get that information too?”

“Ah, yes, I did.”

Jisub turned his gaze to his cell phone to check ‘Hwang Jomi’s’ message.

“It’s Director Lee Seokho….”

“L, Lee Seokho?!”

At that very moment,

The public relations team leader’s eyes widened.

“The Lee Seokho who was our Cannons’ manager until last year…?!”