A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 97

The Newcomer to the Baseball Team is Too Good – Episode 97

Chapter 27: Left-Right Play (3)

ST Rhinos Manager Lee Seok-ho.

His interview became a major topic.

[The Return of Gambler Lee Seok-ho, Unfiltered Criticism of Korean Baseball]

[“Platoon is a Must-Win Strategy… Pity the Managers Who Only Care About Public Opinion”]

[Manager Lee, Intentional Criticism of Former Team? … KH, “Will Not Respond”]

At first, it was close to a debate.

A debate about the platoon system.

-Let’s be honest, isn’t he right? How many hitters can get hits against both left-handed and right-handed pitchers in one team?

-The platoon system is used in the US and Japan, so why can’t it be used only in Korea?

There were people who agreed with Manager Lee Seok-ho’s opinion like this.

-It was nice and quiet for a few months, but as soon as Lee Seok-ho came back, the left-right play enthusiasts are slowly raising their heads.

-Let’s think a little before we speak. Are we going to save the data to boil soup? The era of blindly playing left-right is over, even if you say so?

There were also people who opposed Manager Lee Seok-ho’s opinion like this.

-Have you ever played social baseball before talking? It’s common sense that a left-handed batter is weak against a left-handed pitcher, you baseball-illiterates!

-Are the pros and amateurs the same? If you’re going to play baseball like that, there’s no reason to hire a manager!

It was a debate that was evenly matched for a while, but as time went by, the voices of the ‘pro-Lee Seok-ho faction’ began to rise.

-This hit…… this hit completely splits the center-right! A walk-off hit, a walk-off hit! ST Rhinos takes another victory!

-Wow, that’s really amazing. Doesn’t that make his pinch-hitting success rate 100% this week? Manager Lee Seok-ho is really showing a divine pinch-hitting operation!

It was the ST Rhinos’ steep rise.

Manager Lee Seok-ho continued the team’s winning streak based on his brilliant strategic baseball.

He brought out a lineup that was so unpredictable that the opponent couldn’t anticipate it, and if necessary, he would bring in three or four bullpen pitchers in one inning.

During the same period, KH Cannons barely managed to break their losing streak and were just barely maintaining a 50% winning percentage-

Wow!!!

The day of the first game of the weekend 3-game series between KH Cannons and ST Rhinos.

Even though it was clearly a KH Cannons home game, the stadium was filled with the voices of Rhinos fans.

“I booked all three games this time! You have no idea how hard it was to get tickets!”

“Hehe, I can’t miss this opportunity. A 3-game sweep is practically confirmed, right? Manager Lee Seok-ho will know the KH players inside and out!”

“Those Cannons guys, they were floundering at the bottom with us, but they acted like they were so great… We need to teach them a lesson in this 3-game series!”

Choi! Gang! S! T!

The cheering slogans of the ST Rhinos fans echoed throughout the KH Cannons Field.

The already noisy stadium erupted in cheers an hour before the game started.

“It’s the manager!”

“The manager is here!”

Manager Lee Seok-ho, who was in the visiting team’s dugout, appeared on the field.

Lee Seok-ho! Lee Seok-ho! Lee Seok-ho!

‘Gambler’ Manager Lee Seok-ho, receiving the enthusiastic support of the ST Rhinos fans, slowly began to move.

The place he headed with his coaching staff was none other than the KH Cannons’ dugout on the opposite side.

“Where is Manager Freeman?”

He asked the Cannons players.

“I thought it would be good to say hello before the game, so I came like this…….”

* * *

ST Rhinos’ Manager Lee Seok-ho.

KH Cannons’ Manager Arthur Freeman.

The first time the two men faced each other was immediately after that.

“I really wanted to see Manager Freeman… That day is coming.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Manager.”

Click, click, click.

Amidst the loud sound of camera shutters, the two team managers exchanged firm handshakes.

At this time, Manager Lee Seok-ho had a friendly smile on his face, but Ji-seop, who was standing next to Manager Freeman as an interpreter, knew his true feelings.

‘As expected… his animosity towards the Cannons is burning fiercely.’

I could feel his determination to win.

It wasn’t just about winning.

A determination to win all three games.

A determination to make KH Cannons regret firing him.

At the same time, a determination to prove to the world that his baseball is right.

‘Hehe, if this is the case… is what we’ve prepared roughly falling into place?’

Just as I was thinking about that, I heard someone calling Ji-seop, ‘Hey, translator!’ from somewhere.

“Ah, yes!”

When Ji-seop hurriedly raised his head, Manager Lee Seok-ho frowned slightly.

“Are you listening to me?”

“I’m sorry, Manager. What were you saying…….”

“Ahn Young-chan! I was talking about my opinion on Ahn Young-chan.”

Ahn Young-chan.

KH Cannons’ veteran second baseman.

He was the very person who struck out in a crucial chance situation a few days ago, confirming the team’s 5-game losing streak.

“Tell your manager. Ahn Young-chan shouldn’t be used like that.”

Because his limitations are clear.

Manager Lee Seok-ho lowered his voice as if trying to keep the reporters from hearing.

“He’s a very sincere guy… but his swing has become frustrating as he’s gotten older. His ability to follow the ball is also terrible.”

“…….”

“Now, he’s only suitable as a pinch hitter against left-handed pitchers. Tell him to keep in mind that he’s no longer a hitter who can gain an advantage against right-handed pitchers.”

The ‘advice’ of the former KH Cannons manager.

The current manager of the Cannons, after hearing Manager Lee Seok-ho’s words from Ji-seop, replied like this.

“Thank you very much for your words.”

Manager Arthur Freeman even bowed his head in the Korean style.

However, the following words were not as polite as his actions.

“But in terms of the philosophy of player selection… it seems that the manager and I have a big difference.”

“……Philosophy?”

“That’s right. I don’t really enjoy setting limits on players.”

Manager Freeman smiled faintly.

“Any player may have limitations. But isn’t it the manager’s role to break those limitations and lead them to a better stage?”

“…….”

“I think I need to tell the manager a baseball proverb that I heard a long time ago.”

Manager Freeman continued.

“The manager I used to work for said this. A player’s limitations are the manager’s limitations.”

“A player’s limitations are the manager’s limitations?”

Heo, heoheo, heoheoheoheo.

It was at this moment that Manager Lee Seok-ho laughed loudly, leaning back.

“You’re good with words! Really good! I was wondering why Cannons General Manager Seo hired a foreign manager, but now I know why!”

Manager Lee’s gaze turned to Ji-seop.

“Tell your manager! My expectations are very high! Baseball that overcomes the limitations of players… If there is such a thing, I should learn a thing or two, right?”

Okay, let’s see.

Only Ji-seop could read Manager Lee Seok-ho’s last words.

[Even on the ‘stage’ I created… whether he can maintain that great philosophy.]

* * *

The game that started like that.

The first run was scored by the ST Rhinos, led by Manager Lee Seok-ho.

“Ball! Base on balls!”

Top of the 1st inning.

When the leadoff hitter walked [reached first base after four balls were thrown outside the strike zone], the second hitter attempted a sacrifice bunt [intentionally hitting the ball softly to advance a runner].

In the chance created with one out and a runner on second, the ST Rhinos’ third hitter hit a single to center field that pierced between the second baseman and shortstop.

-Center fielder Ryu Jang-ho caught the ball, but the runner on second base is already coming home! The score is 1-0, ST Rhinos scores the first run!!!

Wow!!!

KH Cannons quickly gave up the first run.

However, the Cannons fans did not waver.

In the bottom of the 1st inning that immediately followed, the Cannons’ leadoff hitter also drew a walk.

“Good, good! That’s how you do it!”

“We just need to score a run too!”

Clearly, up to this point, there was nothing special about the game.

Although they gave up the first run, they blocked the subsequent hitters well.

In the next attack, they immediately got the leadoff hitter on base, laying the foundation for a counterattack.

Anyway, the game seemed to continue in this normal flow.

However,

It was the very next moment.

“Huh, why is the pitcher like that?”

“What, is he hurt?”

It was the ST Rhinos’ starting pitcher.

The ST’s right-handed starting pitcher, who didn’t seem to have any major problems when facing the first batter.

All of a sudden, he tilted his head and ‘spun’ his right shoulder, then frowned and signaled to the dugout.

-Ah, ST’s Woo Yo-han! Did he suddenly get injured? The trainer and pitching coach are rushing to the mound!

-They are having a conversation with serious expressions… Ah, is he in a situation where he can’t continue to throw the ball?

Giving them the benefit of the doubt, this was a situation that could happen.

A pitcher’s injury can come suddenly.

However, the ST Rhinos’ response that followed was a bit strange.

-Ah, the pitching coach is drawing an X over his head. This means they have to replace the pitcher, right?

The ST Rhinos’ pitching coach declared ‘pitcher change’ without much hesitation.

The ST Rhinos dugout, which received this message, also contacted the bullpen without any hesitation.

Decisively, the door to the outfield bullpen opened with a ‘clunk’, and the person who appeared was-

-It’s Rodriguez! ST Rhinos’ left-handed starter Rodriguez is taking over the mound here!

-Isn’t Rodriguez scheduled to start tomorrow’s game? But he’s pitching here… Haa, there’s room for controversy, right?

The sudden removal of the right-handed starting pitcher.

And the one who came up to the mound as if he had been waiting was the left-handed starting pitcher.

If you know even a little bit about baseball, there is one word that comes to mind in this situation.

-Isn’t it a fake starter strategy [intentionally starting a weaker pitcher to gain a tactical advantage later]?

The caster cautiously spoke.

-If it was an intentional act… it wouldn’t be a violation of league regulations, but it seems like it would be a behavior that would definitely cause controversy in terms of ethics, right?

-That’s right. KH Cannons would have prepared for the game assuming that a right-handed pitcher would come out.

The commentator continued.

-But if a left-handed pitcher suddenly comes out here… there’s a possibility that the KH Cannons’ tactics will be completely overturned, right?

For whatever reason, KH Cannons were ‘attacked’ by Lee Seok-ho.

Perhaps wanting to capture the scene of them being flustered, the broadcast PD [program director] sent the KH Cannons dugout screen to the broadcast, but-

“…….”

The faces of the KH Cannons people on the screen were calm.

The Cannons players looked at the ground with a relaxed expression, as if ‘what was coming has come’.

In fact, there was a good reason for that.

“Ji-seop, it’s as you predicted.”

It was the words of Manager Arthur Freeman.

“There’s a possibility that the Rhinos will use a fake starter strategy… Hehe, I didn’t know that would come true.”

“Didn’t the manager also expect it? That the Rhinos wouldn’t come out normally.”

“Well, that’s true. There’s no way someone who shows such blatant animosity would come out without any strategy.”

Manager Arthur Freeman stroked his chin.

He turned to Ji-seop and asked again.

“Now that the situation has become like this… how is it, is the rest of the preparation done?”