Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 147

#146. Showdown at the Edge

There are people who can’t stand not being the best, not being number one.

A prime example is the Daegu Buffaloes, who, despite becoming all too familiar with the bottom ranks, once poured in several times the budget of other clubs for the sake of winning.

‘We are South Korea’s number one company. Therefore, the sports team we run must win unconditionally.’

With the owner’s mindset like that, those below had no choice but to do their best to meet those expectations.

The clubs they operated were mostly ball sports.

Baseball, soccer, volleyball, basketball, and such.

There’s a saying that the ball is round [meaning anything can happen], but overwhelming financial power completely swallowed even those variables.

Sweeping up FA [Free Agent] players with massive financial power, approaching clubs whose parent companies were faltering and snatching up promising players.

That’s how Daegu once dominated professional sports in this country.

Until a successor who wasn’t very interested in sports took over as chairman.

So, in 2027, which team follows in Daegu’s footsteps, or in simple terms, advocates for a number one-ism?

It is none other than the parent company of the Incheon Rangers, which virtually monopolizes the domestic market in future mobility fields such as communication, autonomous driving, and UAM [Urban Air Mobility].

“Director Gu, this is not going to work. How many times have I told you? Your job is on the line in this three-game series.”

“I’m sorry.”

Incheon Rangers’ office, after finishing the first two games against the Warriors and now only the final third game ahead.

Director Gu Yong-sik, who was directly summoned by the president, looked at the president with a calm expression.

Calling the director before a crucial battle and saying such things, but compared to the other club presidents who are utterly foolish, he’s not a bad person.

No, in terms of securing a budget from the parent company and managing it efficiently, he is quite capable.

The only problem is that he hasn’t met the standards of such a president, or rather, to be precise, the parent company’s expectations.

Number one, and not just any number one, but an overwhelming number one.

The four high-priced FAs recruited last season and this season, and the three top-notch foreign players who are being paid close to two million dollars in annual salary, although not publicly disclosed.

Even the top-notch infrastructure and support provided to the team throughout the season.

All of these stem solely from the Incheon Rangers’ parent company’s number one-ism.

Their ambition to become the number one company in this country, beyond the parent company of the Daegu Buffaloes, their pride that they must be number one unconditionally.

Director Gu Yong-sik succeeded in fulfilling their desires by leading Incheon to victory last season. And he succeeded in a three-year contract renewal.

And they are in first place this year as well.

The problem is that what the higher-ups want is not just a simple first place. The fact that they lost their lead to the Seoul Warriors, whom they didn’t even consider rivals, has upset them.

In the first game, with foreign player Mike Clark as the starting pitcher, Incheon suffered a 4-3 comeback loss.

They operated the pitching staff and targeted the opposing batters according to thorough data and calculations, but in the end, they gave up the game by allowing Han Su-hyeok to hit a two-run comeback double in the top of the ninth inning.

The Incheon Rangers’ owner, who was watching the battle waged by his empire and the soldiers under his command in the stadium, left the stadium with a hardened expression.

That was still okay. It was just one game lost out of three.

But in the second game held the next day, Incheon lost again.

It was an unacceptable result for the Incheon leadership.

The foreign starting pitcher, who was brought in with an annual salary of 1.8 million dollars, was defeated by the Warriors’ temporary starter, Kang Dong-ha, who had been treated as a mop-up pitcher until recently.

In fact, strictly speaking, the second game was Incheon Rangers’ self-destruction.

Derek Bell, a top-notch foreign player who had been planted on the mound after arguing with Jang Deok-su in the first half of the season, ruined the game again.

The Warriors players, who had learned about his quick temper and hot-bloodedness, constantly provoked Derek Bell.

Leadoff hitter Seo Hyeong-ju kept fouling off Derek Bell’s pitches, increasing the number of pitches, and the runners on base kept trying to steal, irritating him.

If Derek Bell’s temper had exploded, the result might have been different, but his face, which had turned red as if it would explode at any moment, turned white as soon as he saw Jang Deok-su.

Derek Bell, completely intimidated, began to throw balls wildly, and in the meantime, the opposing starter persevered, even if he gave up runs.

The game flowed into a hitting battle, and Incheon was unable to take advantage of the superior starting matchup at all.

Two consecutive losses, the club officials all lowered their heads the moment the club owner, whose face had turned ashen, left the stadium.

Incheon Rangers is spending almost 1.5 times more budget than the remaining nine clubs this season.

The president, who received a call from the chairman’s secretariat of the parent company, had no choice but to summon Director Gu Yong-sik.

“Don’t forget that if we lose today’s game… not only you but also my job will be in danger. You know there are more than a few people aiming for that position, right? Go out there and win at all costs.”

The president’s final ultimatum was finally issued.

* * *

The atmosphere in the Incheon team is strange.

Even though I’m scheduled to start against them, the people who would normally come up to us and say hello don’t even look at us.

It’s not just Senior Im Jun-yeong.

Even players like third baseman Min Ju-hyeon, who used to be awkward with us but strangely acted friendly after the game against the United States, are avoiding me with stiff faces.

Is it because they lost two games in a row to us? Is it because the game difference has narrowed to two games?

Or is it because they lost the games in front of the club owner for two consecutive days, yesterday and the day before?

Well, I guess I’ll only know for sure after today’s game.

“The atmosphere is really tense, isn’t it?”

“I think your share of that atmosphere is about 20 percent.”

“Hehe, well, I guess that’s a compliment?”

Seo Hyeong-ju, who recorded three on-base appearances and two stolen bases in yesterday’s game, shrugged his shoulders and entered the dugout.

The guy who was once called a troublemaker in Daejeon has now become an indispensable player in this team.

He lacks experience and has a unique personality, so he sometimes makes strange mistakes, but he makes up for it with his natural eye for the ball, bat speed, and speed.

Recently, he seems to be greedy for long hits, so I pointed it out a few times, and he grumbles in front of me, but in the end, he accepts it like a fox. He has the ability to clearly recognize what is helpful to him.

“Another bet on Korean beef today?”

Seo Hyeong-ju, who was walking far away, turned around and shouted at me.

Suddenly, I had a thought.

The players who are currently playing key roles in this team.

Seo Hyeong-ju, who has the talent to become a starting center fielder in a big league team, Ahn Chi-wook, who secured the starting third baseman position in his first year, Jo Seong-oh, a thirty-five-year-old veteran whose contract expires this year, Jang Deok-su, who will be eligible for FA [Free Agency] in four years, and Lee Man-sik, who may be playing his last season this year.

How many of them will be left in the dugout after a few years?

Some may take on challenges for the next stage, and others may leave the team to find a different environment.

Some may be due to injuries, and others may simply take off their uniforms naturally.

Maybe this year will be the last time I see that lineup engraved on the scoreboard.

As a colleague playing with those people, and as the owner who has to continue running the Warriors even after they leave,

I was feeling a strange sense of loneliness.

* * *

“익!”

Whoosh

“Swing! Out!”

Im Jun-yeong struck out Seo Hyeong-ju in just four pitches.

Seo Hyeong-ju, who was struggling to see even one more ball, returned to the dugout with a dejected expression.

“Wow, that 형 [hyung – older brother/male friend] is no joke today.”

“Is he that good?”

“Yeah, he’s throwing 155 [km/h] from the first inning? Is he only going to throw for about five innings?”

“Was that a cut fastball at the end?”

“That’s right. Today, it’s not just the speed, but the angle… Ugh.”

Seo Hyeong-ju sat down on the bench with a horrified expression. The guy who had recently been enjoying increasing the number of pitches of the opposing starter was completely suppressed by Im Jun-yeong.

Today, Manager Lee Dae-jun put out a slightly different lineup than usual to face Im Jun-yeong.

1st Center Fielder Seo Hyeong-ju

2nd Second Baseman Lee Chang-mo

3rd First Baseman Jo Seong-oh

4th Right Fielder Walter Smith

5th Pitcher Han Su-hyeok

6th Catcher Jang Deok-su

7th Third Baseman Ahn Chi-wook

8th Left Fielder Choi Min-seok

9th Shortstop Choi Jin-cheol

Lee Chang-mo entered the 2nd spot, where Choi Min-seok or Ahn Chi-wook usually entered.

Under the calculation that it would be difficult to score a lot of points against Im Jun-yeong anyway, he put the veteran who is the most capable of team batting forward, even though his batting average is low.

Choi Jin-cheol, who was brought from Changwon, entered the shortstop position where I was missing instead of Yoo In-cheol.

Although Yoo In-cheol is a rookie who our team must develop, Choi Jin-cheol, who has excellent defense, is better in a game like today where a one- or two-point game is likely.

Whoosh

“Swing! Out!”

“Hmm, he’s really no joke.”

“Senior, you were good at hitting Senior Im Jun-yeong’s pitches, though.”

“Looking at him throwing today, it reminds me of when he was a closer three years ago. Full power.”

Even without borrowing Lee Chang-mo’s words, it was clear at a glance that Im Jun-yeong was in serious mode today.

Full power in the first inning is one thing, but he doesn’t even bat an eye even when Senior Jo Seong-oh enters the plate.

He’s usually someone who always acknowledges me, even if he doesn’t greet me.

Is something really going on? Does he have to win today’s game no matter what?

Hmm.

Well, even so, I have no intention of deliberately losing.

* * *

– Swing! Strikeout! Another strikeout! Han Su-hyeok struck out all three of Incheon’s batters in the bottom of the 5th inning, and the game is still 0-0, a tight match continues.

– Amazing. It’s as if he’s taking out his anger for being struck out by Im Jun-yeong in the top of the 5th inning, he struck out three consecutive Incheon batters in the bottom of the 5th inning. If this is the case, the records of the two pitchers are…….

– Yes, Im Jun-yeong has recorded 77 pitches and 5 strikeouts through the 5th inning, and Han Su-hyeok has recorded 58 pitches and 10 strikeouts. Both players are amazing. None of the batters from both teams have stepped on first base today.

– It’s not just Han Su-hyeok, but I can’t help but praise Im Jun-yeong today. He is completely suppressing the Warriors’ batting lineup, which has been on a roll in the second half, with pure power.

– Commissioner, it looks like he’s determined not to lose to his junior, am I seeing it right?

– There’s that too… If they lose even today’s game, the game difference between the two teams will narrow to one game, right? As an ace, he can’t allow that, that kind of feeling must be playing a part. Whatever the reason, he’s really amazing today. This is an amazing pitching battle that baseball fans should never miss.

– The cleaning time [mid-game break] will end soon and the game will enter the second half. If the pitching battle continues like this, which team do you think will have the advantage?

– No matter how much I’m a fan of Han Su-hyeok… Hmm, I’m sorry. Incheon will probably have the advantage. Considering Manager Lee Dae-jun’s usual tendencies, he probably won’t make Han Su-hyeok pitch a complete game again today, even if he is Han Su-hyeok.

– I guess so?

– Yes, but if ‘that record’ gets closer again, Manager Lee Dae-jun will also have a complicated head. Anyway, Incheon, with its rich player base, will definitely have the advantage in the second half. The Warriors need to score as soon as possible.