Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 162

#161. No Defeat Allowed

While the enemy commander, Hwang Byeong-ho, was rallying his players for the first game of this crucial three-game series, Warriors’ manager Lee Dae-jun was deep in thought.

‘These guys are completely insane, aren’t they?’

He had spent the last ten days watching every game Incheon had played.

The players were charging in with fire in their eyes. Initially, they had reluctantly started playing rough under Hwang Byeong-ho’s orders, but at some point, they began repeating those actions on their own.

Lee Dae-jun, having spent a long time as an active player, understood the psychology of those Incheon players very well.

That’s just how it is.

In an army facing war, making soldiers throw themselves in front of enemy guns is quite simple.

You just need to push them to the point of screaming, then slightly twist the direction of their anger.

Look, the reason you’re suffering like this is all because of those guys. So go and eliminate them.

Soldiers who initially hesitated would, over time, become intoxicated and brainwashed by the atmosphere, wielding their weapons against the enemy.

In that regard, there is no leader in this country who handles soldiers as skillfully as Hwang Byeong-ho.

‘Hmm…….’

Putting aside Incheon’s rough play, the Warriors’ team wasn’t in top condition either.

The series of injuries that had plagued the players since the end of the season, and the resulting gaps in their lineup, were only just beginning to subside.

Lee Man-shik, who had been out of the lineup for an extended period, had returned, as had Cho Sung-oh, the oldest player, who had missed nearly a week.

It had been a hellish schedule, but they had managed to rotate players as much as possible, restoring the stamina of the starting players.

But it was still precarious and insufficient.

It would be difficult to fight against Incheon, whose entire first-string lineup was composed of starters.

If any of the starting lineup were to get injured or experience physical problems, everything could collapse in an instant. Even a spot in the Fall Classic [KBO’s equivalent of the MLB playoffs].

With the final three-game series remaining, the Warriors were in second place with a record of 84 wins, 4 draws, and 53 losses, a winning percentage of 0.613, trailing Incheon, who had a record of 84 wins, 6 draws, and 51 losses, a winning percentage of 0.622, by one game.

The game difference was only one game, but in reality, it was almost impossible for the Warriors to regain first place in the regular season at this point.

The KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] standings are determined strictly by winning percentage.

If the Warriors were to lose even one game in this three-game series, Incheon would automatically take first place, regardless of the game difference, due to their higher winning percentage.

To surpass Incheon, they needed to win all three games, or at least two wins and one draw.

‘Hmm.’

Manager Lee Dae-jun couldn’t help but feel regret over the fourth game against Suwon. If they had won just one more game there.

But his players had done well enough.

They had done their part by recording 7 wins and 4 losses in the hellish 11-game series.

‘Perhaps…….’

The team was still creaking here and there due to injuries and lack of stamina, the rough play from Incheon was fully expected, and there was the threat of injuries to key players as a result.

On top of that, if they lost even once in the three-game series, first place would be out of reach.

Considering all of that, he was tempted to just take it easy and prepare for the Fall Classic. What if he ruined everything by aiming for first place, instead of letting Han Su-hyeok and other key players rest and aiming for the Korean Series trophy instead?

Realistically, that was the right thing to do.

With two foreign players and Im Jun-yeong scheduled to pitch in this three-game series, the Warriors had to face them with Lee Young-joo, Cheon Sang-jin, Lee Man-shik, these three pitchers.

There was even public opinion at one point to have Han Su-hyeok start, but that was absolutely out of the question.

He had already played too many games this season as a hitter, a pitcher, and a national team player.

The actual test results also revealed some unstable areas.

He was a player who would be the pillar of this team and South Korea for a long time to come. He couldn’t risk such a player for the sake of winning first place just once.

Even if the first place was out of reach because Han Su-hyeok was missing, Lee Dae-jun had no intention of starting him.

‘Hmph.’

Anyway, the conclusion was this.

The Warriors had to face Incheon’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd starters with their 3rd, 4th, and 5th starters.

And they couldn’t lose even once.

‘Ah… this is really something.’

Now he really had to choose.

Should he boldly give up on winning the regular season and conserve his strength to prepare for the Fall Classic?

Or should he go all-out for the regular season championship, which had returned after eight years, no matter what?

Of course, there was also a middle ground. To go all-out in the first game and then give up the remaining two games if they lost.

But that could lead to a result that was neither one thing nor the other. The worst-case scenario would be that the starting players get injured and they also have to bear the defeat.

In the end, Manager Lee Dae-jun decided to make a final decision after receiving a call from General Manager Park Jae-cheol.

Because no matter how he thought about it, it wasn’t something he could decide on his own.

How much time had passed? The smartphone next to him vibrated once.

Buzz.

With a calm expression, Lee Dae-jun checked the message and got up from his seat, heading towards the dugout.

[We have decided to leave it to the manager’s discretion. Play Warriors’ baseball.]

* * *

“Alright, everyone gather around.”

The Warriors players, who were starting to prepare for training for the final match against Incheon, gathered in front of Manager Lee Dae-jun.

“As you all know, we can’t lose even once if we want to regain first place. And we have to win at least two games. Yes, it won’t be easy. No, maybe we’re just wasting our energy on something impossible.”

“…….”

None of the players responded to the manager’s words.

Lee Dae-jun continued.

“A wise manager would conserve his strength here and go all-in on the Fall Classic. No, definitely 100 out of 100 would do that. Trying to squeeze out all the remaining strength to face Incheon’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd starters and aiming for a complete victory is something only fools would do.”

Perhaps he was saying that to himself, not to the players.

The expressions of the Warriors players began to change in a complex way at Lee Dae-jun’s words.

It had been a truly breathless time.

But did they have to give up on first place in the regular season like this? Would they have to put aside their dream of returning to first place in the regular season after eight years and prepare for the Fall Classic?

Some of the players began to look at Han Su-hyeok. The team’s youngest member, who had been running solely for the Warriors’ championship.

Seeing that, Manager Lee Dae-jun smiled and said.

“But no matter how I look at it, I think I’m a fool. Guys, I absolutely have to win this year. If I give up on my dream here, I think I’ll regret the past year too much. Don’t you?”

The players’ faces flushed red at Lee Dae-jun’s words.

Because that was the kind of thing the players had been waiting to hear.

“That’s right!”

“Good, no need to say more. We’re going to bet everything on this three-game series. No matter how strong the opponent is, you guys are strong too. Just by chasing Incheon, who was more than ten games ahead, to this point, you’ve proven yourselves. Alright, are you ready?”

“Yes! Manager!”

“Good, here’s today’s lineup.”

Seoul Warriors Starting Lineup

1st Center Fielder Seo Hyeong-joo

2nd 3rd Baseman Ahn Chi-wook

3rd Shortstop Han Su-hyeok

4th 1st Baseman Cho Sung-oh

5th Right Fielder Walter Smith

6th 2nd Baseman Lee Chang-mo

7th Catcher Jang Deok-soo

8th Designated Hitter Kim Su-hak

9th Left Fielder Choi Min-seok

Starting Pitcher Lee Young-joo

* * *

– The unusually hot 2027 KBO season is now coming to an end. With each team having a minimum of 2 games and a maximum of 4 games left, the final three-game series between the 1st place Incheon Rangers and the 2nd place Seoul Warriors will be held here in Incheon. As always, I am joined by Commissioner Go Dong-shik.

– Hello. This is Go Dong-shik, everyone.

– Commissioner, could you briefly explain the current situation of the two teams?

– Of course. Simply put, the Rangers will maintain their first-place position if they win just one game in this three-game series. On the other hand, the Warriors need to win at least two games and draw one to become first.

– What’s the reason for that?

– It’s simple. The KBO standings are determined by winning percentage. Incheon, with more draws and fewer losses, has an advantage in the winning percentage calculation. Therefore, from the Warriors’ perspective, they must win three games or win two games and draw one to surpass Incheon and rise to first place.

– Hmm, so it’s safe to say that Incheon is in an absolutely advantageous situation.

– That’s right. And it’s even more so when you look at the starting pitchers for both teams. Starting with Mike Clark, who was converted to closer for the past few games, Incheon will have Derek Bell and ace Im Jun-yeong taking the mound in order as their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd starters.

– Hmm, Mike Clark pitched two innings as a closer three days ago, will there be any strain on him starting today?

– Well, I guess the Incheon manager knows the details.

– Im Jun-yeong will also continue to start after resting for three days. What do you think?

– Yes, it’s already the second time he’s starting after resting for three days, and frankly, I’m worried that Im Jun-yeong is being overworked. Of course, as a veteran who is about to enter his second FA [Free Agent] period, he will manage himself well… I don’t know. I wonder if that kind of usage is right.

Go Dong-shik, who had been harshly criticized on a special broadcast last night about the Hwang Byeong-ho system of the Incheon Rangers and received a warning from above, replied with a sullen expression.

Whatever the case, Incheon’s parent company is one of the broadcasting station’s largest advertisers.

With the time for contract renewal with the broadcasting station approaching, Go Dong-shik was in a very uncomfortable situation to freely speak about Incheon.

An announcer who understood Go Dong-shik’s feelings changed the subject to another topic.

– Unfortunately, Han Su-hyeok will not be pitching in this three-game series, but he will be challenging several records as a hitter, right?

– Of course. Han Su-hyeok, who has renewed all the major category records such as the highest batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and RBIs of all time, will now challenge the last remaining single-season home run Asian record.

– There’s only one left.

– Yes, there’s only one left. In fact, who would have known that Han Su-hyeok would do this much when he first started the season? If Han Su-hyeok had played for Incheon or Suwon, he might have already broken the Asian record as well as the American drug addict record over there.

– Um, Commissioner…….

– Why, did I say something I shouldn’t have? The home runs that the Warriors’ lineup, excluding Han Su-hyeok, lost in the early season were not one or two. Anyway, that’s it. It’s not like I’m only doing baseball this year.

– I understand. Anyway, until just yesterday, there were rumors that the Warriors would take out the starters and use backups, and that they would prepare for the Fall Classic, but in the end, all the key players will be playing. Including Han Su-hyeok.

– Yes, I would like to dare to call the Warriors this.

– What is it?

– The team of men, a team of men who don’t know compromise or retreat. That’s what they are.

– Um, Commissioner. Please say those things on your personal broadcast later…….

– Okay. To be honest, I won’t have my microphone taken away during the broadcast no matter what. Everyone, I don’t know which team you are cheering for in your heart. But please don’t forget one thing. The great challenges that the Warriors and Han Su-hyeok have shown this season. Baseball fans should keep this in their hearts. Long live Han Su-hyeok!