Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 291

#290. The Leader’s Responsibility

“Damn it, the Yankees really have a lot of money. How many is that already?”

“Seeing them approve trades like this, the league office must be out of their minds. This is practically encouraging them to tank [intentionally lose games to secure a higher draft pick] aggressively.”

As the trade deadline approaches, all 30 Major League teams are actively making moves.

By this point after the first half, teams generally have a sense of whether they should challenge for a spot in the fall classic [World Series], give up on the season, or go into full-on tank mode.

Teams that choose to tank put all their expensive players on the market, and wealthy teams like the Yankees indiscriminately snap them up as they try to make a push for the playoffs.

Having felt the limitations in their starting rotation due to Tyson Basham’s absence, the Yankees have already traded for three pitchers this month.

From the perspective of a team competing with them, it’s infuriating, but looking at the league’s overall popularity, it’s hard not to admire teams that make such bold investments.

“It seems James Taylor’s name is also on the Yankees’ acquisition list.”

“No way! If they sell him, the Tampa Bay GM’s office might get bombed.”

Basically, a Major League team is an independent business.

A business that invests in operating costs, including player salaries, and aims to earn more revenue than it spends.

The problem is that some of the owners who run these businesses are only interested in maximizing profits rather than strengthening their team.

It’s unavoidable for teams like Tampa Bay or Oakland to operate under tight budgets because their environments are so poor and they don’t generate enough revenue.

However, the Miami Marlins, who we’re facing today, have a relatively solid local infrastructure and a wealthy owner, but they’re still one of the typical poorly managed teams, with rumors of bankruptcy circulating recently.

Plus, they were the only team that didn’t bid when I applied for posting [process where a player under contract to an international team is made available to MLB teams].

Well, even if they had bid, there’s no way I would have played in Miami.

“In this situation, we need to make sure we win the games we can.”

“That’s right, Ty. We can’t afford to back down now that we’ve come this far.”

Players who have grown up in the same farm system [a team’s minor league system] and come this far, along with Ty Johnson and the Marlins trio, Hayashi and other transfers, and even me, who came from a different country.

Considering this diverse player base, the atmosphere in the Seattle locker room is quite positive.

If the existing players were territorial, the newly transferred players formed separate cliques, and the players who couldn’t fit into either group were left out,

That situation would have had a significant negative impact on the team’s performance.

Thinking about it, Ryan is a much better captain than he thinks he is.

Well, enough about the youngsters.

“Alright, let’s get started today. Everyone off your butts and onto the field!”

With the manager’s roar, the three-game series against the Miami Marlins began.

* * *

Now, with bankruptcy rumors circulating, if you ask whether the Miami Marlins were always like this, the answer is no.

They were founded in 1993, so their team history is only 37 years old, but they’ve won the World Series twice. When they won the World Series just five years after their founding, they were investing so aggressively that they were criticized for overspending.

However, after winning the championship, the Marlins’ payroll reached an unsustainable level, so they took a gamble and sold off all the key players who had led them to victory, and that history has been repeated to this day.

In other words, they continue to repeat the routine of developing rookies, strengthening the team when they’ve grown enough to challenge for the championship, and then selling off all the key players and going into tank mode once that’s over.

From the fans’ perspective, they get to see their team challenge for the championship roughly once every 10 years.

The problem is that this routine has been broken in the 2020s.

For some reason, the stingy owner loosened his purse strings and significantly strengthened the team, suddenly declaring a win-now strategy.

But the Marlins failed to even secure a wild card, let alone win the championship, and they immediately went into a fire sale. In the process, they made several blunders, leading to rumors of bankruptcy.

In a nutshell, they failed to manage the team properly.

“Ryan looks to be in good condition today.”

“Hmm.”

Putting aside my impressions of the Marlins, Ryan, who is starting pitcher today, seems to be in unusually good condition, as Bruce said.

I know very well when a pitcher makes that kind of expression.

That expression only comes out when pride in one’s pitches and confidence that one can do anything come together.

Did the experience of starting the All-Star Game and watching my left-handed pitching have a psychological impact?

I don’t know. I have no choice but to watch for now.

“Play!”

* * *

Our team’s manager, Benjamin Reynolds, valued mental ability as much as physical ability, as he did when he was with the Warriors.

Perhaps that’s why Benjamin seems to be planning to use all three Marlins alumni in today’s game. It seems he’s expecting some kind of homecoming effect.

1. Antonio Garcia, Designated Hitter
2. Han Su-hyeok, Third Baseman
3. Ty Johnson, First Baseman
4. Chuck Clark, Right Fielder
5. Jim Brown, Left Fielder
6. Bruce Matthews, Catcher
7. Josh Oliver, Shortstop
8. Liam Landman, Second Baseman
9. Kyle Shanahan, Center Fielder

Pitcher: Ryan Thibodeau

Liam Landman and Kyle Shanahan, who were traded from the Marlins, were included in the starting lineup, and pitcher Carlton Bell was ordered to stand by in the bullpen.

It’s unlikely, but in case Ryan falters from the start, or if the score difference becomes too large, he can be brought in immediately.

Whoosh

Bang

“Strike!”

Today, Tony is in front of me, replacing Derek.

Derek, who felt some discomfort during the All-Star Game baserunning, will start the game on the bench.

It goes without saying, but Tony is a completely different type of leadoff hitter than Derek.

If Derek is a dynamic leadoff hitter with quick feet and decent batting power, then Tony is…

Whoosh

Bang

“Ball.”

Despite his batting average being in the low .200s, his on-base percentage is in the high .300s, making him a symbol of working the count [waiting for the right pitch to hit].

The downside is that he’s too slow.

But that’s okay.

Whoosh

Crack!

Instead, he has the power to hit big balls.

“Nice hit, Tony!”

“It’s flying so coolly.”

With leadoff hitter Tony getting on base with a great double to left-center, my first at-bat came around.

It’s a good start.

“Hey, how does it feel to live in a resort? Does it feel like you’re on vacation every day?”

“Well, it’s not bad. The only problem is that tornadoes sometimes occur, but my family is all satisfied because we can live in a warm place all year round. If you ever come here on vacation, you can contact me. I’ll introduce you to some good places.”

Uh…

I don’t know, but when I get that kind of answer to a question that was meant to provoke, I suddenly feel like I’ve become trash.

Okay. Let’s just play baseball.

“Vacation… I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Great, contact me anytime, friend.”

Having gained an unexpected friend, I decided to focus on the battle with the pitcher.

In fact, since they’re in the National League East Division and there’s almost no chance of meeting them in the fall classic, there’s no need to discourage them.

The roof is closed and the air conditioner is on, so the temperature and humidity are just right…

Whoosh

Crack!

Yes, it’s a perfect day to hit a home run.

Wow, it’s flying so coolly.

* * *

From a player’s point of view, playing against a team that has given up on the season is disappointing in many ways.

You keep putting strength into your shoulders when you’re facing rookies, and if you’re unlucky and lose, you’ll suffer a huge loss.

But at least Seattle wasn’t one of those teams today.

[Pitcher Change: Ryan Thibodeau → Carlton Bell]

When our lineup scored a whopping 11 points by the top of the 6th inning, Benjamin immediately took Ryan off the mound and brought in Marlins alumnus Carlton Bell as a long reliever [a relief pitcher who can pitch for multiple innings].

The reason was that he needed rest, as he had pitched in the All-Star Game, even if it was for a short time.

Ryan, who had said before the game that his shoulder felt unusually light, seemed a little disappointed, but he seemed satisfied that he hadn’t given up a single point through the bottom of the 5th inning.

“Damn it, I’m an idiot for coming here with even a little bit of hope.”

“If you’re going to do this, just disband the team, you bastards!”

Perhaps because the game was so one-sided, fans were already leaving the stadium.

I didn’t add another home run besides the home run in my first at-bat.

Instead, I had two doubles and a sacrifice fly, bringing in four RBIs [Runs Batted In].

Hmm,

Liam Landman and Kyle Shanahan, who Benjamin put in as a gamble, met the bench’s expectations by scoring RBIs with a home run and a double, respectively.

The more intense the internal competition, the stronger the team becomes.

I think it would be helpful to actively use backup members in games like this where there is a lot of leeway.

“Han, tell me if you need a break. I’ll take you out.”

“I’m still okay.”

Of course, except for me.

“Then what about your defensive position? Should I switch you to left field?”

“I don’t mind that.”

“Okay, then I’ll move you to a comfortable spot depending on the situation.”

As the score widened, the starting hitters began to leave the lineup one by one, and backup members began to fill their spots.

But I need at-bats, not rest.

The number of home runs I’ve hit so far is 48, and I need 25 more to break the single-season home run record.

If I can maintain my current pace, it’s not an unreachable goal, but that’s how home runs are.

They come out in bunches, but once they start to get blocked, they never come out again.

There was a time in Korea when I only hit three home runs in a month, so I always have to keep that fact in mind.

I haven’t set a firm goal in this big league yet.

Aiming for a championship, MVP [Most Valuable Player award], or Cy Young Award [award for the best pitcher] is something I’ve already done once before the regression, and I honestly don’t have a strong attachment to the team to be obsessed with Seattle’s championship, even though I bought a stake in the team.

So, although it’s a bit lacking to call it a goal,

What’s on my mind right now is Seattle’s World Series appearance and breaking the single-season home run record.

Pitching record?

Honestly, I’m not going to dwell on that too much.

Basically, I think of my identity as a pitcher, but if something goes wrong in a situation where I’m doing both pitching and hitting, it’s likely to be on the pitching side.

Even if I stay in the starting rotation without injury all year round, there’s a possibility that I won’t be able to complete the required innings due to a problem with my body.

Therefore, I’ve put aside my interest in pitching records for now.

If I worry about that too, I might unknowingly overdo it.

I’ll think about pitching-related records after I become a full-time pitcher,

Whoosh

Crack!

“Out!”

“Damn it, thanks, Han. I thought it was completely out of here.”

“Don’t worry, just pitch comfortably, Carlton. It’s an 11-point difference.”

“I know, my hand just slipped.”

“Since the humidity is low, make sure to use the rosin bag enough.”

“Thanks for the advice.”

I briefly talk to him while the next batter comes up.

Considering the loneliness of the pitcher on the mound, it’s very helpful for a teammate next to him to talk to him.

Especially for players like Carlton who want to show their growth in front of their hometown fans.

Whoosh

Woong

“Swing! Out!”

“Nice, Carlton! Keep it up!”

“Those guys are scared. Crush them.”

Come to think of it, at some point, the role of commanding the infielders and coordinating the atmosphere that Josh was in charge of seems to have passed on to me.

Every time that moment comes, I unknowingly open my mouth, and now it feels like the players are subtly looking at me.

What is this, it feels like I’m gradually going back to my Warriors days?

The Genius Pitcher Hides 170km