Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 324

#323. We Are the Red Sox

Alex Davis, a veteran with five Cy Young Awards and the best career among active players; Rafael Silva, a next-generation ace raised in the Boston farm system; Brian Bailey, the 2025 Cy Young winner acquired from the San Francisco Giants; and Andy Dixon, traded from the Miami Marlins.

Although the aging of ace Alex Davis is a slight concern, the Red Sox, whose pitching staff is considered one of the strongest in the league, lagged behind the Yankees due to a weak batting lineup.

Center fielder Jack Rogers, the leadoff hitter; right fielder Matt Keph, who usually bats second; and Jerry Wagner, who bats third, are all excellent.

The problem is that the batters behind them are a bit lacking.

In that sense, Jerry Wagner felt the previous off-season [stove league] was a great pity.

It wasn’t bad to reinforce the pitching staff, but what if he had brought in Ty Johnson and Han Su-hyeok as a package with that money?

Then, the strongest team in the Eastern Division this season would have been the Red Sox, not the Yankees, Jerry thought regretfully.

“Play!”

With Seattle taking a one-point lead thanks to Han Su-hyeok’s leadoff home run, Ty Johnson stepped up to the plate as the second batter.

A true giant representing this era, with a height of over 2 meters [approximately 6’7″] and a physique to match.

“Ty, that guy should seriously aim for golf. To hit that ball and get it over the Green Monster [the nickname for the 37-foot high left-field wall at Fenway Park].”

“Hehe, Alex must have been very surprised. You should go and comfort him.”

“I think I should. So, can you please strike out quickly? Before Alex starts crying.”

“That’s a very desirable nonsense.”

Jerry, who exchanged light jokes with Ty Johnson, took his catching stance again.

It’s a batting lineup that’s daunting to see.

A batter with a .400 average who has hit over 60 home runs comes in as the leadoff, and right behind him is a giant with the best career among active players.

Thinking that it’s against the rules for such players to bat 1st and 2nd, he sent a sign to the pitcher through the pitch comm [pitcher-catcher communication system].

Fortunately, the pitcher on the mound today is not a rookie, but Alex Davis, who boasts a career comparable to Ty Johnson in terms of pitching.

This means that he is not a pitcher who will be shaken by just one leadoff home run.

‘A slider that flows to the outside.’

A weakness of Ty Johnson that was discovered during the three-game series at the beginning of the season.

Of course, this player with a great career showed a miracle of overcoming that weakness during the game.

Nevertheless, the first pitch Jerry requested was an outside ball.

Whoosh

Paang

“Ball.”

Ty Johnson is a veteran who has spent 15 years in the big leagues, playing over 600 at-bats every year.

After all, any shallow tricks will be under his calculations.

So, he focuses on the place where he has the highest probability of winning.

It’s a head-on match in a slightly different sense.

“It won’t be easy this time, Ty. Alex’s ball is still amazing.”

“That’s right. Definitely. But not as good as my bat.”

“Nice words.”

Both the pitcher and the batter are veterans.

Therefore, what the catcher can do at this moment is to step back so as not to interfere with the match.

Although the speed has dropped a lot, Alex’s fastball still contains the power of time.

The ball has strength at the end, making it difficult to hit, and even if you do hit it, it’s a ball that doesn’t produce many long hits.

After exchanging signs several times, Alex threw the second ball towards Ty Johnson.

The two veterans’ moves collided at one point.

Whoosh

Ttaak!

“Third!”

“Faster! A little faster!”

The third baseman caught the batted ball, which was about to escape along the third base line, with a diving catch.

Ty Johnson sprints to first base with all his might.

The running speed, which was classified as top-class in the league, has all disappeared before the years, but his steps, running at full speed, contained his will to win the game.

“Safe!”

A safe was declared by a narrow margin, and the Boston manager, who was about to request a video review, hesitated again at Jerry Wagner’s gesture.

In Jerry’s view, it was a timing that would result in a safe anyway even if a review was done.

Following the leadoff home run, another bases loaded situation came again.

As Derek Fleming, the team’s original leadoff hitter, stepped up to the plate with a swaggering posture, Jerry Wagner couldn’t help but sigh.

“Damn it, what a terrible lineup.”

* * *

In the top of the first inning, Seattle succeeded in scoring two runs with Han Su-hyeok’s leadoff home run, consecutive hits from Ty Johnson and Derek Fleming, and Antonio Garcia’s sacrifice fly.

Fortunately, the pitcher on the mound was Boston’s ace and veteran, Alex Davis, so they were able to stop it at that level.

If it had been an inexperienced pitcher, Seattle’s momentum would have been so strong that the game might have been completely blown away in the first inning.

“It’s okay, the first inning has just passed. We can score two points as much as we want.”

“Jerry is right. Let’s all cheer up.”

Amidst the cheers of Boston fans, who still occupy more than two-thirds of the entire audience even though fans from other teams are mixed in, the Red Sox’s counterattack in the bottom of the first inning began.

Jack Rogers, Boston’s assault captain, who recorded a batting average of 0.350, an on-base percentage of 0.469, 25 home runs, and 29 stolen bases last season, stepped up to the plate.

“Play!”

Ryan Thibodeau, who had his shoulders lightened by two points, shook his head at the catcher’s sign.

‘Let’s start by getting a strike first.’

‘A strike from the first pitch? Hmm, good. Friend. Then…….’

A two-seam sign was given that 걸쳐 on the outside course, and Ryan nodded up and down.

The two-seam fastball, which showed a sinker-like movement while accepting Han Su-hyeok’s advice, flew towards the farthest outside of the batter.

Ttaak

“Foul!”

Jack Rogers’ sharp swing followed the ball, but it grazed the end of the bat and went foul.

Ryan, who got the first strike as he wanted, smiled faintly and waited for the next sign.

‘Splitter on the body side, as low as possible.’

If Han Su-hyeok had been the pitcher on the mound, the order would have been more specific.

Like throwing a splitter that comes in as if brushing the lowest part of the strike zone and then plunges into the ground.

But unfortunately, Ryan is a good pitcher, but he doesn’t have as much control as Han Su-hyeok.

Therefore, Bruce’s sign was to throw it as low as possible, even if it became a ball.

Ryan, who nodded, threw the second ball in a cautious posture.

Whoosh

Paang

“Ball.”

“It’s a swing!”

“No, it didn’t turn.”

The umpire, who asked the third base umpire for his opinion, shook his head with a firm expression, and Bruce quickly agreed and sat down.

It doesn’t matter. Bruce knew very well that the bat didn’t turn properly.

This is just a gesture to help the pitcher on the mound and to reduce the batter’s momentum.

One ball, one strike.

It might be okay to throw one or two breaking balls, but when facing a batter with both contact ability and eye like this, you need to be a little more daring.

If a breaking ball to blur the batter’s eyes doesn’t work, the ball count may become unfavorable.

Then,

‘Cutter, to the center of the zone, as low as possible this time too.’

A cut fastball that comes into the center and curls towards the left-handed batter’s body.

Ryan, who nodded, threw the ball with all his might. And at the same time, Jack Rogers’ bat turned powerfully.

Ttaak!

The bat broke, and the weakened batted ball rolled towards third base.

A batted ball that rolls slowly, almost like a bunt,

At that moment, Han Su-hyeok’s voice was heard from behind Ryan.

“Get out of the way!”

Ryan reflexively bent his knees and sat down on the spot, and Han Su-hyeok, who was running from behind, caught the ball with his bare hands and threw it to first base as it was.

“Out!”

“Damn it! They handle that so easily?”

“That’s a real crazy guy! Damn it! Why couldn’t we bring in a guy like that!”

Han Su-hyeok said, picking up Ryan, who was sitting down.

“If it’s hard to deal with, just hit him once and run behind me.”

“Hehe, I’ll think about it.”

“Good.”

* * *

If the Yankees’ lineup is an image of a star corps whose splendor can be felt just by hearing the name, Boston’s lineup was composed of players who felt a strong bond formed over a long period of time.

That bond grabbed Ryan’s ankle.

Ttaaaaak!

“Yes! That’s it!”

“It’s just the beginning! Hit it over! Let’s catch up!”

Matt Keph, Boston’s number 2, hit Ryan Thibodeau’s splitter and created a double that directly hit the Green Monster.

It was a tricky batted ball that could have been a triple if left fielder Jim Brown hadn’t handled it calmly.

In that way, a situation of 1 out and runner on 2nd base was created, and Jerry Wagner, Boston’s star batter, stepped up to the plate.

“Hey, Bruce.”

“What.”

“Don’t forget that we had a fair match in Han Su-hyeok’s at-bat earlier. I mean, don’t run away [avoid pitching to me].”

“Fair? Throwing the ball on the ground and saying it’s fair?”

“Anyway, it became a home run, right? And in the meantime, we broke the record of those Yankees who we don’t want to see. So, how about we make a deal? You bet against me here instead of a walk [intentional walk]. Then I’ll bet against Han Su-hyeok in the next at-bat. How about it, a deal?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. How can I trust you.”

“Come on, friend. Try to cultivate some more humanity. Living in such anxiety and doubt is not good for your health.”

“Okay, friends. Let’s stop talking nonsense and play baseball. If you two have more to say, go on a date separately after the game.”

The useless conversation between the two teams’ starting catchers was interrupted by the umpire’s arbitration.

After all, it’s just useless trash talk that doesn’t contain even 1 milligram of sincerity.

1 out and runner on 2nd base, there is no reason to have a head-on match with Jerry Wagner, who is one of the top batters in the league, in this situation.

‘Cutter that goes to the outside.’

Nod

The reason why Han Su-hyeok and Ty Johnson recorded this level of performance this season was because there were batters like Chuck Clark, Jim Brown, and Antonio Garcia who silently supported them from behind.

The reason why Boston’s scoring production is staying in the mid-upper ranks despite having the league’s top 1, 2, and 3 batters is because the batters supporting them are not yet fully ripe.

It couldn’t be helped.

Boston, which has maintained the league’s top-class power for a long time, did not have enough time to raise rookies.

Anyway, at this point in time, Bruce had no intention of betting against Jerry Wagner at all.

Whoosh

Paang

“Ball.”

The cut fastball that went further and further to the outside.

Jerry, who watched the ball without moving, said to Bruce.

“Are you really going to do this?”

“If you’re upset, bring Lucas Anderson or something.”

“Who? Lucas? Oh my god, do you want a war between the Yankees and us?”

More meaningless trash talk was exchanged several times, and the second ball was fired from Ryan’s hand.

Whoosh

Buung

“Swing!”

The ball, which looked like a fastball coming into the center of the zone, suddenly dropped in front of the home plate and plunged into the ground.

Jerry’s bat, which was coming out to match the fastball trajectory, cut through the air, and a smile formed on Ryan’s lips.

“Damn it, I got caught.”

“It’s a great ball. Isn’t it?”

“I admit it.”

Jerry, who bit his lower lip tightly, took his batting stance again.

It was the same until last season, but this season, Ryan has become a really difficult pitcher to deal with.

The ball just now was a really ideal splitter that was almost impossible to distinguish from a fastball.

‘Then…….’

The opposing battery [pitcher and catcher] that has no intention of having a head-on match with him.

It’s obvious what kind of ball will come in this situation.

A ball that flows to the outside, or a ball that sinks low on the body side.

Suddenly, the swing that Han Su-hyeok showed in the previous at-bat came to Jerry’s mind.

‘Can I do it?’

Jerry, who ran several simulations in his head, subtly placed the center of his body behind him without anyone noticing.

Hoping that a low-pitched ball on the body side would come in.

And,

Whoosh

The moment another splitter thrown by Ryan dug into that spot,

Ttaaaaak!

Jerry’s upper swing, which followed Han Su-hyeok’s, met the ball at one point.

“Yes! That’s it!”

“Go! Go! Go!”

The batted ball that Jerry hit did not fly as far as Han Su-hyeok’s.

But the big batted ball that split the left-center field was enough to bring in Jack Rogers, who was on second base.

“Safe!”

Jerry, who hit a great hit that made the score 2 to 1 from 2 to 0, shouted loudly on second base.

“We can do it! Because we are the Red Sox!”