Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 356

#355. Playoff Bracket Confirmed

What does someone who’s been pushed out of an organization desire most?

It would be hearing something like, ‘We shouldn’t have let you go. We needed you.’

[Javier Castillo’s Grand Slam in Dramatic Moment Prevents Philadelphia Phillies’ Three-Game Sweep]

[Powerful Top Two Starters, but Dodgers Feel Absence of Starting Pitcher to Support Them, Fail to Win Three Straight]

[Dodgers Fans: “We Shouldn’t Have Let Mike Warren Go Like That. We’re Sick of the Front Office’s Stupidity. This Team Always Spends Money Weirdly.”]

[What if Mike Warren, Who Recorded a 3.85 ERA with 13 Wins and 7 Losses After Transferring to Seattle, Was Here? The Dodgers’ Postseason Would Be a Little Easier]

The Division Series Game 3 between the LA Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies, which just ended, concluded with a 10-7 victory for the Phillies by three points.

The LA Dodgers had a slightly tougher season than expected due to a lack of starting pitchers, and this weakness was evident in the postseason as well.

Mike Warren was pushed out due to a power struggle with starting catcher Tegan Burkhead and skeptical evaluations as a knuckleballer, leading to his transfer to Seattle.

Mike Warren, with his morale boosted by the voices of his old fans who missed him, finished his pitching preparations and stepped onto the field.

To secure his grateful team’s three-game winning streak and their first Championship Series appearance in 29 years.

* * *

– Steve, the teams advancing to the league championship are slowly taking shape.

– That’s right. In the National League, the St. Louis Cardinals were the first to secure their spot in the Championship Series with a three-game sweep. While their rivals, the LA Dodgers, were held back by the Phillies.

– Once again, Mike Warren’s trade was a nightmare for the Dodgers and a blessing for Seattle. It’s not easy to find a starter who can perform at that level with such a low salary.

– And the Dodgers even included salary assistance in the trade conditions, didn’t they? Dodgers fans have every right to be furious. It wouldn’t be a crime to throw a bomb at the team office.

– Well, looking at the games that have already finished, as we mentioned, the Cardinals advanced to the Championship Series with a three-game sweep, and the Dodgers were held back by the Phillies. And the LA Angels, who were on the brink of elimination after two consecutive losses, secured a win with Lee Chan-ho’s dramatic walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth.

– Thinking about it, the performances of the Korean players this season are quite impressive. Han Su-hyeok goes without saying, and the Angels’ Ryu Han-gyeol and Lee Chan-ho are also performing beyond their salaries, right?

– Should we say it’s thanks to that? More Korean players are expected to enter the Big Leagues next year. Some of them are already receiving love calls from many Big League teams.

– Well, let’s talk about that again after the postseason is over, and today, let’s start by watching the third game between Seattle, who are challenging for their first Championship Series appearance in 29 years, and Oakland, who are on the brink of elimination. We’ll be back after the commercial break.

* * *

The Oakland Athletics, tired of the poor city infrastructure and the city government’s indifference, planned to relocate and were actually using Las Vegas Ballpark as their temporary home.

However, after Oakland belatedly came to their senses and actively courted them, and due to some problems that occurred within Las Vegas, they were confirmed to return to Oakland. They were now playing their final Division Series game in a home stadium filled with opposing fans.

A small baseball field in Las Vegas with a capacity of only about 10,000 people.

It was occupied not by Oakland fans, but by Seattle fans who had traveled from the distant Northwest.

Passionate fans who had gathered to witness their team’s glorious moment with their own eyes.

“Damn it, to think we have to play such a meaningful game in this tiny stadium, there’s nothing I like about these guys.”

“The league office needs to reflect. Why are the 3rd and 4th games being played in the lower-ranked team’s stadium?”

“Forget it, let’s quickly crush those damn bastards and start the celebration!”

Spectators holding placards with the names of Han Su-hyeok and other players who had been active as starters this season continued their enthusiastic support without even sitting down.

And the Seattle players responded with their best plays.

Starting with Bruce Matthews’ home run in the top of the 2nd inning, followed by Ty Johnson’s double that brought in Han Su-hyeok, who had walked on purpose in the top of the 3rd, and then Antonio Garcia’s three-run home run after Han Su-hyeok and Ty Johnson’s consecutive walks in the top of the 5th.

While Seattle scored 5 points, starting pitcher Mike Warren delivered a flawless performance, allowing only one solo home run to Julio Peña.

It wasn’t just Seattle fans who were thrilled by Mike’s outstanding pitching.

The community where Dodgers fans gathered was also buzzing.

└ So, they practically gave that kind of pitcher to Seattle for free, even providing salary assistance?

└ That damn general manager, he must think he’s really great because the media keeps praising him… This trade alone is enough reason to fire him.

└ What’s really frustrating is that Mike’s performance this season might be the low point of his career as a knuckleballer. They say that knuckleballers don’t decline with age, but rather get better and better.

└ Damn it, if we had that guy, we’d be in the Championship Series right now, preparing to face those cuckoo birds.

└ It’s not just the general manager’s fault. Tegan Burkhead, that son of a bitch who hasn’t recorded a single hit in this postseason, created the atmosphere to drive Mike Warren out, right?

└ What’s really pathetic is that we don’t have a pitcher we can trust to start in the 4th game either. Where did this team spend all that money?

Amidst the Dodgers fans’ cries of despair, Mike Warren’s outstanding pitching continued.

In the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings, Oakland’s batters fell like leaves in the wind to his knuckleballs.

With Seattle leading 5-1, Han Su-hyeok, who had reached base on purpose in all four previous at-bats, stepped up to the plate in the top of the 9th.

“Now, even the word ‘cowardly’ feels like a waste. The word ‘cowardly’ doesn’t quite express you guys adequately.”

“…….”

“If you’ve already given up on the game, just hurry up and finish it roughly and get out of here, you bastards.”

Desmond King didn’t even have the strength to respond to Han Su-hyeok’s sarcasm.
The pitcher was even paler than that catcher.
The ball released from his fingertips showed no spirit at all, and,

Thwack!

Han Su-hyeok, who had enjoyed the feel of the hit after a long time, threw his bat high into the sky and raised his hands in celebration,

Everyone in the stadium, and everyone watching the game on TV, jumped to their feet.

They knew without having to be told.

That this was the moment when the Seattle Mariners would secure their spot in the Championship Series.

* * *

[Seattle Mariners Defeat Oakland Athletics 6-1 in Division Series Game 3, Securing Their First Championship Series Appearance in 29 Years]

[Seattle’s Third Starter Mike Warren Determines Team’s Championship Series Advancement with Dazzling Pitching, 9 Innings, 1 Run Complete Game: “I’ve been playing baseball for quite some time, but I think today is the most shining moment in my baseball career. I dedicate this honor to the coaching staff who trusted me and gave me important tasks, the fans who supported me until the end, and my colleagues who are always a reliable source of strength.”]

[Han Su-hyeok, Who Succeeded in 100% On-Base Percentage with 4 Walks and 1 Home Run: “I think the combination of powerful rookies and experienced veterans is important to become a good team. Fortunately, our team has good veterans like Mike Warren, Ty Johnson, and Adam Murphy who can be role models for other players.”]

[Seattle Mariners Record 3 Consecutive Wins in Postseason Following 25 Consecutive Wins at the End of the Regular Season, Which Team Will Stop Them?]

[American League Seattle Mariners, National League St. Louis Cardinals, With Two Teams Advancing to the Championship Series Confirmed, Baseball Fans’ Attention Focused on the Dodgers and Yankees’ Moves]

Having secured our spot in the Championship Series early with a three-game sweep, we were able to take a not-so-short break of three days.

After going to the stadium in the morning and afternoon to complete a simple training program, I returned home and sat in front of the TV again.

“Oppa [Korean term for ‘older brother’ used by females], here you go.”

“Hmm, the main ingredient in this is… carrot?”

“Yes, I put carrots and this and that, everything that’s good for you. Hehe.”

While I downed the unidentified juice that Yerin gave me in one gulp, the Division Series Game 4 between the LA Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies, which had been going on for three hours, finally came to an end.

The Dodgers, trying to make up for their leaky starting lineup with their batting power, and the Phillies, relying on their advantage in the starting lineup to hold on.
The winner of the long and arduous game between the two teams was the Dodgers.

“Then… maybe we could meet the Dodgers in the World Series?”

“Well, maybe?”

I fully understood what she wanted to say without having to hear the rest of her words.

She must be thinking of Tegan Burkhead, who played a decisive role in Mike Warren’s transfer and had once clashed with me.

I’ve beaten up so many guys this season that there’s more than one guy I’ll turn red in the face if I meet.

And not all of them will grovel on their own like Desmond King.

There are more than a few guys with their heads full of muscle, and those guys might provoke me again.

Well, it shouldn’t happen, but if it really does?

Well,

I’ll leave the rest to my teammates and completely destroy that bastard first…….
Hmm.

“Oppa, it’s starting.”

“It is.”

I put down the dumbbell I was holding for a moment and leaned back on the soft sofa.

To watch the last remaining Division Series game, the 4th game between the New York Yankees and the LA Angels.

The match between Rafael Rodriguez, the Angels’ starting pitcher who had shown decent performance this season, and Shaquille Leonard, who changed his uniform from Milwaukee to the Yankees.

Looking at the name value alone, Shaquille Leonard, who was expected to become the next-generation ace of the National League, had the upper hand, but…….

Thwack!

In the bottom of the 1st inning, Lee Chan-ho, who had been flying high since the postseason, hit a two-run home run against that guy.

“That hyung [Korean term for ‘older brother’ or ‘older male friend’ used by males] is on fire. His sense is really good.”

“I think so too. But Shaquille Leonard looks a little strange, doesn’t he?”

“Hmm.”

Shaquille Leonard’s physical condition seemed to be somewhat abnormal even to Yerin, who was not a baseball expert.

Perhaps the glass body problem that I warned Director Daniel about was slowly becoming prominent.

He kept shaking his head as if he was uncomfortable every time he threw a ball, and his fastball speed had clearly decreased compared to the beginning of the season.

I focused on the game, thinking that many things had changed due to my regression, but some things remained unchanged.

Thwack!

The starting pitchers of both teams showed signs of anxiety from the 1st inning.
The game turned into a slugfest, and the score was tied at 7-7 until the bottom of the 8th inning, entering the top of the 9th inning.

And soon, another crisis struck the Angels.

James Taylor, the next-generation star who transferred from Tampa Bay to the Yankees, hit a huge double, and Lucas Anderson walked, creating an instant situation with no outs and runners on first and second.

The card drawn from the Angels’ dugout in crisis was,

[Pitcher Change, Alon Defworth Out, Ryu Han-gyeol In]

It was Ryu Han-gyeol, who had started in the Wild Card Game 1 and the Division Series Game 1.

“Oh, Ryu Han-gyeol. Didn’t he throw a lot of pitches in the first game? He only had three days of rest.”

“Knowing that hyung’s personality, he probably volunteered to pitch…….”

With Ryu Han-gyeol’s career, the manager couldn’t have forced him onto the mound. In the end, this appearance meant it was his choice.

Thus, Ryu Han-gyeol, the best left-hander Korea has ever produced, who became known as the breadwinner of his family in both Korea and the United States,

stepped onto the mound to resolve the team’s crisis.

Whack!

– Out!

Whoosh

– Swing! Out!

The ace, who had volunteered to pitch for the sake of the team and the fans who were in despair, struck out the Yankees’ key hitters, Jack Haynes and Troy Buckley, in succession.
The 45,000 fans gathered at Angel Stadium jumped to their feet and gave him a standing ovation.

But,

Thwack!

The ace’s struggle, who had taken on so much this season, was only up to that point.
The moment the ball hit by the Yankees’ 6th batter, Greg Joseph, grazed the first baseman’s glove and went out to the outfield, the ace’s head, who had risked everything for the team, dropped to the ground.

There was no reversal.
The Yankees, who finally gained the upper hand in the top of the 9th inning, brought in Justin Zavala, known as the league’s best closer, and succeeded in perfectly blocking the bottom of the 9th inning.

“What do we do… I think Ryu Han-gyeol is crying…….”

“Hmm.”

A bitter thought came to mind.

That person became a clearly better player than in the original history due to my regression.

But ironically, he is still struggling like that without any connection to a championship ring, both now and then.

It can’t be helped.

It’s just,

I’m concerned about the fact that he, a good senior with the same nationality and a great work ethic, is so sad.

“I’m going to work out in the basement for a bit. Yerin.”

“Aren’t you done practicing? Then what about dinner?”

“I’ll hit some balls for an hour and come back up. Please wait a little longer.”

“Okay, go ahead, Oppa. I’ll warm up the stew for you on time.”