Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 358

#357. The Glorious Days

“Hehehe……”

“…Grandpa?”

“Hehehehe……”

“Grandpa?”

“Hehe, yes. Roy. I heard you. Dinner? Alright, I’ll come down.”

“Ah, that’s a relief. I thought something was wrong with you, Grandpa……”

“Come on, Roy. I may be old, but I’m not there yet.”

“I was worried because you weren’t saying anything and just kept laughing.”

“It’s just, hehe, this is something, I can’t stop laughing. Just thinking about yesterday’s game.”

“Are you that happy?”

“Of course, I’m happy! It’s not just any team, but we crushed those Yankee bastards, so of course, I’m happy. I told you, 29 years ago, when I was about your father’s age, how much they tormented us.”

“Yes, you’ve told me more than ten times.”

“Right, Roy… Hooo, let’s go eat quickly and offer a prayer for him. For the best player God has given us for our Mariners.”

The grandfather and grandson of the Morgan family, who had supported the Seattle Mariners for three generations, held hands tightly and offered a prayer of gratitude for Han Su-hyeok.

[American League’s top team vs. second-place team, Seattle’s complete victory 13-0, shattering expectations of a close game]

[Han Su-hyeok renews his highest velocity once again, throwing a 109 mph fastball against James Taylor in the first inning, remaining in Major League history]

[Where are the limits of humanity? Experts say, “Considering Han Su-hyeok’s current physical condition and future potential for development, the 110 mph barrier will soon be broken.”]

[7 innings, 80 pitches, 17 strikeouts, no runs allowed, a perfect game, and Han Su-hyeok’s outstanding performance with 4 hits and 4 RBIs, including a home run. “Some said Seattle would collapse like in 2001. Of course, I could bet everything that the reporter who wrote that article is a Yankees fan. We are a perfectly prepared team. We will definitely advance to the World Series.”]

[Yankees’ ace Tyson Barsham collapses in the first inning, refuses interview requests, and disappears from the stadium]

[New York Yankees manager after the loss, “I have nothing to say. I’ll forget about today’s game quickly and prepare for tomorrow’s second game.”]

[PHOTO: Seattle fans celebrate their first Championship Series victory in 29 years, their own festival continuing all night long]

[Championship Series Game 2, Seattle’s other ace Ryan Tibo vs. Yankees’ right-handed sidearm Dwayne Young scheduled for a starting match]

* * *

“That Andrew is definitely a monster. 9 innings, 2 runs against the Dodgers… hmm.”

“Considering the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th game starters, it’s going to be tough for the Dodgers.”

“That’s right. The Cardinals are strong as always. Don’t you think so, Ty?”

“Alright, let’s stop watching other people’s games and get up, friends.”

In the Seattle Mariners’ clubhouse, during the National League Championship Series Game 1 (which started a day later than the American League), Andrew Davis pitched a complete game with 9 innings and 2 runs allowed, and the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the LA Dodgers 4-2, taking the first win.

St. Louis’ ace Andrew Davis.

This season, he pitched 239 innings with an ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of runs allowed per game] of 2.01, 21 wins and 6 losses, a WHIP [Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched, a measure of baserunners allowed] of 1.02, and a WAR [Wins Above Replacement, a comprehensive statistic measuring a player’s overall contribution] of 8.01, another monster.

Without anything else to say, the Seattle hitters’ minds became complicated by the pitching of the monster ace, who was certain to win the National League Cy Young Award [Award given annually to the best pitchers in each league].

If they were to meet the Cardinals in the World Series, the first pitcher they would face would be him.

“Damn, there are too many monsters in this world, don’t you think?”

“That’s right. How are ordinary people like us supposed to live?”

The Seattle starting players, who should clearly be called geniuses when it comes to talent, grumbled with sincerity.

They were right.

This season, there were too many players in Major League Baseball who put up monstrous numbers.

Monsters who put up numbers that even the big leaguers, who are geniuses among geniuses, shook their heads at.

Including Andrew Davis, who was mentioned earlier, Yankees’ starting first baseman Lucas Anderson, who they would be facing today, and even Ryan Tibo, who plays on the same team.

The numbers they put up were so incredible that even other big leaguers shook their heads.

“What are you guys whispering about?”

“…Damn it, you monsters. Especially you are the worst.”

“Hmm?”

Of course, the best of them was Han Su-hyeok.

As Han Su-hyeok, who had gone to the bathroom, stood in front of his locker, the faint tension that had been lingering in the Seattle team disappeared in an instant.

That’s right.

There are so many monsters in this big league that they can’t even dare to look up to.

But,

So,

What does it matter?

The best of the best, who even makes those monsters shake their heads, is their teammate.

Han Su-hyeok was the kind of presence that boosted his teammates’ morale just by existing.

“Alright, everyone. It’s time to screw over the Yankees again. No need for long speeches, right? Then finish preparing and let’s see each other on the field.”

The Mariners players jumped up from their seats at the manager’s words.

Three wins needed to advance to their first-ever World Series.

To fill in that one missing piece.

* * *

Paang

“Base on balls, batter to first.”

The New York Yankees, who were in a sense of crisis that the series could end if they lost today’s game as well, rushed in with all their might.

The Yankees scored the first point with James Taylor’s leadoff double, Lucas Anderson’s advancement hit, and Jack Haines’ sacrifice fly.

Dwayne Young, the Yankees’ second starter, who recorded 15 wins, 3 losses, and an ERA of 3.01 this season with his experienced game management (although his pitches were less powerful than Tyson Barsham, the starting pitcher in the first game), successfully blocked Seattle’s attack in the first inning.

1-0, with a one-point lead continuing, Seattle’s attack in the bottom of the 2nd inning.

After Bruce Matthews got on base with a double after two outs, Dwayne Young sent 8th batter Liam Landman out on purpose without any hesitation.

[9th batter, shortstop Josh Oliver]

The Seattle Mariners, who earned the nickname of the artillery corps by recording double-digit home runs for all starting hitters.

To face the 9th batter, who is called the only weakness of that powerful lineup.

Taktak

Josh Oliver, who entered the plate, looked at the pitcher with a firm expression.

A season batting average of 0.231, an on-base percentage of 0.298, a slugging percentage of only 0.317, 2 home runs, and 37 RBIs.

Even considering the position of shortstop, the batting indicators are too dismal to be seen as a starting player on the American League’s top-ranked team.

There were many different opinions within Seattle about Josh Oliver.

Although there is nothing to expect in terms of hitting, considering his solid defense, it would be okay to have a hole in one position, while others said that the shortstop position should be reinforced to build a dynasty.

Josh’s heart was indescribably devastated every time he heard those words.

He loved this team.

He wasn’t a fan of this team since birth like Ryan, but he had a strong attachment to this team as he had grown up in the Seattle farm [Minor league system for developing players].

That’s why he wanted to stay.

No, he wanted to show them. That he deserves to wear the Mariners uniform.

But the reality was harsh. The batting performance he recorded this season was no different from previous years, and the shortstop replacement theory was gaining more and more momentum.

Paang

“Strike!”

What makes Josh even more pathetic is Han Su-hyeok’s shortstop defense, which he has shown a few times during the season.

He, who was the best shortstop in Korea, showed tremendous defense that didn’t match his massive size, making Josh Oliver cringe.

Someone says.

If Han Su-hyeok can play as a shortstop, hitter, and starting pitcher from next year, wouldn’t it be better to sell Josh Oliver and bring in a middle relief pitcher?

Ttaak!

“Foul!”

Is it because of his confused mind, or is this the limit of his skills?

He pulled the ball coming into the zone with all his might, but it became a foul that was far off the foul line.

What makes him even more difficult this season is the attitude of other team pitchers towards him.

Since Han Su-hyeok is holding out at number 2, the pitchers are doing their best to face Josh in order to avoid sending a runner in front of him.

He couldn’t even expect the carelessness of the 9th batter.

The pitchers’ all-out pitching to catch him somehow made Josh Oliver even more difficult.

The pitchers’ mindset of looking down on him while trying to catch him for sure, literally trying to make him a scapegoat.

Paang!

“Ball.”

Josh barely calmed down the bat he almost swung and thought.

Okay, if this club is trying to kick him out to build a true dynasty,

He will have no choice but to accept it. That’s the world of professionals.

But,

He doesn’t want to be kicked out like this pathetically.

He was also a promising player who was once called a genius.

From some point on, he focused on shortstop defense, and his weakness in hitting became even greater, but he was also a player who was called a strong hitter in college.

Even though the game was in progress, Josh Oliver’s eyes slowly closed.

To recall the feeling of that time that he had forgotten for a long time.

To remember the voices of the fans chanting his name after hitting a home run.

Seureuk

The closed eyelids reopened, and the face of the opposing pitcher entering the pitching motion was clearly caught in his eyes.

Ball count one ball two strikes.

It’s a situation where he would normally wait for the ball passively, or focus on cutting it off,

He aims.

Remembering his glorious past a long time ago,

Buung

Josh’s bat stretched out powerfully,

Ttaaak!

Met the trajectory of the 95 mph fastball thrown by Dwayne Young at one point.

“Huh? Huh? Huh! Huh! It’s going, it’s going!”

“Wooaaah! Josh!”

“Damn it, I believed in you! I believed in you! I believed you could do it!”

“Josh Oliver! The best shortstop in Major League Baseball!”

The batted ball containing everything of Josh Oliver did not fly as far as Han Su-hyeok’s.

He hit it with all his might, but it was only enough to slightly cross the left fence.

But that didn’t matter at all.

The cheers of the Seattle fans who had been watching Josh Oliver for a long time covered T-Mobile Park, and Josh, with tears flowing down his face, ran around the diamond at a fast pace.

“Good job! Josh, you showed them!”

“Those damn Yankee bastards must have been surprised!”

While receiving congratulations from his teammates, Josh Oliver prayed.

There will be moments in baseball that are so difficult that it is hard to bear, but I hope that I can remember this moment every time.

To gain the courage to take one more step forward in the darkness where you can’t see an inch ahead.

* * *

[Ace-level second starter Ryan Tibo and Dwayne Young’s starting match, Seattle Mariners’ narrow victory 3-2, successfully defending Josh Oliver’s three-run home run in the bottom of the 2nd inning]

[Seven intentional walks allowed to Han Su-hyeok and Ty Johnson, New York Yankees sink as they allow a home run to the unexpected Josh Oliver]

[Ryan Tibo, who pitched well with 8 innings and no runs allowed in the Division Series and 8 innings and 2 runs allowed in the Championship Series Game 2, “No matter what anyone says, our team’s shortstop is Josh Oliver. I received a lot of help from him on the mound this season. The home run he hit today was one of the coolest home runs I’ve ever seen.”]

[Han Su-hyeok’s scolding in response to a Yankees reporter’s question about shortstop replacement, “Why are you asking me that? If you say that one more time, I will ban you from entering the clubhouse.”]

[Seattle Mariners Fan Club, “Not everyone can be Han Su-hyeok, and there’s no need to be. Josh has contributed a lot to the team in his own way as a starting shortstop this season. We support him.”]

[Yankees manager, who lost both games in which the 1st and 2nd starters pitched, “We…” unable to continue speaking]

[If one place is blocked, another place explodes, Seattle’s lineup with the strongest cohesion and explosiveness… challenges the greatest lineup in Major League history]

[The 3rd game, which will be moved to Yankee Stadium after a day of rest, puts everything on the shoulders of knuckleballer Mike Warren VS young gun Shaquil Leonard]

[Shaquil Leonard, who was once Seattle’s top priority for acquisition, but after being traded to the Yankees, he became a public enemy, saying that he would have been very disappointed if he had gone to Seattle]

[Why did Seattle, who was worried between Mike Warren and Shaquil Leonard, choose Mike? Mariners general manager Daniel Mitchell, “To be honest, Han Su-hyeok’s advice played a big role. He said. Mike is a much better pitcher than Shaquil.”]

[Shaquil Leonard, who came across the interview article, was furious, “I will definitely show them on the mound. And I will make them regret not choosing me.” No comment on the question of whether he remembered saying that he was glad he didn’t go to Seattle]