Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 50

#49. What Kind of Player Is He?

– …So, what I’m saying is, pitcher Chun Sang-jin is a really good player. He really knows how to handle batters.

– That’s quite the praise, Commissioner Go Dong-sik. Do you expect Chun Sang-jin to continue showing consistent performance in the future?

– Yes, I think so. I’m confident he’ll be a great asset to the Warriors’ starting lineup.

– I see. Then, lastly, what do you think is the reason for the Warriors’ renewed momentum after their losing streak?

– Well, it’s obvious, but Han Su-hyeok’s return is the biggest positive factor. And along with that, the entire team is clearly motivated, which is the second factor.

– What kind of motivation are you specifically talking about?

– Well, to put it simply, the center of the Warriors team right now is Han Su-hyeok, no matter what anyone says. And this player, he’s not paying attention to anything else and is running like crazy just for the team’s victory. So, what about the players next to him?

– Aha.

– Yes, the energy of defeat is contagious, but the contagiousness of the energy of victory is much stronger. Players who used to only think about their own performance, whether the team won or lost, are now thinking about the team’s victory as their top priority. All because of Han Su-hyeok.

– That’s amazing.

– It is amazing. So, I think the Warriors’ early success will continue until the end of the season. Of course, that’s assuming nothing happens to Han Su-hyeok.

*Clack*

I closed the tablet and got out of bed. It’s time to start another day.

What I just watched was a baseball special that aired last night.

I didn’t intentionally look for it. I just clicked on it because I saw the name Chun Sang-jin.

Go Dong-sik, who used to be a Warriors beat reporter but became an anti-Warriors fan due to the former owner’s tyranny, and has returned to being a Warriors fanatic this year, was spitting out praise for our team.

Min Ye-rin and this team seem to have a lot of fans who go back and forth between being anti and fanatic.

Yesterday, Senior Chun Sang-jin’s pitching was really amazing.

It had been a while since I left the mound, but it was impressive enough to remind me of my duty as a pitcher, which I had forgotten for a while.

With his appearance, not only is Manager Lee Dae-jun filling a spot in the starting rotation, but even Director Park Jae-cheol will be smiling with increased uniform sales.

Chun Sang-jin, the appearance of one person is making many people happy.

Of course, our team members, who have gained a reliable starting pitcher, as well.

“Su-hyeok, are you already up? What time is it?”

“Sleep more, Senior. I just couldn’t sleep. I’m going out for a run.”

“Really? Hehe, okay. I’ll sleep a little more then.”

I quietly closed the door and went outside, leaving Senior Choi Min-seok, who I’m sharing a room with at the away game accommodations.

The biggest advantage of this Daegu hotel, which is being used as an away accommodation, is that there is a fairly long and quiet running course that leads from the promenade in the back.

I run slowly along it and think.

What I sympathize with the most from what I just saw is the part about professional players’ motivation, team victory, and personal records.

For a baseball player, the dilemma between team performance and personal records is like an eternally unsolvable problem.

If you’re a player on a top-ranked team that aims to advance to the fall baseball season [playoffs] every year, the situation is a little better. You can aim for both team victory and personal performance at the same time.

But for a team like the Warriors, which is stuck at the bottom, it’s not that easy.

No matter how well I do, the team can’t escape last place anyway, and I need something to put on the salary negotiation table.

A player who experiences that every day can’t help but become selfish.

They swing for the fences in situations where team play is needed, or they run when there’s no need to steal, cutting off the flow of the offense, and so on.

How do I know? I know because I’ve done it.

Damn it.

The Seattle Mariners, where I first played, were a typical weak team.

It was the only existing Major League team that had never been to the World Series, and after the Japanese game company that was the major shareholder left, they lost direction in terms of investment.

I was full of nothing but success as a Major Leaguer, so the result of debuting in such a team was obvious.

When I was pitching, I threw with the mindset that I only needed to manage my ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance], whether the team won or lost.

In the season when I was a two-way player, I aimed for home runs no matter what.

Sabermetrics [advanced baseball statistics] are good, but the only way to make big money in the Major League is to be a home run hitter. In fact, the upper swing I’m using now was created at that time.

It’s ironic when you think about it.

The upper swing that was created solely for personal success is now being used for the victory of this Warriors team.

“Ball!”

“Ball!”

“Ball!”

“Ball!”

“Fuck!”

Thanks to Senior Chun Sang-jin’s unexpected good pitching, we won the first game in Daegu, and in the second game, we barely won 11-10 after a slugfest where both teams exchanged 28 hits.

It’s been three straight wins since I came back. And today is the day our team’s ace, Ryan Stark, faces off against Daegu Buffaloes’ temporary starter.

Everyone expected the Warriors to win.

But as of the bottom of the 6th inning, we are unilaterally trailing the Buffaloes 5-1.

*Crack!*

Ryan, who gave up a walk to leadoff hitter Lee Tae-woong, was hit with another single to right field by Daegu’s second hitter.

A foreign player who has been playing for our team for two years. A pitcher who played a pillar role by recording an ERA of 3.7 even while the team was stuck at the bottom last season.

But despite the team’s improved performance this year, Ryan, the ace, has been recording worse stats than in previous years, with 1 win and 2 losses and an ERA of 4.2 before today’s game. In addition to the visible stats, the detailed indicators are also not as good as before.

Looking at Ryan, whose face is red after sending out two runners on base, I think.

Could it be that this friend also thought that it would be okay if only his personal record was good, regardless of the team’s performance?

Could it be that the team’s improved performance this season is actually acting as a burden?

Of course, this is just my personal guess. Even if it’s true, there’s nothing I can do about it.

He just came to Korea to make a lot of money, and if he underperforms, we can just replace him with another foreign player.

That’s how foreign players usually are.

*Craaaack!*

“···God Damn it!”

With runners on first and second and no outs, Lee Soo-young’s three-run home run exploded, and in the end, we failed to win four straight despite sending out our ace.

Well, there are days like this. I also didn’t make any special achievements other than a double today.

Anyway, that friend seems to be very mentally shaken, I wonder if he’ll be okay.

* * *

“Let’s reduce the practice time from today, Seniors.”

“Huh?”

“Oh? Me too?”

“Not you.”

After finishing the away game with Daegu, we returned home for the home three-game series with Incheon.

On a rest day without a game, Jacob’s personal practice room is filled with the smell of sweat and rough breathing.

Senior Jo Seong-oh and Ahn Chi-wook are participating in my personal training.

I don’t know what the existing Warriors’ physical trainer did, but Senior Jo Seong-oh’s body was almost unmanaged.

Despite his natural strong bones, Senior Jo Seong-oh, who had not received proper management, concentrated on building his body with Jacob for nearly a month, and has now regained a fairly usable physique.

The batting form is also almost completely modified. According to Jacob, all that’s left is to eliminate the subtle resistance to the changed batting form.

Then it’s time to go a little slower now.

Additional training for several hours after the game can be harmful to a veteran in his mid-thirties.

It seems that the basics have been roughly grasped, so now it’s time to think about how to maintain condition during the season.

Of course, Ahn Chi-wook is an exception.

If you’re a hot corner infielder [third baseman] who has difficulty creating long hits due to the batting mechanism, you should honestly hit around .300 to earn your keep. You still have to roll more [practice harder].

I wonder if Director Park Jae-cheol knows that he was going to turn Ahn Chi-wook into a designated hitter and trade for another third baseman.

“You really have to thank me, Ahn Chi-wook.”

“What? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“There’s something like that. You little kid. Stop talking back and add a thousand more tee swings.”

“······”

I first came to this team and met Ahn Chi-wook, and Senior Jo Seong-oh, who was suffering from lethargy, awakened.

All of that seems like just the other day, but April is already coming to an end.

The Warriors are barely holding onto fourth place ahead of the home three-game series against last season’s champion, Incheon Rangers.

To be honest, it’s not a satisfactory result. I’m just full of regret that I couldn’t have done better.

Being the owner of the club and playing as an active player at the same time brings about various dilemmas.

You can see it just by looking at Ahn Chi-wook, who is sweating profusely with his tongue sticking out right in front of me.

Looking at his personality alone, he’s a good guy. And he’s a good friend as a peer.

But looking at him as a player, well…

A batting average of .270 with 3 home runs and 15 RBIs [Runs Batted In].

If you only look at this, it’s a decent record for a rookie.

But he’s already made three errors. Even though I’m covering him so much from the shortstop position right next to him.

I know that this guy has considerable potential as a contact hitter, but when he blows up the game with one error, my insides also explode.

Maybe Director Park Jae-cheol is right. He should turn Ahn Chi-wook into a designated hitter and bring in a proper third baseman.

That might be easier for that lacking peer of mine for the time being. If he gets rid of the burden of defense, he can hit with a slightly lighter heart at the plate.

Nevertheless, I want Ahn Chi-wook to survive as a third baseman. For this team, and for himself.

Because I know what will happen to a hitter who is only twenty years old, doesn’t have long hitting power, and loses his defensive position.

“Don’t spread your elbows, fix your torso, don’t lift your chin.”

“Huff, huff.”

“Do it right. You have to do it right even if you do it once to have an effect. Don’t just waste time.”

“Hey, hey. Su-hyeok. You’re going to catch a kid [be too hard on him]. Let’s stop here today. Huh? I’ll treat you to a late-night snack.”

“Senior, just a moment. That guy’s not basic…”

“Hey, let’s stop.”

I was frustrated and blurted it out without realizing it.

If Senior Jo Seong-oh hadn’t stepped in to stop me, maybe even harsher words would have come out.

“Chi-wook, you stop too and go wash up. Let’s go eat something delicious. Huh?”

“······”

Ahn Chi-wook became acutely depressed, perhaps noticing that my mood was not the same as usual.

Well, I was going to stop here anyway.

“Senior, if you really want to eat a late-night snack, don’t bother going anywhere and just go to my house nearby.”

“Huh? Should we?”

“Yes, hey, Ahn Chi-wook. Don’t be discouraged because you heard something, come quickly. A man, tsk tsk [tut-tut, a disapproving sound].”

“Me, what did I do?”

“That’s it. Haa… I have to be patient because I’m older.”

“What are you saying… I’m older on my birthday.”

I was momentarily upset, but when I saw the guy with a face like a country dog ​​hit with a broom by Halmang [grandmother], my heart melted without me knowing.

Well, when I think about it, he might be doing well for a rookie. Maybe my standards are just too high.

“Let’s buy a few cans of beer here. You’ll drink it, right, Senior? What about you, Ahn Chi-wook?”

“Oh! Really? Can I have a drink today?”

“Just one can of beer each.”

“Hehe, hey, Su-hyeok. But what about the snacks? Even if it’s just canned beer, it’s been a while since I’ve had alcohol, so there should be snacks. It’ll ruin your stomach if you drink on an empty stomach.”

“No. I have a lot of snacks at home. Let’s just buy this and go.”

“Really?”

I bought three cans of beer at the supermarket in front of the apartment and came home.

*Click*

“Come on in.”

“Oh, it’s the second time today. Wow, when I think about it, the housewarming party I postponed is still valid, right?”

“Yes, well, I said I’d do it anyway, so I have to set a date.”

“Okay. The kids have all been waiting, so I have to set a date. By the way, the snacks…”

“Here you go. It’ll warm up quickly.”

“What is this?”

A fresh pot with a built-in heating function was placed on the table.

The two people who were thinking of jerky or peanuts as beer snacks looked at me with wide eyes.

“It’s a royal hot pot.”

“I know that… Why is this at home? Who made it? It looks like you haven’t even touched it?”

“The woman next door…”

“Aha!”

Only then did Senior Jo Seong-oh look at me with narrowed eyes, as if he understood.

I think I know what he’s trying to say, but this is…

“It’s not that, haa… Never mind. Just eat it.”

“But is it okay for us to dare to touch this? Didn’t she give it to you to eat alone?”

“Don’t worry about it, just eat it. Food is just food. Hey, Ahn Chi-wook. Have a drink too.”

“But will this one be enough?”

“Drink sparkling water if you don’t have enough.”

The royal hot pot that Min Ye-rin, who has recently become interested in learning royal cuisine, brought began to boil with a plausible smell.

Royal hot pot with canned beer… It didn’t seem to fit well, but the rich soup eaten while feeling the cold wind coming from the veranda was quite plausible.

So, how much time has passed while drinking a sip of beer and passing a spoonful of soup without saying anything?

Around the time when the body, which had been hardened by the still chilly night wind, slowly melted.

“By the way, Jun-yeong is starting tomorrow.”

“Senior Im Jun-yeong?”

“Yes, that guy. He’s throwing better this year. Ugh, how do I deal with that guy tomorrow?”

“But what kind of person is Senior Im Jun-yeong?”

Im Jun-yeong, the young ace who supported the Warriors’ dark days with Senior Lee Man-sik.

The former ace who showed tremendous loyalty to the Warriors but eventually had to leave the team in vain due to Hwang Seong-min and Song Gi-tae.

A national-level pitcher who is likely to advance to the Major League when his contract with Incheon expires this season.

The story of that pitcher, who will meet our Warriors as an enemy tomorrow, was put on the table.

“Jun-yeong…”

Senior Jo Seong-oh’s eyes became moist just by mentioning the name Im Jun-yeong.

“Um… I’m just asking in case, but is there something wrong with Senior Im Jun-yeong?”

“Work? No, what work? I sent him a DM this morning too? He said he wouldn’t go easy on me tomorrow.”

Well, I’m glad if that’s not the case.

I thought something had happened because his eyes were so faint.

* * *