Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 71

#70. Three Outs

It’s no exaggeration to say that the lives of modern people in complex environments are defined by choices, from beginning to end.

Should I get up now, or sleep a little longer? Should I eat breakfast? Wash my hair? What should I wear? Bus or subway? I’m a little late, should I grab coffee? What’s for lunch? Jjajangmyeon [black bean noodles]? Jjamppong [spicy seafood noodle soup]?

Just thinking about it is exhausting. Life truly is a series of choices.

But among all people, a baseball manager’s existence is particularly defined by choices.

Counting the number of choices in baseball is reckless and meaningless, but if you had to, basing it on the number of pitches thrown would be reasonable.

After all, every play starts with the pitcher.

The total number of pitches thrown by a team’s pitchers against opposing batters up to the 9th inning is at least around 120, and can approach 200 in a long game with many pitchers.

Every time a ball is thrown, the dugout must make agonizing choices.

Tell the batter to wait? Instruct the runner to take a longer lead? Try a steal? And so on.

And when the offense and defense switch, you face the same choices from the opposite perspective.

In other words, being a professional baseball manager means making as many choices as the sum of the pitches thrown by both teams in a game. At least 240 times, up to 400 times.

This is getting long, but the point is this.

“Boss, should we get Yang ready?”

“Hmm….”

The Warriors’ attack in the top of the 9th ended scoreless. The leadoff hitter got a hit, but subsequent hits failed, and the rally died.

Some Magicians players showed excitement, attempting to break unwritten rules. Manager Lee Dae-jun called captain Jo Sung-oh to calm them down.

‘Whatever you’re thinking, now’s not the time. Are you going to cause a bench-clearing brawl and ruin Mansik’s record? Let’s finish today’s game first. Make sure those excited guys understand.’

‘Yes, manager.’

Having restored order, Manager Lee Dae-jun realized a crucial choice was at hand.

Bottom of the 9th, final defense, the score is 2-0, a two-run lead.

On the mound is the team’s oldest pitcher and Korean ace.

He’s thrown 105 pitches, but his stamina is holding up.

One walk allowed, and still no hits.

You can’t take out a pitcher in the middle of a no-hitter. Lee Man-sik will pitch the 9th.

The problem is the next pitcher.

Yang Ki-cheol, the newly appointed closer, is the most reliable option.

Should I get him ready?

I’d like to entrust the entire game to the veteran and let go. Say, ‘It’s all up to you, win or lose.’

But that’s not possible. If we win, we sweep our Seoul rivals, the Magicians, and solidify 3rd place.

“First, get Ki-cheol ready.”

“Yes, boss.”

The pitching coach relayed the instructions to the bullpen.

Now it’s the manager’s time. If Lee Man-sik’s no-hitter is broken, he has to choose.

Even if the no-hitter is broken, a shutout is huge.

Especially for a veteran who has carried this team through dark times.

Even if he gives up a hit, should I watch? Even if we give up a run, should I let him continue? A complete game win would be great, right?

Several egos battled within Manager Lee Dae-jun’s mind.

While the mental conflict raged, Lee Man-sik warmed up on the mound.

Finally deciding, Lee Dae-jun told the head coach beside him.

“I won’t take Mansik down until we give up the tying run.”

“That’s a good choice, boss.”

* * *

I feel strange.

Why does Lee Man-sik, older than me and whom I call ‘hyung’ [older brother or male friend] since he came to my house, look so small and pathetic from behind?

It’s like…

Seeing a friend’s frightened face waiting for a vaccination when I was a kid?

Hmm.

I may have pretended not to know, but I realize it now.

Because a drunken spectator shouted as Lee Man-sik walked to the mound for the bottom of the 9th.

“Mansik! Go for the no-hitter! I’ll buy you something delicious!”

I clearly saw Lee Man-sik’s shoulders flinch.

Okay, this complicates things, but also simplifies them.

The pitcher is conscious of his record? Then the fielders have one job.

Shout ‘fighting’ louder than usual so he doesn’t feel alone, and move a little harder.

“Fighting!”

“……?”

“Uh, fi, fighting!”

“Fighting!”

I think this is the first time I’ve led the ‘fighting’ chant since joining the Warriors.

Is that why? The seniors, bewildered at first, soon joined the chant with determined expressions.

It’s really nothing.

Three people.

Yes, three outs, and everything is complete.

Lee Man-sik’s great record, sweeping the Magicians, and solidifying 3rd place.

Of course, these three outs will be much harder than the outs we’ve gotten so far.

Looking around, my teammates’ faces are tense.

Okay, I need to pull myself together.

“Ahn Chi-wook, even if you fumble the ball, don’t panic and make the second play. You have a good arm, so it doesn’t matter.”

“Okay.”

“If a batted ball comes between us, leave it to me. I’ll handle it.”

“Alright.”

Because of the situation, even Ahn Chi-wook just nods without saying much.

Okay, the preparation is complete. Now it’s time.

“Play!”

The Magicians’ final attack started with the 8th batter.

The batter, up at an important moment, carefully chose his stance with a determined expression.

His head must be spinning.

Carefully choose the ball? Swing from the first pitch?

Try a surprise bunt like the last batter?

There’s no right answer.

One thing is certain: whatever he chooses, he’s responsible for the result.

“Strike!”

Lee Man-sik got the first strike.

That’s why experience is important.

Even knowing he was in the middle of a no-hitter because of a drunken spectator, Lee Man-sik fearlessly threw a fastball down the middle, unfazed.

142km/h, his fastest fastball today. He must have been pacing himself, now he’s putting everything into it.

Lee Man-sik’s biggest advantage is his stamina, allowing him to reach his highest speed in the 9th, along with his guts and experience.

“Ball!”

The second pitch was a fastball outside.

A fastball in this situation, barely exceeding 140 km/h.

I admire Lee Man-sik’s choice.

It’s such a fun game, win or lose.

That’s why I can’t quit baseball.

Tick

“Foul!”

This time, a slider in the zone. The surprised batter swung and barely made contact.

“Ball!”

A disappointing pitch.

Choi Byung-man held off on a changeup that dropped sharply, and the umpire called a ball.

The umpire is also being cautious, knowing a great record is in progress.

Two balls, two strikes.

If you think about personal records, it’s okay to throw another ball. Since the perfect game is broken, a walk is better than a hit.

However, the veteran chose the team’s victory over his own record.

He powerfully threw a fastball into the farthest outside zone for the left-handed batter.

Ttaaaak!

The batter swung powerfully, as if he knew the ball would be there.

The batted ball flew towards the left field line. Normally, it would be a double.

But.

Ttaak.

“Out!”

Left fielder Kim Soo-hak, having 미리 [preemptively] shifted towards the line, easily caught the ball.

It’s a victory of strategy. It was predicted that Choi Byung-man would push the outside ball, so a shift was made.

Looking towards the dugout, the manager and defense coach are high-fiving and smiling.

The defense coach, who had felt out of place when the other Korean coaches were replaced by General Manager Park Jae-cheol, seems to be settling in.

One of the three outs needed for the great record is filled.

Two left.

“Fighting!”

The infielders shouted ‘fighting’ at Jo Sung-oh’s lead.

Now, luck, along with skill, has to be on our side.

“Pinch hitter!”

A pinch hitter replaced the 9th batter, the weakest hitter.

Thomas Campbell, the Magicians’ foreign hitter, had been out with a minor injury.

As a foreign player who mainly plays first base and outfield, he had the best hitting stats among the foreign hitters before the injury.

Of course, he has weaknesses. If he didn’t, he’d be in the MLB, not the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization].

He’s strong against fastballs, and hits outside low balls, which foreign players struggle with.

He’s weak against breaking balls like curves or changeups that have a speed difference from fastballs.

The problem is that Lee Man-sik’s fastball isn’t powerful enough to make those changeups stand out.

“Ball.”

And another problem is the fear of something big.

He is a strong hitter.

If Thomas gets a hit, the no-hitter and shutout are gone, and we’re only up by one run.

That would be terrible for the veteran who values the team’s victory over his record.

“Ball.”

Was it fear?

Suddenly, Lee Man-sik’s control faltered and he walked him.

The Magicians’ second runner reached first base.

The opposing dugout became busy. A fast runner pinch-ran for Thomas, and Lee Ha-young, the long-haired left-handed closer who had been injured but returned to the first team today, warmed up.

If this inning ends in a tie, Lee Ha-young, the Magicians’ closer, considered the best in the league, will pitch.

“Ball.”

The shaky control caused problems again. That’s how sensitive pitchers are.

Yang Seon-woo, the number 1 hitter, considered the best leadoff hitter in terms of eye judgment, walked and advanced to first base.

Instantly, it was one out, 1st and 2nd.

Now, it’s not about records, but a situation where a home run can lead to a comeback.

The Magicians pulled out another pinch hitter.

Veteran left-handed hitter Lee Ho-young, once the Magicians’ star, but pushed out of the lineup, but too good to be just a pinch hitter.

Perhaps the most difficult veteran hitter to face in this situation.

When he appeared, Jamsil Baseball Stadium was silent.

And thick drops of sweat dripped from Lee Man-sik’s forehead.