Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 77

#76. Anyone Else to Pick Up?

One of the highest praises rookie manager Lee Dae-jun receives in the baseball world is for his bold player selections.

Inexperienced managers tend to rely more on external evaluations or objective data rather than trusting their own judgment.

There are several reasons for this.

Either they lack confidence in their own decisions, or they need an excuse when things go wrong.

In that respect, Manager Lee Dae-jun is a bit different.

During his initial interview, General Manager Park Jae-cheol told Lee Dae-jun:

‘What the Warriors need in a manager is… um… just a moment, I think I need a cup of warm tea. What would you like? Coffee? Black tea? Yes, chamomile tea would be good for clearing the mind. I’ve read a paper that it’s good for the skin, and it has a very positive effect on nerve stabilization and sleep. Ah, it reminds me of when I first entered the Big League. I had a hard time with insomnia back then. So, to overcome that, I…’

It was an incredibly long story, but the conclusion was simple.

The Warriors, who were trying to be reborn, needed a revolutionary who could break the existing mold, and a manager who could warmly embrace the players like an older brother.

So, he accepted. He was confident he could do that very well.

Anyway, Lee Dae-jun is very skilled at discovering promising players and pushing them aggressively, and quickly discarding those who won’t make it.

Therefore, even though they were tied to high-priced contracts, he didn’t feel bad at all when he released players like Hwang Seong-min, Song Gi-tae, Han Jin-woo, and Jeong Gi-ho, who were all underperforming.

He is not swayed by reputation and focuses solely on current skills rather than seniority or past records.

So, he gets some criticism from people who prefer traditional methods, but this approach has been quite effective for teams with shallow player depth like the Warriors.

Of course, there are times when they fall into a losing streak, but there was always a clear reason for that.

Like when Han Su-hyeok was suspended, or when key players were injured in succession, as happened during the last three-game series in Busan.

‘Hmm.’

Lee Dae-jun recalled the first game against the Gwangju Jaguars yesterday.

Yang Gi-cheol’s great pitching and Han Su-hyeok’s superb defense prevented a potential scoring surge in the ninth inning, and they succeeded in ending a three-game losing streak. Seo Hyeong-ju also played a big role in that victory.

In fact, the dilemma started there.

A feeling that something was there, but a concern about pushing it too hard without certainty.

“Boss, haven’t you decided on the starting lineup yet?”

“Ah, Benjamin. I’ve made a decision in my mind, but I’m wondering if I’m being too excessive.”

“Hmm?”

Lee Dae-jun, a man in his 40s who went straight from playing in Korean baseball to becoming a commentator and then a manager, and Benjamin Reynolds, a man in his 60s who spent a long time as a manager and coach in the Big Leagues and Minor Leagues.

It has been well over a month and a half since they started working together, but there is still a subtle distance between them.

Whether it’s a language barrier that makes communication impossible without an interpreter, or whether it’s due to the difference in their baseball philosophies, that’s just how it is.

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Of course, Benjamin.”

Nevertheless, the reason why there is no discord between them is that they both have a clear common goal.

A definite goal of winning for the Warriors.

“Let’s hear what’s bothering our boss.”

Considering his career and age alone, they are almost like father and son.

Nevertheless, Benjamin’s words contain respect for the boss.

“While watching Seo Hyeong-ju and Han Su-hyeok’s combo play yesterday…”

“It was certainly impressive. Both offensively and defensively.”

“Yes, watching that made me think. If we put those two together at the top of the lineup, wouldn’t the synergy be amazing…?”

“Hmm.”

“So, I was just writing and erasing 1st Seo Hyeong-ju, 2nd Han Su-hyeok on the lineup sheet. I’m not sure if it’s right to put a batter with an average in the low .100s as the leadoff.”

At Lee Dae-jun’s words, Benjamin smiled faintly as if he understood.

A transitional period that every rookie manager must go through, and he realized that the young boss in front of him was going through that period right now.

“Boss.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve been in the baseball scene for quite a while, but there’s no such thing as a sure path to success in this business anyway.”

“I’m learning little by little.”

“There’s no need to say much. What are you hesitating about? You are the boss of this team.”

At the words of senior coach Benjamin, Lee Dae-jun had a blank expression for a moment, but soon returned to his usual composure.

He felt like his head was clearing up a bit now.

“Thank you, Benjamin. You are truly the best assistant.”

“Don’t mention it.”

* * *

Gwangju Jaguars (Away) VS Seoul Warriors (Home)

Pitcher Mike Campbell

Bottom of the 1st, Warriors attack

1st batter, left fielder Seo Hyeong-ju

└Why is he batting first? Has Lee Dae-jun finally gone crazy? Did he lose it because there are too many injured players?

└A leadoff hitter with a .120 average…

└Falcons fan) Look at them picking up our castoff and using him as their number one

└Falcons fan) You want to put a .100 hitter there?

└Hey, he was your first-round pick. Why are you cursing at him?

└Falcons fan) We just feel sorry for you guys

└Damn it, now we’re getting mocked by the Falcons

4th pitch, hit

Single in front of the left fielder

Runner on 1st base

└?

└???

└?????

└Who cursed at our God Hyeong-ju?

└Which baseball idiot cursed at the Warriors’ next leadoff hitter? Do you want to die?

└Where are all the Falcons bastards who were talking trash earlier?

└ㅋㅋㅋ Why can’t I see the guys who are playing happy baseball after taking away the washed-up Jeong Tae-ho?

└ㅋㅋㅋ Look at these crazy bastards changing their tune

└But the quality of his hits has been no joke, even yesterday

└Is he really coming back to life on our team?

2nd batter, shortstop Han Su-hyeok

└Oh… so it’s Han Su-hyeok with a runner on first and no outs

└God Manager Lee Dae-jun…

└They can’t walk him like this. If they do, they have to face Jo Seong-oh with runners on first and second and no outs

└ㅋㅋㅋ It’s strange. Lee Chang-mo and Choi Min-seok are missing, but it doesn’t feel like there’s a hole

└Those who said Jeong Tae-ho was a waste, bow your heads

3rd pitch, hit

Single in front of the right fielder

Runner on 1st to 3rd, batter to 1st

Runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs

└High-class baseball!

└It feels so comfortable

└I’m a 95-year-old, but it feels like I’m watching Warriors baseball from the 2010s

└I don’t know how many of you guys watched baseball back then

3rd batter, first baseman Jo Seong-oh

└Sacrifice fly! Sacrifice fly! Sacrifice fly!

└Just looking at the captain’s face these days makes me trust him

└Please, no double play!

└But the pitcher’s face over there is so white that it’s almost transparent?

└ㅋㅋㅋ So funny. Transparent then red, transparent then red

Runner on 3rd steals, catcher throws to 3rd, runner returns to 3rd and is safe

In the meantime, runner on 1st to 2nd

Runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs

└?

└What was that just now?

└Seo Hyeong-ju on 3rd pretended to steal, and Han Su-hyeok ran straight to 2nd in the meantime

└Crazy… was that a planned play? I was scared that the runner on 3rd would get caught in a rundown

└It looks like the players just did it on their own? Look at Lee Dae-jun’s expression

└It’s real. Lee Dae-jun looks surprised too

└ㅋㅋㅋ Hilarious

* * *

A thrill runs through my body.

“Boss?”

“Ah, ah, I’m sorry.”

“We need to send a sign to the batter. Should we keep the waiting sign?”

“Um, no. Let’s leave it to the players now.”

The hitting coach, having confirmed the manager’s intention, signaled Jo Seong-oh at the plate to do as he pleased.

In fact, the situation just now was entirely up to the players, or rather, Seo Hyeong-ju’s judgment.

Runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs. Considering that the batter is Jo Seong-oh, even if Han Su-hyeok is fast, there could be a double play.

Right then, Seo Hyeong-ju and Han Su-hyeok were seen exchanging signs.

A double steal, or rather, a play where the runner on 3rd only pretends to run and returns, and the runner on 1st runs to 2nd in the meantime.

Seo Hyeong-ju sent a sign to the bench asking for approval.

Lee Dae-jun nodded as if possessed, and in the end, those two rookies brilliantly fooled the opposing battery [pitcher and catcher] and created a situation with runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs.

‘Crazy.’

Another thrill sweeps through my body.

The combo play of Seo Hyeong-ju and Han Su-hyeok that I saw in yesterday’s game.

Getting inspiration from that and putting the two together immediately returned positive results from the first inning.

This is why I can’t quit baseball.

‘Hmm.’

At that moment, Lee Dae-jun’s mind began to formulate a lineup plan for when Lee Chang-mo and Choi Min-seok returned.

Of course, Seo Hyeong-ju’s name was engraved in the 1st batter position.

* * *

It wasn’t just Manager Lee Dae-jun who was inspired by Seo Hyeong-ju’s play.

I was a little surprised too.

I let him do what he wanted because the bench approved it, but I thought it was a bit risky.

My judgment was based on the fact that the catcher guarding the Gwangju Jaguars’ home base today has a strong arm, and that Seo Hyeong-ju is a rookie in his first year who was struggling with a .100 batting average until just yesterday.

But the moment that guy brilliantly fooled the third baseman, pitcher, and catcher, and the moment I arrived at second base in the meantime.

Smirk.

I couldn’t help but smile.

When that guy blocked the shortstop’s view yesterday, causing a ball that would have been an out to go into the outfield, and when he made a combo play again now to fool the opposing battery.

I started to think that baseball was fun again.

It’s a bit of a sorry thing to say to the other teammates, but I felt a thrilling pleasure in discovering a guy who understood my play and could assist me from the side.

Thwack!

Senior Jo Seong-oh hit a ground ball towards the second baseman, and in the meantime, Seo Hyeong-ju succeeded in scoring, and I succeeded in advancing to third base.

It’s possible that it would have been a double play if not for the steal just now.

Seo Hyeong-ju, who stepped on home plate, approaches Senior Jo Seong-oh, who is smiling contentedly after scoring a run, and acts playfully.

I thought it would take some time for that guy’s skills to fully blossom.

But I think I need to revise that thought a little. If this happens, even if Senior Lee Chang-mo returns, Seo Hyeong-ju might keep the leadoff position.

What on earth makes that guy run so hard, and what on earth makes him so happy?

I don’t know. That’s not what’s important right now.

What’s important is that the Warriors finally have a proper leadoff hitter.

A hitter close to the textbook definition of a leadoff hitter, with the mobility that Lee Chang-mo, who had been the 1st batter, lacked.

Grip

The sense of accomplishment and satisfaction from achieving something makes me clench my fist.

An emotion I didn’t know when I first took over this team.

I never knew that gathering good players, teammates who can support me and run together towards the goal of winning, would be so much fun.

Where… isn’t there anyone else to pick up for free?