Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 80

#79. Just Play Baseball

The moment of a showdown where no one can help. It’s a pure test of skill and strategy.

The thrill of your card defeating your opponent is incomparable. It’s a rush of validation.

The joy of reading the opponent’s intentions, and the exhilaration of crushing those intentions. It’s a mental game of chess.

Once you get addicted to it, there’s no way out. The allure is too strong.

The reason why we can’t easily escape when we fall into games or gambling is probably the same. The high is addictive.

Suwon, a strong team sitting in 2nd place in the season standings, right above the Warriors. They’re a formidable opponent.

They are particularly weak against the Warriors, or more precisely, against Han Su-hyeok, but still, the opposing team’s ace is starting. This adds another layer of challenge.

In many ways, Manager Lee Dae-jun, who started the game in an unfavorable situation, clenched both fists when Jo Seong-oh’s squeeze bunt scored the second point just now. He felt a surge of hope.

The card he played not only hit the mark, but it also judged and acted on its own to create a score. It was a perfect execution.

This was the most ideal team form that Lee Dae-jun envisioned. A team that anticipates and adapts.

“Yes!”

“Boss…?”

“Hehe, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

When Lee Dae-jun jumped up from the bench, the head coach sitting next to him looked at him with a puzzled expression. He was caught off guard by the sudden outburst.

Perhaps he thought the manager was upset that the 4th batter bunted without a sign from the bench. A reasonable assumption.

But not at all. Lee Dae-jun was ecstatic.

He’s actually dying to praise Jo Seong-oh. He wanted to shower him with accolades.

Considering Choi Kyung-jae’s habit of frequently using reverse-spin balls, Jo Seong-oh’s batting mechanism is more likely to produce ground balls than fly balls. Considering the defensive skills of the Suwon infield, it’s not easy for the 3rd base runner to get home. The odds were stacked against them.

That’s why the thirty-five-year-old veteran batter chose the safest way to bring Han Su-hyeok home. He opted for the sure thing.

It’s not that he was afraid to swing, or that he ran away because he didn’t want to take responsibility for the result. It was a calculated decision, not cowardice.

“Good, well done. Captain, come here! Here, have a drink first. Su-hyeok, you have one too!”

“Thank you! Manager!”

“Good, you’re the reason I live. Hehe.”

Han Su-hyeok, who hit a 3-run hit and came home, is also lovely, but at this moment, the captain, who perfectly embodied the baseball philosophy that Lee Dae-jun envisions, is so admirable that he’s going crazy. He was bursting with pride.

Lee Dae-jun thought that baseball is ultimately done by the players. The game belongs to them.

That was partly due to the influence of his mentor who taught him, but more than anything, it was because he acted that way during his active career. He believed in player autonomy.

Not like now, where the coach gives signs directly from the dugout according to the data every time a pitcher throws a ball, adjusts the defensive positions, and controls the players’ plays one by one, but a real baseball where the players move on their own. He longed for a more organic game.

Some may say it’s old-fashioned, or that it doesn’t fit the trend of the times, but Lee Dae-jun’s thoughts were different. He saw value in the old ways.

If everything is controlled from the dugout and the players only follow, the results may be good right away. No, they will be good. Short-term success is likely.

However, Lee Dae-jun thought that such a method could create A-class teams and A-class players, but it could not create a dynasty that could dominate the league, or a superstar who could control the game alone. He believed true greatness came from freedom.

That’s why Lee Dae-jun leaves the players free to move on the ground. He wants them to think, judge, and act on their own. He encourages independent decision-making.

It’s okay to fail. After all, there’s no guarantee that you’ll succeed even if you play according to the dugout’s signs. Failure is a learning opportunity.

The authority to play is with the player, and the responsibility is with the manager, himself. He takes ownership of the team’s performance.

Lee Dae-jun’s managerial philosophy was gradually being completed in that way. He was shaping his vision, one game at a time.

* * *

“Out!”

The Warriors’ long first inning attack finally ended. The Suwon defense held.

Choi Kyung-jae, who struck out senior Jang Deok-soo with five pitches, lowered his head and returned to the home team’s dugout. He was focused and determined.

Senior Jang Deok-soo, who had a season batting average of 0.269, an on-base percentage of 0.348, a slugging percentage of 0.421, and 6 home runs and 30 RBIs until the at-bat just now, has been experiencing some difficulties in hitting recently. He’s been in a slump.

His batting average has risen by nearly 3푼 [a Korean unit, approximately 0.003] and his slugging percentage has also risen by more than 2푼 after wearing glasses, but it seems that there is a physical problem. Something is hindering his performance.

Of course, he is a natural strongman and has good flexibility, so he doesn’t get injured easily, but he has been wearing a mask since Hwang Seong-min was kicked out, except for one game he missed due to suspension, so it can’t be helped. The catcher’s mask is taking its toll.

Considering that his batting order has been raised to 5th due to the team’s circumstances, it’s even more so. The pressure is mounting.

In fact, from a long-term perspective, senior Jang Deok-soo should sometimes be taken out as a designated hitter, and another catcher should wear a mask instead, but… A change might be beneficial.

Hmm.

To be honest, Yong Ji-hoon, our team’s backup catcher, is closer to a 1st baseman than a catcher. He’s not a natural behind the plate.

The 2nd team battery coach is currently looking for a backup catcher with his eyes on fire, but well, it seems faster to bring him in through a trade. The search is urgent.

Knowing that, Warriors fans cursed the club, not Jang Deok-soo, who struck out. They blamed the management for the lack of depth.

└Isn’t this team crazy? Are they trying to go through the season with one catcher?

└What is the owner doing? What has he done besides bringing in Han Su-hyeok?

└He brought in Seo Hyeong-joo too

└That’s Park Jae-cheol’s achievement

This feels a bit unfair. The criticism stings.

Anyway, regardless of the fans’ reaction, the backup catcher problem should be resolved as soon as possible. It’s a pressing issue.

By the way, senior Cheon Sang-jin, who is starting today, looks unusually refreshed. He seemed energized.

“Senior, you look like you’re in good condition today.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. The club assigned me a power analyst, so my work has been greatly reduced. Yesterday, I watched something other than baseball on TV for the first time in 3 years.”

He watched something other than baseball for the first time in 3 years? That’s dedication.

I’m crazy about baseball too, but not to that extent. I have other interests.

Even last night, I watched a music show that Min Ye-rin used to be on for a while… He had a soft spot for her.

Hmm.

Well, that’s beside the point. Focus on the game.

“Anyway, Su-hyeok, I’m counting on you again today.”

“Anytime.”

When I see this senior, that saying comes to mind. He embodies the spirit of the game.

-The baseball game starts from the moment you wake up. It’s a lifestyle.

That’s right. In short, it means that all the time from the moment you wake up until you fall asleep again is a continuation of the game for the player. Baseball is all-consuming.

Who said that?

Reginald Martinez Reggie Jackson. A baseball legend.

Reggie Jackson, a legendary hitter who was inducted into the Hall of Fame and is also famous as Barry Bonds’ cousin, said that. He understood the dedication required.

Perhaps Cheon Sang-jin is a person who follows that saying even better than Reggie Jackson, who left that saying. He lives and breathes baseball.

What’s amazing about this person is not just his passion for baseball. He’s also a star.

Just walking towards the mound makes the female fans scream. His presence is captivating.

“Kyaak!”

“Sang-jin oppa [term used by younger women to refer to older male friends or brothers]!”

“I came from Daegu to see oppa! Over here! This way!”

I also have quite a few female fans, but senior Cheon Sang-jin’s appearance, who has delicate features like an elf mixed-race, as someone said, and looks a bit delicate for an athlete, seems to have properly stimulated the hearts of women. He has a unique appeal.

They said on TV. He has the most attractive appearance to women among domestic athletes in history. He’s a heartthrob.

Good. This is good for the team.

I can hear the sound of uniform sales going up from here. His popularity translates to revenue.

Anyway, senior Cheon Sang-jin, who has recorded an ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance] of 3.62 with 3 wins and 1 loss in five games since debuting on the first team stage at the end of April, has now become a pitcher who can give trust to teammates and fans. He’s a reliable player.

“Okay, everyone, fighting!”

“Fighting!”

Cheon Sang-jin went to the mound, and the infielders took their positions one by one. Seeing Ahn Chi-wook’s profile, nagging naturally comes out. He couldn’t help but offer advice.

“Be careful when matching the bounce of the ball today because the ground is wet.” The conditions are tricky.

“Okay.”

“And Hyeong-joo said earlier?”

“Said what?”

“He said that after watching you receive fungo [a baseball drill where a coach hits balls to fielders] today, he thinks you’re definitely going to make one error.” He was teasing him.

“…Just you wait. I’m going to flatten the nose of that guy who’s playing and eating in the outfield.” He was ready to retaliate.

3rd baseman Ahn Chi-wook and center fielder Seo Hyeong-joo. They have a playful rivalry.

They bicker whenever they meet eyes, but they are rivals and friends who are the first to run out if one of them gets hit by a beanball. Their bond is strong.

Sometimes when I see them purely burning with a competitive spirit and taking care of each other, I get envious. He admired their youthful energy.

Although they look like the same age as me, I, who have already lived the life of thirty-five, often can’t understand the emotions of those pure twenty-year-old youngsters. He felt a generational gap.

That’s why I take a step back and look at them. He observes them from a distance.

Those two guys complain that my gaze makes them feel bad, but. They were aware of his scrutiny.

What can I do if they just feel like nephews to me, no matter how hard I try to see them as peers? He saw them as younger and more naive.

Living a second life is sometimes enjoyable and sometimes painful. It’s a complex experience.

Living while always considering who I am and how I should act is not as easy as you think. It requires constant self-awareness.

Perhaps the only time I can live without worrying about anything is when I’m hitting and running on the ground. Baseball is his escape.

* * *

‘Today the ground is… not in good condition. The outfield is also like that.’ The field conditions were less than ideal.

Due to the rain that fell until this morning, the ground condition is not as good as usual. The stadium management team is working hard to maintain it, but it will inevitably have an impact. It would affect the game.

But Cheon Sang-jin decided not to worry too much. He chose to focus on what he could control.

Sometimes when he stares somewhere with indifferent eyes, I get goosebumps without realizing it, but in fact, he is a catcher Jang Deok-soo who is kinder than anyone else to his teammates. He’s a supportive teammate.

1st baseman Jo Seong-oh, who may be the best in terms of defense among the 1st basemen of the 10 clubs. A defensive stalwart.

3rd baseman Ahn Chi-wook, who still sometimes shows 불안한 모습 [anxious appearance] but still covers his lacking defense with a strong shoulder. He compensates for his weaknesses.

Choi Min-seok, who is showing witty defense using his still fast feet even after moving from center field to left field, in fact, he has a wastefully good defense for a left fielder. He’s overqualified for the position.

And right fielder Max Walker, who has a major league-level shoulder that can throw the ball to home plate without a bounce, although his speed and ball judgment are at an average level. His arm strength is exceptional.

They are all good fielders. A solid defensive team.

But the real ones are different. The core of the defense.

‘2nd baseman Lee Chang-mo, shortstop Han Su-hyeok, center fielder Seo Hyeong-joo.’ The heart of the team.

Cheon Sang-jin thinks that the center line is the best that he can be proud of even if he combines the entire 10 clubs. He had immense faith in them.

The moment he realized that, Cheon Sang-jin started researching ways to induce the ball to the center as much as possible, even if it meant changing his pitching rotation. He tailored his strategy to their strengths.

Adjusting the speed of the fastball according to the batting form and the bat speed of the day, or throwing the ball to the body side after tilting the batter’s balance to the outside, and so on. He was a strategic pitcher.

Of course, Cheon Sang-jin doesn’t know that the center line is a combination of two former major leaguers and one future major leaguer, which is virtually a foul in the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization], but he is just doing it instinctively. He was unaware of their exceptional talent.

“Play!”

While Cheon Sang-jin was savoring each of the fielders who would protect his back, Suwon Commander’s 1st batter Ahn Tae-gyu stepped into the plate. The game was about to begin.

‘Shortstop Ahn Tae-gyu, right-handed hitter. In the early days of his debut, he swung his bat boldly regardless of the ball count, but from the third year, Suwon’s leadoff hitter suddenly had his eye for pitches opened, he can push and pull regardless of the course, and he sometimes bunts on the first pitch. Fans flocked to SNS [Social Networking Services] and told him to practice hitting body-side balls, but he immediately blocked them with a fiery personality. Recently, he has been immersed in online games and plays ranked matches with his friends every night. He hates being called a 병신 새끼 [a derogatory Korean term, roughly translating to ‘idiot’ or ‘moron’] who is so bad at the game. How much he has been cursed in the game, his fiery personality has recently crossed the line.’ He was easily provoked.

All searches for Ahn Tae-gyu are over. He had gathered all the necessary information.

These are the data extracted with the staff specially assigned to Cheon Sang-jin by the power analysis team. The team provided valuable insights.

It seems like a lot, but only one thing was useful. One detail stood out.

The fact that Ahn Tae-gyu, who already has a quick temper, has been driven into a corner even more by repeated ranked match losses recently. He will probably be easily annoyed due to lack of sleep. He was vulnerable.

Then shake him up. Exploit his weakness.

There is one ball that is most suitable for this type of hitter. A specific pitch would be effective.

‘Nod’ A signal to the catcher.

Cheon Sang-jin, who gave a sign to Jang Deok-soo first, slowly started pitching. He began his windup.

The new coach of the Warriors slightly touched the pitching form that he had to learn alone in the neglect of the old coaches. He had refined his technique.

A method of sometimes throwing the ball so that the hitter doesn’t know whether it’s a fastball or a breaking ball by bringing the release point the same as needed. Deception was key.

A method of deliberately making a difference in the release point to confuse the opponent at times. Varying his delivery.

Mixing those two. Combining consistency and variability.

In fact, it’s not easy. You could lose your center trying to add diversity. It was a challenging approach.

‘Cheon, this is not a coercion, but a recommendation. If you want to take it one step further from here, let’s try it.’ The coach offered guidance.

‘I will listen carefully, coach.’ He was eager to learn.

‘Good, if you keep all the release points constant, the hitter won’t know what the next ball will be. Then they can only take a predictive hit, or a hitting method that responds on the spot depending on the situation.’ The coach explained the strategy.

‘I understand, coach.’ He grasped the concept.

‘Good. We’re going to mix one more thing here. Keep the release point constant like that until the first and second at-bats, but from the third at-bat, make a difference in the release point between the fastball and the breaking ball. Then what do you think will happen to the opponent?’ Adding another layer of complexity.

‘They’ll be confused.’ The desired outcome.

‘That’s right. And at the decisive moment, change the pattern again. Returning to the same release point. Of course, it’s not easy. You could lose your balance. How about it, would you like to try it?’ A high-risk, high-reward strategy.

Cheon Sang-jin was sincerely enjoying the time he spent with the coach. He valued their collaboration.

It will take a lot of time to follow the coach’s teachings, but the fact that he is discussing baseball with someone who understands him so well was so enjoyable. He appreciated the mentorship.

Cheon Sang-jin slowly started his windup. He prepared to deliver the pitch.

The fastest ball he could throw from his fingertips, which was being refined little by little with the coach, was fired like it was being launched. The pitch was unleashed.

Swoosh

“Ugh!”

“Ball.”

A fastball that came into the body side of the left-handed hitter, as if it would hit the body. A threatening pitch.

The moment Ahn Tae-gyu was about to get angry at Cheon Sang-jin’s first pitch. He was about to lose his temper.

“Don’t do it.”

“What…?”

“I don’t know what you’re going to do, but don’t do it. I don’t want to get suspended again.” Jang Deok-soo intervened.

“……”

“Just play baseball. Just play baseball.” He urged him to focus on the game.

Jang Deok-soo, who suppressed the batter who was about to jump onto the mound with one word, threw the ball to Cheon Sang-jin with a calm expression. He maintained his composure.

The batter, whose face was red and couldn’t do anything, and Jang Deok-soo, who was holding out his catcher’s mitt towards him as if nothing had happened. A tense standoff.

Cheon Sang-jin smiled without realizing it at the sight. He found the situation amusing.

It’s fun. He was enjoying the challenge.

Cheon Sang-jin was sincerely enjoying this moment when he could throw the ball he was thinking of to his heart’s content. He was in his element. He was free. He was playing baseball. He was home.