On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 175

-It looks like it will be a game where neither team can afford to back down.

-That’s right.

-Then, if you were to pick one player from each team to watch out for tomorrow, who would they be?

-For the Scorpions, it would be leadoff hitter Hwang Gi-deok, right? He’s the best runner and leadoff man in the league. Conversely, for the Goats, I would pick Seo Il-hyeok.

-Not Song Seok-hyeon, but Seo Il-hyeok? Is there a reason?

-Everyone knows that Song Seok-hyeon’s throwing ability is already number one in the league. In fact, when Song Seok-hyeon was the catcher, even Hwang Gi-deok couldn’t move his feet easily. But now, Seo Il-hyeok is the catcher. Seo Il-hyeok is also a good catcher, but if you ask if he has a strong enough arm to stop Hwang Gi-deok’s speed, it’s hard to say.

-So, you’re saying that Hwang Gi-deok’s speed will be key to tomorrow’s game, and even this three-game series?

-Yes. In the end, the key is Hwang Gi-deok. He’s been showing overwhelming skill since his debut, hasn’t he? There aren’t many people in the league who can stop Hwang Gi-deok.

Director Lee Geon-hoo turned off the TV.

Director Lee Geon-hoo’s reflection was visible on the black screen.

“A genius…….”

Director Lee Geon-hoo changed into casual clothes and left the room.

Director Lee Geon-hoo, stopping by the convenience store on the way back, stopped abruptly.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The sound of something cutting through the wind.

Director Lee Geon-hoo followed the sound to its source.

The sound was coming from the hotel parking lot.

“What are you doing here?”

“Ah, Director.”

A man put down his baseball bat at Lee Geon-hoo’s voice.

The man in black sportswear was Hwang Gi-deok.

“It’s 새벽 [dawn]. Aren’t you sleeping?”

“I was going to practice a little more and then sleep.”

Director Lee Geon-hoo reached into the plastic bag and tossed a can of drink to Hwang Gi-deok.

“Drink that and go inside.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Before leaving, Director Lee Geon-hoo turned around and asked Hwang Gi-deok.

“Were you making such a fuss under the moonlight because you didn’t get a hit today?”

“……I’m sorry, Director. I’ll do well tomorrow.”

“If you’re worried about tomorrow’s game, get more sleep. Conditioning is the top priority for a professional.”

“Yes. Thank you for your concern.”

Before going up to the hotel, Director Lee Geon-hoo took out a cigarette and smoked it in the alley next to the hotel.

Red dots and gray smoke spread through the night streets.

“A genius…….”

* * *

The next morning.

Song Seok-hyeon rubbed his eyes and got into a taxi.

The taxi driver immediately recognized Song Seok-hyeon and asked for a handshake.

“Song Seok-hyeon! Right? I’m a Goat fan, a huge fan.”

“Ah, hello. Thank you.”

“I’m so happy to see you playing these days. Oh my, where did such a lucky charm come from?”

The driver with snow-white hair hummed a song all the way to Jamsil [a district in Seoul known for its sports complex, including a baseball stadium].

“Have you always been so good at baseball?”

“I’m also working hard.”

“Hey. Sports are about talent, pure talent. You can’t do it if you don’t have talent! You can do it because you have innate talent. Who doesn’t work hard? There are guys who can do it even if they work hard, and there are guys who can’t.”

“Ah…… Haha. Yes.”

“Your parents must be so proud they don’t even need to eat. You’re the king of Jamsil, the king of Jamsil!”

When he arrived in Jamsil, the taxi driver suddenly took out his cell phone.

“Can I take a picture? I want to watch the game, but I can’t because I’m working. I’ve only been listening to the radio all the time, so it’s my first time seeing a baseball player in person.”

“Yes, of course.”

“Thank you. My daughter is also a fan these days.”

When Song Seok-hyeon took a picture, the taxi driver thanked him and declined the taxi fare.

When Song Seok-hyeon took out cash, the taxi driver raised his voice.

“I took a picture, so what’s the money for? If you really want to, hit another home run today, huh?”

Song Seok-hyeon ended up getting out because of the taxi driver’s stubbornness.

Song Seok-hyeon, looking a bit awkward, bowed to the departing taxi.

“Huff.”

Song Seok-hyeon scratched his head and headed to Jamsil Stadium.

After greeting the security guards and front desk staff who recognized Song Seok-hyeon one by one, he entered the locker room.

“Hmm?”

“Oh? You’re here?”

“Hello. Hyung [older brother or senior], are you already here?”

“Well, I couldn’t sleep.”

There was someone who had arrived earlier in the locker room.

It was bullpen pitcher Lee Baek-chan.

“Why can’t you sleep? I’ve been falling asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow these days.”

Lee Baek-chan gave a bitter smile.

“You have every reason to be tired. But I’m kind of relaxed. I’m unintentionally living a well-being life.”

“Ah…… Hyung?”

“Yeah. I don’t play many games. I pitch fewer innings, too.”

Song Seok-hyeon wrinkled his nose.

“Everyone says it’s hard because it’s the second half of the league, but I’m the only one with energy left. I woke up this morning and rolled around before coming here.”

“Is that so…….”

“What about you? Why did you come so early?”

“I usually come a little early. I come and do weights and stretch…….”

“Already? There’s still time.”

“I only do other things when I’m at home. First, I finish weights, then I analyze my power and do swings separately. When I come to the baseball field, I end up doing something in my spare time.”

“Is that so……. You’re really diligent. A guy who’s good is even working hard, so who’s going to beat you?”

“Why are you saying that, Hyung? If I had received a big signing bonus, I wouldn’t have worked this hard. Haha. Hyung, you received hundreds of millions in signing bonus.”

“Your annual salary next year will be higher than my signing bonus.”

“I have to make a lot of money. I’m the only one in my family who can make money. So I have to do it to the death. Do you think I love baseball so much that I work this hard?”

Lee Baek-chan nodded.

“It’s funny to say that a pro works hard because he likes it.”

“What are you going to do, Hyung? Do you want to work out with me?”

“Should I? I didn’t have anything to do even though I came early, so that’s good.”

The two worked out together in the weight room.

After about 30 minutes of weights, Lee Baek-chan asked Song Seok-hyeon.

“But you know.”

“Yes. Why?”

“If you practice as a pro, will you improve?”

Song Seok-hyeon blinked.

“What do you mean?”

“I was wondering how many cases there are of people improving their skills after becoming a pro.”

“Of course it will increase, if you work hard. Besides, you’re getting coaching from a pro team.”

“Huff, usually, right?”

Song Seok-hyeon stared at Lee Baek-chan’s depressed face.

“Why are you saying that? Is it because of the quick motion?”

“That’s the problem. Since the quick motion keeps not being fixed, I can’t go up in tight situations. It’s hard to maintain my sense because I can’t play games often. I’m worried that I’ll disappear without doing anything.”

Song Seok-hyeon stroked his chin.

“Hyung’s quick motion isn’t that slow, is it? Right?”

“If you look at the time alone, it’s definitely within 1.4 seconds. 1.3 seconds is ambiguous.”

“Actually, it’s not a problem with quick motion, it’s a problem with timing. Hyung’s timing for checking is almost constant at two or three. It’s a little easy to read the timing.”

“That’s right. That’s the problem. I don’t know why I’m doing that.”

Song Seok-hyeon took a quick motion pose.

“Look. Hyung throws to first base right away, or throws in about 6 seconds. Or throw in about 10 or 11 seconds. Do you know that?”

“I knew it roughly. So I’m trying to give a time change, but in the end, the time becomes similar. So I’m even more frustrated.”

Song Seok-hyeon held up two fingers.

“Then there are only two ways.”

“There’s a way? Two?”

Lee Baek-chan’s eyes widened.

“What is it?”

“Throw it right away. Don’t worry about the pitching tempo, and throw it right away when the batter is ready. Then the runner can’t catch the timing to run.”

“Right away? Then I’ll be out of breath. I can’t manage my stamina.”

“Hyung, timing is the problem, right? Put stamina aside for later. Didn’t you say you still have energy left?”

“That’s…… That’s right…….”

“Even if you’re a little out of breath, you’ll be fine for 1 or 2 innings.”

“I wonder.”

Lee Baek-chan snapped his fingers.

“Ah, what’s the other one? You said two?”

“The other one is…….”

* * *

As the game start time approached, Jamsil Stadium was filled with fans, not only in the infield but also in the outfield.

Both teams’ fans held up banners and flags and sang cheering songs.

“It is said that Jamsil is sold out again today. Jamsil seems to be sold out every now and then these days.”

“Isn’t that a testament to the popularity of the Goats? The Goats’ performance this season is worth anticipating. It’s not just a team that makes the postseason every time. It’s a team with the best cleanup [the 3rd, 4th, and 5th batters in the lineup] in the league. The performance is good, the home runs are 터지고 [exploding], there are veterans like Yoo Seon-ho and franchise stars like Song Seok-hyeon, so there’s no way it can’t be popular, right?”

“The league’s number one team may change depending on the results of this weekend’s three-game series. It’s a very important game. Baseball fans across the country will be paying attention to the game. Then let’s take a look at both teams’ lineups.”

-Playball!

James McKinsey went to the mound with the start of the game.

“The Scorpion’s number one hitter is a player who needs no introduction. Hwang Gi-deok is entering.”

“James McKinsey is a slightly unusual player who throws natural sinkers, cutters, and changeups. Basically, when he throws the ball, it moves like a two-seam fastball or sinker, and he has made this his weapon. He mixes in cutters to induce ground balls well.”

“At the moment I’m speaking, Hwang Gi-deok gets a hit that far exceeds the pitcher’s height. He aimed well for the first pitch.”

“It looked like an outside sinker, but he was aggressive from the first pitch.”

Director Lee Geon-hoo gave a short applause.

Hwang Gi-deok’s swing, which he saw in the parking lot yesterday, was short but a sharp upper cut.

“He’s a genius.”

Director Lee Geon-hoo smiled slightly, and the coaches who saw this whispered.

“What’s wrong with that guy who always had a blank expression?”

Ace Pitcher

Genius (2)

When Hwang Gi-deok reached first, McKinsey crouched down.

“The batter is Gongsu Kyeomjang [well-rounded] Kang Gyun-seung.”

“He’s one of the best second basemen right now, right? He’s an all-around multi-player who doesn’t lack anything in defense, hitting, or running. He’s even good at shortstop and third baseman defense.”

“Isn’t that the Scorpion’s best offensive setup? Hwang Gi-deok on first base, Kang Gyun-seung at bat. It’s a chance to make an 무사 [no outs] 2, 3루 [runners on second and third base] with one hit.”

“It’s a combination that you can’t help but worry about, even if you know it’s coming.”

Kang Gyun-seung gripped the bat shorter.

Seo Il-hyeok signaled for a sinker inside, close to the batter’s body, as the first pitch.

When McKinsey shook his head, Seo Il-hyeok changed the sign to an outside changeup.

“The pitcher throws the first pitch.”

The ball that left McKinsey’s hand broke away outside.

A ball that appears to be going straight and then curves further to the outside and drops,

Woong!

Kang Gyun-seung swings and misses.

As soon as Seo Il-hyeok caught the ball, he was ready to throw.

“Hwang Gi-deok returns to the base.”

“The changeup was good just now. That’s the best ball a left-handed pitcher can throw to a right-handed batter. McKinsey’s changeup is something you can’t help but chase even if you know it’s coming. It definitely looks like it’s entering the strike zone before you swing, but it breaks away far when you swing the bat.”

“The Goats are narrowing their infield defense. That means they’re trying to turn a double play, right?”

“The best outcome is a 병살 [double play]. Even if they can’t turn a double play, it’s a good decision to have an infield forward defense because Kang Gyun-seung lacks a bit of power for long hits.”

McKinsey glanced at Hwang Gi-deok.

Hwang Gi-deok was bending over with his legs stretched out to the sides.

It was a pose that highlighted his long legs.

“The pitcher and catcher’s sign exchange is long. The batter calls a time.”

“That means they’re not going to give the runner a chance to steal. If Hwang Gi-deok goes to second base, he’ll score right away with any hit.”

McKinsey decided on the second ball after a long sign exchange with the catcher.

Outside fastball.

McKinsey threw the ball.

Tang!

“Second baseman jumps! Missed! Hit! Hit!”

“Kang Gyun-seung aimed properly and hit well. He pushes the ball up without much greed.”

“The runner is up to third base. The batter runner stops at first base. Kang Gyun-seung’s 진루타 [sacrifice hit].”

McKinsey rubbed the ball.

Song Seok-hyeon on the bench sighed.

“The ball’s power has weakened.”

McKinsey allowed a three-run hit to the 3rd batter, Jeong Dae-han, and then allowed a fly ball to the 4th batter, Jo Yang-cheol.

“3-0. It’s 3-0. McKinsey is struggling from the first inning.”

“In the end, I think it started with Hwang Gi-deok. Since Hwang Gi-deok is getting into the pitcher’s head on first base, the pitcher only throws outside balls, so it becomes easier for the batter to predict the ball. Even though McKinsey’s ball has good movement, if you can predict where it will be, it becomes easier for the batter to hit. McKinsey is a player who uses sinkers and cutters freely, but he didn’t throw inside pitches today. His pitching pattern has become simple because he is conscious of Hwang Gi-deok’s fast feet.”

“Could it be related to the fact that McKinsey kept shaking his head today?”

“Yes, I think so. After all, McKinsey’s ball doesn’t seem to be very good today. McKinsey is a player who is good at inducing ground balls, but the ball keeps floating up. That means the ball is flat.”

The Goat’s pitching coach approached the manager.

“It seems like McKinsey won’t be able to pitch for long today.”

“Who do we have to put in today?”

“We have Baek-chan and Jin-seok.”