On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 240

Why does a seesaw battle like this happen in the 7th game of the Korean Series? It’s a nail-biter!

My stomach is churning; I feel like I’m going to throw up.

The players I trusted are stabbing me in the back in the most important game, the final Game 7 of the Korean Series. This feels like a betrayal.

Is it just bad luck, or a difference in skill? It’s hard to tell which.

I bit my lip tightly, on the verge of tears if I didn’t hold myself back. I need to stay strong.

-Strike, out!

The new pitcher, Jung Gwang-wook, struck out the batter as soon as he came on, finishing the inning safely. A much-needed out!

Returning to the bench, Jo Jin-ho blinked blankly with a dazed expression. He looks lost.

Bottom of the 6th, the Pegasus’s attack. Time for them to rally.

It’s the timing to counterattack after giving up the lead, but two consecutive batters are out due to Jung Hong-min’s excellent pitching. Pegasus needs to find a way to break through.

Choi Young-seok, the leadoff hitter, turned Jung Hong-min’s slider into an infield hit, advancing to first base. A glimmer of hope!

“Pitcher change. Goat is changing pitchers again.”

“Is he taking Jung Hong-min down already? Both teams are making quick pitcher changes today. I guess the managers of both teams are uneasy because there have been so many lead changes?” The tension is palpable.

“The new pitcher is Lee Baek-chan. It’s Lee Baek-chan.”

The commentator tilted his head.

“I thought Go Jin-seok would come out at this timing? Pegasus is playing their best card, while Goat is holding back their best card.” A surprising move from Goat.

“Lee Baek-chan is a rookie that Goat discovered this season, right? He’s a right-handed fireballer that Goat picked in the first round last year.” A promising young talent.

“His pitches are fast, but his control is unstable, especially when there are runners on base. He has been improving this season, achieving decent results.” A bit of a gamble, then.

A strategy came from the Pegasus bench. They’re planning something.

The Pegasus’s cleanup hitters will only have two more chances. This is it.

If they miss this opportunity, they might have to wait until the 9th inning. The pressure is immense.

The Pegasus’s strategy is…

Catching Success

Korean Series Game 7 (9)

‘Aggressive hitting.’ They’re going all in.

Lee Baek-chan is a pitcher who hides his control issues with a fast tempo. He relies on speed to disrupt the batter.

He pitches so quickly that even the pitcher is breathless, leaving the batter with no time to think. It’s a whirlwind approach.

Control can improve a little, but it’s hard to get better in a short period. He’s still raw.

Even if Lee Baek-chan’s pitches sometimes become predictable, the batter who has lost his tempo cannot attack properly. The key is to stay focused.

The way to deal with the unconventional is with the conventional. Sometimes, the simplest approach is the best.

If they come in fast, the batter also actively aims from the first pitch. Be ready to swing.

Tuk, tuk.

Lee Baek-chan stands on the mound, patting the rosin bag. Composing himself.

Shim Chang-gyu gripped his bat short. Ready to make contact.

First-round pitchers are all about fastball. That’s their bread and butter.

If the control is bad, even a fast ball can be hit, but unless it’s a mistake, a fastball is the most difficult pitch for a batter. It’s all about location.

He is not a slugger. He needs to focus on getting on base.

Goat shifted the fielders to the right. Anticipating a specific type of hit.

A shift in preparation for Shim Chang-gyu’s push hitting. They know his tendencies.

It will be difficult to pull the ball and break through the gap between third base and shortstop because Lee Baek-chan’s ball is fast. Speed is the key.

There is only one way. One option remains.

Hitting accurately and over the second baseman’s head. A precise hit is needed.

Even if only a single comes out, Choi Young-seok’s speed can get him to third base. Every base matters.

The next batter is Kim Han-sung, a slugger. A power hitter is up next.

Kim Han-sung can be expected to hit at least a double, if not a home run. He’s the one to watch.

If Kim Han-sung hits a double, it’s an immediate reversal. The game could change in an instant.

The foundation for the comeback depends on his one hit. All eyes are on him.

“Hoo.”

Shim Chang-gyu took a breath. Trying to calm his nerves.

He will abandon pitches to the body. Not even going to consider them.

There’s no way they’ll throw a pitch to the body when the opponent has even shifted. It would be illogical.

He closes his stance and crouches. Getting ready for the pitch.

Since the opposing pitcher’s main weapons are fastballs and sliders, he only looks at the outside. Focusing on the likely pitches.

Song Seok-hyun looked at Shim Chang-gyu and gave a sign. Communicating the strategy.

As Lee Baek-chan took a quick motion, Shim Chang-gyu curled up. Preparing to swing.

Lee Baek-chan’s first pitch. Here it comes!

Clang!

Shim Chang-gyu twisted his body. He’s swinging!

-Strike!

“First pitch strike! He aggressively throws one inside.” A surprising move!

“It was over 150km/h [93 mph], right? Lee Baek-chan’s pitching is really refreshing. Fastballs are definitely good. I guess that’s why he was able to come up instead of Go Jin-seok.” Pure speed.

Shim Chang-gyu, who had moved away from the plate for a moment, looked at Song Seok-hyun as if resenting him. A look of frustration.

How annoying. He’s clearly not happy.

If it were another catcher, nine out of ten would have asked for an outside fastball or slider. That’s the conventional wisdom.

Because that’s the standard. It’s what’s expected.

A fastball to the body after shifting? A risky call.

Does that mean it’s okay to give up a hit? Is he willing to risk it?

He wondered if a catcher could do this, but he somehow agreed because the opponent was Song Seok-hyun. He trusts his catcher.

If it’s Song Seok-hyun, he can take 2 or 3 points even if he gives up 1 point. He’s confident in his team’s ability to score.

“Ha.”

Shim Chang-gyu clicked his tongue and stepped into the plate. Still annoyed, but ready to play.

He can’t predict catcher Song Seok-hyun. He’s unpredictable.

Is it because he’s not afraid of getting hit? He’s fearless.

The pitchers are also bold. They’re playing aggressively.

Is it because they trust Song Seok-hyun? He inspires confidence.

Since he gave up a strike with one pitch to the body, the next pitch is highly likely to be an outside breaking ball. That’s the logical next step.

The problem is whether it’s a slider or a changeup, and whether he can distinguish the spin of the ball… He needs to read the pitch.

Clang!

-Strike!

“What are you doing!” The manager is furious.

Director Choi Seong-yeon was furious. He’s not happy with what he’s seeing.

He gave an aggressive hitting sign, but he let two fastballs go by. Ignoring instructions.

Is he ignoring the manager’s instructions? A serious breach.

It would be one thing if he hit the ball and got out, but he just let two fastballs go by? A wasted opportunity.

“Wow, damn it.”

The curse words rose to Shim Chang-gyu’s throat and then subsided. He’s holding back his anger.

Two consecutive fastballs to the body. An unexpected strategy.

Why did they shift then? It doesn’t make sense.

Is the shift a trick? A deceptive tactic?

Even first base runner Choi Young-seok had his hands on his hips and was looking at Shim Chang-gyu. He’s being judged.

It was a reproachful expression. Disappointment is evident.

Shim Chang-gyu’s head became complicated. He’s overthinking it.

Since they threw two fastballs to the body, there is naturally a 70% or higher chance of an outside fastball or breaking ball. The odds favor an outside pitch.

But what if it’s another pitch to the body? A mind game.

No, maybe they’re aiming for a strikeout with an outside fastball because he couldn’t react to the fastball? Trying to exploit his weakness.

He is so nervous about his teammates looking at him with pity and the bench, which he can’t see but is probably furious, that his body is twisting. The pressure is crushing him.

Lee Baek-chan exchanged long signs with Song Seok-hyun and then threw the ball. The deciding pitch is coming.

The deciding pitch is a fastball to the body. A bold move.

Shim Chang-gyu opened his eyes wide and swung his bat. He’s going for it!

Clang!

The bat cut through the air. A swing and a miss!

The umpire’s loud call.

-Strike!

Shim Chang-gyu dropped his head. Defeated.

“A swing and a miss on a high fastball! Shim Chang-gyu fails to capitalize on the opportunity and ends the inning.” A disappointing end to the inning.

“That’s great confidence, Lee Baek-chan. A swing and a miss with three fastballs to the body. It’s not easy to pitch with such guts in a big game like Game 7 of the Korean Series. I don’t know why he froze whenever a runner got on base when he had such a strong heart.” He showed incredible composure.

Lee Baek-chan’s expression was pale as he returned to the bench. The pressure is getting to him.

When Song Seok-hyun held out his fist, Lee Baek-chan bumped fists with him. A show of support.

“Hey, take it easy. You’re going to make my heart drop.” He’s feeling the stress.

“Why? Your pitches were great.” Trying to reassure him.

“I’m going to die, I’m going to die.” Overwhelmed by the moment.

“Just push through. If you give up a point, we’ll just take it back.” Stay focused and keep fighting.

The game is in the top of the 7th inning. The tension is unbearable.

Goat fans and Pegasus fans alike could no longer go to the bathroom or the store. Everyone is glued to their seats.

In most baseball games, the team that leads in the 7th and 8th innings wins. The late innings are crucial.

Comebacks are rare after the 7th inning. It’s now or never.

Pitche Jung Gwang-wook was on the mound in the 7th inning. He’s back out there.

The batter is number 9, Jung Young-soo. A new batter steps up.

Two fouls came out on two of Jung Gwang-wook’s fastballs. He’s struggling to make contact.

“Jung Young-soo can’t keep up with Jung Gwang-wook’s fastballs.” The speed is overwhelming him.

“Jung Gwang-wook’s fastballs are scary, but the scariest thing is his splitter. He gets the count with such fastballs and finishes with a splitter. Jung Young-soo must be confused right now.” A deadly combination.

No balls, two strikes. He’s in a tough spot.

Jung Young-soo gripped his bat longer. Going for a big hit.

He’s aiming for a big one. Trying to turn the tide.

The bench also instructed him that a strikeout is okay, so he’s just swinging hard. No pressure, just swing for the fences.

Jung Gwang-wook’s deciding pitch was a splitter. Here it comes.

As Jung Young-soo swung his bat with all his might, the ball fell downward. The splitter does its job.

Tick.

The ball hit the end of Jung Young-soo’s bat. Weak contact.

The ball went straight to the pitcher. An easy play for the pitcher.

Jung Young-soo ran to first base, and the pitcher caught the ball and threw it to first base. A race to the base.

“Huh? The throw is high!” A mistake!

Jung Gwang-wook’s throw was much higher than first baseman Kim Han-sung’s head. A wild throw.

If it’s a bad throw, it’s at least second base. If he’s lucky, it’s third base. A costly error could be in the making.

The moment Jung Young-soo tried to accelerate, Kim Han-sung jumped and caught the ball. An incredible effort!

At that moment, Jung Young-soo saw that Kim Han-sung’s foot had come off the base. He saw an opportunity.

The timing is out, but Jung Young-soo clenched his teeth even tighter and stretched his leg out. Giving it his all.

Thud!

Thud!

Jung Young-soo and Kim Han-sung stepped on the base at the same time. A close play!

The first base coach stretched out his arm to appeal for a safe call, and Kim Han-sung turned his head and looked at the umpire. Waiting for the call.

-Safe!

“Safe! It’s safe! Jung Young-soo’s infield hit. He makes an infield hit with his fast feet.” He made it! A lucky break.

“It’s a relief that the ball didn’t get away just now. If the ball had gotten away here, it would have been a crisis of giving up a run right away. I think Kim Han-sung blocked it well. It would have been even better if he had gotten the out, but that would have been too greedy.” A near disaster averted.

Jung Gwang-wook tilted his head back. Frustrated with himself.

It was a crazy play. A series of unfortunate events.

It was an easy ground ball and the timing was right for an out, but seeing Jung Young-soo running desperately, he put too much strength into it without realizing it. He got caught up in the moment.

“Next up is leadoff hitter Lee Ji-sung. He’s the batter who hit a home run yesterday.” A dangerous hitter is up next.

“It won’t be easy to compete easily. Rather than going in aggressively, you have to compete carefully.” A cautious approach is needed.

Jung Yong-wook’s right hand was busy. Calling the pitches.

Jung Gwang-wook’s first pitch was a splitter. Here it comes.

Lee Ji-sung swung his bat big from the first pitch. Going for the long ball.

Thud!

The ball hit the end of the bat and went straight to the pitcher again. Another easy play for the pitcher.

Jung Gwang-wook caught the ball and threw it to second base. A chance for a double play.

The shortstop caught the ball, stepped on second base, and threw it to first base. A perfect double play.

It was a double play.

“Ha.”

Goat’s chairman, Kim Myung-jin, let out a sigh. Disappointment is setting in.

At the same time, the atmosphere among the executives also became gloomy. The mood has shifted.

A double play in a good chance. A wasted opportunity.

This kind of flow is like giving the opponent a chance. Momentum is shifting.

The next batter, Seol Jin-il, aimed for a splitter from the first pitch, but the ball soared over the catcher’s head. A wild pitch!

Catcher Jung Yong-wook caught it and got the out. Damage control.

Goat’s attack in the top of the 7th inning was dull. A lackluster performance.

“Alright, alright, now it’s our turn to hit. Let’s focus, let’s focus!” Trying to rally the troops.

Jung Yong-wook sat on the bench and encouraged the players. Keeping their spirits up.

It’s only a 1-point difference now, and there are many chances to turn it around. Still within striking distance.

With Jung Gwang-wook and Oh Gyu-ok, guarding 1 or 2 points is nothing. Confident in their pitching.

The batting order is also good. A favorable lineup.

Starting with number 3 batter, Kim Han-sung. A key hitter is up.

Kim Han-sung stretched his stride to the maximum he could as he stepped into the plate. Ready to swing.

The opponent is competing quickly. He needs to be ready.

He was determined to respond aggressively as well. Matching their intensity.

‘Changeup.’

Song Seok-hyun’s first pitch sign was a changeup. An unexpected call.

It wasn’t a pitch that Lee Baek-chan threw well. A risky choice.

Song Seok-hyun brought his mitt down to drop the ball, but Lee Baek-chan’s changeup drop was small. The pitch wasn’t executed well.

Clang.

With a light hitting sound, the ball was a hit in front of the right fielder. Weak contact.

It wasn’t a long hit, but the ball could have been a mistake if it had been more dull. A lucky break.

“Tsk.”

Song Seok-hyun licked his lips. Disappointed with the result.