Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 129

129. Ground Ball

Time and age are inevitably linked for everyone.

Scary. Unpleasant. Frightening. Worrying.

To discuss a somewhat heavy topic, one might feel fear about ‘death,’ or worry about something trivial like what to eat next year.

What if we apply this to the relatively short career of a baseball player rather than the drawn-out concept of ‘life?’

Whether pitcher or batter, after debuting, time passes, and they eventually retire.

Retirement.

I recall a story from a senior player nearing retirement during my rookie days, who spoke candidly.

‘I don’t worry about what to eat tomorrow, or how I’ll live in the future, because I’ve saved money. But more than a practical concern… it’s just that I have to retire because I’m getting old, and I don’t want to admit it.’

I’m already thirty-two.

I know it might seem premature to think about retirement, especially since I’m considered one of the best relief pitchers in the league.

Still, it’s worth contemplating at least once. What kind of player do I want to be when I retire? What do I want to do after I retire?

“Hey, I’ve been waiting. These days, kids are too slow. Hey, don’t Koreans know ‘hurry up’?”

In that sense, Senior Lim Ho-taek, who is roleplaying as a *kkondae* [a Korean term for an older person who is condescending or preachy] while claiming he waited for me, is quite close to my ideal image of my final days.

“Ah, that’s right. These days, kids are too slow. They should be ready so that our senior can leave work on time! Huh? They should say, ‘Go ahead, we’ll finish it!’ Didn’t we do that back in the day!”

“…Hey, I was just kidding, but you’re very natural. Have you done this a lot?”

Hey. Don’t be like this, senior.

As I stood there blankly, Lim Ho-taek laughed heartily and subtly gestured towards his car.

“It ended early today, so I was wondering if we could have dinner together. Are you free?”

Out of the blue?

“Ah… yes.”

Even in the baseball world, where connections are easily made, Lim Ho-taek is someone I don’t have much of a relationship with.

Different teams, a significant age gap, and I haven’t even seen him at national team events or All-Star games.

Just someone I recognize as a much older senior.

It’s already unexpected that he sought me out, but to ask me to have dinner…

“Sounds good.”

There must be a reason.

Knowing he’s more kind than malicious, I readily agreed.

“Then… you drove here, right?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Where do you live?”

“I live near Jamsil.”

“Then… let’s just eat around here. Hop in my car, and after dinner, I’ll drop you off here.”

“Yes, yes. That’s fine.”

So, I got a ride in Senior Lim Ho-taek’s car and we headed to a decent restaurant near Munhak Stadium.

Maybe it’s because I didn’t think we were very close to begin with…

“This place is good. Let’s go here.”

“Ah, yes.”

There wasn’t much conversation in the car during the ten-minute drive to the Chinese restaurant recommended by Lim Ho-taek.

Or rather, it would be more accurate to say we couldn’t.

“Welcome, how many people?”

“Two.”

“Yes, this way please.”

As soon as we sat down at a suitable table following the staff’s guidance, they immediately began pouring water into the glasses.

While the water glass was being filled, Lim Ho-taek opened the cutlery container built into the side of the table.

“Is this a bit sudden?”

“Yes? Ah… yes.”

The water cup I filled and the set of cutlery that Senior Lim Ho-taek took out were neatly exchanged.

After taking a refreshing gulp of the water I handed him, the senior held the water bottle himself and refilled his glass while talking.

“I’m also worried that some *ahjussi* [a Korean term for middle-aged man] suddenly called you out of the blue and is about to say something.”

“Hehe….”

“But you know you’re also an *ahjussi*, right?”

“You don’t have to say that…”

“I can’t die alone.”

What a sincere person.

Thanks to the relaxed atmosphere, Senior Lim Ho-taek ordered fried rice for himself, *jajangmyeon* [black bean noodles] for me, and a small portion of sweet and sour pork.

After a moment of silence due to the staff’s visit, I spoke first.

“So, senior. What brings you here today…?”

“Ah, it’s nothing special. Actually, I’ve wanted to talk to you if I had the chance, but I haven’t had the chance.”

“With me?”

“Yeah. But today you happened to pitch, and the game ended early.”

What did this senior want to talk to me about?

Crunching on the pickled radish that was served first, I stared intently at him. The senior crunched on raw onions instead of pickled radish and said.

“Han-ul.”

“Yes.”

“What do you think about when you pitch?”

“Think?”

“Yeah, think.”

“Think….”

What do I think about when I pitch?

“…To stop them? I have to stop them? Is it a top priority not to let this batter get on base? Is there anything else besides that?”

“No, no. That’s right. That’s right, but, um… when you say you won’t let the batter get on base, how? How do you think about how not to let them get on base?”

“That’s….”

Suddenly, Sung-hyun’s words came to mind, even though our positions are different. Let’s talk without exaggeration.

“…Wouldn’t it hurt a lot if I hit the same spot again? That’s what I think.”

“Hehet, hehet hehet!!”

I didn’t say it with the intention of making a joke.

The senior covered his mouth and burst out laughing.

“That’s right. That’s what batters do. If you keep hitting the same spot, they get annoyed first. So, they can’t even tell right from wrong.”

“Ah, that’s right. They get a little pissed off? That kind of thing.”

It’s easier to deal with a batter when they look pissed off.

But if that doesn’t work and I get pissed off, I usually lose.

And those batters are the ones who are really good at hitting.

A sense of camaraderie that only pitchers can have was formed, and the atmosphere became even more relaxed.

“What I wanted to talk about is about ground balls.”

“Ground balls?”

“What do you think about ground balls?”

“Ground balls… I don’t know about other teams, but since I’m a Wonha pitcher… I think they’re pretty good if you use them well.”

“That’s right. The Challengers’ defense catches almost everything.”

“You saw Sung-moon’s defense today, right? That’s what it’s like.”

Visco’s defense is by no means bad either. If you want to be called the team with the strongest bullpen in the league, it’s not enough to just have strong pitchers.

“That’s good. It’s good, but what I want to say is this.”

“Yes?”

“Han-ul, you pitch really well. You pitch really well.”

“Ah… thank you.”

“No, no. I’ve been thinking that usually, but I had one thought after watching you pitch today.”

“Yes….”

“You don’t have to try so hard to get ground balls.”

“Yes?”

Don’t try so hard to get ground balls. Don’t?

“Watching you pitch today, it seems like you’re a bit obsessed with ground balls. Am I wrong?”

“Ah… yes. Actually, I set a concept every time I go on the mound. But today, after watching you pitch, senior… I set the concept as ground balls.”

I can’t say I was trying to get ground balls because of the quest.

“That’s good. That’s good, but unless there’s something special, I don’t think you should do that.”

“But it doesn’t suit you at all to say that, senior, since you’re better at getting ground balls than anyone else?”

“That’s because I can’t help it.”

Hehet hehet hehet, I felt a bit of nostalgia in the laughter added to the line.

“Yeah, I might have confused you a bit. I’ll be more precise.”

“Yes….”

“I don’t want you to be obsessed with ground balls *yet*. I’m not saying you’re doing that right now, but I’m saying it just in case.”

“What’s the reason…?”

“What do you think is the reason I get ground balls?”

Facts can be harsh.

“Because my ball is slow. It’s true that I’m not at the level to strike out batters myself.”

Fortunately, no harm was done because he stated the facts himself.

“But you can do it, right?”

“I can… right?”

“It’s a waste. A pitcher like you should pitch the way pitchers like you can pitch.”

“Um….”

“I’m not saying don’t get ground balls, don’t misunderstand. You can think of ground balls and fly balls as byproducts that come out inevitably.”

“Ah ah.”

“You know you’re having a really good season, right?”

“Yes. I am.”

It’s right to show humility if possible, but…

“Let’s see… oh my, 25 strikeouts in 13 innings. No walks and two hits. The ERA is 0.”

In this situation, humility is rather deceptive.

“Hehe… unlike last year, this season is off to a pretty good start.”

“There was that thing. 12 strikeouts in a row in 4 innings in the first 4 games of the season?”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“How is it?”

“It’s good.”

“How do you feel?”

“Yes. It’s really good.”

“What do you think your teammates think when they see you like that?”

“Wow, we have a really good relief pitcher on our team. Wouldn’t they think that?”

“The line itself is right, but….”

Hmm.

Lim Ho-taek hesitated for a moment and then spoke.

“I’m too embarrassed to act at this age, and you become a bigger presence than you think. To your team and to the opposing team.”

Is it about image?

“What do you think about strikeouts?”

“It’s good. It’s the strongest evidence that we overwhelmed the batter.”

“That’s right. Then what about ground balls?”

Ground balls are never bad. No, they’re very good. From a pitcher’s point of view, any form of out can’t be bad.

But because the example that came out before ground balls was strikeouts,

“Um… it’s not bad, but. Um….”

I feel a little lukewarm.

“I’m not saying be obsessed with strikeouts, and I’m not saying don’t get ground balls. If there’s a runner on first with one out, it’s much more beneficial to end the inning with a double play than to strike out and face another batter.”

“Of course.”

“That’s it. But, unless it’s necessary, I hope you stay as that kind of pitcher as much as possible.”

“Ah….”

Now I know what this senior is trying to say.

But one question extends from there.

“…But, senior.”

“Huh?”

“I’m not complaining at all. I’m just curious, I’m just purely curious.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“…Yes.”

He postponed the answer with a smile.

“I don’t know if you’ll remember, but when I see you, I think you’re like me.”

Following in someone’s footsteps.

I thought that this could apply to me and Senior Lim Ho-taek.

A pitcher who was drafted in the upper rounds with a fiery fastball exceeding 150km [~93 mph] from high school, but didn’t shine until his late 20s due to chronic control problems.

As time passed, he gradually gained control, and when he came to his senses, he had become an ace who reigned over the league.

An ace with a fastball in the mid-150km range, good breaking balls, good control, and a strong heart.

But even that ace is a person, so he gets older as time passes, and he loses a lot of physical ability as he gets older.

He devoted everything to adapting in order not to be left behind.

The result is…

“You can pitch like me when you’re older.”

That’s the current Lim Ho-taek.

It’s hard to say that he’s an absolute ace in the league, but he’s a pitcher who has no shortcomings or shame as an ace for a team.

“Still, the championship is ours, Visco. Don’t worry too much.”

Yes?

“Hey, senior, you were doing well, but you’re saying strange things.”

“What’s so strange about it?”

“The championship is of course Wonha’s. Don’t you know Eu-woo-won [a common Korean baseball cheer meaning ‘Our championship is ours’]?”

“Ah, I gave you some good advice, and you’re climbing on me? Is that how your seniors teach you?”

“Yes.”

“Then I can’t help it.”

The senior laughed and got up from his seat.

There was a brief argument about whether the senior should pay or the junior should treat him after hearing good advice, but who cares who pays.

On the way back to Munhak Stadium.

The silence that filled the car when we drove to the restaurant was gone, and the ten minutes back to the stadium parking lot felt too short.

“Then I’ll contact you later. Next time, you buy me dinner.”

“Yes. I’ll treat you to something delicious.”

Ah. Is that why Hyun-jin greets me like that?

“Okay, go in.”

“Yes, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Damn, what are you doing so *b 부담스럽게 [burdensome or extra]*. ”

“Respect, admiration, affection, devotion to the senior….”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Yes.”

The waist bent at a 90-degree angle towards the senior’s car returned to its original angle.

“See you tomorrow.”

“Yes! Go in.”

Really, that’s how I should age.

Watching Lim Ho-taek’s car drive away, I felt another line being added to my view of life.