Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 167

The camera focuses on the players finishing with their training equipment and preparing for the game.

“Hot and humid weather. Everyone is struggling, but the players don’t show it at all. What are they sweating for, and what are they thinking about? Of course, it must be the Korean Series, the championship of the Korean Series.”

The camera slightly lowers its angle, turning its view to three men in suits holding microphones.

“Hello, viewers. This is Kwon Myung-hoon, an MBS [broadcasting company] caster, greeting you from Jamsil Stadium, where we will be broadcasting the 14th game of the season between the Sangsoo Tigers and the Wonha Challengers. And next to me are commentators Kim Soo-chan and Lee Young-jin. Hello.”

“Hello!”

“Hello.”

“From the beginning of the season, the two teams have maintained surprisingly similar records. Therefore, many people are evaluating this series as a preview of the Korean Series [championship series of the KBO].”

Caster Kwon Myung-hoon first turned the microphone to commentator Lee Young-jin.

“It’s really amazing. When the Wonha Challengers run away, the Sangsoo Tigers follow, and when the Sangsoo Tigers seem to catch up, the Wonha Challengers run away. This has been the pattern throughout the season.”

“In the meantime, both teams are maintaining overwhelming records, seemingly sharing the top two spots in the league.”

“It’s a friendly competition. It seems that the two teams are achieving these results because they are giving each other good stimulation.”

“Now, in the midst of all this, the Sangsoo Tigers have made slight adjustments to their starting lineup, putting ace Sung Sang-jin on the mound, while the Wonha Challengers are starting Go Dong-gyun, their fifth starter, as is. What does this mean?”

This time, the microphone turned to commentator Kim Soo-chan on the opposite side.

“From the Sangsoo Tigers’ perspective, it seems like a bit of a gamble. In a situation where the flow between the two teams is similar, they’re trying to seize the opportunity and reverse the situation.”

“Then what is the significance of Wonha Challengers’ starting pitcher, Go Dong-gyun?”

“If Sangsoo has their ace today and Wonha has their fifth starter, then tomorrow Sangsoo will have their second starter and Wonha will have their ace, right? The day after that, Sangsoo will have their third starter and Wonha will have their second starter.”

“That’s right.”

“It’s not that the ace is unconditionally stronger than the second starter, but in this aspect, Wonha might have a strategy to gain a slight advantage.”

“Yes.”

“And the Wonha Challengers have been on such a good run recently, they might not feel the need to adjust their starting lineup to compete.”

Commentator Lee Young-jin, who had been listening quietly to Kim Soo-chan’s words, nodded.

Seeing that, Kwon Myung-hoon asked,

“Then what strategies will both teams bring?”

Kwon Myung-hoon skillfully turned his body towards commentator Lee Young-jin.

“The Sangsoo Tigers will probably be desperate to score from the beginning, while the Wonha Challengers will think that if they can hold on for the first half… say, within 3 or at most 4 points, they can somehow turn it around in the second half.”

“You’re saying that the Wonha Challengers have a relative advantage in bullpen matchups.”

“The Sangsoo Tigers are strong too, but when comparing only the bullpens, it seems that the Wonha Challengers have the upper hand.”

“What’s the reason for that assessment?”

“The Wonha Challengers’ bullpen this season seems truly invincible. Starting with Kim Han-wool, followed by Shin Kyung-seok, Choi Eun-gu, Kim Ji-ho, Lee Seung-jin, Son Seok-min, and so on. Each and every one of them is formidable.”

It wouldn’t be good to have too much positive talk about only one team, and it wouldn’t be a good look to have only one commentator holding the microphone for too long, so,

“Then in what areas do the Sangsoo Tigers have an advantage over the Wonha Challengers?”

This time, Kwon Myung-hoon asked commentator Kim Soo-chan about the strengths of the Sangsoo Tigers.

“Well, even if everything else is the same, I think their batting lineup is slightly stronger than the Wonha Challengers.”

“Their batting lineup?”

“Yes. It’s not that the Wonha lineup is weak, but it’s more about the… structure, you could say. Each batter has an excellent understanding of what role they have in each batting order and why they need to fulfill that role.”

“Thank you for your comments. We’ll be back shortly with the Sangsoo Tigers’ attack in the top of the first inning. This is Jamsil Stadium.”

* * *

Over there, the commentators are starting to head into the commentary booth, so the game must be about to start.

I wonder if our starting pitcher is doing well.

Bang-!

“Oh, a little more, a little more!”

Gyu-hwan nodded even at Dong-gyun’s pitch that slightly missed to the side. But at the same time, he ordered him to put in a little more strength.

“Fastball!”

“Hey!”

Bang-!

“Good, that’s it!!”

About a month is needed to overturn a three-game difference while struggling. The game difference with the Sangsoo Tigers right now is two games. There’s no need to go as far as struggling.

What if we widen the gap beyond struggling in this series?

Five games? Good, but four games is more than struggling.

That’s all the Wonha Challengers were aiming for in this Sangsoo series.

It would be great to win with the fifth starter Dong-gyun, but even if they lose, there will be no regrets. It’s like one step back for two steps forward.

“One more!”

“Eyyy!”

Boom-!

Dong-gyun himself knows his position well.

Honestly, it could be upsetting. The fact that he’s acting as a kind of discard, not anyone else—who would feel good about that?

“Curve!”

“Curve!”

Bang!

“Good, good, good ball!”

But Dong-gyun humbly accepted it. For the team, not for himself. He put aside his pride and decided to plan for tomorrow and the day after together, not just today.

Who knows? Maybe Dong-gyun will win?

“It’s about time… to go up.”

Looking at the broadcasting crew standing around home plate heading to the broadcasting booth, it seems the game is about to start.

Wonha- Challengers- Our- Victory- Everyone- Wishes―

The Wonha Challengers’ cheering song blaring from the electronic display, and the Wonha Challengers’ fans singing along to the sound.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

I headed outside the bullpen for the national anthem.

Thump, thump, thump, I climbed the bullpen stairs and stood in front of the bullpen, gazing for a moment at the Korean flag fluttering on the electronic display,

“Dong-gyun.”

“Yes!”

I called out to Dong-gyun, who was about to head to the mound first.

A slightly hardened face.

A restless gaze.

Tapping fingers.

“You’re the fifth starter, and Sung Sang-jin over there is the ace, right?”

“…That’s right.”

It’s a cruel reality. In a situation where it’s difficult to accurately predict who will win when teams face off, the difference between the ace and the fifth starter will most strongly control the direction of the game.

“And, coincidentally, Hee-heon, Byeong-cheon, and Gi-beom are all starting on the day you’re starting.”

“That’s right.”

What’s more, if three of the starting fielders are not regulars. If you are a pitcher who has to lead them.

“So what. You’re close to Byeong-cheon, right? You’re high school classmates.”

“Yes.”

“Are you going to fight with Byeong-cheon?”

“No.”

“Then are you going to fight with Hee-heon? Or are you going to fight with Gi-beom?”

“No!”

“If not, then. Are you going to fight with Sung Sang-jin over there?”

“No.”

“Then who are you fighting with?”

“……”

Dong-gyun replaced his answer with his gaze.

A brightly smiling face.

A gaze filled with justification.

A tightly clenched fist.

“Go get ’em.”

“Yes!”

After sending Dong-gyun to the mound, I somehow squeezed in among the teammates lined up in front of the dugout.

Looking at the electronic display, looking at the people singing the national anthem, silently praying for a moment,

Waaaaaah-!!

1st batter, center fielder Go Dong-wook

When I came to my senses, Go Dong-wook, the Sangsoo Tigers’ leadoff hitter, was at the plate.

The dugout was filled with bizarre screams.

Gyu-jin hyung [older brother/friend] shouting, “Let’s go, let’s go.”

Seong-hoon hyung silently clapping and cheering.

Myeong-jin shouting, “Woo-ool-lung-ah!!”

Is he crazy?

The one unified point among the diverse cheers is that they all,

Crack-!

“Ah… this is Byeong-cheon…”

Point towards the Wonha Challengers’ victory.

Out!

“Waaaaaah!!”

“Byeong-cheon-ah!!”

2nd batter, second baseman Kang Dae-hyun

Even though the next batter sent the ball to a place where the fielders couldn’t possibly catch it,

3rd batter, designated hitter Lee Yong-ho

The next batter struck out,

4th batter, first baseman Park Hae-jin

And the next batter ended the top of the first inning with the combined efforts of the fielders.

What do you think when you see the pitcher returning to the dugout after ending the inning in style, when you see the fielders?

The thought that you can win with these guys?

The thought that these guys will solve everything for you?

The thought that these guys will lead me?

“Yeeeeee!!”

“Yaaaaaak!”

“Byeong-cheon, let’s keep it going!!”

“Yee!!”

1st batter, Park!! Byeong!! Cheon!!

Leading me to solve the immediate problem and ultimately win.

How?

Crack-!

“Run, run!!”

“Byeong-cheon, let’s see a three, a three!!”

Whoosh―

“Safe!”

Byeong-cheon, who appeared as an instant leadoff hitter and hit a triple from the start, turned his back on the Sangsoo Tigers’ dugout and pointed at us with his finger.

No, to be exact,

2nd batter, Kang!! Seong!! Hyun!!

The next batter who will bring him home.

Click-!

“Out!”

Of course, the batter you trusted, the one you believed would solve it best, might be out on a first baseman’s fly ball.

Even so,

3rd batter, Park!! Heon!! Hee!!

We have other teammates,

4th batter, Nam!! Gi!! Seong!!

They also have the ability to resolve the situation sufficiently.

5th batter, Yoon!! Seung!! Joo!!

How?

Crack-!

“He went, Seung-joo went!!”

“Walk, walk! Seung-joo, don’t run, walk!!”

“Seung-joo hyung drank three bottles of soju [Korean distilled spirit] yesterday!!”

Like this.

It’s awkward to start by giving up four points from the first inning, but it’s not awkward to start by scoring four points from the first inning.

Because they’re good. Our team.

Of course, I know it’s a sudden change of attitude, but

Crack―

“Oh dear.”

I don’t think we can unconditionally advocate for overwhelming dominance.

No matter how much you praise Dong-gyun, he’s still human, and he has his original capacity, so he gets hits, allows walks, and gets hit with home runs.

But one clear trend in this game.

Crack-!

“Byeong-cheon, run!!”

“Three, let’s see another three!!”

Like the game difference with Sangsoo that has continued since the beginning of this season, this game will also maintain the form of us winning.

* * *

After the commercial break, the camera once again showed the panorama of Jamsil Stadium. While the commentators hadn’t said a single word yet,

Glug!

The image of Kim Han-wool pitching on the mound was captured.

“It’s the top of the 8th inning for the Sangsoo Tigers’ attack. As always, Kim Han-wool has come up to the mound for the Wonha Challengers.”

“It’s the formula. The Wonha Challengers’ bullpen formula.”

As caster Kwon Myung-hoon started, commentator Lee Young-jin added a word,

“There’s a certain framework of who pitches in which inning and when, but it’s hard to stick to it unconditionally. Sometimes pitcher Choi Eun-gu finishes, and sometimes Shin Kyung-seok comes out in the 7th inning.”

“That’s right.”

“But this pitcher, Kim Han-wool, always pitches in the 8th inning. Even if the situation isn’t good and he comes out a little earlier, the 8th inning is Kim Han-wool’s time.”

The remaining commentator, Kim Soo-chan, added two words altogether.

“Here are Kim Han-wool’s stats for this season. He has pitched 54 and 1/3 innings in 47 games, recording an ERA [Earned Run Average] of 0.00 to date. He has 76 strikeouts and 7 walks. His season hits allowed are 14, not his batting average, and his season WHIP [Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched] is 0.386.”

“Wait a minute, what was his WHIP again?”

“It’s 0.386.”

“Wasn’t Lee Young-jin commentator’s highest batting average during his prime .383?”

“Wasn’t it?”

“Heh…”

Commentator Kim Soo-chan laughed in vain at the stats that could be described as bizarre.

“I’m also a legend of my former team.”

“You’re not just a Wonha Challengers legend, you’re a KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] legend.”

“No, but…”

For a moment, commentator Kim Soo-chan couldn’t continue,

“…Wow, this is real. How can there be a pitcher like this?”

“I’m in the position of a caster, right? So I think my duty is to convey the facts as they are, from a neutral perspective as much as possible… but even I think this doesn’t make sense.”

That sentiment was briefly conveyed to all three commentators.

He’s just good, really good. I just thought he was doing well, like Kim Han-wool himself said, ‘I’m going to make a legend this season.’

“…This season will really be a legendary season.”

Commentator Kim Soo-chan’s words were agreed upon by everyone watching the broadcast screen.