Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 184

※ 184. Same

[Kim Hyung-chul’s Straight Talk – ERA ‘0’, Kim Han-wool’s Warning Applies Only This Year]

The long, long 2020 season has ended.

Of course, the post-season is still ahead, but today I want to talk about the regular season, which garnered more attention.

The 2020 season seems to be a year in which quite a few records were set.

A player worth mentioning is Park Hae-jin of the Sangsoo Tigers.

Park Hae-jin hit a whopping 59 home runs this season, setting a new KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] League record for most home runs in a single season. It’s an amazing record that surpasses his own previous record.

Lee Hyun-jin of the Dongsung Hornets also set a record of his own. While it might not be the first or the best, he earned the title of a 20-win pitcher for the first time in years, making it a successful achievement.

Lee Myung-jin, who plays shortstop for the Wonha Challengers and anchors their defense, showed a perfect performance in the 2020 season with 0 errors and a 100% fielding percentage.

The Sungwoon Hawks gave Lee Soo-joon, who returned after a long rehabilitation and had seemingly lost his batting sense, the role of pinch hitter. He exceeded expectations with 22 hits in 22 at-bats as a pinch hitter.

I can’t introduce them all, or the article would be too long, but there are still many amazing records left.

Kim Ki-yoon of the KP Stars, who has achieved more than 180 hits for 10 consecutive years, Lim Ho-taek of the Visco Runners, who has surpassed 150 career wins, and Lee Won-woong of the Gaya Perfectors, who has hit 4 grand slams this season alone, etc.

There are many. Really many.

I think the level of the KBO League has improved significantly, and the baseball fans who watch it have enjoyed it immensely.

However, all these great records pale in comparison to just one person.

54 games, 62 innings, 4 wins, no losses, 40 holds, 9 saves, 91 strikeouts, 8 walks.

And the most important record: an ERA [Earned Run Average] of ‘0’ this season.

[September 27, Kim Han-wool pitching in the last game of the season, with the scoreboard behind him displaying his season record.]

I have posted several columns about Kim Han-wool this season.

One about Kim Han-wool’s precise control, one about Kim Han-wool’s pitching form, one about Kim Han-wool’s ball distribution, and most recently about Kim Han-wool’s changeup.

To be honest, I expected Kim Han-wool to do well this season. But I didn’t expect him to achieve something this significant.

An ERA of 0…….

Some people underestimate Kim Han-wool, pointing out that he is a relief pitcher or that he only appears in the 8th inning.

To those people, I would ask: has there ever been a pitcher who has come even close to Kim Han-wool’s performance?

Let’s acknowledge what we must. Kim Han-wool in the 2020 season is undoubtedly a pitcher who deserves a whole page, not just a line, written about him in the history books.

So, we need to understand how Kim Han-wool has become revered as such a great pitcher.

Of course, it’s due to factors such as speed, changeup, control, runner restraint, defense, ball distribution, etc., but everyone knows that.

[Kim Han-wool fiddling with the rosin bag while waiting for the next batter]

From the perspective of a former player, a professional, and someone who has been in the professional baseball scene for a long time, Kim Han-wool is a very unique player.

The most unique thing is his mentality.

Until the 2016 season, Kim Han-wool was, in his own words, just one of the pitchers who was ashamed to even be called ‘professional’.

He got hit a lot, got scolded a lot. He fell a lot and got up a lot.

[June 12, Kim Han-wool staring blankly at the outfield after allowing a triple to the lead batter.]

I don’t know how Kim Han-wool managed to organize his mentality in that process.

Seeing him smiling brightly even after getting hit, I sometimes wonder if he has any competitive spirit.

And then, when he finishes the inning with a strikeout, Kim Han-wool’s unique shout makes me think that he has a stronger competitive spirit than anyone else.

Forgetting the bad things quickly and holding onto the good things for as long as possible.

Kim Han-wool does it very naturally, which is easy to say but difficult for everyone to do.

In that sense, I, a former hitter, would like to give a warning to the current hitters.

[June 12, Kim Han-wool roaring after striking out all three batters after allowing a triple to the lead batter.]

Kim Han-wool’s ERA of 0 this season doesn’t seem like a record that will be broken anytime soon.

* * *

Knock knock—

Delivery!

“Ah, it’s here.”

Prompted by the unfamiliar man’s voice, I quickly got up from my seat and headed to the front door.

“Enjoy your meal.”

“Yes, drive safely.”

After briefly greeting the delivery driver who safely delivered today’s daily food, I ran back to the computer.

Tearing off the tied vinyl with force and removing the rubber band that was suppressing the box,

“Ah, let’s go.”

Baseball viewing preparation complete.

The 2020 season post-season began on October 3 with the first game of the semi-playoffs between the Dongsung Hornets and the Sungwoon Hawks.

Just listing the names of these two teams makes it easy to guess the list of the top four teams in the 2020 season.

Yes, like last year, Wonha, Sangsoo, Sungwoon, and Dongsung, these four teams.

The rankings of the teams below them changed a lot, but that’s their business. Our neighborhood [the top teams] was exactly the same as last year.

“Woosuk was sharpening his knife, I wonder what will happen.”

Last year, Sungwoon had home-field advantage, but they lost to Dongsung in the playoffs due to a lack of post-season experience.

The same stage as last year, the same results as last year, the same order as last year.

The only difference is,

“Oh….”

The part that can be said to be Sungwoon’s strength.

Sungwoon’s first starter, Chu Bong-gi, cleanly blocked the first start, and the bats started to explode from the bottom of the first inning.

Who is Dongsung’s starter against such a strong Sungwoon?

“Is Hyun-jin not feeling well? Why is he getting hit so hard?”

It was none other than Hyun-jin, the national team’s first starter who won 21 games this year.

It was very strange to see him give up 5 points as soon as the inning started. I was worried that there might be something wrong.

But as time passed, he regained his senses and cut off 5 innings in a row with three batters from the 2nd to the 6th inning…….

“Ah, it’s gone.”

It seems too late already.

Sungwoon, who is more deeply aware than anyone else of the preciousness of the 5 points earned from the first inning, completely shut down Dongsung’s lineup and took the first series score.

If I were to pick the MVP of this first game, it would definitely be,

[Woosuk – Did you see it?]

Woosuk with 5 at-bats, 3 hits, 2 home runs, and 2 walks.

[Sorry, I was eating chicken and didn’t see it]

[Woosuk – You son of a bitch]

It was a game that properly showed what it meant to sharpen his knife.

But Woosuk, there’s only one game left, what are you going to do if you do that already…….

“…Wow, he’s gone again.”

…The next day,

[Woosuk – Did you see it?]

[Sorry, I spilled chicken radish juice and was wiping it up, so I didn’t see it]

[Woosuk – You son of a bitch]

He showed his power again with 4 at-bats, 3 hits, and 1 home run, and took all the series that were played at home first.

Woosuk, who swept all the MVPs in the first and second games, is on a roll. If Sungwoon wins just one more game, I think Woosuk might even receive the series MVP.

Bang-!

“…Wow, what’s wrong with him.”

And that thought became a reality.

The next day, after a day off, Woosuk recorded 5 at-bats, 2 hits, 1 home run, two walks, and one hit by pitch in the third game, which was played at Dongsung’s home stadium.

If I were to lightly recite the contents that Woosuk recorded during the three games, it would be a batting average of 0.777, an on-base percentage of 0.867, and four home runs.

And from the fact that Woosuk received the series MVP, you can easily guess in what direction the third game went.

[Woosuk – Did you see it?]

[I was picking up chicken crumbs, so I didn’t see it]

[Woosuk – You son of a bitch]

The anomaly occurred that Dongsung, who had been a mainstay in the post-season, was just eliminated in the semi-playoffs.

Sungwoon has gotten a lot stronger, but everyone who watched all three games with the thought that they wouldn’t be able to beat Dongsung was surprised.

I’m sorry to Woosuk, but I was one of those people, so I was quite surprised.

Because of that,

[To speak coldly, I know very well that not many people thought we would get to this position.]

Woosuk’s words at the playoff media day touched my heart even more.

I have felt the feeling that Woosuk is feeling now.

We are definitely a strong team, we have grown into a strong team, but why do people look at us and say, ‘Wow, they’re there?’

[But the fact that Sungwoon is a strong team has already been clearly proven, and I think we have enough confidence and justification to argue even more strongly than that.]

That’s right. Sungwoon is no longer the Sungwoon of the past, who used to play with Wonha Challengers and the teams below them.

Sungwoon has advanced to the post-season for three consecutive years since 2018 and has clearly risen to the ranks of a strong team.

No one can deny the fact that they are no longer a team that gets hit and cries, but a team that has the power to pay back more than twice as much if they get hit once.

However,

Bang-!

– Lee Yong-ho’s batted ball, far, left fence, left fence, left fence, goes over!!

It’s too strong to fight with just that confidence this time.

The first game of the playoffs started at the Sangsoo Tigers’ home in Jamsil Stadium, and Sungwoon was really beaten by Sangsoo so hard that I wondered if the same team could change so much.

Playoff first game score, 14 to 2.

In the second game, which continued without a break, the pitchers worked hard to tie up Sangsoo’s strong lineup with 3 points, as if they were trying to repay the sorrow of the previous day.

It’s just that the lineup didn’t score a single point.

After a day off, the Sungwoon Hawks, who met the Sangsoo Tigers at their home, concentrated and focused with the determination that if they lost here, it would really be over.

5 to 2.

Fortunately, the third game of the playoffs ended with Sungwoon’s victory this time,

– Shin Tae-beom’s batted ball once again flies high to the center field, very high, I’ll see you outside the fence!!

That was it.

Series score 3 to 1.

“Sigh….”

“You did well, why are you sighing.”

Woosuk, who finished the official 2020 season schedule, is sitting in front of me now, drinking soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] deliciously.

“When was it for you… I wonder if it was when you were with Dongsung in the old days, or when you were with Sangsoo. I know why you said that back then.”

“What did I say?”

“What did you say… I think you said you thought you were going to lose.”

“Hmm….”

If it’s the part where we lost to Dongsung, it’s probably around the 18th season. Judging from the fact that Sangsoo is mentioned, is it last year?

“I wondered why you were going in with such a weak mind, but when I was in that position, I understood. There’s something like that, ah, I really can’t do it here.”

“There is.”

When I feel like I can’t win no matter what I do.

When I feel like everything I do is like suicide.

When everyone just laughs at everything I do.

“It’s not like I didn’t work hard. I really worked hard. Haa… It’s a bit… more than I thought to just step on the semi-playoffs and playoffs for 3 consecutive years….”

“Is it miserable?”

“A little.”

Winning first place in a long marathon of 126 games and the Korean Series, where the game is decided in 4 games if it’s short, and 7 games if it’s long.

I think the objective value itself is a little heavier for the regular season first place.

I think it’s because the regular season feels like it contains less of the element of luck.

Of course, you have to run well, and even rest well. The pride you feel when you reach the top after all sorts of tactics and tricks is really indescribable.

But what remains in people’s memories is the Korean Series championship after all.

Why?

Well… there are many reasons, but I think it’s because it’s the real last one. And because it’s a stage where you are recognized as the true strongest among the strongest.

And,

“Fucking, the dirty world that only remembers first place.”

“If you don’t like it, be first.”

“You’re not first yet either, are you going to eat the Korean Series for free?”

Me too.

If I think logically, I should feel joy at being first in the regular season, but I’m more worried about the remaining Korean Series.

It’s funny.

“I wish someone would feed it to me for free.”

That a person’s reason and nature play so separately.

“Is the preparation going well?”

“Koshi [Korean Series]?”

“Is there anything else besides that?”

“Just… the same. Team practice, condition control. Personal practice too.”

“Win a little, you son of a bitch.”

“What.”

“Win against Sangsoo, you son of a bitch. You used to be so annoying because we couldn’t catch Sangsoo, but now you can’t even write on the losing side.”

It’s sad that there’s no room to make excuses.

“But you did one thing. You caught Haejin, huh.”

“Ah… that.”

The day I struck out Park Haejin for the first time in my life, I received congratulatory calls from those who knew my situation well.

Hyunjin, Minyoung, Eunseo,

“Crazy bastard, is 160km even possible?”

Woosuk is right in front of me too.

“Wow… I was struggling with 130km just the other day, what? 160?”

“Teacher, wouldn’t all human beings in the world be animals that make progress?”

“Progress or whatever, uncle. That’s not progress, that’s invention, uncle.”

Ugh, no jam [not funny].

“So. Is it good?”

“What is.”

“Is it good to strike out Haejin?”

“It’s good.”

“It’s good, but don’t let your guard down.”

“Ah….”

“It’s a bit worrying that you struck out Haejin as the last count of the pennant [regular season].”

“Are you worried that I’ll let my guard down?”

“That’s it. Wow, it’s over. I’ve done everything I need to do, now I’m going to play, no one can stop me, I’m going to think like that.”

Woosuk’s lines are quite mixed with ungrammatical sentences, probably because he’s quite drunk.

“I know this is a really cheesy thing to say.”

“Then don’t do it.”

“No. I can’t do it unless I’m drunk like this. I have to do it now.”

“Ah, please.”

“Do you remember when we were in high school?”

Fuck.

“…When.”

“We were watching baseball together at home and said that one day we would be there, lifting up the championship trophy like that, and being happy and jumping around.”

We shared quite a lot of stories like that.

Can we be with them?

Will we fall behind them?

Can we surpass them?

“I think we’ve achieved the primary goal.”

Looking at it now, most of those stories have become reality.

“But the next one doesn’t stick. I don’t know if it’s because of the team or luck.”

But there’s still one story left.

“Ah, I don’t know. You know your personality, and I know my personality. Since we have our personalities, let’s just talk about everything.”

“Talk about it.”

“…I don’t think we’ll be able to win the Korean Series until at least next year.”

Korean Series championship.

“Why?”

“It’s like a sense of inferiority. No, that’s right. It’s a sense of inferiority. That’s why I’m saying this, Wonha has you, and Sangsoo has Park Haejin. I can’t get over it, that’s a fact.”

“You’re the one who always shouted that baseball is a team game, why are you saying that?”

“It’s a team game. It’s a team game.”

Clang-!

He slams the soju glass hard on the table and points at me with his empty finger.

“There’s something like that. Something that transcends the team. Leader, captain, ah, not that. Not that kind of talk.”

“What are you talking about?”

“There’s something like that, a little. I really can’t touch him. He’s the reason why we’re in this state, an existence that makes you think that.”

“Is that me?”

“You and Haejin. And!”

Gurgle gurgle—

The empty glass was filled with soju again.

“The only one who can actually catch Park Haejin is you, that’s what I’m saying. Do you understand?”