Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 9

※ Episode 9. Starter

The familiar background music of a baseball broadcast fills the air, the team logos of the Visco Runners and Wonha Challengers displayed prominently on the screen.

The computer graphics fade, revealing three men in suits. The man in the center, holding a microphone, begins to speak.

“Hello, baseball fans! Welcome to Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. I’m Kwon Myung-hoon, your caster for today’s fifth game of the season between the Wonha Challengers and the Visco Runners. Joining me are commentators Lee Young-jin and Kim Soo-chan. Hello.”

“Hello.”

“Hello.”

“Today, the Wonha Challengers are starting Kim Han-wool as their pitcher. Kim Soo-chan, what are your thoughts on this?”

He turns slightly towards Kim Soo-chan, the commentator and former pitcher. Despite the sudden question, Kim Soo-chan smoothly picks up the thread.

“To be honest, I find it both understandable and a bit puzzling. It’s understandable that they need a replacement starter because Han Gyu-jin has a minor injury and needs to skip a start. However, I question whether Kim Han-wool is necessarily the *best* choice.”

“What are your concerns?”

“I have two main concerns. This season, Kim Han-wool has been performing exceptionally well as a top-notch relief pitcher, a departure from previous years.”

He clears his throat. “Ahem!”

“While it’s true that he’s been pitching well, using him as a starter today means he won’t be available in the bullpen for several days. They need to carefully consider their bullpen management for the games that follow. Also, I wonder if it was necessary to call up Kim Han-wool, who has *never* started a game in his professional career.”

“Is it a matter of physical stamina?”

“That’s the biggest factor. Although he’s had a few days of rest, the pressure on a player who has never started a game before, and the different feeling when he actually pitches, will definitely be variables.”

“Are there any advantages to Kim Han-wool starting?”

It was a scripted question, inserted to avoid accusations of biased commentary if only negative aspects were discussed.

“Anyone who knows Kim Han-wool knows that he’s not ideally suited to be a relief pitcher. He has the ability to throw about six different pitches, including his fastball, wherever he wants, whenever he wants. Although his velocity is quite slow, he’s been having fun this season with his pace control, hasn’t he? If they can capitalize on that aspect, we might understand the Challengers’ reasoning.”

“Thank you. So, how should Visco respond to this?”

Kwon Myung-hoon, the caster, now directs his question to Lee Young-jin, the commentator on his left.

“As Kim Soo-chan mentioned, he’s a player with a variety of breaking balls and top-notch control in the league, isn’t he? That will definitely make him difficult to face. But because his velocity is among the lowest in the league, I think they’ll have a good result if they calmly… respond.”

“Thank you for your comments. Today’s game will inevitably focus on Kim Han-wool’s starting debut, as he’s been developing into a top-notch relief pitcher this season. We’ll be back with the broadcast shortly. This is Jamsil.”

Kwon Myung-hoon, the caster, tried to draw out more stories from Lee Young-jin, the legendary home run king.

Although he was a veteran of nearly 20 years, he had no choice but to hand over the broadcast to commercials due to time constraints.

* * *

“Top of the 1st inning. The game between the Visco Runners and the Wonha Challengers at Jamsil Stadium begins with the Visco Runners at bat. The batting order is: 1st batter, 3rd baseman Lee Young-ho; 2nd batter, center fielder Kim Wook; 3rd batter, shortstop Bang Eun-min; 4th batter, 1st baseman Bae Deok-hyun; 5th batter, designated hitter Choi Joo-young; 6th batter, right fielder Han Chang-min; 7th batter, left fielder Yoon Hyun-jung; 8th batter, 2nd baseman Kim Young-chul; 9th batter, catcher Kang Yong.”

The CG overlaid the Visco Runners’ batting order with the Wonha Challengers’ defensive positions.

“Here are the defensive positions for the Wonha Challengers. The battery [pitcher and catcher] consists of pitcher Kim Han-wool and catcher Moon Gyu-hak, with the infielders Lee Sung-hoon, Lee Myung-jin, Jeon Sung-moon, and Nam Ki-sung, and the outfielders Yoo Hoon, Park Jin-hyung, and Kang Sung-hyun.”

The CG showing the Visco Runners’ batting order and simple batting records, followed by the Wonha Challengers’ defensive positions, disappeared.

The screen introduced Kim Han-wool, who was practicing his pitching, making various signs with his glove and ball.

True to MBS’s reputation for dynamic camera work, Kim Han-wool’s pitching was broadcast from very close to the mound.

“Kim Han-wool is the starting pitcher for the Wonha Challengers. In 14 appearances this season, all as a relief pitcher, he has an ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance] of 2.08 in 13 innings, with 2 wins, no losses, 4 holds [when a relief pitcher enters in a save situation and maintains the lead], 1 save [when a relief pitcher finishes a game with his team in the lead], 7 strikeouts, 7 walks, and a WHIP [Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched, a measure of how many runners a pitcher allows on base] of 1.22 without hitting any batters.”

“He’s a typical contact pitcher. His stuff isn’t particularly outstanding, so he allows a fair number of baserunners, but he somehow manages to get outs. Looking at his stats in more detail, he has relatively few strikeouts and more walks than you’d expect for his reputation this season, but his ERA is low. The same goes for his on-base percentage allowed per inning.”

“He’s a pitcher who’s fun to watch in a different way than a pitcher who throws blazing fastballs. It’s fun to anticipate how he’ll get the outs this time, what he’ll throw.”

As soon as Kwon Myung-hoon’s explanation ended, Kim Soo-chan, the former pitcher, added his analysis, and Lee Young-jin, the home run king, shared his personal thoughts.

In the meantime, Kim Han-wool finished his practice pitches, and Lee Young-ho, the leadoff hitter for the Visco Runners, stepped into the batter’s box, and the umpire pointed at the pitcher and called, “Play ball!”

Catcher Moon Gyu-hak made a sign with his fingers, and Kim Han-wool nodded almost imperceptibly and pulled his left leg back.

The pitch he threw was a sinker inside. The umpire’s hand went up, signaling that it had passed through the strike zone.

“The first pitch is an inside two-seamer [a type of fastball] for a strike.”

“He’s pitching aggressively and intelligently from the first pitch.”

“That’s right. He needs to get a strike on the first pitch, and he’s hesitant to show his fastball, which is his main weapon this season, right from the start. It seems like he intends to induce a ground ball if he throws it on the first pitch.”

“The second pitch is an inside curveball, but it’s called a ball.”

“There’s an interesting aspect to Kim Han-wool’s pitch selection this season.”

“What is it?”

Kwon Myung-hoon received Kim Soo-chan’s sudden comment with familiarity. It was the power of the script.

As if it had been discussed in advance, a CG screen showed Kim Han-wool’s pitch distribution for the season.

“It’s not perfectly even, but he throws his fastball for exactly half of his total pitches. And he divides the remaining half among his curveball, slider, changeup, sinker, and splitter, distributing them in roughly equal proportions.”

“As you were saying that, he swings and misses at a fastball, making the count 1 ball and 2 strikes. It seems like the interesting aspect that Kim Soo-chan was talking about isn’t just about the pitch ratios.”

“That’s right. As you know, Kim Han-wool’s fastball is slow. *Really* slow. But he throws his fastball with confidence like that. Look.”

“The fourth pitch, a high fastball, induces a swing and miss, resulting in the first out of the game.”

Lee Young-ho offered a clumsy swing at the ball heading high and inside and returned to the dugout after striking out.

While the next batter came in, Moon Gyu-hak threw the ball to the first baseman, and the screen showed Kim Han-wool circling the mound after his pitch.

“I wasn’t a pitcher with a particularly fast ball during my playing days either. Of course, a pitcher’s ball can’t be expressed solely in terms of velocity, but it’s still amazing. There’s an image, you know. If it’s fast, you have to do this; if it’s slow, it’s easy—something like that. Isn’t that right, Lee Young-jin?”

“There’s definitely something to that. From a batter’s perspective, it’s easier to deal with a slow ball. No matter how sharp the breaking balls are or how many different types there are, you can’t deny that being slow is a huge weakness.”

In the meantime, the ball that the infielders were passing around returned to the pitcher just as Kim Wook, the second batter, came to the plate and finished his preparations. He checked the ball to see if there was anything wrong with it, then stepped back onto the plate and started looking at the catcher.

“You two make Kim Han-wool look even more amazing this season.”

“It’s true that his fastball velocity has increased, but to be honest, from a batter’s perspective, there isn’t a huge difference between 130 km/h [kilometers per hour] and 135 km/h. There seems to be something more to Kim Han-wool’s performance this season than just his fastball velocity.”

“What do you think about Lee Young-jin’s comments, Kim Soo-chan?”

While Lee Young-jin’s words were being passed on to Kim Soo-chan, Kim Wook hit the first pitch fastball and was out on a fly ball to the third baseman. As before, the infielders were passing the ball around again until the next batter came in.

“Actually, this is the first time I’m seeing Kim Han-wool pitch in person this season. Until now, I’ve only seen him on screen, but this is the first time I’m seeing him in person, so there must be something to what Lee Young-jin is saying.”

Even while he was listing his own opinions, Kim Han-wool was steadily accumulating his outs.

“The spin rate of the ball may have increased dramatically, or the extension may have been pulled in considerably. His arm swing may have become faster, or his form may have changed slightly, giving him a significant advantage in terms of deception.”

“It’s difficult to pinpoint just one thing and say that this is what changed and brought about this result.”

“That’s right. A pitcher is… haha, this might sound like I’m bragging, but it’s such a sensitive and delicate position. There are even cases where a mosquito bite on the neck three days ago—not even the night before—bothers them and ruins the game.”

“Hahaha, is that a story about you, Kim Soo-chan?”

“Ah, how did you know that?”

“Hahahaha!”

“Hahaha!”

As expected of Kim Soo-chan, who is known as an eloquent speaker despite being a former player, the atmosphere of the broadcast was flowing comfortably as he told his stories.

“Outside, called strike! Kim Han-wool’s first start in his career, and it’s starting off so cleanly. We’ll see you in a bit. This is Jamsil.”

Just like Kim Han-wool’s start right now.

* * *

3rd inning, dugout after pitching scoreless innings. He gave up a walk to one batter, but even that was cleanly handled with a ground ball double play to the shortstop.

*Why?*

I can feel it even as I’m pitching. I definitely feel like something has changed. Unlike before, when they confidently stepped into the batter’s box, now I only see uneasy expressions, as if they feel uncomfortable.

He’s still just Kim Han-wool!

Even the guys who come in confidently thinking that way make a similar expression to the previous batters after watching the first pitch and return to the dugout.

Although the average velocity of my pitches has increased this season, the velocity in today’s game is actually not much different from my appearances until last year. The average is roughly around 130 km/h.

It’s different now than before, when I only pitched for an inning or at most two innings. Now I have to aim for at least 5 innings, and if possible, even longer.

If I had started a game in the past, I would have been getting hammered with pitches barely reaching 120 km/h and would have been taken out. And there would have been comments cursing the manager for putting up ‘that guy’.

Currently, as we enter the bottom of the 3rd inning, the score is 0-0. This attack doesn’t seem like it will be any different. We’re somehow managing to create opportunities on offense, but that’s it. We’ve created the path, but we can’t take it.

Two outs, but we put runners on 1st and 3rd and then ended the attack with a ground ball to the pitcher. I picked up my glove again, thinking that the effect of my enlightenment might be affecting our team’s batting as well.

Ding!

[The First Step of a Starting Pitcher]

– Win as a starting pitcher. (0/1)

– Reward ― All pitches +2

Before stepping onto the mound and stepping on the plate, I fiddled with the rosin and glared towards home. The quest window was visible around the left side of Gyu-hak, who was squatting down. I sent the sign that I would throw a sinker.

Bang!

“Good ball, good ball!”

Let’s destroy them. Even though not everything is entirely thanks to me, so what.

Bang!

“Your fastball is good today, *hyung* [older brother/term of endearment]!”

Complete the quest, increase my stats, and grow. Grow and…

Bang!

“Nice!”

Let’s win. I’m going to win. I will win.