Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 166

Pitcher Over, Batter Up (1)

After the game, Lee Jungwoo was chosen as the MVP.

With a cycle [a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game] included in his record, it was an expected result. But even without that, his overwhelming play made it a certainty.

“A dazzling performance in today’s game… his second cycle… combined with the last game, he’s reached base in 7 consecutive plate appearances… already 5 home runs this month…”

Lee Jungwoo responded with textbook answers to the reporter who was throwing out extremely predictable and expected questions. He also accepted the customary beverage shower from his teammates with practiced ease.

He’d been through it so many times, after all.

Lee Jungwoo was getting through the interview routinely, but he showed a glint in his eye at the reporter’s last question.

“Before the game, many Blue Jays fans were looking forward to the showdown between Jordan Nash and you, Lee. Jordan Nash also gave an interview. What do you think? It seems like a complete victory for you in this game, at least.”

‘Look at this?’

The reporter’s question was cunning.

It seemed like she was simply addressing the issues from before the game, but bringing up a story that the fans had scoffed at and dismissed was subtle.

Reading the anticipation in the reporter’s eyes, Lee Jungwoo chuckled inwardly.

It seemed like they were trying to somehow tie him with Canada’s famous idol to create some kind of rivalry.

He didn’t know what the intention was. It could be simply to raise the hype for the game. Or maybe they had picked up on the atmosphere that he and Jordan Nash had been sending each other during the game.

In any case, what was certain was that they seemed to want something to come out of Lee Jungwoo’s own mouth.

‘I can see right through you, but I have something to say too. I’ll play along this time.’

“I don’t have any particular thoughts. It’s natural for there to be some back-and-forth before the game. There’s also the special nature of interleague play.”

“Ah… thank you for your answer-”

A commonplace answer. The reporter was disappointed, but she tried to finish the interview with a forced bright smile. However, Lee Jungwoo borrowed her question to say what he wanted to say.

“However, if there’s one thing I’m curious about.”

“Yes, please tell me.”

“I’m a little curious if you still see me as just a rookie, like you said in the interview before the game.”

“!”

A piercing remark.

It wasn’t just aimed at Jordan Nash. As he had said in the interview before the game, there were quite a few people who dismissed him as just a second-year rookie.

There were some among the experts, and such stories were circulating even among ordinary baseball fans.

It was a blatant sniper shot that properly targeted such reactions, exceeding the answer that she and the broadcasting company behind her wanted by 120%. The reporter couldn’t hide her slightly brighter face while trying to maintain her composure.

####

[ATL) ‘A Perfect Defense to Remember Forever’ The Entire Baseball World Praises Lee’s Defensive Skills…]

[Rising Batting Sensation, Increasing Home Runs? ‘Lee’s Home Run Cycle Peaks.’ Already 12th Home Run of the Season!]

[Second Hit for the Cycle in His Career, Jungwoo Lee, 5 Plate Appearances, 4 At-Bats, 4 Hits, 1 Home Run, 1 Walk, 1 Stolen Base]

[Solid Defense, Cool Offense. The Braves are Simply ‘Perfect!’ Experts Praise Unanimously!]

[ATL’s Surge Extends to Interleague Play! Is the NL East Already a Battle for Second Place?]

The first things that poured out immediately after the game were praises for Lee Jungwoo and accolades for the Braves, including him. He showed the same, or even more, incredible performance in interleague play as he usually did.

Even the experts who had acknowledged the increase in physique but reserved their opinions, saying it was uncertain whether it would go well, now opened their heavy mouths, saying that the Braves were at least one of the best teams in the first half of the season.

Of course, since less than half of the first half of the season had passed, they also left behind a curse-like remark that they might collapse at any time.

[Perfect Braves? ‘No Fool is Satisfied with May.’ Experts Dismiss!]

[‘Threats Lurking Everywhere’ The Braves Must Beware of Complacency…]

Even while sending such praises, they ultimately left some room for the Braves. Lee Jungwoo, however, had none of that.

Even those who were tight-lipped and picky, or those who harbored somewhat racist thoughts in a corner of their minds, were busy praising him.

[Range, Throwing Accuracy, Instant Judgment, Athletic Sense, the Best Shortstop with Everything!]

[Now We Must Admit. It’s Not a ‘Temporary Sensation’ of a ‘Rookie’. It’s Just Class.]

[Lee and Nash? Incomparable. ‘You Can Tell by Painting the Bottoms of the Two Players’ Shoes and Playing the Game’]

The overwhelming defensive range had value beyond simply being frequently seen by people. It was a problem directly related to out [getting opposing batters out] contribution.

In that regard, Lee Jungwoo, who boasted a monstrous defensive range with his quick feet and excellent athletic ability, was already one of the best players to most experts. He was a complete player with perfect defense and near-perfect hitting.

That was further maximized in this game, to the point where it was almost like two players were handling the defense. It raised the existing evaluation even higher and raised the upper limit for looking at Lee Jungwoo.

He broke the limits he had shown so far.

Lee Jungwoo boasted tremendous defensive skills whether he was in good condition or not, and on days when he peaked, he even gave the feeling that he was handling the defense alone. But today, he showed even more than that. The shock that resulted from that was tremendous.

That alone elicited great enthusiasm. But the remarks he made at the end of the MVP interview poured oil on the fire.

[‘Do I Still Look Like a Rookie?’ Lee Exudes Confidence in MVP Interview!]

[Why Should We Call Lee Just a Rookie? ‘There’s Absolutely No Reason.’]

-I know, his career is short. What do you expect when he’s only in his second year? But saying that he still needs to prove himself or show something more is stupid.

-Doubting Lee’s skills after watching this game means either your eyes are wrong, or you’re a f***ing racist, one of the two is the correct theory.

-Lee spoke well for once. I was dumbfounded to see a guy like Jordan Nash dismissing him as a rookie. I feel relieved now!

-Frankly speaking, when it comes to skill, is there any player who can call Lee just a rookie? You have to admit it now. He’s just the best player.

The fans felt relieved by Lee Jungwoo’s remarks, and those who still hated him felt unpleasant, but they couldn’t even object because they had seen it with their own eyes. Even the experts were saying that they saw class in Lee Jungwoo’s play. There was nothing more to criticize.

As Lee Jungwoo had hoped for in his heart when he made those remarks, the keyword ‘rookie’ located next to the name Lee Jungwoo became even more blurred in people’s minds. Instead, they engraved a new keyword, ‘the best player,’ in that empty space.

If bright light and ecstatic praise followed the Braves and Lee Jungwoo in this way. Only gloomy stories like rain followed the Toronto Blue Jays.

[Silent ‘O Canada’ Toronto Blue Jays, Complete Defeat in Game 1!]

[USA Echoes Through the Rogers Centre? ‘I Understand the Joy, But You Need to Refrain…’ Blue Jays Supporters Express Public Displeasure!]

[Jordan Nash, Complete Defeat to Jungwoo Lee! ‘Just an Obvious Result’]

[Jordan Nash, Blank Stare, Stiff Face. ‘Where Did the Confidence From Before the Game Go?’]

The aftermath of the rookie remarks, which elicited a sufficient reaction, did not stop at simply affecting Lee Jungwoo personally, but led to ridicule towards Jordan Nash and the Blue Jays, who were the cause of the remarks.

In particular, the Braves fans, who couldn’t bear the fact that he dared to compare himself to their ‘god,’ filled the internet with words that were so sharp that they seemed like they would cut you if you got close. Conversely, those who hated Lee Jungwoo poured out even greater criticism.

-What the hell were the Blue Jays thinking?

-They said they could do it, but they’re no match?

-I don’t want to say anything with just one game. But honestly, if they got thoroughly beaten to this extent, it’s normal to be embarrassed.

-Canada should stop playing baseball in the future and just focus on ice hockey.

-You shitheads, that’s why you’re only in 3rd place. Because of these bastards, the Braves and that moronic kid have become arrogant. If that’s the case, they shouldn’t have opened their mouths.

-At least they didn’t get a pre-announced home run [a home run that a player predicts before hitting].

-In that respect, the Blue Jays are much better than the Phillies. 🙂

-Stop mentioning that, you bastards.

It was a depressing time for both the Toronto Blue Jays and Jordan Nash personally. But the biggest problem was that, like Lee Jungwoo had thought alone after the cycle hit, there were still many games left.

Even with a road trip to Truist Park, the residence of Satan, which was more favorable to them.

####

Having lost the second game at home in a dispiriting manner, the Toronto Blue Jays, like the Braves, had to leave for the long journey to Atlanta.

Of the four interleague games against the Braves, they played the first two games at their home, so this time it was Atlanta’s turn.

When they first faced each other, the Blue Jays players were happy to play at home first.

They had a grand goal of winning cleanly at home first, using the home advantage and the designated hitter variable, and then sweeping the away games with that momentum.

But now, it seemed like it would have been better to play the away games first.

At least then, even if they had suffered such a miserable defeat, they could have comforted themselves lightly, saying that it would be different at home.

The plane on the road to the away game, where even that was not allowed, was quiet. Only silence flowed, except for the faint breathing that was heard intermittently.

The complete defeat at home. The crushing defeat suffered in front of 40,000 fans extinguished the atmosphere of the team itself.

In particular, the faces of the batters, who had scored no points for two consecutive games due to Lee Jungwoo, who went crazy in the first game, and Derek, who went about 70% crazy in line with him, were miserable.

Of course, even that felt like a bright flower compared to Jordan Nash, who was sitting alone in one corner of the cabin.

‘Damn it…’

At first, his insides were boiling. What the hell is that guy, who far surpasses the position he reached after decades? To the point where he can’t even catch up.

If there was something like a god in baseball, a player who seemed to be loved by such an existence. The reality that he had to accept an overwhelming defeat without even being able to struggle in front of him made him angry.

Only until the first game.

The continued performance in the second game.

A crazy guy who commits massacres at the level of the Phillies-famous even in the AL [American League].

The strange look that crazy guy sends him. By that point, he couldn’t not know.

‘Does he even use mind reading at that point? What the hell…’

Yes, Jungwoo Lee, that guy seemed to have noticed. The emotions and goals that Jordan Nash himself had. So he’s crushing him so thoroughly and miserably.

If he had even 0.1% of the thought that it was worth trying, he would have been even more angry and charged at him. But the only thing that arose because he didn’t even have that thought was deep fear and self-blame.

‘Why did I have such thoughts… his attitude must be amazing at that point…’

He felt that the source of all this humiliation was himself. He felt sorry for his teammates, even though he knew it wouldn’t matter much.

Jordan Nash, who had been lost in thought, soon turned his head at the voice he heard next to him.

“Jordan, are you okay?”

It was a colleague who had a good personal relationship even in private. He approached him slightly and looked at him with a slightly worried look. Jordan Nash shook his head at that.

“I’m just so-so. I feel a little bitter.”

“Losing a game is something that always happens, and being a baseball player is a job where you get criticized anyway. Just ignore the morons’ bullshit. No matter how much they talk, you’re the best.”

“To be exact, the best Canadian player.”

Jordan Nash came to his senses at the sight of his colleague nodding as if that was exactly it.

‘Hoo… yeah, what is this? It’s not like I’ve been playing baseball for a day or two, and I’ve been acting like a drama queen with just two games.’

Jordan Nash shook his head, feeling that he must have been acting so pathetic that he came to encourage him in person. He rekindled his will.

Yeah, it still hurts inside. He lost two games in a row at home without even being able to use his hands, disappointing the fans who loved him so much and called him the best until the end, even though they knew it wasn’t true. But in the end, it was always something that happened. There was no value in being so immersed in his own emotions.

‘If we lost at home, we can pay them back on the road. As much as Toronto is frustrated… we can make Atlanta despair. That’s baseball.’

As he regained his lost will, his eyes returned.

Whether it was transmitted or not, a warm breeze blew again in the gloomy cabin.

And arrived in Atlanta.

The team bus heading to Truist Park was filled with only the determination to win.

“Let’s win, today.”

“Let’s win!”

Arriving at the stadium. The Blue Jays players rearmed their minds with the same slogans as usual.

In the following game preparation, they thoroughly warmed up according to their routines to raise their condition and sense of the game. He also felt that his movements were better than usual for some reason.

‘I can do it, I can do it!’

He raised his confidence by whispering in his heart several times. As he continued to repeat it, he was able to regain about the same level of confidence as in the first game just before the start of the game.

“Let’s get the first point first.”

“If we’ve rested for about two games, it’s time to explode. Let’s pour out everything we’ve been holding back during this game.”

The Blue Jays’ first attack.

Before going to the plate, the batters expressed their ambitions with blazing eyes. Jordan Nash, who took on such a goal first, walked out of the dugout with a calm face that had returned to normal and looked around the ground.

And realized.

‘F***, you vicious bastards… vicious bastards.’

The cold eyes of the shortstop looking at him. A stiff and cold, damn face that feels more heinous because it doesn’t contain even a little bit of arrogance. And the deep trust that the 41,000 spectators who filled this huge stadium show to that cruel guy and his team.

All of those things combined, here, Truist Park.

He realized that it was his and the Blue Jays’ execution ground.