Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 204

Even well-intentioned words can become irritating if you hear them repeatedly. They start to feel like nagging. That’s just how people are. So imagine listening to a barrage of negative emotions—hatred, resentment, betrayal, anger—from tens of thousands of people, non-stop for three days…

‘That’s what happens. I understand being angry, but they went too far.’

Lee Jung-woo shook his head, watching the pitcher on the mound. Ian Field had been visibly shaken by the complex emotions and regret towards his former fans when he first boarded the plane and arrived in Phoenix. But not anymore.

The memories of those who once loved him had been completely washed away by the current reaction. Of course, some would silently endure even such criticism, but unfortunately for the D-backs, Ian Field wasn’t that kind of person.

Instead, he was the kind of person who channeled that anger into rearming himself.

[Ian Field! Strikes out another batter!]

[Yesterday’s hero has become today’s enemy. The slider that once made D-backs fans proud is now piercing their hearts.]

The powerful fastball coming from his three-quarter delivery, and an even sharper slider than usual, left the D-backs helpless. They couldn’t even swing their bats near the slider.

The consistently high velocity made one wonder if he was pushing himself too hard.

‘Today… the defense is on holiday.’

Defense is usually about the combination of pitcher and fielders, but sometimes when pitchers get like that, fielders become unnecessary. Just like now.

Lee Jung-woo, who hadn’t moved from his position since the defense started, simply stared blankly at the mound. Derek and the other fielders seemed to feel the same, just holding their positions out of boredom.

There was no reason to move. He was striking out every batter, and even when they managed to hit, it was weak ground balls.

The fielders, having conserved their energy on defense, were itching to use it at the plate.

[Derek Hunt! Hits a home run after a long time! Solo home run! Top of the 6th, Derek Hunt’s leadoff home run makes the score 4-0!]

[He really got a hold of that one. Low and outside, a pitch that any hitter would dislike, and Derek is usually weak against, but he just sent it over the fence.]

Derek, the second baseman, who, along with shortstop Lee Jung-woo, has to move a lot, converted the energy he saved from the easier-than-usual defense into a sudden home run.

“Lee! I came all the way to this X-rated [risqué or exciting] place to see you hit a home run! Knock one out of the park!”

“I came to see you achieve 30-30 [30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a season]! I’ll keep following you, so hit at least one today!”

“Back-to-back, let’s gooooo!”

Lee Jung-woo responded to the expectations of the Braves’ fans, who were huddled together in the enemy territory.

‘They came all this way—’

A slider that sucked right in.

It was a backdoor slider [a slider that starts outside the plate and curves back into the strike zone] that was well-controlled, barely catching the outside corner of the strike zone. It was considered a pretty good pitch, though not as good as Ian Field’s.

‘I should give them a good show.’

Crack!

Against a perfectly timed swing, it could only shatter and fall like rotten timber.

[Jung! Woo! Lee! Back-to-back home run! His 25th home run of the season at the D-backs’ home stadium, Chester Field! The score is now 5-0!]

[He hit it off the end of the bat, a light level swing, but the power is incredible. The speed is… well over 100 mph. The angle was perfect too.]

[Last year, he had a clear weakness against sliders, but this year is different. As much as his batting form has changed, he’s different.]

[There’s a lot of talk about 30 home runs in the first half. Looking at his current pace, it seems a bit difficult, but if he has another surge like he did in the Mariners series, it might be possible.]

A clean, crisp swing. Yet, a powerful hit. The commentators raved about it, but the crowd was silent.

Even after watching the home run ball fly far away and disappear, the home fans just stared with cold, dead eyes, letting out deep sighs, as if they were truly exhausted.

The contrast was stark.

‘It’s different, really.’

Now it really hits me. Ian is no longer our player… Sigh…

Lee Jung-woo, after touching home plate, high-fived Ian Field as if to show off, while the current second starter was being pulled off the mound by the pitching coach.

Both pitchers used sliders as their go-to pitch, but they were too different. Not what they had expected, not what they had been watching all along.

One was striking out the opposing lineup with sliders like dogs on a hot day [very easily], while the other was getting hit with back-to-back home runs in one inning, two at-bats, and was taken out of the game.

The fans frowned at the miserable result of trying to salvage at least a quality start [when a starting pitcher pitches at least six innings and allows three or fewer earned runs]. But it didn’t end there.

[A high fly ball—goes over the fence! Back-to-back-to-back! Joey Fredman! Proving his reputation as the team’s best slugger!]

A third home run.

The fans just slumped like unconscious people as the home run off the first pitch from the new pitcher soared over the farthest fence.

####

[The batter just watches—strike! Ian Field finishes the game himself with a looking strikeout [when a batter is called out on strikes without swinging]! The Braves win with a score of 7-0!]

[9 innings, no runs, 1 hit, 1 walk, 17 strikeouts. An incredible record. If not for the hit in the 4th inning, it could have been a no-hitter.]

[He’s usually a playful player, but today he seemed determined, facing the batters with a consistently serious demeanor. And this is the result.]

After the game, fortunately, the Braves didn’t run away in a hurry as Lee Jung-woo had predicted before the game.

The atmosphere was definitely bad, even more heated than during the Dodgers series, but not too dangerous.

The D-backs’ home fans, completely exhausted, were busy leaving the stadium as if fleeing. Some were slumped over, complaining of pain and fatigue.

It was the worst-case scenario they hadn’t wanted.

“Sigh…”

“Can’t win a single game… No, how can’t we score a single point…”

“That Judas must be gloating.”

A sweep. And a shutout.

Even if the team was falling apart, they wanted to punish the Braves and the traitor who had betrayed them and left.

But they failed to do so, and the series was completely crushed. The D-backs fans let out hollow, self-deprecating laughs while also feeling a deep sense of regret.

“You X [expletive], how could you do this to us? You X bastard…”

“He’s really good… If he was that good, he should have just stayed here…”

They already knew he was good since he used to be their player, but seeing his skills as an enemy made the regret they had tried to forget grow again.

His pure joy, surrounded by his teammates after the victory, amplified those feelings.

“Isn’t he too good?”

“Thanks to you, I got a good rest. Please do the same for the next game. We need days like this sometimes.”

“What do you mean sometimes, as a first baseman? You don’t move more than a meter from your position. Ah, Lee. Good job today. No, actually, you didn’t do anything. I was hoping to benefit from your good condition, but I did it all myself today. It’s a waste, so let’s carry over today’s rest to the next game. Double the usual amount for your next start. How about it? Deal?”

Unlike the D-backs, who were now feeling complicated, the Braves and Ian Field were busy celebrating their victory as usual. Ian Field, perhaps because of the perfect game, returned to his usual playful self.

However, perhaps because of the unexpected shutout, he also seemed less angry and showed a softer side, slightly bowing his head to the stands.

That insignificant gesture eased the musty emotions a little. Unlike the beginning, the series ended in a heartwarming atmosphere.

“Now that it’s happened! Do well there! Be happy! This X [expletive] team is done for, so at least you get a championship ring!”

“You worked hard for the D-backs, and work hard there too! You X [expletive] bastard! I’ll come find you if you fail! You better keep doing well!”

“If you ever get into the Hall of Fame, you have to wear a D-backs hat! Or I’ll kill you!”

Unlike the heartwarming sentiment, the speech was still full of lingering emotions and curses, not much different from the end of the last Dodgers game.

####

[Ian Field Stabs His Former Team in the Heart! 9 Innings, No Runs, 17 Strikeouts, Shutout Victory!]

[‘Back-to-Back-to-Back’ ATL Three Consecutive Home Runs KO the D-backs!]

[‘The March of Death Begins Again?’ Braves on an 8-Game Winning Streak!]

[Unusual Home Run Pace, Jungwoo Lee, 25th Home Run of the Season! Really 30-30 in the First Half?]

[50 Home Run Pace This Season? MVP is Virtually Guaranteed if Achieved!]

The winning streak started again. Shutout victory. And home runs. The media, especially the Atlanta-leaning local media, churned out articles as if screaming with joy.

In particular, they seriously pondered whether Lee Jung-woo could really achieve 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases (30-30) in the first half. Some even dreamed bigger, mentioning 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases, an unprecedented record.

[’50-50 Club’ Can Lee Achieve the Record That No One Has Ever Reached?]

-That’s crazy.

-I’m a Braves fan, but that’s crazy.

-Even Bonds on steroids couldn’t do that… Impossible.

-Why are you guys so negative?

-It’s not negative, it’s realistic.

-Loving Lee is one thing, but reality is reality.

-You’re wrong. Lee has already succeeded in the first record in history. I mean, the home run cycle [hitting a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game]. If he achieves this too, it’ll be the first time in history. If Lee has already experienced the first, wouldn’t it be possible?

-What kind of nonsense is that…

Of course, most people dismissed it as a pipe dream and nonsense. Even the most fanatical Braves fans shook their heads, saying it was impossible.

Instead of the overly ambitious 50-50 season, people seriously considered 30-30 in the first half.

-There are only 6 games left until the end of the first half, but you never know.

-That’s right. Lee’s home run pace is usually consistent, but looking at the home run cycle and last year’s 4 consecutive home runs, he sometimes goes on a crazy streak.

-He just needs to hit one in each game. Easy for Lee.

-It’s not easy, you crazy bastards.

-Maybe it’s easy for Lee.

In fact, this was just as absurd, and if it were another player, they would have shut them up, saying not to talk nonsense. But, ridiculously, even fans of teams other than the Braves seriously considered the possibility.

That’s how monstrous Lee Jung-woo’s pace had been throughout the first half. Also, the remaining opponents seemed reasonably good to the fans.

-I don’t know who planned the schedule, but it’s X [expletive] weird.

-Two in the West Division, three in the East Division. What is this?

-Think positively. Thanks to that, the opponents are just right. The Marlins are a bit tricky, but there’s the Mets.

The Atlanta Braves’ remaining destinations on their road trip were Miami and New York. The Marlins and the Mets. Fans saw hope there. It was the same for other teams, but Lee Jung-woo reigned like a tyrant, especially against the same East Division teams. In particular, the Mets, though not as much as the Phillies, were one of the teams that generously gave up their records to Lee Jung-woo, so fans secretly hoped, even though the chances were slim.

-Is it possible?

-It’s tough, but with the Mets, you never know.

-Mets, we’ll allow it this time. Bring your cameras to the stadium. And film Lee. And get hit by a home run. Like when Lee returned in April.

-Are you crazy?

-If we’re going to cooperate, we should cooperate within the same East Division. How good would it be to have an MVP from the same division? Even if your performance is terrible, you’ll have an excuse, right? Isn’t it good for everyone?

-You know the drill, right? The Mets gave up a 21-game winning streak, so take care of it. Hey, Marlins. You know too, right? Don’t piss us off like the Nationals who broke our winning streak. Behave yourselves.

The Marlins and Mets fans were beyond dumbfounded by the brazen behavior of the Braves fans. But what made them the saddest was.

-X [expletive]… Why does something always have to be challenged when the Braves meet us…

-Let it explode in the Marlins instead. Don’t come to us. We were sacrificed for the 21-game winning streak. I really don’t want to give up such a record.

-If you’re really seriously challenging, I’ll allow up to two. Do the rest in New York, in New York. The Mets are originally a record-making machine for you, along with the Phillies.

-You guys have a slave mentality… You should think about fighting back, why are you passing the bomb to each other… Even a bomb that is likely to be a dud…

-The Braves seem to be becoming more and more like the Phillies. Weren’t they originally a quiet style?

-That’s the horror of power. Just last year, we were the victims hearing these words. Now that we have power, we’ve become the perpetrators. You never know people’s true nature.

It was themselves who could not make any rebuttal, resistance, or anger due to the fear engraved in their bones after being beaten so badly in a short period of time. In the midst of people’s expectations and subtle pressure on the opposing team, the plane slowly flew east.