Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 205

Pitcher Over, Batter Up -204

Upon arriving in Miami, some of the players felt a different kind of heat than in Phoenix, and sighed deeply. After escaping the scorching heat of Phoenix, where temperatures exceeded 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) throughout the series, they arrived in a place with lower temperatures but high humidity from the sea.

“I don’t know who planned this schedule, but… they’re clearly trying to kill us. It’s so hot I could die.”

“I don’t know why this is a resort.”

“Well, it’s summer now. Are you hot during spring training too?”

“Isn’t it funny when Atlanta guys complain about the heat in other cities?”

“That’s true. Wow, now that I think about it, other guys must have felt like this when they came to our stadium.”

Of course, Atlanta is also one of the hottest cities in the United States during the summer, so not many players complained. If they were so overwhelmed by the summer heat, they wouldn’t have been able to endure it in Atlanta in the first place.

“Ugh, I’m so stiff.”

“The weather is what it is because it’s summer, but from the West to the East Coast. Who makes a schedule like this…”

However, they couldn’t stop grumbling about being a little tired from the long road trip at the end of the first half. The players slumped in the bus heading to the stadium.

Tiredness was evident on their faces. It was the same even after arriving at the Marlins’ home stadium, Marlins Park. But Lee Jung-woo, a natural-born workaholic, simply looked around the stadium as usual.

‘There are always so many empty seats. Harding’s transfer meant that Pittsburgh also had a lot of empty seats, but the Marlins are the worst.’

Marlins Park, built in this humid and hot city, had a defining characteristic.

Whenever, at any time, in any month… it was always mostly empty.

To what extent? It wasn’t just that empty spaces were constantly visible here and there, but rather that there were people in only some sections of the stands. This huge stadium, boasting a total of 36,000 seats, even built in the 2010s with a state-of-the-art retractable dome roof and facilities that rank among the top in the entire National League, and even with pretty tasty stadium food, was missing one crucial element: the audience.

The audience didn’t even occupy a third of the total seats.

To exaggerate a bit, even if each person took up three seats, there would still be plenty of empty seats left, so Lee Jung-woo shook his head as he looked around the stadium. He actually does this every time he comes here. Even excluding other places, it was a slightly unfamiliar sight for Lee Jung-woo, who plays for the Braves, whose influence within the state of Georgia is strong, and whose stands are mostly full, if not completely sold out, for most home games.

‘It’s so strange. It’s not like Florida has a small population, but it’s like this…’

The lack of popularity was serious just by looking at it, but if you delve a little deeper, the seriousness is extraordinary. Florida is the third most populous state in the United States.

Miami, the home city, has a population of about 500,000, and the vast metropolitan area has a population of over 6 million.

In other words, they’re just not popular. Not just the Marlins, but also the Tampa Bay Rays, who are also based in Florida, have been consistently ranked at the bottom in terms of attendance for a long time. It was clear that the people in this area just didn’t like baseball.

It was also strange that there were two Major League teams in one state, despite such a lack of popularity.

‘Well, the Marlins, at least, are bound to be unpopular. They don’t have anything appealing.’

The current Marlins are bland and unremarkable. Whether they are hitters or pitchers, they don’t give the feeling that they are particularly good at anything. There is no clear ace [a team’s best pitcher] either.

‘The most powerful home run hitter is around the late 20s in home runs for the season. The team batting average is also low. Very low. Not to mention the team ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance]. It’s amazing that they chased the Mets for a while. The Nationals are even worse than that, so they’re in 5th place.’

Usually, in this case, they would tank [intentionally lose games to secure a higher draft pick] and aim for a draft jackpot. The Marlins in the past also had a strong tendency to improve their performance through the cycle of fire sale [trading away valuable players] – tanking – prospect explosion – strengthening the team. But now, even that was difficult. The farm system [minor league system for developing players] was dry even though they watered it diligently.

As such, the present reality is difficult, and the future is bleak, so if you exclude the popularity of baseball in Florida and the local population…

In fact, it was only natural that the Marlins were unpopular, with an average attendance of just over 10,000.

‘But… why are they like that?’

Lee Jung-woo, who had been contemplating the popularity of the Marlins and the reasons for its absence for a while, soon tilted his head at the strange gazes directed at him.

Audiences looking at him with something desperate, very, very desperate. And players shaking their heads when their eyes met. Something felt off.

‘What am I doing right now? What is it?’

Perhaps because he was used to this now, he knew it right away. Usually, when opposing team fans show such a reaction, it means that he is challenging some kind of record, but Lee Jung-woo thought about it carefully, but nothing came to mind.

He hadn’t been hitting home runs for several consecutive games, nor was it hits, and nothing meaningful seemed to stand out in his career or season stats.

‘Are they just doing that because they don’t want to get hit by a home run?’

Lee Jung-woo, who came to the most plausible conclusion, gave a faint smile to the audience looking at him as if to say not to worry.

‘Calm down. I’m not in good condition today.’

“Eek… he made eye contact.”

“Why is he smiling like that… is he implying something?”

“Isn’t he in good condition today? Oh, please let it go over us.”

What came back was fear and anxiety. And near-panic.

####

[Total Defeat Against the Braves, Can the Marlins Break Free From That Cycle?]

[ATL vs MIA) Lee Jung-woo, Challenging 30-30 in the First Half!]

-I thought he hit a home run because it was a challenge. It’s just starting now.

-Logically, he has 25 now, is it possible with 6 games left?

-He’s back in God Jung-woo mode recently. But it’s still a bit difficult.

Unlike the opposing team’s fans and players who were showing excessively strong reactions, in Korea, where interest in Lee Jung-woo was at its peak, only lukewarm reactions were flying.

He had to hit a home run in almost every game, but that was difficult for even a top-class hitter unless his batting cycle was crazy.

-What’s the Marlins’ record against the Braves? They’re really bad. If he hits about three in this series, isn’t there a possibility?

-It’s meaningless to even calculate. It’s 10 wins and 10 losses. I don’t know if the schedule is twisted, but they met a lot, and the Braves won all of them.

-It’s foolish to even calculate the Braves’ record against the Eastern Division teams this season. They just beat them all.

-Except for the Mets. They had a winning series by taking advantage of when Lee Jung-woo didn’t play.

-How is Lee Jung-woo doing?

-I remember he hit one home run. Not to mention hits.

-If he only hit one, the Marlins did well.

-That’s right, it’s one out of twenty-five, so that’s pretty good.

Even those who had some hope gave up slightly on their expectations due to the relatively ordinary (?) head-to-head record. And as if to confirm that, the Marlins, who had been ignored by everyone, confirmed their presence.

[Ah… the Braves aren’t doing well overall today. It’s a shame.]

[Usually, when nothing works out, they say it’s cursed, and that’s exactly what the Braves’ game is like today. It’s cursed.]

The start was a somewhat bland Braves attack. It seemed like they hit it properly, but it got caught in the defense, and they widened the lead slightly, but got caught in the pitcher’s pickoff. They hit a hit, but a double play came out of nowhere. Overall, it gave off the feeling that the attack was not working properly. And that continued in defense.

-O’Donnell is getting hit by ordinary hits too.

-It’s weird that a guy who only gets Texas hits [weak hits that barely get past the infield] or ground ball hits unless it’s a home run is giving up a line drive.

-Why are the Marlins hitting so well? Isn’t their team batting average terrible?

-It’s not terrible, but it’s about semi-terrible. It’s serious.

-But why are they like this today?

[Starting pitcher Alan O’Donnell is licking his tongue slightly. Yes, he seems to know it himself.]

[He is often praised for instinctively inducing ground balls. But today, that special talent is not being well demonstrated.]

The culmination of this was a hit due to a sudden irregular bounce, and the first point scored with it. The Marlins took the lead.

They were just thinking of avoiding becoming a sacrifice for the record, but they unexpectedly scored a point against a good pitcher first. And the Marlins fans who came to the stadium were even more embarrassed by the fact that the opponent was acting strangely.

[ATL vs MIA) Lee Jung-woo Starting, Currently 1 Walk.]

-What is Lee Jung-woo doing?

-He’s not doing well except for one hit by pitch? Is that pitcher a good pitcher?

-No, there are no good players on the Marlins. There are only some bad players and mediocre players.

-There’s no strength in his swing. It’s a bit different from usual. Why is he like this today? Lee Jung-woo and the other players too.

-Isn’t it because they’re losing stamina because it’s summer?

Because even Lee Jung-woo was showing a disappointing performance at the plate, the viewership was gradually declining, making the PD [production director] cry, and various reactions began to appear on the Internet as well.

-I’m sure of it. Lee Jung-woo has a girlfriend. And he’s used up all his energy there.

-His performance was a bit seriously good, so was it an overpace?

-It’s not an overpace, it’s finally starting to deflate. This is the real Lee Jung-woo. A pretentious guy who can’t even hit a proper hit.

-What are you talking about? Even if his performance is frozen as it is, he’ll get a Silver Slugger [award for best offensive player at each position], you idiot.

-I thought he wouldn’t come out. He comes like a ghost. Hiding usually.

Girlfriend theory, overpace theory. And even the bubble theory of the aggros [aggressive commenters], who can be said to be Lee Jung-woo’s performance critics, slowly emerged.

Until then, people thought that he would hit one soon and passed it off as nothing. But the situation went differently than expected.

[Ah, he records a ground ball in this at-bat as well. Lee, 4 at-bats, 3 at-bats, no hits, one HBP [Hit By Pitch]. His performance is not very good today.]

[It’s safe to say that it’s the worst performance among the recent games. Yes, it’s definitely not good.]

Even as the game entered the second half, Lee Jung-woo did not show any signs of coming back to life. And the team couldn’t give him a new opportunity.

[In the end, the Braves fail to come back, and the score is 4-0, and the Marlins win the first game.]

[It was a game where all predictions went wrong. I thought the Marlins would have a hard time, but. In the end, they break the Braves’ winning streak this season.]

An attack that ended in vain. There was no comeback, no tie. There was no fifth at-bat for Lee Jung-woo.

People couldn’t hide their embarrassment at the defeat that was achieved too easily for the raised expectations.

-??? They lost?

-I thought it was 10 wins and 10 losses?

-They lose so easily.

-What did the Braves do today? They barely hit three hits.

-It ended so quickly. I was watching while eating cold chicken, but I couldn’t even finish it.

-Didn’t they play quickly because it was hot?

-Kya~ That was it. That’s right, in the summer, it’s best to stay in a cool hotel room and have a staycation [vacation spent at home or nearby] rather than working out and sweating.

-Did the Marlins win the World Series? Aren’t they too happy?

-Try winning once after losing 10 times. That’s how the fans feel.

Season’s first loss to the Marlins. Even Lee Jung-woo, who was expected to perform well, barely recorded one walk, so perhaps because they thought it was the right time, sarcastic remarks came out. Perhaps because of the embarrassment, fans in Korea as well as in the United States couldn’t even refute those kinds of remarks and only showed a look of embarrassment.

-WTF? What is this.

-Didn’t they lose too easily?

-Why are you making such a fuss over just one game? There are days like this too. Baseball isn’t a sport where you win just because you’re good.

-The Marlins got lucky.

-This is the Marlins! You X-like bastards! If we get a feel for it, we can just beat the Braves!

-I think the Braves just stumbled over their own feet rather than us getting a feel for it. But I feel good anyway.

As such, the Braves tasted shock in an unexpected game, and the Marlins tasted small happiness. But that wasn’t the end.

####

[Shocking Losing Streak. Braves Lose Even the Second Game! Silent Batting Line, Where is the Problem?]

[‘Summer Stamina Decline.’ Perhaps a Natural Thing?]

[Flying Away in the First Half 30-30. Lee Jung-woo, Only 2 On-Base and 1 Stolen Base in 2 Games!]

As the Marlins won even the second game that followed, all sorts of inferences came out. In particular, concerns were raised about Lee Jung-woo’s bat, which had been silent for two games.

As there were only four games left, the opinion that 30 home runs had virtually flown away was the mainstream. As quickly as it heated up, it cooled down quickly.

People who suddenly lost their energy neatly folded their minds and often turned their attention away. Fans who had hoped for the best only let out sighs of regret.

-Is it virtually impossible now?

-It’s almost impossible now.

-Even if he hits one home run every game, he’s still one short. No matter how much I love Lee, this is a bit not it.

-It’s summer, so there’s nothing we can do.

-Fuxxxxx This is all because of the secretariat [league office]. Because Lee lost his stamina because he went to Miami after stopping by Phoenix!

-You’re right. What idiot made this schedule? They should have placed guys like the Phillies instead of the Marlins.

As the dream was shattered, angry people expressed their feelings by throwing criticism at the strict secretariat. On the other hand, the Marlins became very elated.

‘Huh? Are they laughing again today? Are they manic or what?’

3rd game. Lee Jung-woo, who entered Marlins Park again for the last game of this series, only let out a hollow laugh at the slightly increased audience and their expressions compared to the first time.

When he laughs, they freak out and make people feel embarrassed for no reason, but now they directly stare at him and smile first.

“Even so, it’s 2 wins and 10 losses. Even if we win today, it’s 3 wins and 10 losses. Isn’t it a performance that deserves that?”

“Leave them alone, how happy they must be.”

Not only Lee Jung-woo, but also the other players felt that energy, so they became unpleasant and sarcastic. Nevertheless, their expressions were not very good.

‘Everyone’s stamina is a little low. Suddenly, we’re only doing away games at the end of the first half…’

There is no reason for defeat. Therefore, there was a clear reason for the defeat in this series as well.

After running hard for a while, when summer arrives, it’s not easy to perform away games going from the East to the West Coast, even for Major League players, when it’s already so hot.

No matter how good the facilities are, such as good accommodations, good stadiums, and good locker rooms.

As the fatigue of the season, which had been running hard while repeating such difficult away games, the stamina consumption in the games, and the tiredness of the journey were accumulated one after another, the overall performance could not help but decline.

‘I just have a condition problem, though.’

However, Lee Jung-woo’s slump was a little different from his teammates. He just wasn’t in good condition. During the series. Therefore, the answer was clear. He just had to get back in condition. Fortunately…

‘I got it all at once today.’

The condition that had been falling had returned exponentially today.

Lee Jung-woo once again scanned the stadium, the stands. The audience and some opposing team players still sending unpleasant gazes. It was just the right opponent. To meet as an enemy on a good condition day.

‘It’s better to look down on them slightly than to be too wary. That way, they’ll pitch well.’

As on the first day, Lee Jung-woo wore a faint smile.

The returning reaction was a little different. They didn’t freak out or feel uncomfortable, they just looked down on him. But it didn’t matter because the meaning of the smile was also different here. If the smile on the first day was relaxation, today’s smile was a warning.