Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 217

End of Pitcher, Start of Batter – Episode 216 (217/287)

Many eyes are on the Braves. So many. They are the team that had the most dominant first half in Major League history.

They’ve evolved from a dark horse that might contend for last year’s throne to a leading candidate whose election is almost certain, taking one step, no, two steps forward.

As such, almost all media outlets paid attention to the club’s moves, and the players were also targeted by all media, with meaning given to every single action.

In particular, the level of attention paid to the ace-level players who contributed to the Braves’ current performance was at its peak. The joint appearance of Ian Field, known as the Double Ace, and Lee Jung-woo, the best rising star, was enough to attract those numerous eyes.

In particular, the fact that they were found in an orphanage, a place where superstars are not commonly seen, rather than a club or party venue, was enough to attract even more attention.

[‘Santa Claus in the Middle of Summer?’ Jung-woo Lee, Ian Field, Spotted at an Orphanage During a Day Off?]

[‘A Little Indiscretion?’ The Braves’ Young Stars’ Special Hobby!]

[‘Finally Revealed Private Life’ Lee Spreads Happiness Even on His Days Off.]

The article spread quickly. The experts’ tedious columns and reviews, written in anticipation of the second half, were busy covering various sites, so unexpected news that was the opposite of such professional content and warmed hearts spread even better than usual.

Of course, the reaction was good. No, it was not enough to express it as good. Santa in July, hidden angels, good Samaritans, and so on.

There were a lot of somewhat excessive modifiers for the reaction to just one day of volunteering, even for praise for just playing with the kids. The reason was simple.

-Lee was doing something like that…

-Ian, he’s good, but he felt a little delinquent… He’s a better guy than I thought?

-This is the first time I’ve heard news about Lee other than baseball.

It was different from the image so far.

As a result, the reversal charm worked.

Lee Jung-woo, as baseball fans think of him, was, in short, a machine. A baseball machine that plays baseball, only plays baseball, and does nothing but baseball. That’s just what the visible facts were.

Lee Jung-woo, who is occasionally captured by the media outside of the game, is mostly on his way to training, in training, or on his way home from training. Other than that, the only thing that was captured was at a restaurant in downtown Atlanta.

And Ian Field, like the prejudice Lee Jung-woo had against him, had a good talent, good skills, and good grades, so he would love right away, but he had the image that he would never be a good guy. These players with such images were found volunteering unexpectedly, just the two of them. That alone gave fans a fresh shock.

-Giving back the love of fans to the region. This is the real franchise star.

-I was wondering what Lee was up to, but he was practicing love for his descendants. Good to see.

-Isn’t anyone praising Ian? The more I see him, the deeper he seems to be.

-That’s why you shouldn’t judge by appearance. I bought an Ian Field uniform after reading the article. I already have Lee’s, so that’s it.

A warm breeze blew, and only satisfied smiles lingered on the faces of the Braves fans. Lee Jung-woo felt a little uneasy about that reaction.

‘…I feel like I’m cheating somehow.’

All he did was play with the kids. Even that was only for one day. Even that was because Ian Field called him out.

But people cheered as if he were an angel reincarnated in this world, and he received calls from his teammates. They said they didn’t know you were doing such a thing when you were resting. In particular, veterans like Derek, who had stayed for a long time and had a lot of affection for the city of Atlanta, looked a little happier.

-Hahaha, I knew it in advance. Lee, you’re going to fall in love with the city of Atlanta. By the way, let’s go together next time. I want to lend a hand to do good things.

“…Captain. As I said before, I just followed Ian. The place I followed was an orphanage. I absolutely didn’t do it of my own will-”

-Whatever, it’s a good thing, isn’t it?

“That’s true, but…”

-Then that’s it. That’s how all good deeds start. Without me knowing, by chance.

Lee Jung-woo’s conscience was severely pricked by these reactions. Just as he was groaning about the reaction from the media and those around him,

Mark came to his house. With a car sponsorship contract that had been discussed in advance.

“It was a mess. You should have told me in advance. How important is this good image? Hmm, did I get the contract too quickly?”

Mark was the first to bring up the story about volunteering as soon as he saw it, like other people, but the only difference was that he seemed to be sorry in a business sense.

“Aren’t you too obsessed with money these days?”

“Is that bad in a capitalist society? And you shouldn’t covet blind money, but you should be willing to take the profits you can get fairly.”

Lee Jung-woo shook his head at Mark’s words and told the truth with a long sigh. He said that it was not the kind that came out in the media now and that he felt guilty.

“Ha, I regret not doing social media for the first time. I have to explain the facts properly… It’s already spread out of control.”

“Why are you making such a fuss about that?”

“I feel like a scammer. I’m getting too much return for what I’ve done.”

“That’s how it is. Famous celebrities and politicians don’t volunteer every day. Of course, some of them act sincerely. There are many people who are overly exaggerated like you. There are also people who intended that from the beginning.”

Lee Jung-woo couldn’t shake off his uneasy feelings even with Mark’s comforting words. It was as if he had used the children to build an image.

Mark shook his head at Lee Jung-woo’s sigh, and Lee Jung-woo nodded his head after a moment of thought.

‘Hoo, it would be ridiculous to groan about something that I can’t get back. If you’re ashamed of excessive praise, you can practice that much now.’

Lee Jung-woo suddenly looked at the documents Mark had brought. A contract worth $2 million a year. His eyes went to it.

‘I got a new car for free, so free repair and free replacement are all I could ask for.’

“Mark, how much of that car contract will fall to me after excluding the commission?”

“The commission is the same as you know. The club contract is 5%, and the advertising and other things are 12%. If you exclude that, the amount that falls to you is $1.76 million. If you calculate it as a total of 3 years, it’s $5.28 million.”

“Then, excluding the commission, donate all the rest to the orphanage I went to. All of it.”

Mark slightly twitched his eyebrows at Lee Jung-woo’s words. Even though he was a great superstar and a huge number of sponsorship offers were pouring in. Strictly speaking, Lee Jung-woo was not as rich as he thought.

He was still in his second year and couldn’t even negotiate his salary, so even though the club gave him a fairly high price as a favor, his salary this year was only about $1 million including bonuses. All advertising and sponsorship contracts were postponed to the off-season.

So, the amount of his share that Lee Jung-woo said, even if the commission was excluded, was almost twice his current salary.

“Isn’t that too sudden a choice? It’s not a small amount of money. It’s 5 million dollars, 5 million dollars.”

“It’s better than not being able to lift my head because I’m ashamed. And it’s not like I’m in a hurry for money right now.”

“That’s true… Well, there’s nothing bad about it. After all, all of these things come back to your image. But are you really going to do that?”

Lee Jung-woo answered Mark’s question by nodding his head firmly, and Mark wore a subtle smile. The image of him being injured and frustrated was still vivid. Now, he has become a donating angel who throws donations worth millions of dollars in total.

“My player is doing something commendable. It’s ridiculous to stop him. However, there will be a little more issue.”

“Are you going to donate even the agency’s share? Don’t do that, I don’t want to be a bad guy who steals the agent’s money.”

“That’s not going to happen. I’m not a philanthropist, so I don’t intend to spend my money. Don’t worry. And there’s one person who will definitely run to me without me having to do anything.”

Lee Jung-woo tilted his head at Mark’s words, but he buried his head on the table and grabbed a pen at his touch, as if it was time to do business.

####

“…In that sense, in order to have the image that the club is taking care of the local area. The board of directors suggested that the club donate to the orphanage, and personally, I would like to invite the children to the opening game in addition to that. What do you think?”

As Mark had confidently said, there was a place that was drooling over this issue even if he didn’t do anything.

That’s the Braves.

The Braves’ popularity in the local area has been solidified once again thanks to several star players and great results. The front office moved quickly because it was something that could put a little more sticky glue on it.

“That’s good. In fact, this is something that the operations team or the marketing team should be doing. Lee and Field made the plate on their own.”

“It will be just right as a small issue to be presented at the beginning of the second half.”

“The starting pitch has already been decided by a local veteran. It is impossible to change it. Just inviting them will create enough buzz.”

The reaction was favorable. As the marketing team leader said, the players did what the club’s business division was doing on its own. Moreover, they can even put a spoon on it [capitalize on it].

After the agenda was virtually unanimously passed. The next story came out of General Manager Pratt’s mouth.

“Is the team’s stamina okay? Contrary to what so-called experts are saying in the media.”

The Great Braves.

The team of the 90s is back.

The strongest force ever.

The entire baseball world was praising the Braves, but not all of those eyes were favorable. Praise is natural, and praise is familiar. Behind it, they were hiding their expectations.

Perhaps that such a powerful club will collapse in the second half.

[MLB Second Half Prediction…]

[Atlanta Braves’ Second Half Strategy?]

[‘Faster Start Than Others. Fast Acceleration. And the Warning Light is On?’ ATL, Red Light for Oil Exhaustion!]

Everyone has a desire to see the fall of the strong deep inside.

Enthusiastic supporters will want the current heyday to last forever. Those who forcibly joined the applause squad want the cheers to turn into jeers, and the applause to turn into F-You with their four fingers folded [a vulgar gesture of contempt].

Therefore, in the current situation ahead of the second half, which can be said to be a new beginning, there were many predictions that such expectations would be realized. Because they ran harder than others, it was time for the engine to turn off soon. Because the oil was running out and it was time to see the bottom.

“It’s an understandable point to some extent. In fact, we were worried internally whether it was an overpace, weren’t we?”

“That’s right. I expected good results. It was more than that.”

Perhaps it was because the first half was so strong that such predictions came out even more.

Whether they just didn’t want to admit it was skill, or whether they made their own rational reasoning.

They thought that the Braves, who showed an extraordinary move, were just starting a little earlier than others. It was an impossible move otherwise. The power analysis team leader made General Manager Pratt’s heart flutter by nodding his head as if he understood those words.

“Maybe it’s true to some extent. The overall score will drop. In fact, it shook a little in June.”

“Then… are these predictions true?”

General Manager Pratt glanced at the screen with an unpleasant look. Articles that predict the fall of the Braves as if performing a barbaric rain ritual with provocative titles. As if asking if you think the same as those guys, General Manager Pratt glared at him, and the power analysis team leader smiled.

“Isn’t that obvious? In the first place, it is very natural for the score and stamina to decline in the second half. They’ve played 98 games, so it’s strange if they’re okay.”

“That means…”

“Yes, it’s not a lie. It’s not a lie. However, there is one thing missing…”

“Other teams are the same. Is that right?”

“Yes. The stamina and accumulated fatigue of the players are all average for Major Leaguers who have completed the first half.”

At those words, General Manager Pratt smiled. He was a general manager and received reports from below every day, but he was also swayed by the clumsy behavior of the media, which was funny. The relief that the team was okay even in the curses of others was mixed.

“Then I can watch the game comfortably as before, right?”

When General Manager Pratt asked jokingly with a relaxed face, there was laughter in the audience, but the power analysis team leader shook his head.

“You can be a little more comfortable than usual. Lee is great in games where something special is at stake. If Lee has meaning in inviting children to the opening game. Yes, it will probably be amazing.”

“Is that also data?”

When General Manager Pratt asked slyly, the power analysis team leader shrugged.

“Ah, this is not the opinion of the power analysis team, but just my personal expectation. Expectations as a supporter of the Braves.”

####

[As the short All-Star break comes to an end, we greet viewers again.]

[Yes, the second half, which can be said to be a truly fierce battle, begins now.]

As the All-Star break ended and the second half began, baseball fans, who had been relaxed for a while, tightened their tension again and focused on their cheering team.

As one commentator said, it was a real war from now on. According to the first-half results, which can be said to be midterm exams, each club set their own goals and started again to achieve them.

Teams that have already qualified for the postseason had to maintain their position, and teams that had not had to raise their spurts to win the last chance.

Therefore, there was a contradictory atmosphere that was hopeful but a little anxious, but there were also teams that transcended it.

“We’re already confirmed, right?”

“There are 64 games left, so if we eat only half of them, we’re sure to win the district.”

“We don’t even need half. As long as we keep beating the Phillies and Mets as we have been, we’ll just go to the postseason.”

That was the Braves.

The Braves had already piled up rice in the barn [secured their position] thanks to the first-half craze. Almost twice as much as others. They were already one step, no, two steps ahead in the full-fledged battle. They didn’t need to be nervous. The Cardinals fans watching the broadcast were the same.

For the opposite reason.

[The St. Louis Cardinals are maintaining 5th place in the Central District as the second half begins. The reason can be found in the lineup, right?]

[Yes, the problem is the overall slump in the lineup. You can see just by maintaining the team batting average of 26th overall, slugging percentage of 27th, and on-base percentage of 24th.]

If the Braves were relaxed because they were doing too well, the Cardinals gave up their grades and chose tanking [deliberately losing to secure a higher draft pick] and next year’s draft because they wouldn’t be able to do it anyway.

Therefore, the game between the Braves and the Cardinals maintained a generally quiet atmosphere compared to other opening games in the second half.

“Are those them?”

“Who? Oh, it’s the kids? What? Do schools these days let kids watch baseball as a group?”

“Not that. Why are you so slow with information? The club invited the kids from the orphanage where Lee and Field volunteered.”

“Ah~ Why is General Manager Pratt doing something commendable for once?”

“In fact, if you just dig up Lee [exploit Lee’s popularity], you can keep pooping [easily succeed], right?”

“At least while Lee is playing for the Braves, you can just play around and get paid.”

[Haha, I think they are the children invited by the club. Their eyes are sparkling from the start, right?]

[Maybe we are seeing the childhood of a future superstar right now. The uniform suits them quite well, right?]

Only the young children, all wearing Braves uniforms and sitting together, caused a small reaction from the audience.

As in any country, Americans are generous to children, so a warm breeze blew through the quiet stadium. The caster who was broadcasting also praised it as a virtuous cycle between the club and the local area.

Thus, Truist Park was warm and relaxed, unlike other stadiums where the opening game was held. That atmosphere did not last long.

[Bottom of the 1st inning. Lee Jung-woo, the second batter, comes to the plate with a runner on first base without outs.]

[He played as number 3 in the All-Star Game. He’s number 2 again in the club.]

[That’s how good the combination of Lee and Derek is. Lee’s OPS [On-Base Plus Slugging, a key baseball statistic] skyrockets in a situation where Derek Hunt gets on base as the leadoff hitter – Ack!]

In an instant, the quiet atmosphere was broken.

Just because they are relaxed and leisurely doesn’t mean they are not happy.

[He hit it!]

“Yeeeeeeeeee!”

The spectators, who were sticking their bodies to the backrests and waving only the hands holding beer glasses, stood up in a flash. The decibel, which was similar to a library, broke through three digits in an instant.

Lee Jung-woo, who briefly looked at the coolly flying ball, threw his bat away and slowly ran the base. He reached out slightly to the place he caught sight of.

[Haha, Lee seems happy too. Lee Jung-woo, who eventually records a home run in the opening game in the second half as well.]

[He’s a great player. He’s a player with truly formidable power.]

The commentators and spectators interpreted the gesture as just an expression of joy for hitting a home run from the start of the second half. It was different.

‘Did I win the bet for now?’

The place where his fingertips touched was the place where the children were gathered, especially the seat where the child who asked him for a home run was sitting. Lee Jung-woo, who was turning the base, smiled when he saw the child nodding his head vigorously as if he understood well.

‘I’ve protected my allowance for now. Now I have to protect my pride. I made such a boast in front of the kids. It would be a little embarrassing if it ended with just one.’