Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 224

Pitcher done, batter up -223

After that, the Braves smoothly secured their victory. Very simply, too easily, just as the Mets fans had hoped their team would do.

The Mets did put up a fight, adding 2 points thanks to the starting pitcher, and then one point each in the top of the 7th and 9th innings after he went down. But that was it.

[Top of the 9th, two outs. Runner on 1st. The Mets are adding a point this inning, igniting a spark of pursuit. Can they tie the game? The pitcher throws. Hit! But- ground ball in front of the pitcher! The pitcher catches it and throws to 1st- Out. Game Over!]

[The Mets tried to make a final push, but it wasn’t enough.]

Although it wasn’t clean until the very end, the stadium applauded a game where they easily caught their opponent. Only the pitcher, who gave up one point at the very end, seemed annoyed, digging at the mound with his toes.

The game started when the sun was at its peak, with the heat in full swing, and ended as the sun was setting, with the heat subsiding. Like eight out of the last nine times, this one ended as an obvious result.

“Good job today.”

“I’m a little sad I couldn’t catch that hit from earlier. I should have lowered your ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of a pitcher’s effectiveness] even more.”

“No matter how great you are, Lee, if you caught that, would you even be human? You’d be a robot. It’s okay, you need to lose a point like this once in a while to wake you up.”

In that obvious result, Lee Jungwoo also achieved what is now an obviously good result.

After hitting a home run, he also added a walk and a hit, playing a key role in the first game’s victory with 5 plate appearances, 4 at-bats, 2 hits, 1 walk, 1 home run, and 3 RBIs [Runs Batted In, a statistic measuring a batter’s contribution to scoring runs]. He was confidently named the MVP [Most Valuable Player].

Other players also played their part, contributing to an easy victory. Everyone enjoyed the afterglow of the victory as if it were nothing.

And the reaction of the Mets fans to such an ordinary game was bitter. They tasted the cold reality despite their expectations.

And even the next game.

####

In the second game, Lee Jungwoo scored the first point, just like the day before. He was out with a disappointing strikeout in his first at-bat, but in his second at-bat, he recorded a sweeping double that brought in all the runners on 1st and 2nd base, scoring 2 RBIs.

Lee Jungwoo continued to show his skills by adding another hit, but unfortunately, that was the end. Because the Mets made a firm decision after that.

[They’re walking Lee again. Automatic intentional walk. This is the second automatic intentional walk this game. The Mets are thoroughly avoiding Lee when there are runners on base.]

[It’s difficult to face Lee when there are runners on base. But… I wonder if this is okay. It’s not just a matter of walking Lee.]

[He showed good hitting sense, recording multiple hits and 2 RBIs today, just like yesterday. The Mets must be terrified of Lee. But as you said, the problem is what comes next.]

A thorough intentional walk.

After his third at-bat, Lee Jungwoo walked to first base without even properly entering the batter’s box. Considering that Joey Friedman was behind him, it was a very dangerous decision. But the Mets were firm. As if saying they didn’t want to get hit by you anymore.

And of course, it was just a stopgap measure. Instead of getting hit by Lee Jungwoo, they got hit by the next batter.

[He hit it! Joey Friedman! Fair! The ball is rolling to the fence- Lee, the runner on first base, is passing third base and heading home! At home- Safe! The throw was late!]

[This is dangerous. Walking Lee is dangerous. Because after that, there are hitters with a string of long hits, and Lee’s speed is enough to get him home.]

[Yes, stealing bases is also dangerous.]

The Mets fans, who watched Lee Jungwoo on the TV screen, who was involved in 4 points of the team’s total score by scoring 2 additional points after 2 RBIs, had a blank look on their faces.

The lifeless eyes, as if doubting whether they were the same people who were full of expectations for victory two days ago, properly expressed the futility and deprivation they felt.

[There is no bottom of the 9th today either. The Mets fail to come back, and the game ends with a score of 5-2, with the Braves winning. The Braves take both the two-game series, succeeding in washing away some of the pain of the sweep they suffered in the last Nationals game.]

Still, the result was a sweep as they had hoped. Of course, the sweep that the Mets supporters expected was a sweep win, and the reality is a sweep loss, which is a bit different.

[The Mets flew to Atlanta with the belief that this series would be different… but the result is a sweep again.]

[With this, the Mets continue their 10-game losing streak against the Braves this season, with a record of 1 win and 10 losses. It’s a truly shocking season for them.]

Losing 10 games to one team is not a pleasant thing. If you’ve lost 10 games in a single season, it’s not just unpleasant, it’s a chilling and infuriating thing.

It means that 10 of those damn guys’ wins are ours, and 10 of our losses are the work of those X-like guys.

The Mets fans, who have suffered this unusual event, yes, are suffering, were dumbfounded. It was really a day that had been terribly screwed over so far, but this time they definitely thought it was worth it.

They were at full strength.

Their condition was good.

Their recent momentum was also good.

On the other hand, the opponent had been swept by the bottom of the league, and seemed somewhat exhausted, showing an overall lethargic appearance. But why are they only doing this to us? Why only to us.

That was the thought in the heads of the Mets fans.

Still, the only consolation for the Mets was that it wasn’t just their problem. Most of their neighborhood friends, except for one, were beaten by the same guy. And there’s one friend who’s a little more upset than them.

-It’s okay, the Phillies are 0-10. It’s the same as a 10-game losing streak.

Considering that the Marlins, with 10 wins and 10 losses, and the Marlins, with 4 wins and 9 losses, it’s natural to lose to the Braves, and it seems right to think that the Nationals are just a little special- it didn’t seem like it.

-The Nationals are just good at catching the Braves.

-Yeah, it can’t be helped.

-What can’t be helped, X-ball [Unsportsmanlike or unlucky baseball].

-The Phillies are 10-10? So what? It’s not comforting at all?

-Shouldn’t we not take losing for granted?

-Is it natural because it’s the Braves? Where are you talking that dog X-like sound?

The reality that other guys were hit the same way is no consolation at all. It’s strange to be comforted. Other guys lost, so it’s natural for us to lose too? It was strange for a guy to find stability after hearing that.

Also.

[Jungwoo Lee, this season against the Mets, 41 plate appearances, 32 at-bats, 17 hits, 7 home runs, 9 walks, 21 RBIs. ‘Undefeated’ in his appearances.]

[‘The Grim Reaper of the Mets’ Jungwoo Lee, who has won every game against the Mets.]

[‘2 RBIs per game.’ Is Lee the cause of the Mets’ ERA?]

One hitter allowed 17 hits and 7 home runs, 21 RBIs in 11 games, no, 10 games excluding one game where he couldn’t even play as a substitute because he was resting. It means that Lee Jungwoo alone gave up almost two RBIs per game. He allowed more than two on-base appearances in almost every game he faced. Considering that 7 of those 17 hits were home runs, and most of them were long hits, his pure performance was beyond words. That damn guy was working hard in this series too.

It was impossible to get any comfort from seeing that.

[The scale of the damage Lee has caused to the Mets is immeasurable!]

[The person who ruined all of the Mets’ grand plans. Lee’s appearance has divided the fate of the Braves and the Mets!]

[Which player do Mets fans hate the most on the Braves? Lee wins overwhelmingly with 87% of the votes! ‘The man hated by half of New York’]

-Isn’t it not half? Do half of New York’s fans support the Mets?

-Half is an exaggeration, maybe about 30%.

-It could have been half. But after seeing them get beaten by the Braves, they lost interest and left.

-Don’t lie, you Yankees bastards. Don’t curse just because you think it’s a good time, just get out of here. I’m already upset.

-I really like the Braves. They keep reminding us where the real ‘New York’ is.

-Amazing Mets, isn’t it amazing that a second-year player is screwing up even their souls?

-It’s amazing~ They lost 2 RBIs to the same hitter every game. That’s amazing.

In other words, Lee Jungwoo was at the center of the Mets’ 10-game losing streak to the Braves.

Due to the media diligently talking about that proud trace and the same neighborhood bastards (Yankees) who were sneering and mocking, some Mets fans were taken to the emergency room due to a 급격하게 올라간 [rapidly rising] blood pressure. In addition to that.

[Mets players dehydrated? Noticeably decreased athletic ability in the second game!]

[‘Atlanta’s heat was harsh again.’ Is Truist Park in the summer hell for visiting teams?]

[Mets supporters criticize the secretariat! ‘Is a daytime game even possible in this weather!’ Anger over the wrong game schedule!]

[‘Shortstop change’ in a losing situation. Mets manager, ‘Just because of a slight dizziness complaint’ No injuries.]

It was unfair that they were 처참하게 발린 [miserably defeated], but the players who returned to New York with a 씁쓸한 [bitter] feeling were all 헤롱헤롱 [groggy] from the aftereffects. The Mets fans 새삼 되새김질 [reiterated] the X-likeness of Atlanta and the Braves, and Truist Park, which was really like hell.

-It’s a really X-like place.

-They’re X-like guys.

-It’s an X-like club.

-It’s X-like baseball.

Saying it’s really X-like.

####

After all the games in July were over, several players were nominated for Player of the Month. Lee Jungwoo was nominated as a strong candidate this time as well, or rather, 당연하게도 [naturally].

He recorded 11 home runs in July alone, before and after the All-Star break, ranking second after Arthur Hunter, who recorded 13. The rest of his stats were so overwhelming that it was meaningless to say anything.

[46 hits, 20 walks, 11 home runs, 34 RBIs. Ratio stats 4-5-9]

[‘0.969’ Jungwoo Lee’s overwhelming slugging percentage. The best power in the league.]

In particular, even though he hit two fewer home runs than Arthur Hunter, his monstrous slugging percentage, which was more than 1 higher, and 34 RBIs told the story of how many pitchers Lee Jungwoo had 뽑아냈 [squeezed out] tears of blood from during the month of July.

It was no exaggeration to say that Lee Jungwoo alone raised the overall slugging percentage and ERA of the NL [National League], so people, even Arthur Hunter and Vincent Harding’s fans, who always wanted their players to be the best, did not contest the Player of the Month for July.

And also, people were slowly getting 기대감에 젖어들었다 [soaked in anticipation]. The record of 40-40 [40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season], which will appear in 29 years since Alfonso Soriano. In fact, it was already certain that he would enter the 40-40 club due to his tremendous home run pace, but now it was really just around the corner.

[5 home runs left. 9 steals.]

[Historical 40-40, is the problem rather stealing bases, not home runs?]

[Reduced stealing pace? Don’t worry! Lee is a player who can get 3 a day if he wants to!]

Because he hit so many long hits, people were rather worried about the reduced stealing bases. But even that wasn’t that worrying. In the eyes of experts, Lee Jungwoo was closer to ‘not running’ on purpose, not a player who couldn’t steal bases. If he didn’t have the ability to steal bases right away, it would be impossible to get thirty-one steals by July.

In front of Lee Jungwoo’s tremendous performance, various records, including 40-40, were on people’s lips. In particular, although he hasn’t played many games yet. Anyway, due to the batting average and hitting sense that doesn’t seem to be falling in the second half, people’s expectations for Lee Jungwoo’s records beyond that, which were called impossible, gradually 부풀어갔다 [swelled up].

-Seriously, 40-40 or 50-50 is possible, but if you just maintain your current performance 적당히 [moderately], that’s not the problem, isn’t a 40% batting average possible?

-There is a possibility. Even to the extent that it is the most likely of all the challengers so far.

-I think he’ll definitely hit fewer hits than Ichiro [Ichiro Suzuki, a famous Japanese baseball player], but the variable is that he’ll have a lot more walks instead.

-Lee is a slugger.

-He’ll definitely get 100 walks. 200 hits are also highly likely, so if he records both, if he only fills the required at-bats 적당히 [appropriately] and then manages his stats afterwards, 40% is not impossible if he adjusts well.

The dream of 40%. The possibility of that was seriously coming out. Even among Braves fans, there was an opinion that the postseason was virtually 확정된 [confirmed] anyway. Shouldn’t Lee Jungwoo’s at-bats be managed?

-Let’s look at it broadly. Think about it, it’ll continue to be talked about decades later, right? Lee becomes the only 40% hitter since Ted Williams [a legendary baseball player]. Our Jungwoo Lee.

-What, then should we fill the required at-bats and put him on the DL [Disabled List]? Are you crazy? Do you think there’s any meaning in recording stats by managing them? Rather, you’ll get cursed later for 졸렬하게 [shabbily] recorded performance.

-What if I get cursed a little? Records are forever, and curses are momentary. In about 30 years, our grandchildren’s generation will just be 추앙받기만 [revered], right?

-That’s true. After all, what people remember is the record, not how that record was made.

-Don’t say 개소리 [bullshit]. I want Lee to be remembered as a perfect player without any flaws, rather than becoming a 찝찝한 [unpleasant] 40% hitter.

Of course, the reaction to that opinion was not very good even within the Braves fandom, and especially the reaction of the Red Sox, who have Ted Williams, the last 40% hitter, as the club’s legend, was quite 격렬했다 [fierce].

-Is 40% important? Wouldn’t it be better to just go to the plate as much as possible and record as many steals and home runs as possible, and be the first to do 50-50?

-Rather, if you only consider the possibility, 40% is higher than 50-50, so that’s why they’re doing this.

-Ted Williams didn’t record 40% in such a 야비한 [despicable] way. Remember that.

-If Lee really gets 40% in such a cowardly way, keep one thing in mind. When you meet the Red Sox someday, Lee’s head will be 박살난다는 [smashed].

-If the dead ball thrown by the pitchers who were 쳐발린 [utterly defeated] by Lee at the All-Star Game hits Lee’s head, it will become a home run even after hitting Lee’s head, so you Red Sox should be careful.

In this way, by beating the Mets, the league continued to be noisy with opinions about new records due to Lee Jungwoo, who maintained a 날이 선 [sharp] hitting sense until the moment he entered August, which can be said to be the second half of the 페넌트레이스 [pennant race]. The hearts of the Phillies and the Mets, the fans of the two teams that contributed greatly to Lee Jungwoo’s performance, were getting more and more 썩어 문드러졌다 [rotten].

-He 쌓았네 [built up] stats 멋지게 [splendidly] while beating us. That X-bastard.

-How much did we 대줬으면 [give up] to that bastard for this story to come out?

-Wow, does that mean most of them are records that he 뺏어간 [snatched] from us? I feel great.

-Hey, Phillies. We were making a 40% hitter! We contributed to history!

-까 X이나 [Screw you], you X-like Mets bastards. The Braves are X-like X나게 [like crazy], but that doesn’t mean I’m going to feel a sense of camaraderie with you guys. Don’t act 친한척 [friendly] and get out of here.

-That’s why I like you guys. Unlike the Braves, who 착하게 굴다가 [acted nice] suddenly 돌변한 [turned] into 개자식 [bastards], you’re consistently X-bastards. People should be 일관성이 [consistent].

In that way, leaving someone’s tears of blood and cheers, and hope for new records.

Lee Jungwoo’s July, decorated with the All-Star Game MVP and Home Run Derby victory, the almost 확정 된 [confirmed] July Player of the Month, countless Player of the Week awards, and several newly updated first-half records, came to an end.