Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 226

Pitchers Done, Batters Up – 225

[ATL vs MIL, Game 4. ATL Wins 4-1.]

[Braves Sweep Brewers in 4-Game Series.]

[Unstoppable Momentum. Winning Just Half of Remaining Games Secures 110 Wins!]

As in previous months, the Braves easily won their first game in August, sweeping the Brewers in subsequent games and widening their lead over other teams.

With a record of 87 wins and 25 losses, and considering that most division-winning teams typically have around 90 wins, they had essentially clinched the regular season title two months ahead of everyone else.

Winning just one-third of their remaining 50 games would guarantee them over 100 wins, and winning half would push them to 110 wins. An even stronger performance could potentially set a new all-time record.

[Forced Battle for Second Place, Phillies Just ‘Unlucky?’]

[‘Win Rate of 0.776’ Braves Win 7-8 Times Out of 10!]

[One Team’s Dominance Weakens League Competitiveness.]

[Are the Braves to Blame for ‘Declining Popularity?’ League Office Worries About Lower Viewership Next Season Due to One Team’s Excessive Dominance!]

In reality, for the Phillies, currently second in the East Division, to take first place, the Braves would have to lose all their remaining games, and the Phillies would have to win almost all of theirs. The Braves’ division title was already considered a certainty.

Their overwhelming performance made the countdown to clinching the division title anticlimactic. People had moved beyond shock and awe to a sense of inevitability. With a win rate consistently above 70%, the answer to whether the Braves would win was almost always yes, leading to a feeling of being taken for granted.

Consequently, some criticized the Braves for diminishing the league’s competitiveness and making the season predictable. However, this criticism had little impact on the fans and the team, who were simply enjoying their unprecedented success.

[Lee Jung-woo, 20 Plate Appearances Against Brewers, 17 At-Bats, 7 Hits, 3 Walks, 5 RBIs. Fails to Add Home Run, But ‘Still Maintaining Batting Average!’]

Lee Jung-woo, a key player in the Braves’ remarkable season, also had a strong showing against the Brewers with 20 plate appearances, 17 at-bats, 7 hits, 3 walks, and 5 RBIs, demonstrating that his momentum, like the team’s, remained strong.

As if to celebrate Lee Jung-woo’s excellent performance, rewards followed. Immediately after the Brewers series, Lee Jung-woo was awarded the Player of the Month award for July. His win was widely anticipated, so there were no objections or surprises.

However, despite the award, the reaction from Braves fans and Lee Jung-woo supporters was surprisingly subdued.

[Lee Jung-woo Dominates Two Out of Seven Months in the Major League Regular Season!]

[Lee Wins Second Player of the Month Award in 35 Seasons, ‘Almost Unanimous.’]

[Undisputed Best Player of July!]

– Player of the Month, his second time. Honestly, it’s amazing.

– But doesn’t it feel less exciting than you’d think? As a fan of Lee since last year, I was ecstatic when he received it this May. This time, it feels less emotional because it’s so expected.

– Honestly, right now, Lee isn’t just Player of the Month; it feels like he’s practically secured the MVP [Most Valuable Player award] too…

– If a shortstop gets 40-40 [40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season], they’re definitely taking the MVP. Lee isn’t far from that.

– If Hunter hits around 70 home runs, it might be a close race, but even if he does, Lee’s stats are too overwhelming…

– There’s too much at stake for Lee right now to get overly excited about Player of the Month.

People’s desires are endless. Lee Jung-woo is chasing achievements that make the title of Player of the Month seem ‘mere,’ so it feels less significant.

Also, previously, he was competing with top league players like Arthur Hunter and Vincent Harding, appearing to challenge them, so the joy of surpassing them brought a bigger reaction. Now, he is at least on par with those two, and the consensus is that he is having a better season. Especially in July, Lee’s performance was so dominant that competition was impossible, making the excitement relatively muted.

Of course, it was still a prestigious award, and fans were quietly pleased, welcoming his win as a clear sign that Lee had dominated July, hoping it would motivate him further.

– Player of the Month? It’s okay, just hit more home runs. Lee, we believe in you.

– Home runs are the best. In the end, home runs are what matter. Home run! Home run!

– You’ve won Player of the Month, so you should hit a home run to celebrate.

– That’s right. You’ve won an award, so get to work. Hit a home run quickly!

– Who cares about Player of the Month when 40-40 is just around the corner? If Lee just gets home runs and steals, who cares who wins Player of the Month!

More home runs. The fans subtly pressured him, suggesting it was time to hit one since he had won Player of the Month. They playfully pointed out that it had been five games since his last home run.

[Atlanta Braves, 1 Win and 1 Loss Against Pittsburgh Pirates. Away Series Ends.]

[Only 2 More Wins Needed to Reach 90. ‘48 Games Remaining Until the End of the Season?’]

[Jung-woo Lee, 10 Plate Appearances Against Pirates, 8 At-Bats, 3 Hits, 2 Walks, 1 RBI, 2 Stolen Bases. Consistent Solid Performance!]

As if to tease those fans, Lee Jung-woo continued his solid performance against the next opponent, the Pirates, without adding a home run, keeping people in suspense. So, despite 3 hits and 1 RBI in 8 at-bats, which was by no means a bad performance, the fans sulked, like children who didn’t get the toy they wanted for Christmas.

– Hit a home run~ Why aren’t you hitting one~ Hit one quickly~ I want to see 40 home runs~ Hunter next door has already hit 40 home runs~ Catch up by at least one~

– Lee knows how to play with people. He’s toying with our emotions.

– His home run pace is slowing down. Is there something wrong?

– It’s the second half of the season, so isn’t it natural for the home run pace to slow down? He’s been hitting too well until now.

– Shut up, there’s no such thing as too much for Lee. He’s a player who can do anything. He can hit one home run every two games, or even one every game!

– Are you guys hoping Lee takes drugs or something? To become Bonds [referring to Barry Bonds, a controversial home run hitter]? I’m bad, but you guys are really crazy. Go to the hospital. It’s a disease.

– Lee, unlike these idiots, I know. You’re going to hit them all at once this time, right? Like with the Mariners. Haha, we’ve already seen 4 consecutive home runs, or 4 home runs in one game, a home run cycle [hitting a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game], so are you going to show us 5 consecutive home runs this time? I’m looking forward to it?

The fans’ worries and impatience grew about Lee Jung-woo, who failed to add a home run in the series against the Pirates. Approaching the significant milestone of 40-40 and suddenly slowing down made the anxiety even worse. However, some were relaxed in that atmosphere.

– Guys, the next opponent is the Phillies. Why are you all so anxious? It’s the Phillies.

– He’ll hit at least two home runs. He might hit one in every game. Because it’s the Phillies.

– Hey, Phillies, are you preparing well? If you try to avoid Lee or don’t give him a home run, it won’t be fun.

– The Braves threatening the Phillies… the world is a strange place.

– I know, it feels like just yesterday they were getting beaten up by the Philly fans. Now the tables have turned.

The next opponent was none other than the Philadelphia Phillies, Lee Jung-woo’s favorite opponent since his debut, a team that was like a personal batting practice machine. Some were just waiting patiently, saying that Lee would hit all the home runs he hadn’t hit in the previous games this time.

####

“Lee, how many are you going to hit this time? One, two? Or really one in every game, so three?”

“What do you take Lee for? That guy is a Big Leaguer. He’s going to unleash everything he’s been holding back. It has to be at least four!”

Inside the plane on the way to the away game, Braves players crowded around Lee Jung-woo’s seat. Lee Jung-woo had planned to listen to music and meditate quietly during the flight as usual, but the chatter of his teammates made that impossible.

“Why are they making such a fuss about someone else’s home runs? And home runs aren’t something you can just find anywhere.”

“Other people aside, Lee, isn’t it super easy for you to hit home runs against the Phillies? Like taking a wallet out of your bag.”

“It’s more like a back pocket. For him, home runs against the Phillies are.”

The topic was the same as the Braves fans: the likelihood of Lee Jung-woo hitting home runs in the upcoming Phillies game. No, the discussion was about how many he would hit. Lee Jung-woo was dumbfounded by his teammates, who treated home runs like spare change. Especially since they weren’t the ones doing it, but they were expecting him to do it.

“I’ve hit a lot so far, but that wallet in the back pocket might have been pickpocketed. It’s not a sure thing at all.”

“He’s jinxing himself.”

“Anyway, it’s another away game this time, so since it’s come to this, make sure to hit that bell you missed last time. I want to see it smashed to pieces.”

“Yeah, yeah, let’s just tear down that damn bell that doesn’t even ring when the away team hits a home run this time.”

Lee Jung-woo wiped his forehead at his teammates, who didn’t even acknowledge his protest. The fans were absurd for acting like home runs against the Phillies were a given. His teammates were going even further, ordering him to make sure to hit the Liberty Bell replica this time, as if home runs were guaranteed.

‘Fans and players, they’re all crazy. Crazy. A perfect match.’

As his expression darkened, the teammates who had subtly noticed patted him on the shoulder and disappeared, saying it was a joke. But Lee Jung-woo couldn’t meditate. His head was already filled with the distracting thoughts that those around him had instilled.

‘Home runs, I’ve been losing power lately. Suddenly. Everything else is still fine, so it’s not a lack of stamina.’

In fact, Lee Jung-woo, like his most ardent fans, was a little worried about the recent lack of home runs. It felt like he was generating less power overall than before. Still, it wasn’t that his hitting ability had deteriorated, as he continued to produce hits, but most of his long hits were lower and shorter line drives than usual.

If his contact had deteriorated, line drives would be impossible, so this was ultimately a matter of power.

‘Is it just fatigue piling up, as the medical team said? I hope so. I hope there’s no real problem.’

Lee Jung-woo, trying to clear his head of the constantly growing distractions, suddenly chuckled as he looked down at the cloud-filled sky beyond the airplane window. He was dumbfounded.

‘It’s not like I haven’t hit a home run for a whole month. What am I worrying about with only about seven games without a home run?’

He thought the fans were being dramatic, but Lee Jung-woo himself was thinking with similar logic.

In other words, he was steadily recording hits, RBIs [Runs Batted In], and extra-base hits, but he was talking about fatigue and lack of stamina…

It was a bit ridiculous to even think about these things. He had easily surpassed his initial goal of 30-30 for this season. 40-40 was just around the corner.

‘Come to think of it, the medical staff’s expressions were a bit strange too. Looking back now, it seems like they were looking at me like I was weird.’

What nonsense is he talking about? Looking back now, the faces of the medical staff when he asked about his physical condition were exactly like that.

‘A guy who’s doing well suddenly asks me if there’s anything wrong. From their point of view, it’s absurd. It’s like a hypochondriac.’

The reactions around him were unusual, but Lee Jung-woo realized that he had become just as strange, and he let out a hollow laugh. But the funniest thing was something else.

“Why are you laughing like that?”

“I’m just a little dumbfounded.”

“What? The people? Well, everyone is a bit over the top considering they haven’t seen a home run in just a few games. It must be funny from your perspective. It’s all because the expectations are too high. There’s no malice.”

“That too, but I’m laughing at myself too.”

Derrick, who was sitting across from Lee Jung-woo, tilted his head at Lee Jung-woo’s words. Lee Jung-woo, who had stopped laughing, thought that it was almost time to arrive based on his experience, so he pictured Philadelphia, which was probably under those clouds.

Thinking about it, Lee Jung-woo himself felt the same way, rather than making fun of other people or feeling burdened by their words.

“Like everyone is making a fuss. Strangely, home runs feel easy to me too. Just thinking about the Phillies.”

“Oh… Lee, you’re definitely in bad shape.”

This time, Derrick shook his head at Lee Jung-woo’s words.

Clearly, it was strange for the fans to take home runs against the Phillies for granted, and his teammates who went a step further were absurd. But somehow, he felt comfortable. He felt like he had more strength than before.

“Like Captain said, I’m in bad shape. Me too.”

“If I were a Phillies fan, I would really hate you. Like they’re doing.”

“It’s not just hating, they’re passionately hating me. Since I’m going to be hated anyway, it’s better to be the best son of a bitch than to be mediocre, right?”

“Of course. The best is always good, no matter what. And I’m a Brave anyway. What do I care? Lee, you just have to be a good guy in the Braves.”

Lee Jung-woo, who reigned as a terror to other teams, but transformed into an even more formidable presence when facing the Philadelphia Phillies, soon arrived in Philadelphia.

To dominate the Phillies once again.