Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 251

End of Pitching, Beginning of Hitting – Episode 250

[Out at first! Yes, the Braves’ top of the 9th attack is thwarted, and the game is set. The Angels win Game 2, exchanging one win each, and the series concludes.]

[It was a pretty smooth victory. If it weren’t for what happened in the top of the 7th. Perhaps because of that… the Angels fans don’t seem too happy.]

As if to calm the home fans’ volcanic frustration, the game fortunately(?) ended with the Angels’ victory. The starting pitcher, whose mentality broke down due to two stolen bases and a run allowed by his own wild pitch, was taken out, but the Braves’ batting lineup didn’t gain momentum afterward.

Lee Jung-woo, who created decisive moments in this game as well, ultimately failed to add a hit, finishing with no hits, two walks, and, although mixed with a wild pitch, was credited with a stolen base at third, recording two stolen bases and one run.

[‘Unsatisfying Victory,’ Angels Mocked by Lee?]

[Rushing Home After Wild Pitch. ‘Fans’ Hearts Crumble’]

[Angels Stadium, Where Curses Didn’t Stop Despite Team’s Victory.]

[A Run Created with Feet. Jung-woo Lee Taunts Angels with Two Legs!]

[Jung-woo Lee, 5 Plate Appearances, 3 At-Bats, No Hits, 2 Walks. But the Important Thing is ‘2 Stolen Bases, 1 Run’]

Not many Angels fans were happy about this victory, nor were there many media outlets that viewed them favorably. Similarly, no one thought Lee Jung-woo’s performance was bad.

With two walks, it was a decent performance in terms of getting on base, but the situation that occurred after the second walk was so shocking that the perceived value was much greater.

[‘Super Sonic’ Jung-woo Lee Swept Through the Angels’ Infield Like a Storm!]

It was as if he had taunted the Angels team itself with nothing but his swift legs.

Likewise, the Angels, who allowed a ridiculous run by being outmaneuvered by one player, were not seen as true victors.

[50-50 Club. Remaining Magic Numbers are 4 and 3.]

Also, having earned two more stolen bases needed for the 50-50 club, Lee Jung-woo’s fans were reasonably satisfied, while the victorious Angels couldn’t shake off a strange, unsettling feeling and grumbled. But, as always, there were a few who felt differently.

-A big guy with incredibly fast feet, he really reminds me of [Mike] Trout back in Jung Sung-ki’s day. The run allowed was unsettling, but… he was kind of cool?

-I agree with Trout’s interview. Except for the uniform he’s wearing, he’s a fantastic player. If he wore an Angels uniform, he’d be perfect.

-I agree. He’s definitely different. Leaving Trout’s interview aside, he’s just a desirable player.

-Who knows? Maybe we’ll see him as our player someday. It wouldn’t be bad to get attached in advance. Since we only meet once every three years unless it’s the World Series, there’s no reason to hold back.

Even amidst the lingering anger, quite a few people felt something different. These were people who developed a liking for Lee Jung-woo, who left a strong impression despite not doing much.

In a way, it was always the same. Every time he played an away game, he incurred the wrath of 90% of the home fans and turned the remaining 10% into his fans.

Thus, Lee Jung-woo, who created his own fans even in distant Anaheim, boarded the plane again and returned to his longed-for home, leaving behind the ambiguous atmosphere of Anaheim.

####

The Braves, back home, had a four-game series against the Mets. Usually, when teams from the same division play, some away fans are seen, but not this time.

‘Away… they can’t come. They’re not in the right state of mind.’

The Mets in September could be described as frustration and despair. They were confirmed to be out of the postseason for the second year in a row.

In that situation, not many people would be so passionate about the team as to wear a Mets uniform and watch an away game in person. In the first place, what Mets fans should be wearing now is not a uniform, but a black suit.

‘It’s a funeral, a funeral.’

To Lee Jung-woo, the current Mets were like a funeral. And not a peaceful one, but a funeral for someone who died in an accident at a young age.

It was more depressing than ever, filled with anger and animosity.

‘Well, they can’t help but be angry. They can’t do anything.’

They spent a lot of money and didn’t tank [strategically lose games to secure a higher draft pick], but even the wild card is out of reach. However, their ranking is 3rd, and their winning percentage is ambiguous, so it’s hard to expect a high pick in the draft.

In a way, there is no worse situation than this. It was a reality where they could not be satisfied with the present or have hope for the future.

‘It’s a relief that it’s a home game. If it were an away game in this situation… I don’t even want to imagine it.’

Lee Jung-woo shuddered involuntarily as he recalled the images of Mets fans he had glimpsed on the internet.

First of all, as can be seen from their head-to-head record, the Braves had greatly influenced this situation, so the animosity towards the Braves was also at its peak.

The hostility and hatred towards Lee Jung-woo himself, who could be said to be the core cause of all this, had reached its peak. The hooligans who smash trash cans at every opportunity seemed cute in comparison.

‘Of course, a noisy baseball stadium where people are pissed off is better than a quiet one like a library. But that’s only when safety is guaranteed.’

Anyway, given the team’s situation, the Mets fans, who had lost their minds, wanted to narrow the head-to-head record with the Braves at least. It was their last bit of pride.

Even if they swept the Braves, nothing would happen, and the head-to-head record would still be dismal, but the Mets hoped to salvage their pride, but the god of baseball did not allow them even that.

“마이!” [Mai! – An exclamation of frustration or defeat]

No, to be exact, Lee Jung-woo didn’t allow it. Since it was a home game anyway, he didn’t hold back and diligently trampled on the opponent’s last bit of pride.

In fact, he didn’t do much. He showed a slightly sluggish performance at the plate, only managing to get a hit or so in each game. And he played defense as usual.

[Lee! Diving catch! Toss to 2nd! Back to 1st – Out! Double play!]

He just did what he always did. He caught the balls as usual, made double plays, and frustrated the opposing team’s batters as usual. Throughout the series.

However, the Mets, as if retaliating, also put a bit of a brake on Lee Jung-woo. They had already suffered all sorts of humiliation, but they said they had no intention of becoming a sacrifice in history, at least.

“Boo-o-o-o-o-o-o!”

“Are you even a pitcher!”

“If you’re going to do it like that, play softball! You X-head son of a bitch!”

“Are you blind? Are you not going to compete! X-ball umpire! Eject that X-bastard right now! He has no sportsmanship!”

Amidst all sorts of jeers towards the away team, Lee Jung-woo, who shook off the dirt on his uniform, suddenly asked the first baseman.

“Is this the batter’s box?”

“Shut up. You X-bastard.”

“No, I’m asking if this is the batter’s box.”

“If you have bad eyes, go to the hospital. Don’t whine to innocent people.”

“No, I was just wondering if the rules had changed without me knowing. Like, the pitcher keeps throwing the ball at the runner. That’s what your pitcher is doing right now.”

A thorough pickoff attempt at first base. He had long been prepared for them to compete dirty in order not to give up a home run, but Lee Jung-woo could only laugh in disbelief that they would do this even on the base. In the end, he only added three hits throughout the series, failing to hit a home run or even steal a base.

His record chase was properly hampered, so the Mets could see it as a minor goal achieved, but of course, the Mets fans were not happy or satisfied with just that. It was a season in which they failed in everything else.

[The Braves eventually took Game 4, finishing the series with a sweep. As a result, the head-to-head record between the Braves and the Mets this season ended with 2 wins and 17 losses. And with this, the Braves achieved 109 wins, moving a little closer to the most wins in a season.]

The Mets’ batting lineup, blocked by the ironclad defense, eventually failed to overcome that wall, and the end result was what the Mets fans did not want. The Braves’ series sweep. The resulting head-to-head record of 2 wins and 17 losses was a number rarely seen in baseball, to the point where the caster and commentator chuckled.

Even the best teams usually have a winning percentage in the 60% range in baseball, so losing 17 times in 19 games to the same team was something that would elicit such a reaction.

“Wow~ Are you guys pros? How can you lose 17 times? In one season.”

“Just fold it up, fold it up! You won’t be able to go to the postseason for the next 20 years anyway. Just disband cleanly!”

“Be honored! The Mets, you guys have made a contribution to history!”

“Hey, you X-ball bastards! If you’re going to be X-heads, just be X-heads yourselves. Why are you grabbing Lee’s ankle and X-ing around! Do you want to die!”

Immediately after the game ended, the home fans continued to cruelly mock the Mets, who had achieved such a difficult record(?). Especially since the Mets had thrown dirt, no, poop, on Lee Jung-woo’s 50-50 challenge, there was no holding back in the curses, and in the end, the Mets players, with their heads bowed, fled the stadium.

Thus, the Mets finished all their games against the Braves with such an admirable head-to-head record, but the funny thing is that they were the better ones. There were teams aiming for a complete shutout in the regular season head-to-head record, not just 2 wins and 17 losses.

With each side taking away disappointing results, the series ended. And as he was about to leave home again, Lee Jung-woo frowned. It was getting closer and closer. Something that neither he nor the fans wanted.

####

After pushing the Mets into the pit of despair, the Braves left home again and headed to Miami, and the reaction of the home fans who greeted them was calm.

“I thought I’d hear some 욕 [Korean slang/curse word], but it’s normal?”

“Well, the Marlins don’t really have any animosity towards us, do they? They were originally 4th place even before we started doing well.”

In such a quiet atmosphere, Lee Jung-woo, who was looking around the stadium as usual, stared at the fence at the end of the ground.

‘It’s far. Very.’

Marlins Park, where the fence is definitely farther than usual. Still, if he could get a feel for it, Lee Jung-woo could easily 넘기는 [Neomgineun – overcome/clear] the fence, but today, no, from now on, it was a little different.

‘I’m starting to lose stamina.’

Now, at the end of the season, with the end of the pennant race just around the corner. It was later than expected, but the feared stamina decline came suddenly.

‘No, it’s not stamina, but the overload of the body that has started. My stamina is still great.’

He felt it properly in free batting. The wrist strength that had always firmly supported him at any time had suddenly disappeared. To a rather worrying extent. The moment he felt that, the fence, which was already far away, became slightly farther and higher.

‘I’ll have to go into the game to know, but… it’s going to be harder than usual.’

“Lee! Come back now!”

Lee Jung-woo, who had been watching the fence, which felt a little farther away today, returned to the dugout at the sound of his name being called. Hoping that his worries were unfounded.

But as always, bad premonitions always came true. The game started, and it was his first at-bat. Lee Jung-woo took a bold swing. His hit pierced the pitcher.

[Lee! He hit it! It’s big! Will it go over! Over- Over-]

The 쭉쭉뻗는 [jjukjjukbbeotneun – soaring/streaking] ball. But Lee Jung-woo ran quickly, and people who expected a home run looked at him strangely, but soon realized. It was an accurate judgment.

[It hit the end of the fence, and the right fielder caught it and 송구 [songgu – threw]- but he’s already at 2nd base.]

“Why didn’t that go over?”

“Ah, tell Marlins Park to pull the fence a little! I lost a home run!”

The groans and voices of resentment towards Marlins Park, uttered by some spectators, perhaps fans who had come to the away game, echoed softly through the stadium, and Lee Jung-woo, who had lightly landed on second base, also clicked his tongue slightly.

‘It should have gone over… No, if it was exactly a month ago, it would have gone over for sure. I knew it…’

He made accurate contact, and the impact was good. So, if it were normal, it would have been a home run even in Marlins Park. The result was a strong hit to the fence. What this meant was very clear.

‘Marlins Park, it’s hard to 넘기는 [Neomgineun – overcome/clear] it in its current state.’

Of course, the result would have been different in other stadiums, but wasn’t it Marlins Park? So he had to give up on the home run, but he felt more comfortable than he thought.

‘Since it’s not going to happen anyway, there’s no need to aim for a home run here. Let’s think of it as fortunate. It’s a problem because it’s Marlins Park, but it’s still okay in other stadiums. And once I get the stolen bases up first, I’ll get a home run in the next series.’

The next series is held at Truist Park, his home stadium, and the opponent is the Phillies. He’ll get a home run easily anyway. There was no need to 힘들게 [himdeulge – strenuously/with difficulty] aim for a home run here.

If the Phillies players or the 필리건들 [Philligun-deul – Philly fans/hooligans] had heard it, they would have grabbed his collar and 집단 린치 [jipdan linchi – mob lynching], but the head-to-head record with the Phillies proved it. So Lee Jung-woo, who had emptied his mind, just 열심히 풀었다 [yeolsimhi pureotda – diligently loosened] his ankles. In order to get something, anything, from this stadium that had suddenly started to feel 엿 같게 [yeot gatge – like엿 (Korean taffy), meaning unpleasant/crappy].