Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 264

Pitcher down, batter up (2)

The batted ball shot out powerfully but quickly lost momentum, falling weakly to the ground. Initially, it seemed destined to clear the fence. Tens of thousands of eyes tracked its arc as it soared, then plummeted like a kite with a broken string.

The glove, extended with meticulous care, gently cradled the ball. Anxious to secure the catch, the player snapped the glove shut, even covering it with his bare hand. He cautiously opened the leather and grinned at the sight of the dirt-stained ball.

[Yes, he caught it! Game over. The Braves win with a final score of 2-0. No bottom of the 9th inning.]

The last batted ball of the game. The final out. The decisive moment. The impact of that single, seemingly trivial catch was astonishing.

[116 wins! The Braves join the Cubs and Mariners as the only teams to achieve that many wins in a single season.]

[With the league becoming increasingly competitive, this record was considered almost unattainable since the Mariners achieved it. But today, at this very moment, it has been matched.]

[This is a historic moment. In fact, every moment the Braves have had this season has felt this significant.]

Right fielder Joey, usually stoic, held the ball aloft with an uncharacteristically excited expression.

The fielders, pitchers, and catchers on the field, along with those in the dugout, surged forward, cheering wildly. The fans, equally elated, pressed against the safety fence, eager to join the celebration.

“Waaaaaaaah!”

As if to appease the roaring crowd, fireworks exploded in the sky, reminiscent of the display when Lee Jung-woo achieved his 50-50 [50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season]. Whether they had spared no expense or not, the fireworks were spectacular, even in the bright daylight, painting the sky with vibrant colors.

Lee Jung-woo and Derek, who had scored the first and winning runs, exchanged a light high-five, savoring the moment. The stadium buzzed with the energy of a World Series victory celebration.

“They finally… did it.”

“They did.”

“Your hitting felt great today. It looked like you could have gotten another hit.”

“Well, I’ll be satisfied with the double I got. That’s enough, isn’t it? I’m the hero of the most wins in a single season, after all.”

Four plate appearances, four at-bats, one hit. It wasn’t a particularly satisfying performance, especially considering his form was nearing its peak, but with the team’s larger accomplishment overshadowing everything, Lee Jung-woo easily brushed aside his minor shortcomings and simply basked in the atmosphere.

Also, even though he was a little tired from playing the entire game, he felt good, which made him even more relieved. It felt like his body, which was returning to normal, was now improving even faster.

‘Is the rate of improvement so high because I’m coming up from rock bottom?’

It was still uncertain, but if he could get through the next game without setbacks, he would likely see tangible results. Just in time to cap off the end of the season.

The gift that arrived as if to celebrate 116 wins was quite welcome.

####

[Lee Jung-woo’s Winning Hit Clinches the Most Wins in a Single Season!]

[‘A Player Who Became a Dream and a Team Moving Towards a Dream.’ Braves Win, Tie Record for Most Single-Season Wins in History!]

[‘A Perfect Season’ ATL Receives Reward for Lee’s 50-50.]

Naturally, the excitement wasn’t confined to Truist Park or Atlanta. It was as if an unbreakable record had been set. Especially since the afterglow of Lee Jung-woo’s 50-50 season hadn’t completely faded, the subsequent achievement felt even more impactful.

[4 Plate Appearances, 4 At-Bats, 1 Hit, 1 RBI. Jung-woo Lee Shows Clutch Ability in Important Moment!]

[‘Lost His Touch?’ Jung-woo Lee, Series of Disappointing At-Bats!]

Praise for Lee Jung-woo, who secured the team’s victory with a crucial RBI, and analyses of his somewhat underwhelming game performance continued to circulate. There was also attention given to the rookie pitcher who valiantly tried to thwart the Braves’ record attempt before faltering. It was a particularly significant game, adding to the media frenzy.

Almost everyone seemed happy, but some corners of the media landscape displayed subtly different perspectives.

[Will the Braves’ Dominance Continue Until October?]

[Cubs (1906) – Mariners (2001), What Do These Two Teams Have in Common?]

[Braves Follow in the Footsteps of Their Predecessors, But What About the Ending?]

The 2001 Mariners were a force to be reckoned with.

Their hitter and fielder lineup boasted Suzuki Ichiro, who took the majors by storm after dominating Japanese baseball; Brett Boone, a powerful hitter later revealed to have used performance-enhancing drugs; Edgar Martinez, a key designated hitter; and Mike Cameron, who excelled both offensively and defensively.

The starting rotation included ace Freddy Garcia and Jamie Moyer, who had perfected his pitching style, while the reliable bullpen was anchored by Sasaki Kazuhiro, who recorded 45 saves, and Arthur Rhodes, who posted an impressive 1.72 ERA despite the hitter-friendly environment.

The team, characterized by its exceptional organization in both pitching and hitting, dominated the season, as evidenced by the fact that it produced eight All-Stars. Their historic season remains a proud record.

The Chicago Cubs of 1906, or more precisely, the 1906 team that marked their first golden age in their long history, were perhaps even more dominant than the Mariners. They secured their place on the list of most wins in fewer games, solidifying their claim.

Ace Mordecai Brown recorded an astounding 1.04 ERA, the second-lowest in history, and Jack Pfiester recorded a 1.51 ERA with 153 strikeouts.

The other pitchers also recorded ERAs in the 1 or 2 range, creating what could be considered the most dominant pitching season in Major League history.

[‘116 Wins’ Braves Join the Great Record for the Third Time! What’s the Next Scenario?]

The common thread between these two teams, separated by nearly a century, was their greatness and their shared achievement of the most wins in a single season. However, there was another, less desirable similarity.

That is, they both fell short of ultimate victory.

[‘The Third Sacrifice of 116 Wins?’ Braves Supporters ‘Worried’ About Jinx!]

-Don’t be ridiculous. They’re too busy celebrating to worry. What worries?

-You must be a Phillies spy or a Mets reject trying to stir things up.

-Stop talking about jinxes. It’s only happened twice, how can that be a jinx?

-Now that they have nothing else to criticize, they’re inventing jinxes.

One team had the most wins, and the other had the highest winning percentage, making it a great year, but in the end, both teams were unsuccessful.

Why? The Cubs lost to the White Sox 4-2 in the World Series, and the Mariners didn’t even reach the World Series, losing to the Yankees in the Championship Series, just as they had in 2000.

Despite their overwhelmingly strong seasons and record-breaking win totals, both seasons ended in disappointment, leading the media to suggest that the Braves might suffer a similar fate.

The fans dismissed it as negativity or attributed it to the envy of those who resented the Braves’ success. But a seed of unease had been planted.

Once a worry takes root, it can fester and potentially manifest into a self-fulfilling prophecy. Fans were a little nervous because it could bring bad luck.

-We were really good too. I remember it clearly, even when I was young. But when I saw them not even making it to the World Series, it felt like my heart was being ripped out.

-We have Lee, so it’s okay. So just get lost.

-Lee? Lee’s good. Ichiro was really good too. Didn’t he win ROY [Rookie of the Year] and MVP [Most Valuable Player] in the same year? But he still couldn’t do it…

-Lee is 100 times better than Ichiro, so just get lost.

-I’m a Cubs fan, and I came to see what all the fuss was about. I think this is a jinx? The team’s average ERA was 1.76, but they didn’t win the championship. They did win it two years later, though.

In particular, the fans of the Mariners and Cubs, who could be seen as veterans of record-breaking seasons, took turns poking fun and stoking anxieties, making the Braves fans even more sensitive.

[Braves Lose Second Game.]

[‘The Beginning of a Jinx?’ Braves Fail to Break Record with Disappointing Loss!]

[Jung-woo Lee Replaced After 3 Plate Appearances, 3 At-Bats, 1 Hit, 1 RBI. Still Lacking Stamina?]

Immediately after the Braves lost, putting on a disappointing performance, the media continued to churn out articles with similar arguments, suggesting that the jinx was already taking hold. The worries in the fans’ hearts grew as the team showed recent ups and downs, but they soon looked at the next opponent and felt relieved again.

-At least the new record is confirmed.

-I felt so relieved as soon as I saw it. I don’t know why I feel so relieved every time I see that name.

-Perfect, Lee finds his hitting touch, and the team builds momentum. They’re the perfect guys to have a pre-postseason send-off.

-We might meet them in the division, so it’s good to step on them in advance.

The next series was against the Phillies, and it was their last regular season match against them.

From the perspective of the fans, the players, and Lee Jung-woo, who had fully recovered, the Phillies were a very suitable team to cleanly wash away the current uneasy atmosphere and have a new mindset.

####

Satisfied with achieving 116 wins, the Braves set off again. They were dissatisfied with the schedule, which was packed until the end, but some young players were also afraid of the away locations.

“Phillies… it’ll be different from home, right? Even in the minors, the Phillies’ affiliated teams have savage fans. How much more will it be in Philadelphia….”

Toby Maxon, who typically didn’t live up to his large size, sighed repeatedly, worried about going to the home of the infamous Philly fans.

There were quite a few other players who were unhappy about the road trip to Citizens Bank Park. That’s what clearly divided the 25-man and 40-man rosters [The 25-man roster refers to the active players eligible to play in a Major League Baseball game, while the 40-man roster includes all players under contract with the team, including those in the minor leagues or on the injured list].

The players who had been regulars before were a little reluctant, but none of them were afraid. On the contrary, they just chuckled.

“Hey, think about how annoyed they must be. They’re getting ready for the postseason in a good mood, but they have to meet him again.”

“Lee, don’t forget to thank them. How good are they to you? Thanks to them, you hit a lot of home runs. You also achieved 50-50.”

“Why are you so scared? Don’t be scared, they’re all too busy looking at Lee, so no one will swear at you.”

Fear only arises when the opponent is of a similar strength. No matter how much they rant and swear, the Phillies were nothing more than pushovers to the existing players.

Doesn’t the head-to-head record show it? 16 wins and 0 losses. Shining with a perfect record. To the current Braves, the Phillies were just that kind of team.

“Wouldn’t there be people who would commit suicide if they lost all the games? Philly fans have a lot of pride.”

“I don’t know, maybe they’ll bring guns to the game from the third game after losing the first and second games. Lee, be careful, someone might snipe you with a scope.”

That’s why there were many people who joked about imagining the Philly fans screaming. Lee Jung-woo just shrugged at the jokes about him, but he also expected the reaction from Philadelphia.

‘It’s going to be crazy. If I beat them again in the last match. It’ll be worth watching.’

His condition, which was moving from normalcy to extraordinary, was now almost at the doorstep. If he kept knocking, the door would open.

The Phillies, who he was facing in such a situation, were in a way very coincidental, and on the other hand, quite interesting. The Philly fans are still dying to get at him, but if he screws them over until the end, the reaction would be quite a sight to see.

Even if he didn’t participate in the jokes, the discomfort about the Phillies and their infamous fans disappeared, and laughter replaced it. He enjoyed the trip, thinking about the home fans who would collapse holding the back of their necks.

And Philadelphia arrived. After unpacking his luggage at the hotel and taking a short break, Citizens Bank Park, which he entered, was quite decorated.

Various placards and posters were attached to the exterior walls of the stadium, and people often carried signs that seemed to have already confirmed the Wild Card game they had almost won.

The atmosphere, which felt like the postseason had already begun, told the story of the Phillies’ expectations, and even though they hadn’t completely grabbed the last ticket, the atmosphere was somewhat warm because it was almost in their hands, but the inside of the stadium was different.

It was the beginning of hell.

“You X-like bastards! Wait without wiping your asses! You’re going to get your asses kicked today and go back.”

“Lee, you X-shithead, you’re acting cocky because you did 50-50? You rookie bastard! Today is your funeral, so contact your family in advance and tell them to prepare lilies for the funeral hall!”

“Woooooooo! Fuck Braves! Fuck Atlanta!”

“116 wins? A perfect record against us? Go X yourself! All that’s left is 6 straight losses! You’re going to get swept today, and you’re going to get swept in the division, so tell your X-like fans to grab their Xs!”

The overwhelming barrage of swearing that poured out as soon as he entered the stadium and showed his face was deafening, and those who had calmed down a little at the veteran’s jokes froze again.

Lee Jung-woo and Derek, and the rest of the players, just smiled at the homelike comfort.

“Yeah, even if the earth is destroyed, those bastards have to swear. That’s right.”

“Wow~ I thought they’d be happy to go to the postseason, but they’re still far from it. They still don’t know the Phillies.”

“This is Philadelphia, I only realize it’s an away game when I hear that swearing.”

If the team’s performance wasn’t good, it would have been annoying and irritating, but the Phillies’ shouts, who were far below even though they were second place, were just a child’s tantrum.

Whether it was because their comfortable appearance had touched their nerves, the spectators raised their voices even more, but it was not enough to be a threat to those who had already become immune.

‘Since it’s the Phillies, it’ll be perfect to slowly get my feel back. It would be heartless to just stop there after hitting 50 home runs.’

It wasn’t enough to penetrate the ears of Lee Jung-woo, who was in a good mood because of his improved physical condition. He looked over those who hated and loathed him the most among the Braves and nodded silently.

‘It’s better to just keep swearing like that than to suddenly pretend to be nice.’

It was perfect to use it as a foundation and fuel to start again without any guilt.