Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 77

Pitcher Done, Batter Up -76

As expected, it’s a great day.

That’s what Lee Jung-woo thought.

He had collapsed as soon as he entered his hotel room, utterly exhausted.

But waking up…

He felt so light, he thought he might be able to fly.

On the one hand, it was as if all the fatigue had been converted into strength.

His body was overflowing with power.

Literally perfect condition.

A pleasant freshness filled Lee Jung-woo’s face as he left the hotel room.

“Something good happen?”

“I just feel good.”

“Oh, even better than yesterday? Then the Rockies are in big trouble?”

Brian Halsey, today’s starting pitcher, whom he ran into at the restaurant, licked his lips when he saw Lee Jung-woo.

It had to be Coors Field [home field of the Colorado Rockies, known for being hitter-friendly due to its altitude].

He wanted to fake an illness and skip the trip if he could.

But seeing the shortstop doing well made him feel much better.

“Is today the day that Stewart was talking so much about?”

It was famous within the team.

When he was first called up, during the Phillies series for his debut.

He was in peak condition in his third game, his first start.

Stewart, the starting pitcher at the time, unexpectedly pitched a shutout [a game where a pitcher doesn’t allow the opposing team to score any runs].

Thanks to Stewart, who had been talking about it ever since, Lee Jung-woo’s day remained a superstition only among the Braves pitchers.

The superstition that no runs are ever scored when he’s at his peak.

Perhaps because they were pitchers, the most sensitive and delicate position.

They were easily swayed by such superstitions and jinxes.

It was almost an accepted truth.

And since Brian Halsey had a similar belief.

He smiled pleasantly.

He even went so far as to bring Lee Jung-woo breakfast himself.

“If that’s true, please do your best today. I’ll send it to you somehow. Catch them all, just like you did for Stewart.”

“Wouldn’t my lungs explode and I die if I do that at Coors Field? Send it to the captain too.”

“Derek needs to rest too. And people don’t die that easily.”

Lee Jung-woo, taken aback by Brian Halsey’s resolute expression, burst into a hearty laugh and diligently shoved breakfast into his mouth.

He steeled himself.

At least the Rockies pitchers were all dead today.

‘Defense is defense, but when I’m in the best condition, my record is… multi-homeruns, doubles, and triples.’

Because he didn’t want to give up the record.

Because he was so excited and hit too hard due to the opponent avoiding the match, he missed the cycle [hitting a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game].

Remembering the regret of that time, Lee Jung-woo was confident in today’s game.

Because his physical condition was the same as then.

If you combine the condition that boasts the power to forcibly hit a ball that’s way out of the zone and Coors Field buff [an advantage or boost due to the favorable conditions of Coors Field].

‘It’ll be fun.’

A surprising result would come out.

####

[Yes, both teams are entering. Commissioner Park Myung-joon, how do you see this game?]

[Well, it’s likely to be another slugfest like yesterday. The key point is how well the two teams’ sluggers do, right?]

[Yes, that’s right. Baseball is a pitcher’s game, but… that doesn’t work at Coors Field, at least.]

The Korean broadcast team was excited and enthusiastically building the atmosphere as the players entered.

Viewers also entered the streaming chat room one by one.

The caster, satisfied with the steadily increasing viewership and number of viewers, said what people wanted to hear.

[Then, one of the key points of this game is Lee Jung-woo.]

[He played great in yesterday’s game. If he continues that momentum today. I think it will lean towards the Braves.]

[He scored 6 RBIs [Runs Batted In] yesterday. If he does that much today, he might be able to win Player of the Week again.]

[Yes, it’s possible.]

If you only look at the immediate results. Of course, Lee Jung-woo was one of the most powerful hitters on the Braves.

The caster further highlighted his presence, raising the fans’ excitement.

The commentator also appropriately accepted it, matching each other’s rhythm.

After the broadcast team spent their preparation time with banter.

Just when they were running out of things to say, the Colorado Rockies players gradually came out onto the field.

[Now the Kkol-orado enter]

[Is it because Kkol-kis are Kkol, or is it because it’s a mountain village there too? Why are they so bad? When I saw them yesterday, the pitchers couldn’t do anything.]

[Even if they’re the same Kkol, don’t compare Korean Kkol with American Kkol. At least they’ve been to the fall baseball recently.]

[This year is different. The Giants Legion has finally woken up. We’re going for V3 this season!]

[Yeah, next 6th place. At least pass the fall baseball cutline and say that]

[That sleeping giant will have to break the Red Sox record to wake up]

[Isn’t this a major league broadcast? Watch the game and stop talking about weird leisure stuff]

The chat room opened with lightly teasing the Rockies.

Most of them were introduced by Lee Jung-woo’s performance.

Inevitably, a friendly atmosphere towards Lee Jung-woo was formed.

Of course, there were also a few Korean Rockies fans and anti-fans who hated Lee Jung-woo.

But because of his performance the day before.

The broadcast chat room was generally leaning to one side.

[But Lee Jung-woo is really good.]

[Isn’t it funny to compare him with leisure players?]

[If I were Lee Jung-woo, I would have been proud and naturalized to the United States]

[To be honest, he’s a type that didn’t exist in Korea, so he didn’t seem like a Korean. But when I saw him do the bat flip yesterday, I thought, ‘Ah, he’s Korean after all.’]

[He did it so coolly lol To be honest, it’s a relief he didn’t get hit in the head]

[Even if the major leagues have become more lenient with bat flips, I was about to pee my pants when I saw him watching the batted ball]

[To be honest, I didn’t like him much, but I fell in love with the way he threw the bat coolly. I’ll support Lee Jung-woo from now on!]

The main topic of conversation among viewers was the bat flip from the day before.

It wasn’t just anything, but a Korean major leaguer showing such a cool bat flip.

It was the first time in a long time.

Perhaps an even bigger reaction came out than in the United States.

That’s why people hoped that he would show such a performance in today’s game as well.

And fortunately.

Today, Lee Jung-woo was enough to meet their expectations.

[Lee Jung-woo seems unusual today?]

[Yeah, he seems to be putting in more effort than usual]

[Just hit one more big home run today and it’ll be exactly 10]

[No, he’s going to hit 4 consecutive home runs and score his 13th home run]

People who saw Lee Jung-woo in a different atmosphere than usual, captured by the relay camera that showed the dugout, thought.

Something was bound to happen today, in some way.

####

Roman Bernstein was determined.

He had a sense of self-reproach for not satisfying the fans’ expectations the day before and a sense of guilt for not making the team win.

His performance is definitely good.

Strangely, home runs didn’t come out.

But today is different.

‘Lee, I don’t have any particular feelings for the rookie… but because the fans want it so much.’

To be honest.

He didn’t care about the Home Run Derby [a competition during the Major League Baseball All-Star break where players compete to hit the most home runs].

The prize money of over $1 million was a bit tempting to him too.

But it doesn’t have as much honor as the All-Star Game, and he’s seen many people suffer from having their swings get bigger.

Still, because the fans wanted it.

He was going to participate if he was selected, but he didn’t care if someone else was selected.

So he had no thoughts about that rumored rookie either.

He actually thought the home run and bat flip from the day before were good.

‘I was just like that too. It’s right not to care about anything when you’re a rookie.’

But because the fans reacted so fiercely.

He also had to do something similar for them.

‘Since he hit one first. I’ll hit about two and everyone will be satisfied. Actually, with my career, I should be compared to Joey… it’s the other way around.’

When he chuckled at the somewhat absurd situation. The head coach came over and patted him on the shoulder.

“Roman, how’s your condition?”

“It’s perfect.”

“Well, you have a Wolverine, so you have a healing factor, so your condition can’t be bad.”

Bernstein laughed at the coach’s joke.

But he was serious.

He was really in good condition.

Even if it wasn’t perfect.

His physical condition was definitely above average.

That’s why he prepared for defense first, expecting good results.

But the rookie started first.

“Boooooooooooooooo!”

“Get out! Get out of Denver!”

The game started.

The Braves, who started the attack first, were calmly continuing their attack from the beginning, unlike the day before.

Starting with Rollins, the leadoff hitter who got on base while patiently enduring the Rockies starter’s failure to adjust his aim.

Derek also hit a short single, filling first and second base.

Fortunately, Joey struck out on the 7th pitch to the pitcher who had adjusted his aim.

The first out count went up.

But 4th hitter Peterson lightly pushed it towards the shortstop.

Stepping on the base with his heavy body, the Braves eventually filled the ground.

It came up in that situation.

The twenty-one-year-old rookie who had become the Rockies fans’ eyesore, at least during this series.

‘Something doesn’t feel good.’

The moment he saw him walking up to the plate with a confident face.

A thunderbolt struck Bernstein’s head.

He had a bad feeling.

He had a strong feeling that something was going to happen.

And the match began.

The starting pitcher’s sharply aimed ball landed low on the outside corner.

The umpire judged that it had entered the edge and called a strike.

But the guy just nodded briefly.

The pitcher also felt something unusual, and continued to pull out long outside, testing him.

But the rookie remained expressionless even after raising a strike with a check swing once.

No, the corners of his lips were slightly raised.

‘If this goes wrong…’

Sweat dripped down Bernstein’s neck as he watched it all from 3rd base.

The same was true for the other players who watched the match from the infield.

“Popovich! Strike that bastard out too!”

“Double play! Let’s roll it and block it with a double play!”

The audience, who didn’t know anything, were just cheering at the count of two and one.

But the players who were playing directly, the commentators who were broadcasting.

And the scouts and power analysts who were watching the game knew.

The guy caught the timing.

It became clear with the check swing.

‘Pull out one more time, or just walk him… ah.’

He thought it might be better to just walk him.

Soon, as the runner brushed past him, swaying in front of him, Bernstein exclaimed.

A walk is impossible.

Because it’s a push-in [a situation where walking the batter forces in a run].

He’d rather get hit by a home run. The fans would never allow a push-in walk.

What should I throw? The fastball’s timing has already been read? But the changeup isn’t going in properly?

Looking at the pitcher’s eyes, which were pitifully shaking with all sorts of thoughts.

Bernstein automatically uttered a curse that he had never even thought of before.

‘Damn it. I’m screwed.’

A situation that was no different from a checkmate.

The battery [the pitcher and catcher], which had briefly exchanged opinions, made a decision.

Since it’s come to this.

Let’s deal with it when the count is good.

The pitcher swung his arm, which was lying horizontally, like a whip.

The pitch that flew to the end of his arm, which stretched elastically in a graceful curve, was a cutter [a type of fastball that breaks slightly towards the pitcher’s glove side].

Perhaps recalling the evaluation that he was weak against breaking balls. Instead of throwing a slider.

It was a pitcher who threw a cutter.

He could also induce a ground ball if he did well.

If it were another day. If it were another time. If it were another game.

It might have been the right choice.

But not today.

The rookie was different today.

“Nooooooooooooo!”

An unknown spectator screamed as if he was slitting his throat.

Bernstein thought he wanted to do that himself.

The rookie swung like lightning.

It moved along the trajectory of the cutter.

Because it hit the ball accurately.

Bang-

A heavy hitting sound that had never been heard before echoed through the stadium.

The sound was so loud.

The 55,000 spectators who shouted at the rookie who was throwing the bat as if to show off.

Even the high-pitched screams of frustration couldn’t cover it up.

The batted ball that soared endlessly also didn’t block anything.

None of the players on the ground followed it.

The right fielder was just standing there, watching the ball fly.

There was no reaction.

Unless it had wings.

Because he couldn’t catch it anyway.

That’s why only the tracking system that measures the distance was chasing the batted ball.

The final destination of the batted ball was the 3rd floor of the right field stands.

“What the f–”

The shortstop, who was chasing the ball with his eyes, unknowingly spat out profanity.

He had already expected that it would be a grand slam [a home run hit with all three bases occupied, scoring four runs] from the moment it was hit.

But isn’t that too much?

That’s what he thought.

[Grand Slam! A grand slam explodes in the top of the 1st inning! Lee’s 10th home run of the season!]

[It was a perfect, very perfect and destructive swing.]

[Yes, the batted ball flew like a missile and hit the stands. This distance is unusual…]

As the distance of the home run shot like a missile came out, exclamations poured out from everywhere.

The Braves and Korean broadcasters shouted passionately as if they had won the lottery.

[Lee’s grand slam! Rewriting the history of Coors! Stanton is stepping down from the throne after 19 years!]

[Yes, that’s it. That’s our Lee Jung-woo. He’s that kind of player!]

[Lee’s overwhelming power shines again at Coors! It was a really perfect home run.]

[I’m so proud! Lee Jung-woo! The first 500-foot home run in 6 years was hit by our Lee Jung-woo! It’s beautiful! It’s beautiful!]

510ft (155.448m).

The broadcasters couldn’t hide their excitement at the overwhelming distance.

In the quiet stadium, the spectators frowned at the noisy broadcasting booth alone.

Soon, their gazes had to be divided.

‘Ah, it sucks.’

Bernstein made eye contact with the rookie who was passing him.

Seeing the rookie stepping on the base with a firm step, as if he was afraid of a collision.

Suddenly, the world seemed dirty.

The world was always beautiful to him. Now it just seemed like that.

“Look at this! Look at this! I told you! He’s crazy when he’s in good condition!”

“This crazy bastard is using the sacred bat! You have to put it in a museum! Handle it carefully!”

“500 feet? I don’t think the distance of all the batted balls I hit yesterday would add up to 500? Does that make sense?”

The runners who were waiting for Lee Jung-woo when he stepped on the base, as well as the players on the bench, all ran out and cheered as if they were the winning team.

It’s only the top of the 1st inning and there’s still a lot of time left.

The spectators who glared at the noisy Braves and Korean broadcasters soon turned their eyes to the players.

But even profanity didn’t come out.

“Wow, that’s crazy.”

“Yeah, I think I’m really crazy.”

“Why is that guy so cool?”

“Damn it, I’m so jealous of the Atlanta bastards.”

There are still many opportunities left, so a comeback is definitely possible.

But the atmosphere wasn’t like that.

I didn’t even get angry anymore.

Rather, a tickling, exciting feeling sprouted.

That’s because the rookie, who calmly high-fived his teammates and then swept through the stands, clearly didn’t respect our team and was a damn bastard who dared not respect our hero.

Now it looked like Badass.

And the way they looked at them was as if they were saying that.

Am I not good enough to participate in the Home Run Derby even if I do this?

Of course, he didn’t even think about it.

It was just the paranoia of people who were overwhelmed by the atmosphere he exuded.