Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 80

Pitcher Done, Batter Up – Episode 79

[The first game between the San Diego Padres and the Atlanta Braves concludes with a Braves victory.]

[It wasn’t quite as good as the previous game against Colorado, but Lee Jung-woo can still be satisfied with his performance.]

After the game.

The fans who visited Petco Park lingered, reluctant to leave the stadium, disappointed by the team’s loss.

The players packed their bags one by one, preparing to return to their homes or accommodations.

Lee Jung-woo, who recorded 3 hits, 1 walk, 1 RBI [Run Batted In, a statistic crediting a batter for a run scored as a result of their hit], and 1 stolen base in 4 at-bats today, having played quite a solid role, also packed his bags.

Despite the good performance,

Lee Jung-woo’s expression was stern as he returned to the accommodation.

“Then, I’ll head up first.”

“Not having dinner?”

“I’m going to order room service later.”

As soon as he entered the hotel,

without looking back,

Lee Jung-woo went straight to his room and immediately requested the analysis team to analyze his batting form.

As he waited anxiously, data from the Colorado game to today’s game arrived in an instant.

‘Faster than I thought. By now, the analysis team must have noticed something strange.’

Lee Jung-woo recognized the analysis team’s intentions with the immediate response.

With a grateful heart, he read them thoroughly, not missing a single word.

He watched the attached videos dozens of times.

He had speculated that his swing had become larger, but it was just a guess.

The analysis team thoroughly dissected his batting form and pointed out the problem.

‘The first game. It’s the same until the home run in the first at-bat. The problem started from the second at-bat.’

Despite the criticism poured out on him,

he thought he was composed,

and the expression captured on the screen was no different from usual,

but the reality was not so.

Perhaps he was slightly affected by the criticism and insults directed at him,

and his swing became very slightly larger after the home run.

At first, it wasn’t that big, so it could only be seen by zooming in as much as possible and using slow motion.

By the second game, it was gradually caught on the eye even in normal videos.

And with the third home run, it was completely ruined.

‘No wonder my batting is off.’

Because his performance was so good,

no one noticed,

and as a result, he missed the opportunity to fix it right away.

That became solidified during the break.

The analysis team added that it should be corrected immediately, even saying things that the coaches would have been angry about if they had known, calling it overreach.

And Lee Jung-woo agreed with that.

‘Now that I know the problem for sure, I have to fix it right away. What did the other guys do?’

Lee Jung-woo recalled other hitters and various cases he had seen.

At least the hitters on the same team usually overcame this with consistent effort.

By re-establishing their batting stance with slow tee batting [practicing swings with a ball placed on a stationary stand].

In fact, there is no other way right now, as it is the middle of the season, not the off-season.

‘In the end, are time and effort the answer?’

Effort is mostly the answer.

At least Lee Jung-woo believed so.

Of course, it cannot be said to be unconditionally correct, as not everyone who is completely broken like himself or those who lack talent can achieve everything just by trying.

But at least in the current situation, that is right.

‘Okay, let’s go back to the basics starting today. In real games… just do as I did today.’

Lee Jung-woo nodded.

Now all that remains is the fight against time.

There will be a slump for the time being,

but at least it won’t be long,

and now he knows how to help the team even a little during that time.

‘Alright, let’s play the leadoff role that’s not in my destiny.’

####

Lee Jung-woo in the San Diego Padres game was different from what people had known so far.

Instead of confidently and powerfully swinging, showing the appearance of a slugger that created countless fans,

he waited calmly

and showed a type of batting that focused on getting on base as much as possible.

[Lee Jung-woo watches the ball until the end and gets on base with a walk.]

[It’s a wise choice. There’s no need to confront the slump head-on, is there?]

People also knew.

That Lee Jung-woo was in a bit of a slump.

Until the first game, they just thought it was a slight dip in condition,

but in the second game, he showed batting that didn’t seem to fit,

so they could guess that something was wrong.

That continued until the 3rd and 4th games, so anyone who watched the game

knew it now.

Anti-fans and experts who disliked him or underestimated him rushed in, thinking this was the time,

and the fans were worried,

but Lee Jung-woo just silently did what he could do for the team and his performance right now.

[Now, and it started as soon as he stepped on the base. Lee Jung-woo is widening the lead again this time.]

[At this point, we should see it as his unique style.]

Throughout the series, Lee Jung-woo actively used his feet and found his own way to steal bases.

He still doesn’t get the timing,

but he has a definite weapon.

‘My feet are a little faster than I thought. Don’t be afraid and increase it.’

It was a long lead width using fast feet.

There were a few things he realized while regressing [referring to his time playing in lower leagues after returning from the future]. One is the attack on vertical movement balls, the second is the talent for defense, and the third is wrist strength,

and the last thing he realized was Lee Jung-woo’s own running speed.

He realized how to use it effectively through this series.

‘No matter how wide the lead width is, unless it’s a certain distance, the pitcher can’t catch me with a check [a quick throw to first base to keep the runner close].’

Once he had that conviction, Lee Jung-woo immediately began to actively use it.

‘Who would have known? That I’m this fast. When running, I always focused on maintaining pace, so I never ran at full speed.’

Before the regression, he played as a pitcher.

So, of course, he never batted in Korea.

In the United States, he played in the minor leagues under the National League club,

so he might have been able to stand in the batter’s box if he did well,

but he only played in Single A or Rookie [the lowest levels of professional baseball].

Since he had never been to Double A, where pitcher batting exists in earnest,

Lee Jung-woo had no chance to check his base running.

So he didn’t even think that he would be this fast when he was let loose.

[The pitcher keeps paying attention. It’s annoying for the pitcher when the runner is like that, right?]

[It’s quite annoying. I know it well because I’m from a pitcher background. Usually, when you look at the home plate. The runner is right at the edge of the field of vision. You can’t help but be 신경 쓰일 수밖에 없습니다 [sin-gyeong sseu-il su-bak-e eop-seup-ni-da – It’s impossible not to be 신경 쓰이다 (bothered/concerned)].]

As if that was true.

The pitcher, who glanced at first base, eventually threw another check ball.

Lee Jung-woo, who quickly returned, barely touched first base

and got up again with dirt all over him, looking scruffy.

‘The hitter doesn’t even care. Poppin’s pride must be hurt?’

Lee Jung-woo smiled, waving slightly at the pitcher who was glaring at him as if to kill him.

The pitcher threw as many as three check balls to this batter.

That alone is amazing,

but what’s even more ridiculous is that he didn’t throw any to the batter.

In other words, the pitcher’s eyes were only on Lee Jung-woo.

As a result, Poppin stared at the pitcher with a dumbfounded expression.

He was proud,

but he also benefited from Lee Jung-woo’s actions.

[Poppin’s performance has been quite good during this series, right?]

[He has one home run. He also raised quite a few RBIs.]

[Some even say that the Braves’ second upper batting line starts from Lee Jung-woo.]

Thanks to Lee Jung-woo’s antics on the base,

the pitchers’ concentration on him decreased,

and veteran Poppin had the skills to attack those pitchers.

Poppin, who was able to sweep some RBIs for the first time in a while during the series thanks to Lee Jung-woo, was quite satisfied with that, but he couldn’t help but feel upset.

“Just stay still. Aren’t you tired? Do you have two lungs? Why are you running around so much? You’re a hard worker even in defense. If you just stick to the base quietly. You’ll be comfortable, and I’ll be comfortable. We’ll both be comfortable and good, right?”

“If you hate seeing it so much, put handcuffs on me.”

“Yeah, that would be better.”

The first baseman of the San Diego Padres, who had to see this for 4 consecutive games, had a resigned face.

He had to suffer quite a bit as much as the pitcher, the catcher, and Lee Jung-woo.

He had to keep checking the runner

and safely catch the check balls that the pitchers threw from time to time,

so the burden was enormous.

Of course, Lee Jung-woo had no interest in the first baseman’s feelings.

As he widened the lead again, the first baseman muttered a curse quietly,

and the pitcher’s eyes were on first base again.

“Don’t peek and just throw the ball to the catcher!”

“No, what are you doing! Are you just going to throw it at the runner? Are you going to get tired and go down!”

“Just ignore it whether he runs or not, you X신아 [X-shin-ah – a Korean curse word, similar to ‘you idiot’]!”

If the first baseman resigned himself after seeing that,

the spectators exploded.

The only thing they could do was that they came to see the game live with expensive money for the first time in a while.

The pitchers threw the ball only to first base.

That too, always, every game.

They eventually burst out the resentment they had accumulated during the series,

but the person who was most angry in this stadium was the pitcher on the mound.

Whether he didn’t hear the voices of the spectators who were complaining to him, or whether he just ignored them, he just glared at Lee Jung-woo out of the corner of his eye and gnashed his teeth.

‘He’s really angry. It’ll be hard to concentrate on the game. This time, I can just watch quietly. This is successful enough.’

The pitcher on the mound

and the batter in the batter’s box

were all heated up,

so he thought he could just watch,

so he refrained from stealing this time,

but that didn’t mean he wasn’t leading,

so the pitcher threw one more check ball before throwing the first ball to batter Poppin,

and Poppin, who had been waiting for it, received it with a powerful swing,

and Lee Jung-woo, who had been quietly attached to the base for the first time in this game, finally turned the base with a satisfied expression.

‘I didn’t know this when I was on the receiving end, but it’s more fun than I thought when I’m on the giving end.’

Thinking about the pitchers who were hit by him would grab their necks and fall.

####

Lee Jung-woo boasted high job satisfaction and ran with a comfortable heart,

but the feelings of the people watching him were different.

Some people thought it was just a brief breeze that everyone experiences,

but there were also those who were seriously worried.

Especially a man with the title of general manager in an Atlanta office.

[Lee, a harbinger of collapse? Batting timing has noticeably decreased!]

[The beginner’s luck is over. Lee is just one of many rookies.]

[‘The Heroism of a Young Rookie’ His batting is full of pretense]

Pratt, the general manager, who had been reading the articles with a flushed face, eventually slammed the table.

He couldn’t stand it.

Seeing the hyena bastards who had gathered at this time, his anger soared.

“Damn it, they’re making a fuss. With just one series. The results are good, right?”

“During the series, it’s 17 at-bats, 2 hits, 1 RBI, 5 walks, 1 HBP (Hit by Pitch) [when a batter is hit by a pitched ball and awarded first base], and 4 stolen bases. It’s not as good as expected. The results themselves are pretty good. He’s a shortstop. He’s also good at defense.”

In fact, Lee Jung-woo’s performance was a bit subtle when viewed objectively.

Compared to the existing results,

it is naturally much lacking,

but it was not very lacking compared to other shortstops in the league.

Just about average.

That’s why some people were saying that it was not a slump

but a return to normal performance.

“Yes! The fielding percentage is still perfect! The amazing defense is still the same. This alone is great. These damn media bastards are still making a fuss. Lee must be so upset. These guys have ruined several prospects.”

“Is it just several?”

The general manager’s assistant matched him as if he was used to it,

and Pratt, who seemed to calm down for a moment thanks to his efforts,

soon had an anxious look instead of anger this time.

“But… is there really no problem? Are you doing a medical test? What are the coaches saying? Is it a swing problem? Or is it a lack of stamina? Or… pressure? No, is it because of pitcher training? Should I stop it right away?”

“Everyone at the scene says it’s okay. I haven’t had a thorough examination. The medical team says there’s no problem. The analysis team, as well as Lee himself, say that the swing has just gotten bigger. They say it will be back soon.”

The general manager’s assistant repeated what he had already said several times.

Nevertheless, Pratt seemed to be lacking in that,

and forced him to answer again.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Pratt nodded with a believing expression,

but as if his worries would not go away easily,

Pratt expressed his feelings by shaking his legs.

Now something is going well, and Lee is at the center of it.

He was so anxious because such an important guy was suddenly like this.

If this continues for a long time,

the minds of the president and the owner, who had barely turned around, may return to their original state.

Of course, there is also the fact that he likes Lee Jung-woo as a fan, not as a general manager, so he is even more worried.

Pratt thought of himself as Lee Jung-woo’s number one fan.

“I discovered him, and I was the first to pay attention to him. I know him best. Lee is fine.”

“Lee was a pitcher when he first came, but it’s not wrong…”

“Be quiet.”

He said there was no problem and that he would show the same appearance as before when the next series started.

Pratt, who tried to appease himself like that,

unlike his and the fans’ expectations,

Lee Jung-woo’s slightly subtle slump continued until Milwaukee.

On the surface, it looked worse.

####

[Lee Jung-woo hit it – ah, this time it rolls through the infield. Lee Jung-woo is recording his third infield ground ball in this game alone.]

[Well, there are days like this. In fact, even top-class hitters can’t always do well, right?]

[Yes, that’s baseball.]

The commentators clicked their tongues and regretted Lee Jung-woo’s infield ground ball.

To those around him,

Lee Jung-woo in Milwaukee seemed to be in a more serious slump.

Unlike San Diego, where he recorded a .300 on-base percentage,

he couldn’t even get on base now,

and he was constantly recording unfortunate ground balls.

“He’s a new star, but there’s nothing special!”

“Is a baseball player just good at defense? You have to turn the bat well. How about I go down and teach you?”

“Don’t worry too much. They’re just stupid guys. Don’t be shaken and just find your pace like now.”

“Yes, Captain.”

The spectators mocked Lee Jung-woo, who was trudging back to the dugout,

and Derek, who greeted him, comforted him in case his mentality was shaken,

but Lee Jung-woo was rather happy.

He was so happy that he couldn’t even hear the voices of the spectators.

Unlike what people thought, he was not in a serious slump.

‘The swing is back. It doesn’t fit well right now because my body is adjusting. It’ll be fine in a little while.’

First of all, the unpleasant feeling that had been bothering him was gone this time.

And the subtly twisted hand feeling is also gone now.

Even he felt it himself, and even in the data sent by the power analysis team,

his batting form was back, so Lee Jung-woo was not worried.

‘I’m a little sorry to my colleagues and fans right now. I’ve done a lot for them so far. They’ll take care of it on their own. And I’m still good at defense.’

However, during this series, he didn’t even get a hit.

Because of Lee Jung-woo, who kept hitting into double plays

or being treated as a ground ball with a fly ball,

the flow of the attack continued to be cut off.

The Braves, whose second place, which they had stubbornly maintained until now, was in danger of losing to the Milwaukee Brewers, who were not even a difficult opponent,

Lee Jung-woo was a little sorry about that,

but he decided to be brazen.

Because he has done a lot for the team so far.

‘Well, I can pay it back later when I go back to Atlanta and play against the Phillies.’