Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 96

End of Pitcher, Start of Batter – Episode 95

[Lee Jung-woo, a decent performance with 2 hits, 1 walk, and 1 RBI in 4 at-bats!]

[Much ado about nothing? Kwak Hyung-sun, 0 hits in 4 at-bats.]

[The highly anticipated Korean Derby. But only Lee Jung-woo remains…]

The media heavily promoted the Korean Derby, raising people’s expectations, but it ended with Lee Jung-woo’s overwhelming dominance.

Even the opportunities that Kwak Hyung-sun managed to get were all overshadowed by Lee Jung-woo, so the media quickly tried to divert the attention of the angry or disappointed fans.

And they had a good source.

[Lee Jung-woo, on the verge of joining the 20-20 club? ‘If achieved, virtually guaranteed Rookie of the Year!’]

[Lee Jung-woo, 도전 [challenging] the second Asian major leaguer after Choo Jung-soo to join the 20-20 club!]

The 20-20 club. A record that refers to a player achieving 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a single season. In short, it was a symbol of a power hitter with speed.

Lee Jung-woo currently had 18 home runs and 20 stolen bases, leaving only two home runs to go.

Even though his form has slightly declined recently.

The Korean media expressed that he was virtually on the verge of achieving it, and instead of the Korean Derby, which had become a laughing stock,

They actively highlighted it.

[But isn’t it only highly regarded in Korea? Don’t the US and Japan care much?]

[They do value it there too. But they don’t classify it as a separate club. They start specifically referring to it from the 30-30 club.]

[So, this is just national *ppong* [hype/exaggeration].]

[You damn Heljoseon [hell Korea] people are always eager for national *ppong*. Look at them creating meaning even for records that don’t exist.]

[It’s not just national *ppong*, you qt [cute]. Do you think 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a season is a joke?]

[ㅇㅇ [yes, yes] It’s true that they consider it a symbol of a power hitter with speed even in the majors. They give separate meaning to the 20-20 season. However, they don’t refer to it as a club like in Korea. I copied this from Namu Wiki [Korean Wikipedia-like site].]

[Get rid of Namu Wiki.]

There was resistance to such an atmosphere, but a great record was the standard.

Even if there were reactions that intentionally downplayed it, the 20-20 record itself had a special meaning in Korea anyway.

It wasn’t just about a decent record. The main thing was that a Korean was the first Asian to achieve it and it remained the only record to this day.

[Wow, is Choo Jung-soo still the only one? Didn’t the Japanese do it?]

[ㅇㅇ [yes, yes] Otani came closest in the 2021 season with 30 home runs and 16 stolen bases. But he ultimately failed because of stolen bases.]

[The Dongyang [derogatory term for East Asians] people are weak and can’t hit home runs.]

[Watch Otani’s home runs again, you ㅂㅅ [idiot]. He hit 30 home runs.]

[Honestly, if Otani had just been a full-time hitter, he could have easily done 30-30, not 20-20. The problem was that the team didn’t allow him to steal bases because he was a pitcher and they wanted to prevent injuries.]

[Anyway, he didn’t do it, right?]

Among Asian major leaguers, no one had achieved the record since Choo Jung-soo, and the storytelling that a Korean major leaguer would achieve it again was why.

At least for Korean baseball fans, it was a topic that could bring up many stories.

[If Lee Jung-woo achieves it this time, the Japanese will be pissed, 인정? [agree?]]

[씹인정 [hell yeah]. They’ll be trembling.]

[Iwakuma gets 털려 [destroyed], and they have to watch the 20-20 achievement. If I were them, I wouldn’t watch the majors~]

In particular, the fact that it was a record that only Korea had achieved and not Japan was a good excuse to make fun of Japan, which was one of the reasons for such attention.

To those who were so 기대 [expecting], Lee Jung-woo showed something unexpected in the second game against the Diamondbacks.

####

‘I’m on the bench today.’

Lee Jung-woo licked his lips.

There were no Koreans in today’s starting lineup of the opposing team.

Kwak Hyung-sun only had his name on the list as a substitute. Lee Jung-woo felt a very slight pang of conscience.

To be honest, every time he had a chance to appeal.

He ruined it all.

Whether he put all his strength into it or not, all the balls he hit were good.

As a result, Kwak Hyung-sun became a player who 끊는 [cut off] the team’s offense.

The result of that was the bench he was sitting on now.

‘I can’t help it. It’s professional.’

But Lee Jung-woo didn’t bother to feel sorry.

They weren’t playing *dongne* [neighborhood] baseball right now.

If he really wanted to prove himself.

He should have hit a great ball that he could never catch.

‘Anyway, I have a good feeling about today. I’m going to get some *sonmat* [feeling of hitting the ball well].’

Lee Jung-woo, who had cut off *shingyeong* [nerves/attention] from the opposing team’s bench, focused on his play today.

Before the game, when he lightly warmed up with tee batting and free batting, he hit some pretty good balls. His condition was also good.

Of course, it wasn’t as if he was at his peak, but his body felt light overall.

‘If I swing it once in a real game. I’ll get a feel for it.’

“Lee, how are you today? Is your body okay? Are you going to make me a *wanbong* [complete game shutout] pitcher again? Just do as well as you did when Rodrigo was pitching yesterday.”

When he clenched and unclenched his hands.

Stuart, the starting pitcher for today’s game, came over and subtly asked.

In Lee Jung-woo’s case, he was a very good defensive shortstop.

‘Harry is a little more [better].’

Harry Stuart was one of those pitchers, and he was a pitcher who boasted outstanding favorability, along with Mason, who had become close since learning *tuseum* [two-seam fastball] from Lee Jung-woo.

In the past, due to Lee Jung-woo’s condition.

After winning a *wanbong* [complete game shutout] victory against the Phillies, he always came to ask about his condition whenever he started, and Lee Jung-woo always answered as he wished. This time was no different.

“At least I think the defense will be good enough for Stuart to *wanbong* [complete game shutout].”

“Oh! Really? Then it’s over. If Lee, your condition is good, that’s all I need. *Euheungheung* [giggling sound], should I lower my ERA for the first time in a while?”

In fact, his condition wasn’t that good.

He knew that if he could lift a pitcher’s spirits with a few words like this, it would be a good deal.

He deliberately showed a gesture full of energy to boost his mood.

Stuart laughed *hehe* [hearty laugh] and warmed up in a good mood.

The pitching coach, who saw this, silently raised his thumb to Lee Jung-woo.

‘I said it. I have to keep it. Let’s do it right today.’

While boosting his confidence in himself, Lee Jung-woo finished preparing for the game.

####

After finishing the defense well in the bottom of the first inning. In the top of the second inning, cheers poured out for Lee Jung-woo, who was going to the on-deck circle as the fifth batter following Peterson.

“Do well today too!”

“Lee! Lee!”

“Hit a home run! I begged my mom to come see that!”

“X발 [fuck] Open the dome only when that bastard runs! Burn him to death!”

When Lee Jung-woo appeared.

The atmosphere of the stadium was unexpectedly favorable to Lee Jung-woo.

Of course, since it was an away game, there was criticism towards the good player.

The cheers were quite loud, almost equal to the criticisms, to the point where they were *geukgwa geuk* [extreme opposites] in each seat.

[If someone saw it, they would think there were so many Atlanta away fans? The cheering is quite loud, right?]

[Haha, there are many children in the stadium right now. They are all wearing Arizona uniforms, but they are shouting Lee. The parents’ eyes are on fire.]

[Now, no matter what anyone says, he’s a superstar. He’s a player with a good image. Jung-woo Lee is receiving a lot of love from children and is going to the on-deck circle.]

Like the commentators said, Lee Jung-woo was virtually one of the star players who boasted absolute popularity, excluding the existing superstars.

First of all, he was a Young player. He also hits home runs with a cool swing.

In addition to that, except for using his feet in the bench clearing.

He didn’t cause any incidents.

Whether those things worked well together.

Lee Jung-woo easily established himself as one of the heroes of young baseball fans.

First of all, his mask was good, which also played a part.

‘I should throw a few balls to them later.’

Lee Jung-woo, who waved to the children who were cheering for him without paying attention to the *jeokji* [enemy territory] and even ignoring their parents’ restrictions, felt a sense of fulfillment.

When he was a young baseball boy, he had an idol-like player.

Now, he had become such a player to someone.

‘They’re *gidae* [expecting] so much. I can’t disappoint them.’

Lee Jung-woo, who slowly went up from the on-deck circle, strengthened his will and repeatedly *jabatta* [grabbed] his bat, just in case it slipped from his hand.

“Oh, it was slightly *bitmajattne* [missed the sweet spot].”

“Good job, how’s the ball?”

“It’s so-so. It used to be no joke… Time is so cruel, so cruel..”

“You just hit a *beomta* [routine out] and you’re saying all sorts of things.”

“I said it was slightly *bitmajeun* [missed]. And you hit it *meotjige* [coolly] in my place.”

Lee Jung-woo, who entered the batter’s box behind Peterson’s encouragement, was greeted by the catcher.

“Hey, superstar. Are you ready to break the children’s *dongshim* [innocence]?”

“Looking at the uniform you’re wearing, it seems like you’re an Arizona fan too. Why don’t you go easy on them for the sake of future customers?”

“I have to let them know properly because they’re young. That they should always make the right choice. That they should cheer for a real man rather than a guy like you.”

“Huh, just say you’re *bureoumyeon* [jealous].”

“Eat *yeot* [Korean taffy, equivalent to ‘kiss my ass’].”

It was a catcher who was *gwaenhi tiktikgeorineun* [being pointlessly prickly], but Lee Jung-woo only *kooteum* [scoffed] because he had already seen the feeling of *bureoum* [envy] in his eyes.

The catcher blushed and tried to ignore the laughter.

‘Bob Fosse, I need to focus on this side.’

Similarly, Lee Jung-woo, who turned his eyes away from the catcher, looked at the pitcher who was firmly on the mound.

Bob Fosse. A player who has already written his name in the Hall of Fame.

‘An average of 96 miles, a *choego* [highest] of 102 miles *poseum* [four-seam] fastball. A beautifully *kkeokkineun* [breaking] 86-mile slider. A *seokeul* [circle] changeup that *nongnak* [plays with/teases] the batter. The best in the league in innings pitched, *talsamjin* [strikeouts] is also great. An iron man with no injury history.’

During his career, he was nominated for the Cy Young Award four times and won it once. He was truly a legend-class pitcher.

No matter what anyone said, Bob Fosse was the *sidaeui jibaesa* [ruler of the era] and the king who *gunrim* [reigned] in the National League.

That was about 4 years ago.

‘He’s a *jongihorangi* [paper tiger]. He’s just not giving up the ace spot to Ian Field with his past glory.’

Bob Fosse, who had taken away the glorious past, was, frankly speaking. He was a pitcher who was *aemaehan* [ambiguous/vague] even as a third starter.

First of all, the slider, which was the main pitch that *siwonhage* [refreshingly] struck out all the batters, was gone.

He still throws it sometimes, but it’s slow and doesn’t *kkeokkiji* [break], so it’s just a *baetingbol* [batting practice ball].

The curve he newly installed to replace it falls pretty *meotjige* [coolly] and he’s good at *taiming* [timing] because he’s a veteran, but it doesn’t matter to Lee Jung-woo anyway.

The *poseum* [four-seam] that overwhelmingly *jjigeonureuneun* [presses down on] the batters has *guseok* [velocity] that is more than 5 miles slower than in his prime.

*Guwi* [pitch quality] wasn’t a great pitcher to begin with.

The *seokeul* [circle] changeup still boasts its power.

The answer to that was already obtained through various data before going to the plate.

‘It always goes out, so don’t hit it. That’s what it said.’

Of course, he is still a decent pitcher, and Lee Jung-woo *riseupekteu* [respects] him.

Such a great pitcher deserves it.

But as a hitter.

To be honest, it was *ttaengkyu* [thank you].

‘In any way you look at it. My *sangseong* [matchup] is *geukak* [terrible].’

Among the pitches he throws.

There is no ball that can catch Lee Jung-woo himself now.

I can say with certainty that there is none.

After most of the balls lost their power, Bob Fosse changed his style and became a *gigyopa* [crafty] pitcher who caught batters with his accumulated experience and *noryeonham* [skill].

Newcomers were often *hwidullyeot* [swayed] by him, and even veterans who weren’t good at *sussaum* [mind games] were easily *heundeulligo* [shaken].

That’s why he can still be a first starter, even if it’s just *heoul ppun* [in name only].

But Bob Fosse is often *simgakaget teollyeo* [severely beaten] to batters whose *sussaum* [mind games] is equal to or superior to him.

And Lee Jung-woo was one of those batters. His bat speed was known in the league, as his home run count shows.

“Ball.”

‘91 miles. This isn’t just *ganeul bon* [testing the waters], it’s just *georeugessdaneun* [intending to walk me].’

Knowing that.

The first pitch was a little *soegeukjeok* [passive].

The *poseum* [four-seam] that was *kkalaseo* [laid down] low outside was so far that it seemed like he was intentionally walking him.

Lee Jung-woo, who briefly checked the catcher’s position, looked at the pitcher again.

Wanting to catch him with *taiming* [timing].

He threw the ball without *waindeueop* [windup] even though there were no runners.

Lee Jung-woo gave up a count to the *giseupjeogeuro deureoon* [suddenly coming in] *poseum* [four-seam], but he also gained something.

“Tsk.”

‘92 miles. The *guseok* [velocity] has increased a little. But the *guwi* [pitch quality] is the same. It’s not very good. The *diseopseon* [deception] is okay. But it doesn’t feel like it’s *gapjagi twieonaonda* [suddenly popping out].’

The catcher clicked his tongue.

He knew it instinctively.

That he saw the *poseum* [four-seam] properly.

He read the *taiming* [timing].

Even if he caught the count, it wouldn’t be good for the pitcher.

In fact, Bob Fosse frowned for a moment, maintaining a expressionless face, and then *pyeoda* [relaxed] again.

‘He must have a *meoriga apeugessji* [headache]. The curve, which is the main pitch now, is the only useful ball. But I don’t want to throw it to me. But I can’t throw the *masi gan* [gone bad] slider. I’m going to *georeul* [walk] the *seokeul* [circle]. If I just keep throwing *poseum* [four-seam] like now. I’ve already read the *taiming* [timing] and I’m going to get hit.’

The pitcher hesitated for a moment.

Soon he shook his head several times.

Then he took a *jase* [stance] with a *uiyeonhan* [composed] expression again. After observing Lee Jung-woo for a moment.

Unlike the previous pitches. This time, he threw the ball with the *pichikeullak* [pitch clock] full.

“Strike!”

“Waaaaaaaaa!”

‘Oh.’

The spectators who were cheering for him cheered enthusiastically at the umpire’s strike call.

And Lee Jung-woo was a little surprised by his choice. It was a very *yonggamhan* [brave] pitching.

‘A 90-mile *poseum* [four-seam] in the middle. Did he see through that I was *chamneun* [holding back]?’

Because the count wasn’t bad.

I *chamatda* [held back] a swing once.

Whether he saw through it properly, a *baejjang* [gutsy] good ball came out.

It could just be a *siltu* [mistake].

But it didn’t seem like it.

‘He’s too *mudeomdeom* [indifferent] for that. It could just be a poker face. But if that’s the case, it’s even more amazing.’

Lee Jung-woo nodded.

After all, it was right to see and judge it directly rather than just listening.

At least as far as today’s game was concerned, he wasn’t just *toetmul* [washed-up].

In fact, in the first inning, he gave up a double to Rollins and was a little *witaeropgineun* [precarious].

He induced a double play and *makatda kkalgeumhage* [blocked cleanly]. Peterson, the lead batter in the second inning, also made excuses that he was only slightly *bitmajeun* [missed the sweet spot].

Anyway, he *jabatda kkalgeumhage* [caught cleanly].

In that respect, he’s not as good as he was in his prime.

He was still a good pitcher.

‘Praise ends here. The ball *baeap* [mix] is good. But the ball itself is the same as the data. It’s enough to hit.’

Lee Jung-woo tapped the floor with the end of his bat and *jase* [posture].

The catcher glared at him with a short motion and sent several signs to the pitcher as if he had a bad feeling.

The pitcher, who nodded, soon looked down at Lee Jung-woo. Lee Jung-woo also looked back without avoiding his gaze.

[Bob Fosse’s pitching has been quite good so far. The question is whether he can catch Lee.]

[Well, I don’t know. I’ll have to watch it. The *sangseong* [matchup] is not very good. And I’m worried that Lee watched the ball properly in the previous pitch.]

A sense of tension *gamdolat* [swirled] in the ground for a moment, and the commentators who read it swallowed *chim* [saliva] and waited for their *seungbu* [match].

Finally, the pitcher threw the ball.

He wound up with all his might and *ppuryeotda* [scattered] the ball with a low sidearm *tugupeom* [pitching form] that was so low that it would be *chakgak* [mistaken] as an underthrow, which would one day remain as a memory in people’s memories.

‘*Seokeul* [circle] changeup. But… the data *sagichyeotne* [lied].’

Lee Jung-woo tried to *chameuryeogo* [hold back] the swing after checking the changeup.

The data given by the *jeollyeokbunseoktim* [scouting team], the testimony of the coach and *jubyeon* [surrounding] players, and the changeup he threw in the briefly edited game video always went out *teomeunieopseul* [absurdly].

But now, a changeup that properly *gongnyak* [attacked] the course came out.

The swing came out a little slowly because of the moment’s *juchumgeorim* [hesitation].

The old man’s *norimsu* [aim] worked properly.

“Heup-”

*Ttaak* [sound of bat hitting ball]-

The problem was that the batter standing tall at the plate was at least currently enough to *ssibeo meogeul* [devour] such *norimsu* [aim].

Even though it was half a beat slow.

A beautiful swing came out like *mulheureudeut* [flowing water] and hit the ball. Someone tore at their hair and someone shouted *himkkeot* [with all their might] in a high tone until their *mogi da swidorok* [throat was all hoarse].

With numerous reactions on his back.

Lee Jung-woo ran like crazy.

[Lee hit it! The ball that hit the right fence and bounced back is rolling again – it’s deep!]

[With Lee’s *juryeok* [running speed], it’s enough. He’s going to third base.]

Lee Jung-woo *chageokchageok* [steadily] the bases, and the *jurukochi* [base running coach]’s reaction was the same every time.

“Run more! More, more!”

When he stepped on second base, even the third base coach *oechimyeo* [shouted] to him like that.

Lee Jung-woo, who didn’t slow down and *naedallin* [rushed] to the end, stepped on third base without even *seullaiding* [sliding].

“It’s a shame. If there was a runner, there would have been an RBI.”

“Well, even if Peterson had a hit. If he was on first base, it wouldn’t have been an RBI, it would have just been runners on second and third base.”

“That’s right.”

Lee Jung-woo, who took a breath, was *dorandoran* [chatting] with the third base coach.

He looked at the mound.

It seemed like the pitcher would be *heundeullil* [shaken] from the pitcher’s point of view because the *norimsu* [aim] was properly *pahwaedwaesseuni* [thwarted]. But the pitcher on the mound was *deomdeom* [calm].

Lee Jung-woo, who saw the unchanging poker face, thought.

That he wanted to break it at least within this game.

‘Since I *jeonhyanghan* [converted] as a hitter. It seems like my personality has become more *deoreowojin* [dirty]. No, is this my original personality? I was just *junugi deureotdeon* [intimidated] before *hoegwi* [regression].’

Lee Jung-woo tilted his head.

He didn’t take his eyes off the pitcher.

Lee Jung-woo *ssatatta* [stacked] one stack towards an unexpected record.