The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 112

112. This Year is Different (2)

“The Marines’ performance in the recent exhibition games has been truly astonishing. They’ve won all five games with large score differences.”

“Yes, that’s right. Actually, when you think about it, it’s kind of inevitable. The Marines and Phoenix have been fighting for last place for too long. It’s about time they started climbing up. The fact that a professional team hasn’t won a championship in 35 years is definitely a problem. Of course, there are teams in Major League Baseball that haven’t won in 108 years, but that’s 1st out of 30 teams, and this is 1st out of 10 teams. What’s more, the Marines haven’t even won a regular season championship in their 45-year history.”

“Still, the situations in the US and Korea are clearly different, and the Marines have their own unique circumstances.”

“Yes, that’s right. Especially since the 2010s, the Marines have had reason to feel unfairly treated. New teams kept being created while they were struggling at the bottom, and the gap between Seoul/the metropolitan area and the provinces widened. With the revival of regional affiliations, they couldn’t get the best resources that matched their poor performance. If you look at how the players who were picked first in Seoul and the players who were picked first by the Marines are doing now, you can get an idea of how unfair it was.”

“Indeed, players like Lee Ho-jeong, who’s now in the Big League [Major League Baseball], and Shin Yu-min, one of the top domestic starting pitchers, were picked first in Seoul back then.”

“That’s right. On the other hand, the Marines’ players are now…”

***

“Nice to see you.”

It was a fairly large restaurant with nearly 100 seats.

“Oh? Senior Jung Chang-sik? I’m Jo Yu-jin, a Marines catcher who joined this year. I’m a fan!”

Jung Chang-sik.

He was a player who had retired about 10 years ago.

“Yeah, I watched your game the other day. Good job. But a fan of mine? That’s a bit awkward.”

He was known as the Marines’ last .300-hitting catcher, but honestly, his other stats weren’t great. Especially his blocking and stolen base prevention, which were the worst in the league among catchers who met the required innings.

Ah, the reason I remember this so well is that he’s always mentioned in Marines *teukjip* [special broadcast] programs. His career itself wasn’t that great, but he was drafted in the same year as Lee Gyu-man, pushing Lee Gyu-man to the 2nd round, 1st pick, while he was picked 1st overall. Thanks to that, he’s always mentioned at least once when the media does broadcasts related to Lee Gyu-man.

It’s like how Steve Chilcott of the New York Mets, the only overall #1 pick who never made it to the Major Leagues, was summoned throughout Reggie Jackson’s career, even after his retirement, thanks to Mr. October Reggie Jackson. Similarly, Jung Chang-sik was being summoned whenever Lee Gyu-man set a record, and recently when there was talk of his retirement.

“Well, it’s good for me. Honestly, it’s all publicity for the restaurant. I may not have been a great baseball player, but thanks to having talented teammates, seniors, and juniors, I’m still making a living.”

“Oh, come on, *hyung-nim* [older brother/respected senior]. Stop exaggerating. We’re the ones who are really struggling to make a living. I might as well quit coaching and open a restaurant too.”

“Hey, what do you mean quit coaching? If you stick around there, Senior Choi will take care of you.”

“Ugh, half of the Marines’ first-team coaches came with Manager Kim Dae-cheol. It’s hopeless.”

“Hey, how deeply can a newcomer get embedded? Has this only happened once or twice? They’ll leave on their own soon enough, so don’t worry and just take good care of the kids.”

It wasn’t just Jung Chang-sik.

The number of people gathered in the nearly 100-seat restaurant was about thirty. All of them were former Marines players. However, the age range was quite high. Excluding me and Jo Yu-jin, the youngest active player was Cha Kyung-yoon, who was five years my senior.

He was the last first-round pick before the first-round draft disappeared. He was discharged from the military at the end of the year before last and played in the minor leagues throughout last year. His minor league record wasn’t great at 97.2 innings with a 4.62 ERA. But as his signing bonus of only 150 million won, despite being a first-round pick, shows, expectations weren’t high from the start. The farm system was terrible nationwide except for Seoul at the time. Even Lee Ju-hyeok, the second-round pick, received 320 million won.

“How’s the team atmosphere this year?”

“It’s pretty good. It’s also Senior Gyu-man’s last year, so everyone’s pretty determined.”

“Come to think of it, Gyu-man didn’t come today either?”

“No, he has a family event.”

“Tsk, family event my foot… That’s why Chang-sik should have done well.”

A man with a flushed face, probably after drinking several glasses of alcohol, clicked his tongue.

A man closer to being an old man than middle-aged.

“Senior Gwang-sik. Gyu-man is doing well in his own way. He often brings juniors and buys them meals, you know. Gyu-man was originally going to go to the States, but he stayed for the team.”

“Hmph, team my foot. He just stayed because the team gave him a lot of money. 16 billion won isn’t some dog’s name. And what’s the point of getting that much? He hasn’t won a single championship.”

On his right hand, which he raised dramatically, was a roughly shaped ring.

The 1992 Marines championship ring. Ah, of course, the first time KBO [Korea Baseball Organization] properly made championship rings was in 1994 for the Seoul Elites. That’s just a ring that the championship members made themselves. But even if it wasn’t made by the club, it’s definitely proof of the championship.

“In the end, all that’s left is the championship. It doesn’t matter how many hits you get or how many home runs you hit. It’s meaningless. Baseball is about winning, and records are just a byproduct. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s right, Senior.”

“That’s absolutely right. Wow, Senior, I’ve never seen the Marines championship ring before. Can I take a closer look?”

“Huh? Who are you?”

“Ah, hello!! I’m Jo Yu-jin, a catcher who joined the Marines this year.”

“Jo Yu-jin? Is he the first-round pick this year? I think the first-round pick was someone else? The taller, more gigolo-looking guy.”

“Hello. I’m Choi Soo-won, the taller, more gigolo-looking guy you mentioned.”

He nodded.

“Yeah, him. Oh? But why are there two of you?”

“Ah, I’m a bit shy. The seniors said they’d buy me something delicious, so I brought him along.”

“Huh?”

The old man looked at me with an absurd expression.

“Haha, they’ve been battery mates [pitcher and catcher duo] from the same school for three years. Pitchers and catchers are bound to be especially close. Come on, Senior, don’t be like that. I’ve got a really good guy here, so let’s have a drink. It’s wild ginseng wine.”

“Wild ginseng wine? Isn’t that the wine Jung Tae-hyung gave you when you retired? The one you said you’d save to drink when our Marines win the championship?”

“Oh, that one’s safely stored away. This is wine I got separately.”

Jung Chang-sik 끼어들더니 [interjected] between us and took the old man away.

“He’s usually a really good senior, but he’s had a bit too much to drink. You guys understand. From the senior’s perspective, how frustrating must it be that the team hasn’t won a championship in 35 years? Even five of the championship members have already passed away. Tsk…”

In 1992, the average age of the Marines was 26.7 years old. 35 years later, even the youngest high school graduate in their first year is almost 60 years old.

‘Hey, is that the first-round pick *kkondae* [old-fashioned person] you were talking about?’

‘Yeah, Senior Gyu-man doesn’t like that he wasn’t a first-round pick either.’

‘Seriously, that’s why they can’t play baseball.’

After 잠시 쑥덕쑥덕 [whispering amongst themselves] with Jo Yu-jin, I looked around the restaurant again. So, these people gathered here are the history of the Marines for about 35 years.

Hmm, why is that? Like Jo Yu-jin said, I feel like I know a little bit why the Marines haven’t won a championship in 35 years.

There aren’t any surprisingly great players.

Ah, of course, objectively speaking, most of them were players who had their moments. About half of them have won at least one Golden Glove in their careers.

“What’s this? Kyung-jun, are these rookies?”

“Yes, this is Choi Soo-won, this year’s first-round pick. And this is Jo Yu-jin, the second-round pick. Guys, say hello. This is Senior Park Young-jin, who runs a children’s baseball class. Thanks to this senior, more than one person has avoided being unemployed.”

“Hello.”

He nodded and scanned my body up and down.

“Is it because they’re from this generation? You’re definitely in good shape. You look like you’d be good at baseball. So, what school did you go to?”

“I graduated from Joongang High School.”

“Joongang High School? Joongang High School in Nam-gu? But did they have a baseball team there?”

Seo Kyung-jun answered for him as he tilted his head.

“Not Busan, but the one in Seoul. You know, the first-round pick system was abolished.”

“Ah, that’s right. That’s right. I’ve been so busy with my business lately, opening my third branch, that I didn’t know that. Anyway, nice to meet you. Come by and take a picture sometime. I’ll take good care of you.”

“Wow, you’ve already opened your third branch?”

“Already? How many years have I been doing this? I have to do at least that much. Anyway, tell any struggling juniors to contact me. I have some more openings since I opened my third branch this time.”

Looking at these people here, what should I say?

It’s 참… [truly/really]

“Pathetic.”

“Huh? Soo-won, what did you say?”

“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

If you fail to go from high school baseball to professional baseball, life becomes very bleak. But that’s the same even if you’re a professional. Even if you come in as a first-round pick, the future is just as uncertain.

How many players can accumulate enough capital to start even one of these restaurants during their 20s and 30s, the most golden period for a professional athlete? Of course, it’s the same for ordinary office workers. But the players who come to the pros are like people who have entered Seoul National University in terms of probability when compared to ordinary students. But in the end, only a handful succeed.

“Haha, I’m still a minor, so instead, I’ll pour you a drink with all my heart. Senior!!”

“Yeah, you’re a catcher, right? Equipment costs a lot. Contact me later. I know the guy who handles equipment well. I’ll make a place for you to bring up the sponsorship story. Okay?”

“Thank you, Senior!!”

I still thought of this ‘*seonggol*’ [true blood/old guard] as a huge force that controls a professional team.

No, I wish there was a tremendous mastermind ‘후후후’ [evil laughter sound effect] and the reason the Marines didn’t win was because those ‘forces’ were fighting among themselves internally and didn’t have the strength. I think I would have been a little more motivated.

Huge piles of dung built up by 35 years of long defeats.

Jo Yu-jin, who was laughing and chatting among them, approached me again before I knew it.

“Choi Soo-won. Your expression shows too well what you’re thinking right now, so I’ll tell you in advance. Just shut your mouth quietly, eat your food, and smile brightly. I’ll take care of the rest.”

What was my expression like?

I don’t know because there’s no mirror. But maybe it was similar to the one I had when I was talking back to Ahn Byung-young.

“Anyway, Jo Yu-jin. You have a strong stomach. To be with these smelly piles of dung…”

“Hey, even dung becomes fertilizer if you let it sit for a long time. You’re so good on your own that you don’t understand the hearts of ordinary people at all. Anyway, you want to win the championship, right? I’ll actively cooperate, so stop frowning and eat your food.”

***

-딱!!! [sound of a hit]

[He hit it!! Choi Soo-won!!! His fifth home run in the exhibition game already. Seriously, what is this player? He’s only played in five games and already has five home runs. He’s hitting a home run every game.]

[Wow, with only six exhibition games played by the Marines, he has five home runs. So, with four games left, he’s only one home run away from the most home runs in exhibition game history. Amazing.]

[I wonder if something good happened over the weekend? He looks like he’s in great condition today.]