The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 173

173. The Legend of the Clock (3)

Rumors always travel fast.

They weren’t just relying on rumors; they were also keenly aware of the other side’s intentions. As such, information was being relayed almost in real-time.

“Pagnomani?”

Yankees’ Deputy General Manager Josh Harold frowned.

“The Mets are quite aggressive too. Were we monitoring their movements as well?”

“No, not exactly. The Angels contacted us, and we briefly checked, and they’re reportedly heading to the airport now.”

“They’re not complete fools either. Did they contact Mike Prostad as well, by any chance?”

“We need to investigate that further, but it’s highly likely. The Angels would consider that information worth protecting.”

“I hope they’re not pretending to go to Korea while actually trying to get data from Japan.”

“I’d prefer that. As I mentioned before, the Japanese data is almost meaningless. Of course, data from his time in Japan might be relevant given his age, but the data in its current form…”

The Mets’ movements themselves weren’t the problem.

In Josh Harold’s opinion, the Mets weren’t a real threat to them.

Of course, the close relationship between Alexander McDowell and Suwon, as the media keeps talking about, is a bit concerning.

Kids that age tend to blur the lines between personal and professional matters, and sometimes that friendship is worth more than any amount of money. Besides, the story of them leading a bottom-tier team to victory is captivating to anyone.

But still, they were the Yankees.

“Once Pagnomani makes a move, other teams will get anxious. And rumors about the data will spread like wildfire.”

“What should we do?”

“What do you mean, what should we do? We need to move while they’re hesitating.”

A trip to Korea.

Well, it’s not bad. Any buyer with sense would want to see the valuable item in person before purchasing it.

But that kind of sensibility only applies to normal situations. Sometimes, you have to buy the item without even seeing it.

“You have to buy inelastic goods as soon as you see them.”

It’s only polite to blindly buy limited editions.

Whether it’s at market price or far exceeding it.

Again, they were the New York Yankees.

The world’s best baseball team, where the god of baseball was born.

***

In fact, the connection between the Elitz and the Marines is not light.

Of course, the Elitz had a change in their parent group in the middle, but they fiercely competed for records as original teams of the same professional baseball league.

Since KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] allows half of all teams to participate in the postseason, failing to advance to the postseason for a long period is quite difficult. The Marines first failed to advance to the postseason for seven consecutive years with 8888577, and the Elitz, not wanting to be outdone, also established a great record of 6668587667, failing to advance to the postseason for ten consecutive years.

“But still, the Marines are the real deal. The Elitz have never achieved a great record like finishing last for four consecutive years. Besides, the Elitz have made it to the fall baseball 10 times in the 14 years since they broke their password.”

“What’s the point of making it 10 times? It doesn’t seem like they’ll ever win a championship. Honestly, just based on my feeling these days, it seems like the Marines are going to do something big within the next year or two. Then our team will be the one that hasn’t won a championship for the longest time. Ra Chan-myung is almost in his late 30s, and Oh Hyung-won is in his mid-30s. You know our Elitz will be hopeless when they get old, right?”

“Hey, it’s not a big deal for baseball players to play until they’re 40 these days. Look. Our Gyu-man played quite well until last year, and he’s decent this year too.”

“That’s because Lee Gyu-man was such an absurd hitter in his prime. Almost Choi Su-won level… well, not quite, but his presence was crazy. Hasn’t Lee Gyu-man ever recorded a monthly OPS [On-Base Plus Slugging, a sabermetric baseball statistic] of 2.0?”

“No, not monthly, but he’s recorded it weekly a few times. But even then, we couldn’t even make it to the postseason, let alone win a championship.”

“Anyway, just give us this year, and your team can just start from next year. Su-won is only twenty years old. If the Marines just spend some money and maintain their current strength, they’ll have a dynasty while he’s there. A dynasty.”

“No, the problem is that we don’t know how long Su-won will be there. The posting rules between our country and the majors were revised last year, so you can go through posting from your first year. Damn it. KBO is so bad at their job.”

Originally, the friendship started with El Clasico [a term for a major rivalry game].

But that term El Clasico gradually disappeared from the media after the mid-2010s, when the Elitz began their resurgence.

Recently, they’ve even been competing for third place, only one game behind second place, which is a complete transformation. The media is even creating ridiculous terms like El Marisco.

Of course, the relationship between the two people has also changed completely in the meantime.

“Honey, but the weather is a bit gloomy today. What if the game gets canceled due to rain?”

“No, I checked the weather forecast, and it says the maximum rainfall per hour is 10mm.”

“Really? If the maximum is 10mm, then the game won’t be canceled. So, it’s a water battle after a long time?”

“Yeah, so I brought a raincoat.”

Exit 5 of Sports Complex Station.

One person towards gates 1-2.

Another person towards gates 1-5.

16 times a year.

About 50 hours.

The time has come again for a couple to turn into enemies.

Fortunately, the only time the two people turned into enemies was 16 times a year. The last year the Elitz and Marines faced off in the postseason was in 1995. It was a story before they were even born.

***

I saw my father’s face last night.

Originally, I should have stayed in the dorm, but since I was pitching today, and frankly, considering my recent performance, the Marines could buy an apartment in Busan and bring my father to live there, so it wasn’t a big deal.

Anyway, I saw my father’s face and ate dinner together, and somehow, I felt like I was seeing him more often since I came to the pros than when we lived together and went to school. My father seemed to feel that too, and he didn’t try to have any of those cheesy conversations like before.

We just ate together like a normal family, shared some updates, and went to our respective rooms. When I woke up in the morning, my father had already left for work after preparing my breakfast.

Thanks to telling him my routine in advance, the food prepared was just braised short ribs, rice, and two side dishes. Come to think of it, it’s going to be a bit difficult to keep this routine when I go to the US. Should I change the routine?

No, that’s not right. If I do the same thing over there, I can even bring in a chef to make braised short ribs, not just braised short ribs.

I ate breakfast, briefly skimmed through some news, and caught a taxi.

“Jamsil Baseball Stadium, please.”

“Yes.”

Hmm…

Before going back in time, even if I wore sunglasses and a mask, the drivers recognized me and it was troublesome, but now I’m openly riding to Jamsil Baseball Stadium with my bare face and they don’t recognize me.

I’ve been quite active lately, but there’s a limit to recognition without appearing in commercials or entertainment shows. Of course, even if that driver doesn’t know my face yet, there’s a high probability that he knows the name Choi Su-won.

“Are you working out?”

“Yes.”

“I can tell from your body that you’re definitely tall and handsome. Basketball? Volleyball?”

“No, I play baseball.”

“Oh, baseball? Then you need to eat a lot. Baseball players need to be a bit stocky. Are you still a student?”

“No, I graduated last year.”

“College student? Or are you perhaps a pro?”

“Yes, I’m playing professionally.”

“Wow, this is an honor. I’m carrying a professional athlete in my car. Young man, I think you’ll do well. I have a good eye for people, and this car has good energy. Back when I took the college entrance exam…”

I gave appropriate responses to the taxi driver’s long speech.

It wasn’t boring because the driver had good speaking skills. His voice was also quite good, and it was a voice I felt like I had heard somewhere.

About 20 minutes like that.

Even though it wasn’t rush hour, Seoul was still quite congested.

“Okay, we’ve arrived. The taxi fare is automatically paid.”

“Yes, thank you for your service.”

“Ah, wait a minute. If it’s okay, can you sign here? Later, when you become famous, I can brag that I carried you in my car.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I don’t sign on paper. I usually carry a ball with me… but I didn’t have it because I was coming from home today…”

“Oh, really? A young man has some principles. I’m telling you again, I have a good eye for people, and I think you’re really going to be big. Then sign here on this glove compartment. It’s not a baseball glove, but it’s still a glove.”

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Of course, it’s okay. I told you. You’re going to be famous.”

I signed the bright-colored passenger seat glove compartment with the magic marker that the taxi driver handed me.

“Choi Su-won? Hmm… The name sounds familiar. Haven’t you been on the news or something?”

“Haha, yes. Occasionally.”

“I knew I had a good eye for people. Oh, right. Thank you for signing, but I don’t have anything to give you… Take this. I received this from a baseball player I carried a while ago. It also has very good energy.”

He handed me a pouch that resembled an amulet sold at a Japanese shrine. It was a slightly larger silk pouch than the ones usually sold at such places.

“Ah, is it an amulet?”

“Yes. So, Choi Su-won player. I’m always cheering for you. Have a good game today. Fighting!!”

The taxi driver handed it to me and disappeared without even giving me a chance to refuse. No, the Seoul road, which had been so congested until just now, suddenly disappeared as if it had been cleared in an instant.

What should I say? It felt like I was possessed by a ghost.

No, wait a minute…

A strange sense of déjà vu from the pouch in my hand.

I untied the string that was tying the pouch.

And inside was a small, hard piece of paper.

It was a card with a picture of a rustic white man wearing a crooked hat with the letter C on it.

And below the picture, it was written in very crude handwriting.

cy young.

“Are you kidding me?”

***

Two cards.

Hank Aaron.

And Cy Young.

I was so busy living my life that I had forgotten why I came to this era and everything else.

Well, I don’t know if this is a coincidence or a prank by some divine being or alien that I can’t understand, but anyway, the best I can do right now is that.

Baek Dong-hui.

Come to think of it, that taxi driver.

It was Baek Dong-hui’s voice. Of course, he looked a bit different… So, if Baek Dong-hui was about 20 years older and didn’t wear makeup for broadcasting, wouldn’t he be somewhat similar?

“Ah, why didn’t I notice that?”

But why did Baek Dong-hui suddenly reappear at this point?

And what does this Cy Young autograph card even mean?

My head suddenly became complicated.

“Ah, I don’t know.”

So I decided to stop thinking for a while.

There’s no point in racking my brain, and the game I have to play is right around the corner.

Game 2 against the Elitz.

El Clasico.

No, according to recent media reports, El Marisco has begun.