The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 311

311. The Record-Making Machine (5)

Bottom of the 6th.

The game was flowing very smoothly.

Oh, of course, that’s from the Tampa Bay Rays’ perspective.

Because I struck out…

Especially that fastball they threw against me at the end was impressive.

The velocity reached a whopping 95.9 mph. Since I’ve been throwing 100 mph fastballs lately, it might not seem like much, but the fact that a left-handed sidearm pitcher threw 95.9 mph is as impressive as a right-handed overhand or three-quarter pitcher throwing 100 mph, or perhaps even more so. And the movement on that four-seamer was just incredible…

Moreover, since his top velocity last year was around 95.3 mph, and he hasn’t exceeded that this year either, the pitch he threw to me today was probably the fastest he’s ever thrown in a real game.

-Whoosh!!!

“Strike!! Out!!!!”

Tyler Beede, who swung and missed at the changeup, returned to the dugout with an angry expression and threw his helmet down. As a result, a container of Skittles behind him overturned, spilling onto the floor. If this were Korea, it might have caused a bit of a scene, but everyone just calmly brushed it off, thinking he was just very angry.

Of course, it’s not like anyone can do this in America and have it brushed off. Baseball is inherently a conservative sport, and the United States, the home of baseball, is no different. Tyler Beede can do such a thing now because he has the skill and standing to do so.

-Clang!!!!

Following him, right-handed batter Aaron Judge still managed to make contact with the ball.

But that was it.

Shawn Carpenter’s pitches gained even more power.

It was a divine pitching performance, as if he was determined to make something big happen today. It was the power of a Cy Young Award-winning pitcher [award given to the best pitcher in each league] at his peak.

Austin Battle’s bat connected with Shawn Carpenter’s fourth inside pitch.

It was a two-seamer designed to induce a ground ball.

Aaron Judge tried his best to run, but it was no use.

Wander Franco might have below-average shortstop defense, but he wasn’t sloppy enough to make a mistake on this play.

And with that, the inning ended.

***

[Wow, Shawn Carpenter is really fierce today. Except for the home run he gave up to Choi Su-won in the top of the 1st inning, his pitching has been nearly flawless.]

[Our Choi Su-won is also not to be outdone today. He’s showing his best performance since his major league debut. Seven strikeouts and no runs allowed through six innings. He’s back on the mound in the 7th.]

[Yes, Choi Su-won is on the mound for the 7th inning, which is only the second time since his debut. Last time, he gave up consecutive hits after recording one out and had to hand over the mound. But as you mentioned, he’s showing his best performance since his debut today, so it might be good to have some expectations. One concern is his stamina.]

[Yes, it’s true that being a two-way player is somewhat disadvantageous in terms of stamina. Looking at Choi Su-won today, he had six strikeouts through the 4th inning, but only managed to get one in the 5th and 6th innings combined.]

[But I’m a little curious. Choi Su-won consistently pitched an average of over 6 innings per game while being a two-way player in Korea. The number of games he played as a hitter was also much higher. More than anything, in Korea, he only had a day off after pitching and played as a hitter in almost every game.]

[Ah, yes. I think I know what you mean. You’re asking why it’s more physically demanding now when he gets rest days before and after pitching, right?]

[Yes, that’s right.]

[There could be several reasons, but the biggest difference is the level of the hitters. When he played in Korea, there were some at-bats where he could take it easy, but there’s none of that in the big leagues. As you know, even the foreign hitters who fail in Korea are still above-average hitters in the league, right? But these guys can’t even make the 26-man roster in the majors. To exaggerate a bit, all the hitters from 1st to 9th for the Tampa Bay Rays are top-notch hitters by KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] standards.]

[That’s right. And if you consider the long distances for away games and the tough schedule where rest days are only travel days, it’s inevitable that he’ll be more physically exhausted.]

[Ah, Wander Franco is now at the plate.]

[He’s a great player. Choi Su-won is showing such overwhelming performance that it’s a bit overshadowed, but in fact, he was the hottest hitter in the league in April and May. Choi Su-won needs to be careful.]

Wander Franco.

In reality, this was the last hurdle of today’s appearance.

Moreover, unlike some monster who was throwing even more powerfully after the 6th inning, I was honestly a bit tired. Back when I was playing in the KBO, I used to handle 7 innings like it was nothing, but that was only possible because I was pacing myself and mainly throwing fastballs. Especially today, the usage rate of curveballs is close to 40%.

First pitch.

Outside, low course.

-Whack!!!

It missed more than I intended.

The umpire has been generous with the zone today, but it’s too much to expect a strike call for this.

Ball count 1-0.

Second.

Outside, high course.

A curveball that drops sharply.

-Whack!!!!!

Ah, honestly, he could have swung at that, but Wander Franco didn’t even flinch. It’s difficult. It means he can see my curveball accurately. Sometimes, when I’m in good condition, I feel like I can even read the spin rate. No, in fact, that feeling often turns out to be correct, so maybe it’s not just a feeling. And on those days, I’m not easily fooled by curveballs that go out of the zone. The more a ball spins, the more it drops.

Even though two pitches have already gone by, Wander Franco hasn’t moved at all.

It was very intense pressure.

I used to use this method sometimes when I was a big name in my active days.

I know it’s an obvious tactic, but I’m getting a little impatient.

Okay, deep breath. Deep breath.

I took some time by tapping the rosin bag a few times.

That’s right, no matter how much pressure the hitter puts on, the pitcher determines the start of the battle between the pitcher and the hitter.

Third.

Inside, chest high.

If they call it a strike, thank you. If they don’t, there’s nothing I can do. I threw the ball with all my might into a course where it wouldn’t matter.

-Whack!!!

102.1 mph.

It was a little high, but still, with this?

[Ah, the umpire’s hand doesn’t go up. Ball, ball. No strikes, three balls.]

[Since it was a pitch that a right-handed pitcher threw deep inside to a right-handed batter, it might not have grazed the zone, even if it felt slightly on the edge on the heat map. And it was a bit high too. But still, it’s not much different from the pitch he called a strike earlier. It’s a shame in many ways.]

3-0.

If it’s come to this, there’s nothing I can do.

Anyway, first to third base is wide open. There’s no point in giving a good pitch to a guy who’s in such good condition.

I threw a pitch that went quite far outside…

-Clang!!!

‘Huh?’

He touched the ball that was going outside.

A batted ball that went far outside the first base foul line.

Ball count 3-1.

I have a strong sense of déjà vu.

It’s a very familiar scene. But usually, I was standing over there in that scene, but seeing this scene while standing here, what should I say?

‘It’s a bit… No, it’s really frustrating?’

Wow, is this what they call *yeokjisaaji* [Korean idiom meaning “walking in someone else’s shoes”]?

I’m feeling pretty bad because I’m being subjected to something I often used to do to other pitchers. So, I sent a sincere apology to the other pitchers I had provoked until now. Guys, I’m sorry.

Anyway, maybe it’s thanks to being subjected to something I’ve done quite a bit?

A strategy immediately came to mind.

Okay, come and get me if you dare.

Almost the same course as before.

It would go out even further, but it would never get closer.

A 97.4 mph fastball thrown with a little less power.

-Clang!!!

As expected, his bat followed. This time, he hit it quite hard, and the batted ball flew over the infield net and reached the upper part of the third base stands.

Ball count 3-2.

Okay, it’s a full count.

I looked at him and nodded once.

‘Okay, man to man, fair and square.’

Did he read my will?

He firmly straightened his posture.

A strong will could be felt in those gleaming eyes.

Here we go.

Sixth.

Right in the middle.

High course.

-Whoosh!!!

His bat swung wildly at the curveball that dropped sharply and bounced once.

“Strike!! Out!!!”

[Swing and a miss!!! Choi Su-won!! Choi Su-won finally strikes out Wander Franco with a swing and a miss from a 0-3 count!!]

The guy who swung and missed glared at me with an angry expression and returned to the dugout.

-Bang!!!!

It seems like he threw his helmet down.

But what’s the point of getting angry now? Just think of it as a good experience in life and work hard in the future. Am I being sneaky? No way. In the first place, I’m not even his teammate. And I’m not some passionate manga protagonist from Japan. Who would be stupid enough to throw a ball into the zone when I’m advertising that I’m going to hit it like that?

Maybe it’s because I feel relieved?

A hit.

And another hit.

With runners on 1st and 3rd with one out, the manager visits the mound.

“I’m okay.”

And then a clean double play.

The seventh inning ended without allowing a run.

[Excellent!! Choi Su-won!! Very excellent!! He finishes the inning cleanly with no runs allowed, including one strikeout. 7 innings without allowing a run so far!!]

[His pitching today is really excellent. Maybe we’ll see him in the 8th too?]

[Well, the Yankees have been managing Choi Su-won’s innings very thoroughly. We’ll have to wait and see. ]

0:1.

We’re ahead by 1 point.

If I started and pitched 7 innings without allowing a run and even scored a run with a solo home run, I’ve really done my job today. Honestly, I think it wouldn’t be strange if my WAR [Wins Above Replacement, a baseball statistic] went up by 1 today with this performance.

But why am I standing here again?

[Ah, indeed!! Top of the 8th!! Choi Su-won is back on the mound!! It’s his first time appearing in the 8th inning since his big league debut. Maybe we can cautiously expect a complete shutout today?]

[Well, he’s just back up because it’s the bottom of the order starting with the 6th batter this inning, but the score is so tight that he might be replaced if anything happens. And even if that’s not the case, I think they’ll bring in the closer in the 9th… Anyway, still, 8 innings without allowing a run is really amazing and I want to praise him.]

Top of the 8th, starting with the Tampa Bay’s 6th batter.

I threw the ball with the last of my strength left in my body.

Curveball?

No, my fingers are trembling, and if I throw something like that, I’ll just end up with a mistake.

I’m going with the fastball coolly. The fielders who can’t swing their bats properly will take care of the rest.

-Clang!!!

Huh?

-Thwack!!!

What?

-Whoosh!!!

“Strike!! Out!!!”

[Choi Su-won, three up, three down!!! Our Choi Su-won shuts down the Tampa Bay Rays’ lineup with just eight pitches in the 8th inning!!!]