The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 358

358. Division Series (2)

The Red Sox fans hadn’t given up. It was only natural.

Just 24 years prior, in 2004, the Boston Red Sox had already pulled off a reverse sweep that would go down in legend.

Yes, that’s right, the story of 2004, when Curt Schilling’s bloody sock ended the 84-year-old Curse of the Bambino [a superstition that attributed the Red Sox’s championship drought to the sale of Babe Ruth to the Yankees]. Even then, their opponents were the New York Yankees, the strongest team of the era, led by the Core Four [Yankees’ star players Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, and Jorge Posada].

“I definitely think our team can overcome this. It was the same 24 years ago. The Yankees’ lineup may seem like a dream team now, but back then, the Yankees’ lineup was also incredible. When we lost Game 3 of the Championship Series 19-8, it was truly devastating. But we didn’t give up. Do you know how it feels when Mariano Rivera [legendary Yankees closer] comes in the 9th inning with us trailing by one point? It’s a feeling you can never understand unless you’ve experienced it yourself. But!!”

He paused for a moment before continuing.

“When we overcame that… When Kevin got on base with a walk and Dave, the pinch-runner, succeeded in stealing a base, and when Bill finally hit a timely single to score a run!! We were sure we could take that series.”

“So, in the end, what you’re saying is that if we can somehow overcome this Game 3, the atmosphere could completely change. Is that what you mean?”

“That’s right. Look, they’ve already used their one-two punch. Our hitters’ bats aren’t dead, as you can see from the last game. They came to Boston gloating about already winning two games at home, but we have more than enough power to kick them in the butt.”

“As expected, it feels more persuasive because it’s a story from someone who has experienced it firsthand. Ah, due to time constraints, it seems we have to end today’s broadcast here. This has been Red Sox TV with Curt Schilling.”

On Boston’s local channels and YouTube broadcasts related to the Red Sox, this kind of commentary was airing almost every hour. Of course, Red Sox fans didn’t blindly believe these news reports. However, there was still hope, and the expectation that if something BANG!!! happened like in 2004, they might get another ring with that momentum led them to Fenway Park.

Series Game 3.

Even though they were down 2-0 in the series, Fenway Park was packed, standing room only.

***

“So, your family is all in New York?”

“Yeah, I could have gotten tickets if I tried, but I felt like it might be a bit dangerous.”

Boston’s public safety itself wasn’t the issue.

Boston was one of the safest places in the United States. However, I remember when my consecutive hit record was broken by the LA Dodgers at Yankee Stadium, Red Sox fans who had nothing to do with it were stabbed by Yankees fans while drinking at a bar and suffered permanent disabilities. Well, since our fans were the perpetrators, they were definitely at fault. But… Unlike Korea, where they rely heavily on public authority, this is America, where you have to be ready to defend yourself at least a little. It’s better to avoid such situations in the first place.

“You made a good call. It’s even more unsettling if there are only older people and women. Besides, you’re not planning to stay here for long anyway, right? You’re going back right away the day after tomorrow, right?”

“Of course, I have to.”

Series Game 3.

Boston’s third starting pitcher, Chris Sale, took the mound. Unlike Juan Montero and Tanner Houck before him, was it because he had taken four days of rest? Or perhaps it was because he realized that today’s game might be the last postseason game of his life.

The Chris Sale on the mound now was not the pitcher who threw a maximum of 101 mph in his prime. He is an aging veteran on the verge of retirement, with over 2000 accumulated innings. Moreover, Chris Sale’s weakness was the rapidly declining velocity and control towards the end of the season.

But today’s game… Chris Sale momentarily reminded people of him in his prime.

-Whooosh!!

“Strike!! Out!!!”

Anthony was completely fooled by the slider that broke far outside.

Just 5 pitches and a swing-and-miss strikeout.

And

-Thwack!!!

It was a changeup.

Marcelo Mayer easily fielded the ground ball that went low.

And then an infield fly out against Tyler Wade. The Boston Red Sox fans filling Fenway Park slowly began to heat up.

[Chris Sale shut down the Yankees’ attack in the top of the 1st inning with a three-up, three-down, and now the Boston attack. Stan Owens is on the mound.]

[Stan Owens, who settled in with the Yankees through a trade at the end of July. He was out for about three weeks due to an injury in the middle, and he has only played five games properly with the Yankees. But that’s okay. From the beginning, what the Yankees expected from Stan Owens wasn’t that much.]

[That’s right. What the Yankees expected was a good, solid performance like today. After all, a short-term series is bound to be a pitcher’s game. At this time, the difference between two aces and three aces is like heaven and earth.]

Stan Owens threw the ball.

6 years, $170 million. He doesn’t have a definite out-pitch, but all four types of pitches he uses are above average.

In fact, based on the current market, a starting pitcher’s salary of 6 years and $170 million is not an enormous amount. Just a decent starting level that gives you a consistent performance? And Stan Owens was a pitcher of that kind who was particularly well-priced. The ceiling is never extremely high, but the floor isn’t low either.

-Thwack!!!

He allowed a hit but didn’t give up a run. It was quite a tense situation, but he continued to pitch as he always did.

[Mike Trout easily catches the ball and makes an outfield fly out!! Runners remain on 1st and 3rd base. The inning ends.]

[Stan Owens. It felt quite precarious, but he didn’t give up a run in the end.]

The game continued.

***

Chris Sale breathed roughly.

The stamina that had been pointed out as his weakness since he was young has plagued him until the age of 39. At one time, he had consumed 12,000 kcal a day, but he could never overcome his innate constitution.

Nearly 2 meters tall and weighing slightly over 80 kg [approximately 6’6″ and 176 lbs]. Perhaps because of his paternal genes, the men in his family are all over 190 cm tall [approximately 6’3″], but it is difficult to find someone who weighs over 70 kg [approximately 154 lbs]. Chris Sale is the heaviest of them all.

Yes, so maybe it was a miracle that he was still throwing the ball with this body.

Chris Sale gripped the ball.

The count is 2-2.

The opposing batter is very tricky.

Although he has fallen from being the most powerful Cy Young [award for best pitcher] contender and a pitcher worthy of the Hall of Fame to a volatile third starter, he was still Chris Sale. Chris Sale on a good day is untouchable.

-Whoooooosh!!!

“Strike!! Out!!!”

Bottom of the 3rd inning.

He struck out Anthony Volpe and finished the inning again. Considering that the next batter is Choi Soo-won, the most difficult and frustrating batter of this era, it was very encouraging.

He returned to the dugout, kept his shoulder from cooling down, and calmed his breathing.

People say that as you get older, other functions become more noticeable than muscle strength, but Chris Sale had considerable difficulty maintaining muscle strength. To replace the performance of muscle fibers that deteriorate with age, he had to increase the amount, but he was already struggling just to maintain the same amount of muscle.

The Yankees’ expressionless pitcher went back to the mound.

There was no desperate look like Chris Sale. He just threw the ball like an ordinary office worker doing his job calmly.

-Thwack!!!

He was hit, but he just frowned once and didn’t show any signs of shaking. That was the same even when he gave up 1 point with a sacrifice fly after consecutive hits.

1:0.

Stan Owens induced a ground ball. The ground ball was successfully induced, but the defense wasn’t clean. Additional run.

2:0.

Chris Sale clenched his fist without realizing it.

Okay.

We can win.

Top of the 4th inning.

Chris Sale went back to the mound.

When he finished the top of the 3rd inning and came down from the mound, he felt a little shaky, but perhaps because his heart was full of strong scoring support, his whole body was full of strength. Maybe it’s the power of hormones.

And ‘that guy’ from the plate came up.

A monster that destroys the ecosystem.

In the top of the 1st inning, he managed to get him out with a ground ball. But with the good pitch in the top of the 3rd, there are no outs and no runners. There was no reason to face this guy.

‘If I were only 10 years younger…’

With a bit of regret, he just sent him to first base.

One, two, three.

And a half.

He took a big lead.

He’s a pretty fast guy, but he’s only twenty years old. Besides, he’s not particularly known for his base running. And Chris Sale is a left-hander, a pitcher who is more advantageous for checking, and a pitcher who throws an average of 95 mph today.

He glanced at him once.

Tyler Wade at the plate takes a stance.

A time that doesn’t violate the pitch clock, and a time to steal the timing a little from there…

-Poong!!!

“Safe!!!”

Damn it.

He threw away a check ball because the guy tilted his body slightly. Now there is only one check ball left. Damn game promotion rule. Anyway, Manfred [MLB commissioner] ruined baseball.

Choi Soo-won took another three and a half steps of lead. A lowered stance. He tries to intimidate him with his eyes. There is such power in the eyes of a veteran pitcher.

‘Damn it!!’

-Poong!!!

But it didn’t work.

“Safe!!!!”

It was truly a sly base running play. I was really sure he was running at that moment, but it was a reverse action. Chris Sale briefly stroked his brow.

Damn Rob Manfred.

Both check balls have been used.

Now, if you throw a check and it doesn’t result in an out, it is treated as a ‘balk’ [an illegal movement by the pitcher].

It’s the worst.

Chris Sale’s heart wavered.

Choi Soo-won, still three and a half steps out.

Stare at Choi Soo-won one more time and like lightning!!

[Choi Soo-won is running!!! Victor Cruz threw it!!]

“Safe!!!”

[Safe!! It’s safe!!]

[Choi Soo-won’s amazing steal!! With this, the Yankees have a runner on 2nd base with no outs. For the first time in today’s game, a runner has gone to the scoring position.]

Chris Sale calmed himself.

Not yet.

He was invincible today. Stealing? That’s okay.

If I don’t allow a hit!!

-Whoooooong!!

[Choi Soo-won is running!! Victor Cruz!! Victor Cruz!!!]

“Safe!!!!!!”

[Safe!!! It’s safe!! Choi Soo-won’s steal of 3rd base!!! Oh my gosh!! Choi Soo-won, who succeeded in getting on base with an automatic intentional walk, is completely destroying the opposing pitcher’s mentality today!!]

[Choi Soo-won. He wasn’t a batter who stole so often, with 11 steals this season? But today’s game, he’s really stealing Chris Sale’s timing amazingly.]

Runner on 3rd base with no outs.

The count is 0-1.

Chris Sale’s body, which was full of strength at the beginning of the inning, began to shake little by little.