The Pitcher Just Hits Home Runs Well [EN]: Chapter 402

402. Side Story 7) There Goes Choi Su-won (1)

The greatest player, who seemed invincible, faced defeat at the very moment he appeared unbeatable.

In fact, the over 100 million people watching the game ‘understood’ why Choi Su-won was on the mound in the 10th inning. It was the ‘persuasiveness’ that the legendary Choi Su-won had built over 17 years.

If an ordinary person claimed they could capture Cerberus, the gatekeeper of Hades [the underworld in Greek mythology], it would sound absurd. But what if it were Hercules, who had already completed 11 of his 12 labors, including strangling the Nemean lion [a lion with impenetrable skin] and slaying the nine-headed Hydra [a serpentine water monster]?

‘Yeah, Hercules can do that.’

Choi Su-won’s past 17 years were like that.

He consistently transformed ‘what ifs’ into ‘as expected’.

He shattered expectations only to surpass them.

That’s why people believed he would deliver once again. Perhaps Choi Su-won himself thought so too.

And that expectation was shattered.

New York, no, America, no, perhaps every country that knew baseball, was in an uproar.

This held true even for those who supported the New York Mets, not Choi Su-won.

People often root for the underdog, but ironically, those same supporters often think, ‘Huh? This isn’t what I expected?’ when the underdog actually wins. This time was no different.

The moment Choi Su-won took the mound in the 10th inning, not only those who expected another legendary performance, but even those who anticipated the end of his reign, began to question the ‘choice’ that hadn’t seemed strange before.

─No, does this make sense? You’re sending a pitcher who threw 9 scoreless innings back out for the 10th? Even though he wasn’t chasing a perfect game or a no-hitter?

─The manager is a butcher, the manager is a butcher, the manager is a butcher.

─Does Alexander McDowell look like a joke? Huh? Top of the 10th, 0-0 score, is it smart to let him face a guy with 711 career home runs when first, second, and third are all open?

─This World Series MVP is Jeff Clark.

─The Mets finally figured out how to spend money properly as soon as the owner died. What’s the point of spending money on players? Just bribe the opposing team’s manager.

─It was too much money to refuse (Jeff Clark).

─The league office needs to investigate this thoroughly.

In just one day,

All sorts of stories exploded.

“I know there are a lot of rumors, but they’re all speculation. The manager clearly told me to stop pitching, but I insisted on one more inning.”

“Choi Su-won, why are you saying this now?”

“It’s cowardly to stay silent. Manager Jeff deserves respect. This disaster was caused by my own greed.”

Of course, Choi Su-won’s statement didn’t sway public opinion. In fact, it backfired. Many people struggled to accept Choi Su-won’s defeat, and the idea that he was responsible was even harder to swallow.

─If the player says he wants to go out there and you just say, ‘Okay, go ahead,’ then what’s the point of having a manager?

─I think the Yankees’ front office is the real problem. What have they been doing without reinforcing the team? How could Su-won have offered to pitch the 10th if there were enough trustworthy relievers?

─Exactly, all we hear are rumors about who they’re talking to, but they never actually sign anyone. Did you know the Yankees’ payroll is still third-highest in the league?

─Honestly, they’re the most popular team in the major leagues and they make the most money, but they’re kind of cheap.

─Steinbrenner is dead [former owner of the Yankees]. Steve Cohen [owner of the Mets] should have bought the Yankees instead of the Mets when he had the chance.

─Did you see the Mets players’ interviews after winning? They dedicated the victory to the owner, and it brought tears to my eyes.

─Choi Su-won, ditch the Yankees and come to the Red Sox.

─Huh? Why Boston all of a sudden?

─That Bok [a common Korean surname] is here too.

This wasn’t the first time the Yankees had missed the championship since Choi Su-won’s debut. But it was the first time the Yankees, led by a healthy Choi Su-won, had failed to win. That’s why the shock was far greater than when they failed to win 11 consecutive World Series.

“I think this reaction proves how dominant Choi Su-won and the Yankees have been. Winning consecutive championships in a 30-team league with a franchise system [teams are bound to a city] is an incredible feat. Even the great Michael Jordan only had two three-peats [winning three consecutive championships]. But for fans who started watching baseball after 2028, seeing someone other than Choi Su-won win the championship, even when the Yankees make the postseason, is just too strange. Isn’t it amazing?”

“That’s definitely true. So, Commissioner Park Dong-sik, what’s your outlook for the future? What about next year and beyond?”

“Well, the only certainty is that the Mets won’t be as dominant as they were this year. This year’s championship is likely the last for Alexander McDowell and Baek Ha-min. As for the Yankees, they suffered a setback, but their overall team is strong. If I had to pick a favorite, I’d still pick the New York Yankees. However, I worry that Choi Su-won isn’t used to failure. It’s hard for someone who has never fallen to pick themselves up and start again.”

***

After that incident, so many people worried about me.

Even my wife, who always complains about me spending too little time with the family during the off-season, asked if it would be okay to take a family trip for a week. I didn’t mind.

Anyway, after winter, spring came again.

Almost 20 years. No, including the lost past, the routine of over 30 years repeated itself.

Honestly, after doing it this long, I should be able to do it with my eyes closed. I felt that way until last year.

But this year was different.

-Ppeoeoeeong!! [Sound of a baseball hitting a mitt]

“Good ball.”

The guy catching the ball kept shouting “good ball” and giving a thumbs up. He even awkwardly shouted “hwaiting” [Korean word for “fighting,” used as encouragement], like he’d seen it in a Korean drama. It was annoying because it was so obviously not “fighting”… Oh, right. My daughter told me not to use slang like ‘king 받는다’ [slang for getting annoyed] because it makes me sound old, but it’s hard to stop because I’m used to it.

Anyway, my body wasn’t responding as well as I thought it would. I was planning to gradually build up my strength because of my experience, but it was tough that my fastball was only 93 miles per hour even though it was already March.

First exhibition game.

1.2 innings, 3 runs.

Second exhibition game.

2 innings, no runs.

Third exhibition game.

3 innings, 2 runs.

Actually, giving up runs wasn’t the main problem.

The problem was that even after three exhibition games and more than half of March, my top speed was stuck around 95 mph.

“No, there’s nothing wrong with your body. The elbow you had surgery on is fine, and overall, you’re in great shape for a player in his late 30s.”

I had a thorough examination, but the doctor said everything was normal.

Of course, there were some minor aches and pains, but that’s normal for a professional athlete of almost 20 years.

─The curse of the changeup? Choi Su-won’s speed is decreasing!!

As always, the media started making a fuss. Well, after suffering in New York for 17 years, I’m used to that kind of story.

Fourth exhibition game.

3 innings, 4 runs.

─Dead arm? Aging? Choi Su-won. Speed decrease for an unknown reason!!

“Choi Su-won was also born in 2008. He’ll be 37 in a few months, right? And even though he was managed carefully when he was young, he’s pitched a lot of innings in the last few years. 2,700 innings is enough to exhaust any pitcher. Choi Su-won has also consistently pitched in the postseason, so if you add that, he’s already exceeded 3,000 innings.”

“Personally, I think last year’s ‘incident’ was a sign that this would happen. Before, if Choi Su-won said, ‘I can do it!!’ it always worked. But isn’t aging when you can’t do things you think you can do based on past experience?”

On a TV show, so-called baseball experts were talking about me. They were the same guys who called me the G.O.A.T [Greatest Of All Time] until last year and said all I had to do was add the final touch.

Aging…

Yeah, maybe they were right. 2045. Everything I’ve experienced is now in the past. The kids started school last August. Even my daughter asked me in December, ‘Dad, are you going to take me to school?’ and then cruelly rejected me, saying she was embarrassed. She just wanted to take the school bus. Ah, fortunately, my son is still innocent and carefree.

Fifth exhibition game.

4 innings, no runs.

In this game, I finally broke 95 mph and threw a 95.4-mph fastball. The media made a fuss again, saying my body was just warming up, and that if my speed came back, I’d still be a Cy Young [award for best pitcher] contender. I was a little embarrassed because my speed didn’t increase much even though I really pushed myself.

And one day between the fifth and sixth exhibition games.

My wife came with the children, saying it was spring break.

“Dad!! White hair!! Dad has white hair!!”

At first, I thought the kids were mistaken. Me having gray hair? I’m only 36 because my birthday hasn’t passed yet. Me having gray hair is ridiculous.

But it was true.

Of course, I pulled out four more strands of black hair to pull out that one gray hair, but among the strands my son pulled out, one gray hair was clearly visible.

I suddenly realized I was getting old.

Sixth exhibition game.

With the enthusiastic support of my family, I pitched 6 innings without giving up a run.

I threw a fastball with a maximum speed of 96.1 mph.

That’s how my 37th season began.