Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 146

The Mound’s Villain – Episode 146

Some reporters described Ha-sung like this:

‘Big Mouth’.

When he opens his mouth, he casually spills out incredible things.

It was very difficult to translate his words into articles without being mindful of anyone.

But until now, he had kept a certain line.

But not today.

“The doctor who directly injected Rodrigo came forward, but the union is still protecting the player. Does that make sense?”

“But the players’ union cannot act without solid evidence. Their actions are…”

“Exactly! That’s why we’re asking for a test to confirm that solid evidence, isn’t it?”

“Currently, Rodrigo is under suspicion. Conducting a targeted test in that situation is a violation of the rules.”

“So, you’re saying that because of those rules, we should just let a player who blatantly committed the foul of using drugs go free?”

“The union’s position is that procedures must be followed.”

As the conversation went back and forth, something felt strange.

Reporters were defending the union’s position, and Ha-sung was dismantling each point.

They didn’t know why they were making these defenses, but the reporters tried to elicit more comments from Ha-sung.

“Then what about the disappointment felt by the fans?”

But even the reporters couldn’t answer this question.

“Fans are the driving force that sustains this massive business called Major League Baseball. Why do these people watch baseball? Isn’t it to see the players pushing their limits and working hard?”

The reporters nodded at Ha-sung’s passionate speech.

“But suddenly, a drug-using cheater appears and sets all-time records in Major League Baseball. They’re making history through cheating. How do you think the fans feel about that disappointment?”

Ha-sung’s words accurately described the sense of deprivation that fans were currently feeling.

Therefore, the reporters could only transcribe his words.

“It’s not like drug use has only happened once or twice. But the league office and the union only hand out suspensions for a few hundred games at most, right?”

“Are you saying that the current penalties are too lenient?”

“Yes. Drugs are a way to undermine the very foundation of Major League Baseball. The first time, you can forgive, but from the second time on, they become repeat offenders. So, the current penalty regulations are too weak.”

Ha-sung’s words echoed what fans had been saying recently.

The argument was that the MLB [Major League Baseball] office’s penalties for drugs were too lenient.

Of course, there was much debate about this.

However, most people shared similar arguments about repeat offenders.

The regulations must be strengthened.

But Ha-sung, as a player, was making the same argument.

This was a bit different.

In a way, it was like saying that his colleagues should be punished.

Then one reporter spoke up.

“Your argument now is the same as arguing that your colleagues should be punished. Isn’t there too much of a lack of camaraderie?”

“The bastards who injected drugs are not my colleagues. My colleagues are the players who follow the rules and play baseball fairly.”

“Are you saying Rodrigo isn’t a colleague?”

“No, he isn’t. And that guy probably doesn’t think of us as colleagues either. If he did, he wouldn’t have sold out his colleagues.”

The reporters buzzed.

“Sold out his colleagues, what does that mean?”

“Please explain properly!”

But Ha-sung ignored the reporters’ questions.

The thing to do here is to throw out bait.

He was going to leave it alone until the reporters, curious about the bait, took the hook themselves.

“Getting back to the main point, I think the regulations on drugs should be strengthened immediately! The players’ union should also start discussions with the league office right away!”

As Ha-sung smoothly changed the subject, another reporter asked a question.

“Currently, some fans are claiming that Jung Ha-sung also took drugs.”

“Tell us more about Rodrigo!”

“Don’t change the subject!”

The reporters’ questions were mixed together.

But Ha-sung caught the question he wanted and spoke to that reporter.

“I injected drugs? Do you have any evidence?!”

“Some fans are claiming that. And Rodrigo doesn’t have any evidence either, does he?”

Suddenly, the story took a strange turn.

The reporters who had been asking about Rodrigo stopped and looked back and forth between Ha-sung and the reporter.

“Ha… So, you’re saying to stop making claims without evidence.”

“According to Jung Ha-sung’s argument, isn’t it possible to raise suspicions even without evidence?”

“That’s right.”

Unexpectedly, Ha-sung nodded readily.

The reporter looked puzzled, but soon tried to corner him as if he had caught his prey.

But Ha-sung made the first move.

“It would be difficult to just talk. So, I’ll clear up my suspicions first.”

“Clear up, how?”

“I will voluntarily take a doping test.”

It was Ha-sung’s shocking statement.

* * *

[Jung Ha-sung, who rose to become the best pitcher in Major League Baseball! Will voluntarily take a doping test!]

[Drug suspicions, which are only a small part! Nevertheless, Jung Ha-sung will take a doping test!]

[The Major League Baseball office can’t hide its embarrassment!]

[Jung Ha-sung’s voluntary doping test, who has achieved a perfect game and no-hitter! Is it the right thing to do?]

Ha-sung’s voluntary doping test caused a huge stir.

Until now, many players have been embroiled in doping allegations.

But no one had ever come forward to take a doping test.

Doping tests are done through blood sampling.

It wasn’t a large amount, but it was said that even that could affect performance.

Above all, it wasn’t a regulation, so there was no reason to voluntarily take a doping test.

But now, Ha-sung, who has become the best pitcher in Major League Baseball, has decided to take the test voluntarily.

This has become a huge issue.

-Wow… no backing down.

-I didn’t know he would get tested first here.

-What a man.

-If this happens, won’t Rodrigo be unable to deny it?

-Agreed

-If he continues to refuse the doping test even after this, it’s obvious.

-The funniest thing is, what if Ha-sung tests positive?

-ㅋㅋㅋ That would be legendary.

Fans wondered what the results would be.

If doping came out here, the things Ha-sung had done would become a story that would only come out in comedy.

Fans had some expectations that it could be the funniest thing in Major League history.

But there was no twist in the doping results.

[Jung Ha-sung’s doping test results show no drugs detected!]

[Jung Ha-sung was clean!]

[Jung Ha-sung succeeded in breaking through the doping allegations that had been raised in some quarters!]

[Major League Baseball fans applaud Jung Ha-sung’s bold decision!]

[Criticism is mounting against Rodrigo!]

Ha-sung’s doping test results came out as expected.

When he passed the doping test, fans began to pour out tremendous criticism of Rodrigo.

-As expected, it wasn’t Jung Ha-sung.

-Of course.

-He’s confident, so he said he’d take it himself.

-What about Rodrigo then?

-He’s not confident, so he’s refusing.

-That bastard definitely took drugs again.

-Agreed

-Hey, hey, but did you hear that?

-What?

-I heard that Rodrigo stabbed Ryan Braun?

-Is that true?

The Internet is home to people from various fields and social classes.

Therefore, among the stories that come out of there, there were quite a few that were absurd but later turned out to be true.

Because it was a story spread by an insider.

That’s why I thought the words that came out this time were gossip.

But the follow-up posts were quite specific.

-Rodrigo spread it to divert attention from himself?

-It’s not just Braun.

-There are rumors that he spread it to other kids too.

-Major League Baseball will be turned upside down soon.

Various stories came up one after another.

Netizens were curious as to whether this was true.

-Where’s the source?

-Where did you hear that?

-Is this true?

-Isn’t it just hearsay?

People left comments, but the person who left the post disappeared.

It was an anonymous site in the first place.

There was no way to know who he was.

Except for one person who was watching the scene from beyond the monitor.

“This much bait should be enough to catch them.”

Ha-sung was satisfied as he watched the netizens react to his post.

“Rumors are like snowballs. There’s no reason for reporters to just pass by a snowball that’s grown that big.”

With the development of the Internet, the speed at which it spreads is beyond imagination.

Above all, it will spread to the public in an instant because it does not distinguish between nationality and time.

If the public is interested, reporters can’t just sit back and watch.

They will come out to cover the story, and then stories related to Rodrigo will come out.

“Let’s stick together until the end.”

Ha-sung had no intention of stopping this fight until Rodrigo admitted it.

That’s why he was thinking about taking the next step.

But not everything goes according to plan.

It was the same this time.

* * *

Major leaguers have various tendencies.

Some enjoyed partying and going out with women every night, while others were focused on training.

But most players thought of the fans first.

Of course, this may not be true for everyone, but generally they prioritized fan service.

That’s why some people criticized Rodrigo’s attitude this time.

In that situation, some players were stimulated when Ha-sung voluntarily took a doping test.

And the next one to take action after Ha-sung was Arnold, who belonged to the same team.

[Jung Ha-sung’s teammate Arnold! Voluntarily takes a doping test!]

When Arnold, who was close to Ha-sung, took the doping test for the second time, the Athletics players began to move one by one.

[Athletics’ first baseman Zack took a doping test!]

[Home plate lady Trevor also received it!]

As players who were close to Ha-sung took the test, fans began to react.

-They’re getting doping tests at the Athletics, which used to be a drug haven ㅋㅋㅋ [laughing sound in Korean]

-I know.

-Didn’t they lead the way in the 90s?

-This is also a strange thing.

-By the way, will there be any change even if I do this?

-Rodrigo’s conscience seems to have exploded and disappeared.

-Anyway, it’s just a few players, and most of them don’t have name value, so it seems like it’ll be buried as it is ㅋ [laughing sound in Korean]

-It’s not easy to draw blood, who will keep doing it?

-It’ll be a disaster if you do it for nothing and drugs are detected ㅋ [laughing sound in Korean]

-Above all, I think the players’ union will stop it?

His colleagues were stepping up, but I didn’t think it would spread much because the name value was weak.

Above all, the players’ union was blocking these players’ actions.

Ha-sung also received an official letter from the players’ union via email, and he was able to clearly understand their attitude.

“The recent voluntary doping test is an act that may not protect the rights of players. So, don’t voluntarily take a doping test… Ha, geez.”

It was absurd.

Voluntarily taking a doping test is an act that does not protect the rights of players?

“In short, does that mean that even if they took drugs, their rights are protected if they are not caught?”

No matter how you explain it, it didn’t make sense.

But because of these official letters, it became a little difficult.

‘If this blocks the players from voluntarily stepping up, it’s all for naught.’

In fact, it was unexpected for his colleagues to voluntarily take the doping test.

He didn’t expect it because he hadn’t asked them directly.

But as his teammates stepped up, Ha-sung thought that this might spread to all Major League players.

But the players’ union blocked it.

“Tsk, I’ll have to go my own way for now.”

Since he couldn’t expect outside help, Ha-sung was going to go back to his original method.

Then an article came out.

[Minnesota Twins’ Joe Mauer Announces He Will Take Doping Test!]

Mauer, a named player, jumped into the doping test.