Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 157

Villain on the Mound – Episode 157

[Jeong Ha-seong Records 328 Strikeouts in a Single Major League Season!]

[Only 6 More Strikeouts Needed to Surpass Randy Johnson’s 334 Strikeouts from the 2002 Season!]

[Jeong Ha-seong Likely to Surpass Randy Johnson in the Next Game!]

[Jeong Ha-seong Achieves 20 Wins in His First Transition to Starting Pitcher! A Triple Crown is in Sight!]

[Jeong Ha-seong Ties for First Place in Wins with C.C. Sabathia of the New York Yankees!]

Triple Crown.

It refers to a starting pitcher leading the league in wins, strikeouts, and ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of runs allowed per game].

It was like a symbol bestowed upon a pitcher who performed so well that they could be said to have dominated the season.

The Triple Crown has only been achieved 36 times in Major League history.

Limited to the 1990s and later, it’s a rare feat, achieved only 5 times.

[If Jeong Ha-seong achieves the pitching Triple Crown, wouldn’t he be a strong candidate for this season’s MVP (Most Valuable Player)?]

[The MVP is a bit ambiguous.]

[Is that so?]

[Yes. This season’s MVP rival is Josh Hamilton, and he’s been playing out of his mind.]

Josh Hamilton.

He was a hitting powerhouse leading the Texas Rangers.

This season, he was batting .350, with over 30 home runs and a slugging percentage of over .600.

His OPS [On-Base Plus Slugging, a comprehensive hitting statistic] was over 1.0, an incredible number; in short, he was dominating Major League Baseball.

[One of the reasons why the Texas Rangers are so formidable is because of Josh Hamilton’s incredible performance this season.]

[So, it might be difficult for Jeong Ha-seong to win the MVP?]

[It’s hard to say definitively because we have to consider various factors, but I think it will be a close race.]

It was generally accepted that hitters had an advantage in winning the MVP award.

However, this panel’s remarks were bound to face a huge backlash from fans.

-This season’s MVP is definitely Ha-seong.

-Josh Hamilton is a monster, but he’s no match for Ha-seong.

-Jeong Ha-seong’s bWAR [Baseball Wins Above Replacement, a comprehensive statistic measuring a player’s overall contribution] is 9.8 right now. Are you kidding me?

-No matter how much Major League Baseball favors hitters, this season’s MVP is Ha-seong.

-Ha-seong will be the MVP if he gets just two more wins in the remaining four games.

The fans’ reaction was fierce.

That’s how outstanding Ha-seong’s performance was this season, regardless of whether you compare him to pitchers or hitters.

Of course, there were also some concerns.

-Isn’t Josh Hamilton more dominant in fWAR [Fangraphs Wins Above Replacement, another version of WAR]?

-And Hamilton is American.

-I don’t know if these conservative guys will pick Ha-seong, who is Korean.

Major League Baseball was a conservative institution.

Therefore, they were somewhat cautious about setting precedents with first-time records.

As the situation remained uncertain until the end of the season, time passed.

* * *

Before this season started, there were many concerns about Ha-seong.

Changing from a closer to a starting pitcher was a difficult transition.

He wasn’t just any closer.

He was a player who had set a Major League record with incredible stats.

For such a pitcher to switch to a starting role was nothing short of an adventure.

However, Ha-seong was silencing all those concerns with his skill.

His second appearance in September was no different.

[Jeong Ha-seong is facing Josh Hamilton, the third batter, with two outs in the 4th inning.]

[The battle between the two players vying for the American League MVP is about to unfold.]

A showdown with Josh Hamilton.

He allowed a double in their first at-bat.

However, it was officially scored as a single.

This was because the center fielder failed to make a diving catch, resulting in the ball rolling further than it should have.

[Jeong Ha-seong, who has recorded five strikeouts in today’s game, will be on par with Randy Johnson from 2002 if he strikes out Josh Hamilton.]

Randy Johnson, considered one of the best left-handers in Major League history.

He was about to face Josh Hamilton in a situation where he could equal Johnson’s record.

[Will he be able to strike out Hamilton in this at-bat? Jeong Ha-seong is carefully exchanging signs with his catcher.]

Ha-seong nodded after receiving Trevor’s sign.

[Jeong Ha-seong is in his pitching motion, he throws the first pitch!]

Ha-seong, completing his windup and leg kick, threw the first pitch with all his might.

“Hmph!!”

Whoosh-!

The ball left his hand and flew with fierce speed.

Hamilton aggressively swung his bat at the first pitch.

Clang!!

“Foul!!”

[First pitch is a foul! The batted ball lands in the stands on the third base side!]

[It’s a foul, but Josh Hamilton is still full of confidence in his swing.]

[You can feel that he’s one of the best hitters in the American League from his swing.]

Ha-seong, receiving the ball thrown back by Trevor, turned and rubbed rosin [a sticky substance used by pitchers for grip] on his fingertips.

‘He’s reacting to my pitches well, and his condition is good.’

This season, Josh Hamilton was a more challenging hitter to face than any other in Major League Baseball.

However, there was no need to be intimidated.

‘If you’re a difficult hitter to face, then I’m a difficult pitcher to face.’

The match between the best pitcher and hitter in Major League Baseball.

He had no intention of backing down.

[Jeong Ha-seong steps on the pitcher’s plate. Jeong Ha-seong lowers his upper body and exchanges signs.]

[We need to be careful.]

[He finishes exchanging signs and goes into his windup.]

The first pitch was a 100 mph fastball.

Since his swing timing was good, other pitchers would try to disrupt his timing by throwing a breaking ball here.

‘But the opponent is Ha-seong.’

However, Josh Hamilton didn’t think of Ha-seong as an ordinary pitcher.

‘There’s a high possibility that he’ll come at me head-on.’

He had faced Ha-seong often this season.

Since they were in the same division, he had more opportunities to face him.

Each time, he felt firsthand that Ha-seong pitched in a completely different way than ordinary pitchers.

‘And this at-bat is against me, the best hitter in Major League Baseball. He won’t even think about avoiding it.’

In fact, throwing a breaking ball can’t be considered avoiding it.

However, considering Ha-seong’s aggressive pitching style, him throwing a breaking ball could give the impression that he was trying to trick him.

That’s why Hamilton expected Ha-seong to challenge him directly.

‘If he comes at me head-on, I’ll definitely hit it.’

He had been working hard, keeping Ha-seong’s fastball in mind.

He increased the speed of the pitching machine to the maximum and increased the speed of his swing.

In particular, he made many adjustments, such as swinging slightly upwards to hit Ha-seong’s rising fastball.

‘Both the previous at-bat and the previous pitch showed a good reaction to the fastball.’

Hamilton, who had gained more confidence in today’s game, focused his concentration.

At that moment, Ha-seong, striding forward, threw the second pitch.

“Hmph!!”

Whoosh-!

The ball left Ha-seong’s hand and flew with fierce speed.

Hamilton’s eyes lit up as he saw it.

‘Here it comes!’

The moment the ball left his hand, Hamilton judged it to be a fastball.

Hamilton swung his bat without hesitation.

Whoosh-!!

The bat, turning with a fierce sound, followed the trajectory of the ball.

The moment the two trajectories were about to meet.

Hamilton was determined to make contact this time.

At that moment.

Swoosh!

The ball disappeared from his sight.

Hamilton, surprised, looked down to find the ball.

Hamilton saw the ball dropping sharply.

‘A splitter [a type of fastball with a sharp downward break]……!’

He identified the pitch, but there was no way to change his swing, which was already committed to a fastball.

Whoosh-!!

The bat futilely cut through the air, and immediately after, the ball landed in the catcher’s mitt.

Thwack!

“Swing! Strike, two!!”

[Josh Hamilton swings and misses at the splitter!!]

[He threw a pitch that completely fooled the hitter. I can only describe it as a perfect pitch!]

[Jeong Ha-seong, who prefers head-on matchups, brilliantly tricked the hitter with a breaking ball!]

Hamilton frowned.

‘To throw a breaking ball here.’

It was a breaking ball he hadn’t expected at all.

That’s why he couldn’t react in time.

‘Damn it.’

He felt like he had been outsmarted by Ha-seong.

How could a pitcher of that young age throw such a pitch?

No, and how can he be so calm in this situation?

He couldn’t understand.

‘But the finishing pitch will definitely be a fastball.’

The younger they are, the more they tend to rely on their greatest weapon.

Ha-seong’s most powerful weapon is, without a doubt, his fastball.

The fastball could be said to be the best in Major League Baseball.

Knowing that, he was sure that the final pitch would be a fastball.

‘But he won’t throw a fastball in this situation.’

The count is in his favor.

Anyone could see that now was the time to use a breaking ball to get the batter to swing, not to challenge him head-on.

‘But that guy enjoys quick matches even in these situations, right?’

The problem is that the opponent is Ha-seong.

Ha-seong often ends the game quickly, even when the count is in his favor.

No, most of the time, he decides the game in that way.

Knowing that well, Hamilton’s thoughts became complicated.

‘There’s a high possibility that he’ll come at me again.’

But Hamilton was an elite hitter.

He was also the player in the best condition this season.

He was able to make a decision about his confusing thoughts before stepping back into the batter’s box.

‘He’s going to throw the fastball again.’

Hamilton, having made his decision, stood at the plate.

And he gripped his bat and glared at Ha-seong on the mound.

An ordinary player would not expect a fastball in this situation.

That’s why most hitters were at Ha-seong’s mercy when he had a favorable count.

But Hamilton was different.

‘If you’re going to challenge me, I won’t back down either.’

He kept open the possibility that Ha-seong might throw a fastball.

This was a very significant difference.

Ha-seong’s fastball was different from ordinary ones.

It was a super-fastball exceeding 100 mph, so if you didn’t prepare in advance, you couldn’t even touch the ball.

That’s why hitters couldn’t even react when Ha-seong decided to end the at-bat quickly until now.

‘Throw it!’

Hamilton thought Ha-seong would throw a fastball.

The data so far suggested that.

And the current situation was perfect for him to throw a fastball.

‘You want the MVP too, right? So you want to completely beat me now, right?’

If he completely shut down Hamilton in today’s game, Ha-seong would create a very positive impression.

It was the perfect time to solidify that image since it was the end of the season.

Hamilton was a smart and experienced player to think that far.

But that tripped him up.

“Hmph!!”

Whoosh-!

[He throws the 3rd pitch!]

The ball left Ha-seong’s hand and flew with fierce speed.

Hamilton’s eyes lit up as he confirmed the trajectory of the ball.

‘Got it!’

Hamilton’s bat turned sharply at the ball that was flying quickly as he expected.

It was a swing that made him sure he had caught his prey.

At that moment.

Suddenly!

The ball seemed to stop in the air.

Hamilton’s pupils widened as he looked at the ball.

‘A changeup [a very slow pitch designed to disrupt the batter’s timing]……!’

He tried to forcibly stop the bat that was already in motion.

But regardless of his will, the accelerated bat passed over the home plate even though the ball had not arrived.

Whoosh-!

‘……Up!’

The bat futilely cut through the air.

Thwack!

The ball was lodged in the catcher’s mitt.

And the umpire raised his hand without a moment’s hesitation.

“Batter out!!”

[Three-pitch strikeout! Jeong Ha-seong completely fools Hamilton with a changeup following a splitter! He achieves his 334th strikeout of the season!!]

Ha-seong was now on par with Randy Johnson.

And in the 5th inning.

Pow!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[Strikeout!! 7th strikeout of today’s game! And Jeong Ha-seong records his 335th strikeout of the season!]

He surpassed Randy Johnson.