Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 158

Villain on the Mound – Episode 158

Ha-sung’s unstoppable performance was even surpassing Randy Johnson’s legendary feats.

[Jung Ha-sung Achieves His 21st Win of the Season!]

[Finally Tops the Major League in Wins!]

[Jung Ha-sung’s Run for the Wins Title!]

[Triple Crown in Sight!]

[Jung Ha-sung Conquers Major League Baseball!]

Wins, ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of runs allowed per game], strikeouts.

Ha-sung was leading in all three major pitching categories, making him a prime contender for the Triple Crown [Leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts].

And then came his 22nd start of the season.

[Jung Ha-sung is on the mound.]

[Jung Ha-sung is having an incredible season, with a record of 21 wins, no losses, and an ERA of 1.25, while striking out a whopping 335 batters.]

[These are truly jaw-dropping stats.]

[I never dreamed we’d see a pitcher like this again in the live-ball era [The modern era of baseball, post-1920, characterized by a livelier ball and more offensive play].]

After the emergence of the legendary Randy Johnson.

Experts and fans alike said that there would never be another pitcher like him.

Especially among power pitchers, that was the prevailing opinion.

But reality is often more dramatic than predictions.

[In America, Jung Ha-sung is being called the right-handed Randy Johnson. It’s crucial to see if his dominant streak will continue in today’s game.]

Ha-sung had a maximum of three more opportunities to pitch this season.

If he recorded 10 strikeouts in each game, his total strikeouts would reach 365, surpassing Randy Johnson’s 364 in the 1999 season and ranking him 5th all-time.

Nolan Ryan’s 383 strikeouts, which holds the top spot, seemed an impossible record to break this year.

But no one underestimated his potential this season.

[Jung Ha-sung is facing the first batter.]

Ha-sung, on the mound, showcased his powerful pitching as usual.

Thwack-!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[Three-pitch strikeout! Jung Ha-sung gets the first batter out with just three pitches!]

[The last pitch was clocked at 101 mph, inducing a swing and a miss.]

[He threw a 98 mph fastball for the first pitch, then a splitter [A type of fastball with a downward break] for the second to disrupt the batter’s timing, and then a 100+ mph fastball for the third, resulting in a perfect swing and a miss.]

[Jung Ha-sung’s pitching repertoire is a work of art.]

[He knows how to read the batter and adjusts his pitches accordingly.]

[It’s amazing how Jung Ha-sung, who is only 21 years old in Korean age (20 internationally), can pitch with such maturity.]

[Fans even joke that there’s an old fox inside Jung Ha-sung, implying he’s wise beyond his years.]

Ha-sung’s pitching was remarkably polished.

And he didn’t get rattled on the mound, maintaining his composure.

The fans recognized that this was a key factor in his consistent success.

Because these qualities were unusual in young pitchers, fans were coming up with all sorts of theories.

Some of the stories were quite outlandish.

Ha-sung’s performance was so extraordinary that people felt compelled to create these kinds of explanations.

And Ha-sung’s dominant performance continued in today’s game as well.

Crack!!

[A high fly ball! The center fielder sprints in and makes the catch! Two outs!]

[It’s impressive how he completely fooled the batter with a changeup [A slow pitch thrown with the same arm action as a fastball].]

After retiring the second batter with a fly ball to center field, Ha-sung faced the third batter.

Thwack-!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[Strikeout! Jung Ha-sung strikes out the batter in just four pitches! It only took him 9 pitches to finish the first inning!]

[He’s off to a great start today as well.]

Ha-sung’s game looked incredibly promising.

* * *

[Jung Ha-sung earns the win with 8 innings of shutout ball.]

[Jung Ha-sung Records His 22nd Win of the Season!]

[He recorded 12 strikeouts while throwing 114 pitches!]

[Jung Ha-sung recorded 347 strikeouts this season! Surpassing Nolan Ryan’s 341 in 1977 and tying Randy Johnson’s 347 in 2000!]

Netizens had a variety of reactions to Ha-sung’s performance, which led to his 22nd win.

-22 wins is real?

-Wow… I never thought a Korean would achieve 22 wins in MLB.

-Cy Young Award [Award given annually to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball] is confirmed this season.

-That was already confirmed lol

-Basically, the A’s win on the days Ha-sung pitches.

-The Athletics’ lineup is terrible, so don’t let your guard down.

-If Ha-sung played for the Yankees or the Rangers, he would have had 30 wins this season.

-Is 30 wins even possible in modern baseball?

-It’s totally possible with Ha-sung’s pitching.

-I’m looking forward to the end of next season.

-How much will he get paid?

-By the way, what about Randy Johnson?

-After surpassing him, it’s Randy Johnson’s record again lol

-That guy was amazing too.

As much as Ha-sung was dominating, Randy Johnson’s legacy was also being re-examined.

In fact, he was undoubtedly one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history.

Ha-sung’s surpassing of Randy Johnson’s records one by one was a thrilling experience for baseball fans.

One of the main topics of discussion among fans was Ha-sung’s future salary.

[One of the things many fans are curious about is Jung Ha-sung’s salary, right?]

[That’s right. Since many people are not familiar with the MLB salary system, they are wondering why Jung Ha-sung is receiving an amount similar to the minimum salary.]

[Please explain that part.]

[There is something called service time in MLB. Service time is the accumulated time a player has been on an MLB roster.]

[MLB service time is measured in days, with 172 days equaling one year, right?]

[That’s right. If you are on the MLB roster for 172 days, you will have completed one year of service time.]

[So Jung Ha-sung will have completed two years of MLB service time at the end of this season.]

Ha-sung debuted in the 2008 season.

At that time, Ha-sung, who was called up to the major leagues in September, had been playing full-time since the 2009 season.

[In reality, Jung Ha-sung has already accrued two years of service time based on the number of days he’s been on the roster.]

[So if he completes one more year, he will be eligible for salary arbitration [A process where an independent arbitrator determines a player’s salary].]

The panel member shook his head at the caster’s words.

[Not quite. It’s not officially confirmed yet, but there is a 99 percent chance that he will qualify for salary arbitration after this season as a “Super Two” player.]

[But you typically have to complete 3 years of service time to apply for salary arbitration, right?]

[Major League Baseball’s service time includes a Super Two clause.]

[Super Two?]

[Yes. MLB service time regulations can be unfavorable to players. The Super Two clause was created through labor-management agreements to address teams that were abusing the system.]

[What exactly does that regulation entail?]

[It’s a regulation where players who have completed two years of service time and whose registration days fall within the top 22 percent of all MLB players are eligible to apply for salary arbitration [A process where an independent arbitrator determines a player’s salary].]

[Oh, then Jung Ha-sung has a high chance, right?]

In the 2008 season, Ha-sung was on the roster for 30 days.

In the 09 season, he played full-time, and in the 2010 season, he was also highly likely to play full-time.

Having spent two seasons full-time and filled 30 days in the 2008 season, Ha-sung’s service time days among MLB players who have completed two years were among the highest.

[Among the players who have completed two years of MLB service time after the end of this season, Jung Ha-sung has recorded one of the highest number of days by far. Of course, he is eligible as a Super Two player.]

[In fact, MLB teams use many tricks to avoid these regulations, don’t they?]

[Yes. Typically, they would call up top prospects in May or June. As a result, they went with a strategy of saving the player’s salary by manipulating service time as much as possible.]

[The Athletics also frequently used such strategies, so why didn’t they do it this time?]

Even hardcore MLB fans were questioning this.

The Athletics had often developed prospects, so they were usually thorough in these areas.

However, the fact that they missed Ha-sung was not easily understood.

But experts came up with a surprisingly simple answer.

[MLB experts pointed out that Jung Ha-sung is a special case.]

[A special case?]

[Yes. Jung Ha-sung joined through a tryout and had no signing bonus, and Jung Ha-sung showed better performance than expected.]

[Is it because he performed so overwhelmingly well that they couldn’t send him down to the minor leagues?]

[Yes. Lastly, he had great marketability. The Athletics were in a dangerous situation, struggling with financial difficulties in the 2008-2009 season. However, Jung Ha-sung showed such outstanding star quality that he was responsible for most of the team’s overall sales. So, General Manager Chris couldn’t send him down.]

[Because the moment he was sent down, the finances would be directly hit, right?]

[That’s right. And since he was a closer, there was a calculation that even if he was eligible for Super Two, they wouldn’t have to raise his salary significantly.]

The experts’ predictions were accurate.

He never dreamed that the boomerang would fly back like this.

“I’m screwed.”

General Manager Chris sighed as he looked at the article in the sports media.

[Jung Ha-sung, who will be in his first year of salary arbitration, how much will his salary increase?]

Already, the media was focusing on Ha-sung’s rising value.

Even though the pennant race was in progress, this was a hot topic.

That was proof of the high level of interest in Ha-sung.

“To think he would put up these numbers even after converting to a starter.”

If he had played as a closer, negotiations would have been possible around $5 million, even with a significant raise.

Jonathan Papelbon signed for $6.25 million after recording 41 saves, so even at most, it would have been a case possible in the $7 million range.

No matter how great a record he left, the closer position had limitations in WAR [Wins Above Replacement, a comprehensive baseball statistic].

But the story is different for a starter.

‘He’ll demand at least $10 million.’

There was no case of exceeding $10 million in the first year of MLB salary arbitration.

The problem was that Ha-sung would be eligible for a total of four salary arbitrations, including this season.

If Ha-sung continues this performance, it will be impossible for them to handle it from the second salary onwards.

‘Damn it…….’

Chris could only curse his lack of foresight in not predicting Ha-sung’s skills in advance.

But that’s not Chris’s fault.

No one in the world expected Ha-sung to show such crazy performance after converting to a starter.

But he couldn’t just sit there and cry.

‘I have to do something.’

A secret plan was needed to overcome this situation.

General Manager Chris knew very well what that was.

‘There’s only one way.’

General Manager Chris, who made a decision, made a phone call.

This was not something to be decided alone.

He needed permission from higher up.

Click!

[Why are you calling me directly at this hour?]

At the owner’s voice, Chris braced himself and opened his mouth.

“I need money.”

[Money? What money?]

“I need funds to keep Jung Ha-sung.”

[Hmm…… Tell me in detail what you’re thinking.]

“If Jung Ha-sung goes into salary arbitration, we won’t be able to afford him with our current finances.”

[I guess so.]

Damn it!

I can’t believe he would answer that right away.

If he had given even a hint of willingness to negotiate, he would have changed his mind, but the owner had no intention of spending a lot of money.

No, in the first place, it was impossible for them, a small market team, to keep a player like Jung Ha-sung.

Putting aside his lingering feelings, General Manager Chris told him the secret plan he had in mind.

“I want to offer a multi-year contract.”

[Is that the only way?]

“There are risks, but that’s the only way to sign him for a little cheaper.”

[How much do you need?]

“Considering the revenue he generates and the impact he has on the game, I want to keep him for at least 10 years.”

[That’s going to be quite expensive.]

“He’s a player worth it. He’s young and has no injuries.”

A moment of silence flowed.

Knowing that he was an owner who saved money, General Manager Chris was sweating.

A little later.

The answer came back.

[I’ll prepare up to $100 million.]

It was an astronomical amount of money, over 120 billion won [Roughly equivalent to $90 million USD].

But on an annual average, it was a contract worth 10 million dollars.

It was definitely a high amount even in Major League Baseball, but it was less than half of Rodrigo’s, who is currently ranked number one in salary.

“A 10-year contract may be difficult.”

[You have to get at least an 8-year contract.]

It was an owner who made difficult demands.

But knowing his personality, General Manager Chris could only sigh.

“I’ll do my best…….”

The general manager of a small market team always had it difficult.