Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 165

Mound Villain – Episode 165

It was Ha-sung’s one-man show.

[Untouchable Jung Ha-sung! Dominates Game 1 of the Division Series!]

[Major League’s Best Pitcher Ever, Jung Ha-sung! Leads the Athletics to Victory!]

[Jung Ha-sung’s Unscored Pitching Over 7 Innings!]

Thanks to Ha-sung’s performance, the Rays were shut down and conceded the victory.

And this atmosphere continued into Game 2 as well.

[Unlike Game 1, Game 2 is unfolding as a slugfest.]

[The score has already reached 7 to 5 by the 4th inning, with both teams scoring a combined 13 runs.]

Arnold’s performance was fierce in Game 2.

He recorded an outstanding performance with 3 hits and 4 RBIs [Runs Batted In, a statistic crediting a batter for a hit that allows a run to score], and was selected as the MVP of Game 2.

[The Rays used up a good portion of their bullpen in Game 1, but the Athletics hardly used theirs, giving them the advantage in this slugfest.]

[As expected, the ace performed better, which is influencing the subsequent games.]

The Rays also had a decent performance in Game 1.

The starter didn’t completely collapse, but he couldn’t pitch deep into the game either.

On the other hand, Ha-sung perfectly fulfilled his role by pitching 7 scoreless innings.

This difference affected the subsequent games as well.

[Athletics’ closer Bailey is on the mound.]

[Bailey, who had an excellent record as the setup man in front of Jung Ha-sung last year, is reliably closing out games as a closer this season.]

[In fact, he was overshadowed last season because Jung Ha-sung was on the same team, but he is a player with enough skill to be a starting closer on other teams.]

Bailey’s potential was outstanding.

And when the opportunity came, he unleashed that potential and was definitely seizing the moment.

Thwack-!

“Strike! Batter out!”

[Bailey cleanly strikes out the first batter, recording a top speed of 93 miles per hour.]

[Bailey is showing impressive speed.]

Bailey continued his stable pitching.

Even in save situations, he showed a composure unlike that of a rookie.

This was the strength of the Athletics.

‘They’re definitely a team that constantly produces promising players.’

The reason why they can maintain their position at the top of the league despite being a small market team is because of the constantly emerging prospects.

Even if a star leaves, a new prospect appears to fill the void, so a strong team can be maintained.

And Bailey perfectly filled the closer position that Ha-sung had vacated.

Clack-!!

[Well-hit ball! But it flies straight to the center fielder!]

Whack!

“Out!!”

[The third out count goes up!]

[Bailey finishes the inning with a three-up, three-down, excellent!]

[The Athletics also take Game 2 of the Division Series! The series record is 2 to 0, making them very advantageous!]

* * *

[Jung Ha-sung’s Athletics Eye the Championship Series!]

[Athletics Win Game 2 Decisively! The Run Doesn’t Stop!]

[The Athletics’ Starting Rotation with Room to Spare Will Proceed as Normal.]

[Tampa Bay Rays, Game 2 Starter Also on Standby in the Bullpen!]

[The Rays are in a desperate situation! Will they be able to establish a foothold for a comeback?]

Just two games.

The situation for the Rays and the Athletics had completely reversed.

The Rays were preparing for an all-out war, with Matt, the Game 2 starter, also ready in the bullpen.

On the other hand, manager Tony was relaxed.

[The atmosphere is very good right now, so we won’t make any changes. I trust the players and have no doubt that they will bring us victory.]

He wasn’t considering other strategies.

It might sound like an irresponsible statement as a manager, but it reflected how good the current situation was.

Experts predicted the Athletics’ victory.

The Athletics’ situation was that advantageous.

‘Hmm, our odds have dropped a lot.’

Sports betting was legal in the United States.

The Division Series was, of course, a popular sport for betting.

Most bookmakers were predicting the Athletics’ victory.

The odds became very high, and the Athletics’ advancement to the Championship Series became a foregone conclusion.

‘Teams with a lot of promising players are definitely scary.’

Upward trend.

The Athletics players, who secured a perfect victory with Ha-sung’s good pitching in Game 1, began to ride the upward trend.

As a result, they won Game 2 decisively.

“It’ll keep going.”

Ha-sung looked out the window.

He had arrived in St. Petersburg, the hometown of the Tampa Bay Rays, but he didn’t think they would lose.

That’s how strong the Athletics’ current upward trend was.

* * *

A day of rest came, but it was not enough to break Oakland’s momentum.

Clack-!!

[He hit it! Jack’s powerful hit! And this ball hits the fence on one bounce!!]

The Athletics’ batting lineup was pounding the Rays’ pitching in Game 3 as well.

The Athletics’ firepower was so strong that the cheers of the fans who came to the Rays’ home stadium were drowned out.

[The Rays are putting in many pitchers to somehow find a way to counterattack, but the Athletics’ hitting is terrifying.]

[They are showing such focused hitting that it makes you wonder if they were originally such a good-hitting team.]

The Athletics’ team batting average wasn’t particularly high.

So, experts said that the Athletics’ pitching needed to perform well in order to succeed in the postseason.

But when the series began, it was the hitting that was leading the Athletics to victory.

[As of the end of the 7th inning, the score between the two teams is 5 to 2, and the victory has shifted to the Athletics.]

[It’s only a 3-point difference, so the score can be overturned at any time. But the Rays’ hitting has been weak in this Division Series, so the Athletics are at a great advantage.]

Ha-sung had similar thoughts.

‘This is why hitting is so impactful. Clearly, when looking at the objective data, the Rays are ahead of us, but in a short series, the team that rides the momentum well wins.’

From that point of view, the start of this Division Series was perfect.

[Jung Ha-sung’s role is definitely big in the Athletics completely dominating the Division Series.]

[Is it because they won Game 1 so convincingly?]

[Yes. They completely prevented the opponent from gaining momentum, so they couldn’t even attempt to ride the momentum and were shut down.]

[The role of the ace is definitely important.]

[It goes without saying in the regular season, but its importance is even more prominent in a short series.]

The series was tilting.

The Rays didn’t have the stamina to chase, and the Athletics had the power to shake off even their weak stamina.

[In the bottom of the 9th inning, Bailey takes the mound to end the series.]

[Manager Tony is showing his determination to end the game by putting in closer Bailey, even though the score difference is 4 points.]

Manager Tony’s bold decision to put in Bailey even though it wasn’t a save situation.

And Bailey responded to the manager’s decision by pitching well.

Clack-!!

[He hit it! But the second baseman easily catches it and throws to first base!]

Whack!

“Out!”

[It’s out! The first out of the 9th inning is recorded!]

Two outs left.

Thwack-!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[It’s a strikeout! Bailey gets the second out with a strikeout after a 7-pitch battle!]

[He caught the batter off guard with a good changeup!]

Only one out left.

The camera showed the Athletics’ dugout.

There was Ha-sung, standing on the railing of the dugout and looking at the field.

[Jung Ha-sung is watching Bailey’s pitching with ease.]

[How can you believe that player is only 21 years old?]

[He’s really relaxed.]

[It’s like watching a veteran who has spent decades in the game.]

It was a familiar scene now.

But it was still a mystery in the minds of many people.

How can Ha-sung, who has such a short career, be so relaxed?

Only Ha-sung knew.

‘I’ve played in so many games like this that I’m not very nervous about the Division Series.’

It’s the postseason he experienced last year.

Of course, he didn’t pitch much, but getting used to it wasn’t a big problem.

Above all, Ha-sung had a wealth of experience, having played often on the international stage.

And the biggest reason was his belief in his pitching.

‘I can throw over 160 km/h [kilometers per hour, approximately 99 mph] at will. There’s no reason to be nervous.’

Absolute faith in himself was the biggest driving force that kept him from faltering on the mound.

And Bailey was a bit like that too.

Clack-!!

[He hit it! A high fly ball!!]

[Ah~ it’s over!]

The ball didn’t leave the infield and flew high.

The spectators who saw it burst into sighs.

On the other hand, the Athletics players were about to jump over the dugout.

And.

Whack!

[Second baseman Ellis caught it!]

As soon as Ellis caught the ball, the players rushed onto the field, without exception.

“Waaaaa-!!”

[The Athletics succeed in advancing to the Championship Series!]

[Ah~ I really didn’t expect it. The Athletics beat the Rays 3-0 and advance to the Championship Series!]

A 3-0 victory that no one expected.

The Athletics perfectly swept the series and were the first to advance to the Championship Series.

* * *

[Oakland Athletics’ Storming Run!]

[Athletics Dominate the Division Series! Advance to the Championship Series Sooner Than Anyone!]

[Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins Series Record is 2 to 1, Continuing to Game 4!]

[The Athletics are in an Advantageous Situation No Matter Who Comes Up!]

[Athletics’ Ace Jung Ha-sung is Certain to Start Game 1 of the Championship Series!]

[Will the Performance of Super Rookie Arnold, Who Has Started to Revive, Continue in the Championship Series?]

The Athletics had already confirmed their advancement early on.

But as the Red Sox and Twins games continued, the Athletics were given a rest.

Most experts and fans thought this rest would be advantageous to the Athletics.

But general manager Chris’s thoughts were different.

‘The momentum could be broken.’

Chris, who had led the Athletics for a long time, knew how fragile the momentum of rookies could be.

‘Once you start riding the momentum, it builds endlessly. The problem is that when it’s broken in any way, it’s completely reset.’

Being reset was dangerous.

Because you have to build the momentum from the beginning.

So veteran players try to maintain their momentum in their own way.

But rookie players lacked this understanding.

‘Most players don’t know how to maintain this momentum. Many of those with little experience get caught up in the victory in the moment.’

It was the coaching staff’s job to address these issues, but there were limits in the major league culture where the players’ voices were often louder than the coaching staff’s.

In the end, the clubhouse leader, who can be said to be the leader of the team, had to take on this role instead.

The problem was that there were no such players in the Athletics.

‘There are few veteran players who can play this role.’

That was why the Championship Series was a source of unease.

Then Catherine came into the general manager’s office and said.

“Everyone is working hard.”

“Huh?”

“The players came out to the training center and are already training.”

“Training? Who?”

“Almost everyone came out.”

“All of them? Since when?”

“At first, only Jung Ha-sung, Arnold, and Jack were there. It gradually increased, and now everyone is out doing their own personal training.”

Chris’s eyes widened at the mention of Ha-sung coming out.

‘In the end, it’s performance that makes you a leader. But since the player with the best performance came out, the other players followed suit.’

Arnold is the same.

Currently, he was the hottest hitter in the Athletics.

The training of these two was enough to motivate the other players.

“We can’t lose.”

“Of course!”

The players running on the field were cheering each other on.

The front office couldn’t be resting.

General manager Chris and Catherine collected data until late at night and waited for the Championship Series.

And two days later.

[Red Sox Defeat Twins!]

[American League Championship Series: Oakland Athletics’ Opponent is Boston Red Sox!]

Ha-sung was set to face the Red Sox.