The Mound’s Villain – Episode 214
[Oakland Athletics’ Jung Ha-sung Sets Major League Record and Ties with 8 Consecutive Home Runs.]
[He hit a home run against New York Yankees’ starting pitcher J. Wilson today, smashing a slider on the second pitch.]
[Jung Ha-sung’s 8-game consecutive home run record is the first in Major League Baseball since Ken Griffey Jr. in 1993, nearly 20 years ago, and a record achieved by only 4 players in Major League history, including Jung Ha-sung.]
Ha-sung’s 8-game consecutive home run became a huge topic.
Not only in the United States and Korea, but also in Japan and Taiwan.
His articles were featured prominently in many countries.
And related videos were uploaded to Ha-sung’s YouTube channel.
[Jung Ha-sung 8-Game Consecutive Home Run Highlights]
The video was a highlight reel of the home runs he hit during the 8 games.
The short, 2-minute video quickly gained popularity, exceeding 3 million views.
The public’s reaction to the video was also enthusiastic.
– Kuh-! 8 consecutive home runs are insane.
– It’s actually happening.
– It’s nice to see it all compiled in a highlight reel.
– I wanted to see it anyway. It’s great that it’s out like this.
– It’s short and sweet.
– Baseball is great, but it’s too long (referring to the length of typical games).
– I hope you upload these often.
Ha-sung smiled as he read the comments.
‘Most YouTubers these days edit and upload long videos rather than short ones.’
Other YouTubers’ videos were at least 10 minutes long.
This was due to YouTube’s policies.
Currently, to make money on YouTube, you need to upload videos that are at least 10 minutes long.
This is because monetization is only possible with longer videos.
But things will change in the future.
People want short videos, and Shorts are born to meet that demand.
In today’s busy society, watching a 10-minute video is a waste of time.
So people wanted even shorter videos, and that’s how 10-second short videos were born.
Ha-sung had lived in that era, so he planned short videos.
The response was great.
“The number of subscribers is increasing rapidly since we started uploading short videos.”
“The views are higher, and the response is very good.”
Ha-sung’s YouTube team has now grown to the size of a small company.
The company has about 15 employees.
They are responsible for various tasks such as video production, uploading, promotion, and events.
Now, Ha-sung’s YouTube channel was no longer just a hobby, but a business.
Then the head of security spoke up.
“Um… but there’s one problem.”
“A problem?”
“We’ve discovered that some broadcasting stations are taking our videos and using them without permission.”
Ha-sung’s eyebrows twitched.
“Without permission?”
“Yes. Various broadcasting stations, including local stations in the United States, and stations in Korea and Japan, are using our videos as material.”
“Didn’t they ask for our cooperation?”
“Not at all. We protested through official channels, but they’re not even listening.”
At this point, YouTube was simply an extension of a hobby.
Broadcasting stations were still the center of media.
They were underestimating YouTube.
In the future, YouTube will become the center of all media, but they still thought they were on top.
That’s why they thought it was no big deal to take videos from YouTube and use them.
Copyrights clearly existed, but they had no intention of respecting them.
‘There was a big fuss about this in the future.’
This phenomenon will continue for the time being.
Even after YouTube gets bigger.
However, after a major YouTuber officially raised the issue and even filed a lawsuit, the broadcasting station eventually surrendered.
But that’s a story for the future.
‘In this era, it’s common for broadcasting stations to use YouTube videos without permission.’
That didn’t mean he was going to let it go.
It was clearly his property and the product of his efforts.
He had no intention of letting them use it for free.
“Should we contact a lawyer and officially raise an objection?”
The team members were thinking about how to respond.
But that wasn’t enough.
“At the same time, review the legal issues and, if possible, proceed with a lawsuit.”
“Yes? Are you going to sue the broadcasting station?”
“Why? Is there a problem?”
“They have huge capital in their hands. They’ll have a huge team of lawyers. It’s unlikely to be resolved easily.”
“So, are you saying we should just let the guys who steal our stuff get away with it?”
“That’s not what I mean, but…”
“They’re taking our copyrighted material, which we worked hard to produce, and using it to generate profits. I have no intention of letting that go.”
The team members nodded at Ha-sung’s words.
“We’ll get legal advice.”
“Good. And continue to produce short videos like the ones we’re making now to target the younger generation. This type of video will be popular in the future.”
“Yes.”
Ha-sung’s YouTube channel was already ranked number one in the world.
But Ha-sung had no intention of stopping there.
He planned to continue to survive in the YouTube market, which would continue to grow.
* * *
With Ha-sung’s record, people’s attention was now focused on what was next.
[Jung Ha-sung Challenges Major League Record!]
The 9-game consecutive home run record that no one had ever broken in Major League history.
The world record was set by Lee Dae-sung, but it was still an unknown world in Major League Baseball.
A land that no one had ever set foot on.
The ship had just docked on the new continent, and someone was about to disembark.
– If Jung Ha-sung achieves 9 consecutive home runs, it’ll be insane.
– This is like Armstrong getting off Apollo on the moon.
– Can he really achieve 9 consecutive home runs?
– We’ll know today.
The third game against the Yankees.
Ha-sung stood at the plate as the third batter.
The attention of all baseball fans was focused on Ha-sung’s record, not the outcome of the game.
[Jung Ha-sung is out on a fly ball to center field in his first at-bat.]
[It was a well-hit ball, but unfortunately, it went straight to the center fielder, so he couldn’t get a hit.]
[He hit the falling changeup well, but he didn’t get enough power on it.]
The first opportunity was wasted.
The timing was good, but the pitcher’s stuff was good, so the changeup was even better.
‘That guy’s in good condition today too.’
Before this season, the Yankees’ starting lineup was considered weak.
Except for CC Sabathia, their number one starter, there were no other notable pitchers.
They didn’t acquire any new faces through trades either.
In fact, the Yankees tried to get Cliff Lee.
But he rejected the Yankees’ offer and went to Philadelphia.
Because they focused on him, the Yankees didn’t sign any other big-name pitchers and started spring training.
They signed some veteran pitchers with the feeling of scratching a lottery ticket (taking a chance on a long shot).
And they were producing unexpected results.
Bartolo Colon, who is on the mound now, was one of them.
‘Colon’s curve has more spin than I thought. Thanks to that, the change of pace comes out until the end.’
It’s my first time facing Colon.
He’s not a pitcher who has always been active in Major League Baseball, and above all, this is Ha-sung’s first year as a professional hitter.
So it took time to figure out his characteristics.
‘I can get him next time.’
But the analysis is complete.
When the next moment comes, his curve, which is his strength, will become a dagger and stab him.
Ha-sung licked his lips and waited for his chance.
* * *
Unfortunately, Colon and Ha-sung didn’t get to meet.
[Colon is coming off the mound, unable to last through the 3rd inning.]
[Colon, who had a good start, is being taken down as quickly as if it were a lie.]
3rd inning.
Colon retired the lead-off hitter well and stumbled while facing the second batter.
He felt discomfort in his body and called the coach.
As a result, he came down from the mound and the pitcher was replaced.
‘I’m facing this guy for the first time too.’
The new pitcher on the mound was middle reliever Rodriguez.
‘A sidearmer.’
He was a sidearm pitcher, a rare pitching form in Major League Baseball.
‘His velocity isn’t that fast…’
Ha-sung recalled the players’ data that the strategy data team had given him.
Rodriguez wasn’t a player who could be called a must-win pitcher (a reliable pitcher used in crucial situations).
But he was protecting the Yankees’ roster because he was a player who could pitch long innings.
‘They haven’t given up on the game, but depending on what he does, they may choose to save pitchers here.’
The pennant race is long.
It’s impossible to do your best in every game.
Sometimes you have to give up on the outcome of the game.
Like today.
‘From the perspective of the coaching staff, who have to play the next game starting tomorrow, they’ll try to save as many pitchers as possible here.’
That’s why they put a long reliever on the mound instead of a must-win pitcher.
‘A sidearmer is my opponent…’
It’s the first sidearmer I’ve faced since I started playing as a hitter.
‘Well, there’s no need to be intimidated just because I’m facing him for the first time.’
Ha-sung’s eyes lit up.
* * *
[Jung Ha-sung is at the plate.]
[Rodriguez, who came up after Colon came down from the mound in the 3rd inning, gave up a walk and a hit, and the runners are on 2nd and 3rd base.]
Rodriguez was showing signs of shaking.
[With one out and runners on 2nd and 3rd, Jung Ha-sung is at the plate.]
The Athletics had a chance to take the lead in the game.
And at the plate was Ha-sung, the hottest hitter in this series, no, this season.
[Jung Ha-sung has a batting average of over .500 when there are runners in scoring position, so he’s strong in clutch situations.]
[Especially, he’s been showing overwhelming hitting ability, recording home runs in all of his last 8 games. There’s a high probability that he’ll seize this opportunity as well.]
If he hits a home run in today’s game, it will be 9 consecutive games.
This was a new Major League record, so the attention of all baseball fans was focused on it.
Rodriguez, the pitcher, was well aware of this fact.
‘Damn it… Why Ha-sung at this moment…’
Facing Jung Ha-sung is the last thing a pitcher wants to do.
His hitting ability was that terrifying.
‘I have to be careful here.’
Not only can I give up a run, but I can also become a sacrifice for the record.
‘I’ll avoid a head-on match with him.’
First base was also open.
There was no reason to insist on a head-on match.
Rodriguez skillfully threw mainly changeups, avoiding a head-on match with Ha-sung.
Thwack-!!
“Ball!!”
[It’s a ball on the first pitch. A slider that goes outside by one ball!]
[He’s throwing a breaking ball from the first pitch, trying to induce Jung Ha-sung’s bat.]
Ha-sung could immediately tell what he was thinking from Rodriguez’s first pitch.
‘He’s trying to avoid a head-on match.’
It was a good choice.
‘The batter has a great record in front of him. In this situation, he’ll have no choice but to swing at almost any ball.’
In the case of a normal batter, he would be obsessed with the record and swing at breaking balls.
‘But I’m different.’
Ha-sung was also conscious of the record.
But he had no intention of swinging at a bad ball.
‘I’ll reduce the zone even more and aim for a sure ball only.’
He was a veteran.
He had no intention of doing what the opposing pitcher wanted.
As a result.
Thwack!!
“Ball! Base on balls!!”
[It’s a walk! Jung Ha-sung is good at picking out breaking balls! He fills the empty first base and the runners are on all bases!]
He passed the opportunity on to the next batter.
And it was immediately revealed that his choice was right.
Clang!!
[Jack hits the 3rd ball hard!! He hits a long hit that goes over the center fielder’s head!!]
Ha-sung, who had stepped on first base, came home as Jack hit a long hit.
The Athletics were taking the lead 3-0 in an instant.