Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 228

The Mound’s Villain – Episode 228

Clang-!!

[He hit it! But it’s a mis-hit! It’s popping up high!]

The second baseman called for it, arms outstretched, already in position.

“Mine!!”

Thud!

“Out!!”

[Caught it! Jung Ha-sung is out on a pop fly to second base after a four-pitch at-bat.]

[It seems he couldn’t time it properly against the knuckleballer he’s facing for the first time.]

Ha-sung clicked his tongue in disappointment.

‘Even with intense focus, I couldn’t hit it. It changes until the last moment, so no matter how hard I concentrate, I can’t hit it accurately.’

The knuckleball he faced for the first time was indeed formidable.

But it wasn’t like he was completely helpless.

‘The knuckleball doesn’t always fly as the pitcher intends. There were a few mistakes. If I aim for those, I can definitely attack it.’

Ha-sung, heading into the dugout, glanced at Wakefield standing on the mound.

‘I’ll get you today.’

Fueled by his competitive spirit, he sharpened his resolve for revenge.

* * *

The Yankees versus the Red Sox.

The third game between the two teams was turning into a pitching duel.

Pow-!!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[Strikeout! Jung Ha-sung finishes the 3rd inning with his 5th strikeout of the game!]

Ha-sung overwhelmed the Red Sox hitters with his fastball.

Clang!!

[Mis-hit! Popping up high! The right fielder comes running forward and catches the ball easily! Wakefield gets the third out and achieves a scoreless 3rd inning!]

Wakefield turned back the Yankees’ lineup with his knuckleball.

[With the best fastball and the best knuckleball in the Major League facing off, the hitters can’t seem to find their rhythm.]

[They are two pitchers with completely different styles, but they are both overwhelming the hitters.]

[That’s right. Jung Ha-sung’s good pitching was somewhat expected, but Wakefield also looks to be in very good condition.]

[I wonder how long this pitching duel will last.]

The pitching duel continued.

* * *

If the offense sputters, the pitcher on the mound is bound to feel the pressure.

‘This is when I need to concentrate even more.’

5th inning.

Ha-sung, back on the mound, focused even more intently.

‘My pitch count is over 60. My stamina is gradually decreasing. The hitters know that too.’

Ha-sung was coldly assessing his condition.

And it wasn’t just Ha-sung.

“Let’s be a little more careful this inning.”

Before he took the mound, Posada approached Ha-sung and said.

He, too, as an experienced catcher, clearly knew when a pitcher’s performance might start to decline.

“Okay. But the power of my pitches hasn’t dropped yet, so call the same mix as before. If you think the power or control is wavering while I’m throwing, you can change it up.”

“Got it.”

Posada nodded and moved to the catcher’s box.

‘Ha-sung clearly knows when his condition is declining too. I don’t have to worry for now.’

He’s definitely an excellent pitcher, but Ha-sung is young.

Young pitchers tend to focus on the ball they’re throwing at the moment rather than managing their overall condition.

So, it was necessary for the catcher to check their condition at key moments.

But Ha-sung made it clear through the conversation that there was no need for that.

‘Should I just call the game comfortably, then?’

Posada felt more at ease in this inning, which he thought would be a turning point.

‘Low and away.’

Determining the location.

‘Slider.’

Deciding on the pitch.

Ha-sung, nodding at Posada’s call, began his windup.

[Jung Ha-sung, who hasn’t allowed a hit so far, is in his windup for the first pitch to face the first batter of the 5th inning!]

Whoosh!!

Ha-sung, rotating his body with a powerful stride, released the ball at the precise release point.

[He threw it!!]

Swaaaaaaash-!!

The ball, leaving his hand, instantly darted towards the outside corner of the plate.

‘It’s coming in this time!’

The batter started his swing, confirming the location.

At that moment.

Whoosh!!

The trajectory of the ball changed, dodging the batter’s bat.

‘Damn it!’

Whoosh-!!

Thud!

“Strike!!”

[First pitch strike! Jung Ha-sung induces a swing and a miss from the batter with a slider!]

[The angle of the slider is very sharp today. Knowing that, the proportion of sliders in today’s pitch selection is higher than usual.]

[He’s inducing swings and misses from the hitters by properly adjusting the proportion of his four-seam fastball and slider.]

[There were some concerns because it was the first time he was working with Jorge Posada, but they are showing very good teamwork.]

[That’s right. It seems like they’re working well together because Posada is a veteran catcher.]

Ha-sung’s pitching was perfect in the 5th inning as well.

He struck out the first batter, increasing his strikeouts to 9.

[Jung Ha-sung records 9 strikeouts in today’s game as well, and it looks like he will easily record double-digit strikeouts.]

[In fact, if Jung Ha-sung doesn’t record double-digit strikeouts now, it feels strange.]

Currently, Ha-sung’s 217 strikeouts lead the Major League.

It seemed easily within reach to record more than 300 strikeouts for two consecutive years.

Ha-sung’s strikeout ability was that overwhelming.

[Number 8 hitter, Gregory, steps up to the plate.]

[He was completely defeated by Jung Ha-sung’s fastball in the previous at-bat.]

Gregory’s hitting wasn’t a major strength.

He had power, but his accuracy was poor.

Above all, the biggest problem was that he was weak against fastballs.

‘Let’s cook him with a four-seamer again this time.’

Ha-sung nodded at Posada’s sign.

Since they had the same thought, there was no time wasted in exchanging signs.

“Hmph-!!”

Swaaaaaaash-!

The ball thrown against Gregory flew towards his body.

‘Is it a fastball again!’

Perhaps because he was completely fooled in the first at-bat?

Gregory quickly started his swing as if he had anticipated a fastball.

The trajectory of his swing was accurately aimed at the expected location.

‘This is dangerous!’

Posada flinched, confirming that the trajectory of the ball and the trajectory of the swing matched.

At that moment.

The ball didn’t drop as expected.

No, it felt like the ball was rising.

Perhaps that’s why, deviating from the trajectory of the swing, the ball passed over the bat and landed directly in Posada’s mitt.

Pow-!!

“Swing! Strike!!”

[First pitch swing and a miss! The ball induces a swing and a miss, giving the feeling that it is rising!]

[Jung Ha-sung is renewing his highest speed of the game, recording a whopping 103 miles per hour today.]

As the speed increased, the spin of the ball also improved.

Naturally, the vertical movement of the ball decreased, creating the illusion of a rising fastball.

‘Amazing. To throw the fastest ball he can in the middle of the game when his stamina could be running out.’

Jorge Posada was impressed.

And he revised his opinion of Ha-sung.

‘This guy is more amazing than I thought. I shouldn’t think of him as just a rookie.’

He was a pitcher who knew when to give his all.

Whether he knew it instinctively or analytically, he couldn’t tell.

One thing was certain: Ha-sung knew it himself and acted on it.

‘He’s really amazing.’

Posada admired and sent the next sign.

* * *

Ha-sung finished the 5th inning with a three-up, three-down.

[Jung Ha-sung’s strikeouts are now at 11.]

[He is successfully continuing his impressive Yankees debut by easily recording double-digit strikeouts in today’s game as well.]

[But the Yankees are still continuing their scoreless streak, unable to provide Jung Ha-sung with any run support.]

[It can’t be helped. Today, Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield is in too good of a condition.]

Bottom of the 5th inning.

Wakefield took the mound again.

[Tim Wakefield, who has recorded 62 pitches through the 4th inning. He has only struck out 3, but he is keeping the Yankees’ powerful lineup tightly in check with 4 innings of scoreless pitching.]

Thanks to Wakefield’s good pitching, the score remained 0-0.

[Bottom of the 5th inning begins with number 9 hitter Jorge Posada.]

[Posada is showing good teamwork with Jung Ha-sung today.]

It was a good game from a catcher’s perspective.

But he hasn’t contributed much in the batter’s box yet.

‘Wakefield’s knuckleball is dancing today. It’s hard to hit it unless you’re really lucky.’

Posada was organizing his thoughts as he stepped into the batter’s box.

‘He’s in such good condition, but he showed signs of wavering control in the 3rd inning when a runner got on base.’

3rd inning.

Anderson, who is one of the fastest on the Yankees, successfully reached first base.

And Wakefield’s pinpoint control wavered, and he walked the next batter as well.

‘Of course, he regained his control after that, but in order to crack Wakefield today, someone has to get on base.’

If someone gets on base, Wakefield might show his weakness again.

‘Ha-sung is working so hard. As a teammate, I want to give him this much help.’

It was very surprising that Posada was even thinking this way.

He has a strong sense of pride.

And he was often caught up in past glories.

So his swing tended to be too big, and he naturally put in too much power.

But he had changed his mind.

After receiving the ball from Ha-sung, who had become his partner for the day.

‘What I have to do is…….’

Posada, standing in the batter’s box, took his stance.

‘Get on base.’

The battle with Wakefield began.

* * *

Clang-!!

[He hit it on the 6th pitch!!]

Posada’s bat connected.

He lightly tapped Wakefield’s knuckleball that was floating in.

The batted ball barely cleared the third baseman’s reach and fell into the outfield.

[It’s a hit! Jorge Posada hits a single to left field!!]

[He succeeds in getting on base with a hit that isn’t aimed for a home run, but just trying to make contact!]

The Yankees dugout was buzzing.

“What?”

“Posada is swinging like that?”

“What’s going on?”

“But isn’t it good that he got on base anyway?”

His teammates, who knew Posada’s personality, were shocked.

But one person.

‘I knew I liked this old man.’

Only Ha-sung understood Posada’s intention and felt grateful.

“Nice hit!!”

He conveyed his gratitude by shouting loudly towards Posada.

* * *

As Posada expected, Wakefield began to falter.

The movement of the dancing knuckleball decreased.

Thud!!

“Ball! Base on balls!!”

[It’s a walk! Wakefield issues a walk after Posada gets on base!!]

[Wakefield, who was an iron wall, is showing cracks!]

Anyone could see that Wakefield was faltering.

But he was a veteran.

Thud!!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[It’s a strikeout! Wakefield gets the first out in the top of the 6th inning!]

He regained his wavering control and got the first out himself.

But a wall remained for him.

[Yankees’ eternal captain, Derek Jeter, steps up to the plate!]

The camera focused on Derek Jeter stepping into the batter’s box.

And at the same time, a player in the on-deck circle was shown on camera.

[And Jung Ha-sung is waiting in the on-deck circle!]

[This is really going from bad to worse!]

[Wakefield’s crisis continues!!]

Ha-sung’s acquisition.

The powerful synergy created by it was now shining.