Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 231

The Yankees fans’ opinions had completely flipped.

“It’s Ha-sung!!”

“Ha-sung!!”

“Knock another one out today!!”

“We believe in you!”

The animosity that arose from kicking out Alex Rodriguez had vanished.

Every fan was cheering for Ha-sung.

It was a natural reaction, as he had recreated a scene akin to the legend of Babe Ruth.

[Jung Ha-sung’s popularity is incredible.]

[It seems all the fans who were against him have disappeared.]

[That’s how impactful his pre-called home run was.]

The aftereffects of the pre-called home run were still ongoing.

However, Ha-sung had already cleared that from his mind.

‘There’s no need to dwell on the past. The season isn’t over yet, so I need to focus.’

The reason the Yankees bought him was simple.

They were aiming for a World Series championship.

The first step was to win the division.

“The biggest problem is the Red Sox.”

The Boston Red Sox were currently leading the East Division.

They were on an overwhelming run, so catching up to them was the biggest challenge.

“The future is what matters.”

Ha-sung fueled his determination and prepared for the next game.

* * *

As the second half began, the race for the division title officially started.

Among them, the New York Yankees were, of course, receiving the most attention.

[The Yankees, energized by Jung Ha-sung’s pre-called home run, continue their momentum!]

In their first match of the second half against Baltimore, the Yankees boasted a powerful offense from the start.

Clang-!!

[Jeter hits! Well-struck ball! It falls in front of the left fielder!]

Derek Jeter got a hit, and Ha-sung stepped up to the plate.

[Jung Ha-sung is up to bat with runners on first and second!]

[He caused a huge sensation with his pre-called home run.]

[Articles about him are still pouring out in the United States.]

As he stood at the plate, the commentators naturally recounted stories related to the pre-called home run.

It was that impactful of an event.

[With runners on base, it wouldn’t be easy to intentionally walk Jung Ha-sung, right?]

[That’s right. There are already runners on base, and if they intentionally walk Jung Ha-sung, they’ll be in a bases-loaded situation with no outs. Baltimore would want to avoid that.]

It was an accurate assessment.

And the Baltimore Orioles did not issue such an order.

‘Jung Ha-sung is a great hitter, but it’s better to face him head-on than to fall into a bases-loaded crisis with no outs.’

That was the judgment of the Baltimore manager.

It was the right choice.

It’s hard to move up if you don’t trust your players.

That’s why you need to take a chance, even if you know the opponent is dangerous.

But this time, the opponent was too good.

Whack!

“Ball!”

[Jung Ha-sung takes a close curveball! The count is two balls and one strike!]

[Jung Ha-sung has good eyes today.]

Ha-sung, having created a favorable count, focused his mind.

‘I see it.’

Everything within his field of vision darkened, and only the ball in the pitcher’s hand came into view.

The ball, which began to spin with a slide step, was launched from the release point.

It was flying fast, but it seemed to fly very slowly in Ha-sung’s eyes.

And the trajectory of the ball came into view.

Having confirmed it, Ha-sung stepped forward and simply swung his bat.

Whoosh-!!

The bat, cutting through the air with a tremendous sound, hit the ball squarely.

Crack-!!

[He crushed it!!]

With the crisp sound of the hit, his concentration was released.

Ha-sung tossed the bat aside and watched the ball fly over.

[It’s gone!! Jung Ha-sung hits a home run for the second consecutive game!!]

[An incredible swing!]

Ha-sung, who hit his second home run as a Yankee, circled the bases.

* * *

[The New York Yankees’ choice was right! Jung Ha-sung hits back-to-back home runs!]

[Jung Ha-sung has already hit 39 home runs! Only one more until 40 home runs!]

[Will he surpass the 60-home run mark?!]

Thanks to Ha-sung’s home run, the Yankees secured the win.

The media praised the Yankees for choosing Ha-sung and began to highlight Ha-sung’s records.

His first year declaring as a two-way player.

Ha-sung was literally leaving behind incredible records.

Among them, the most outstanding was, of course, home runs.

[Jung Ha-sung is showing an incredible home run pace in the second half as well.]

[Coming to Yankee Stadium, one of the most hitter-friendly stadiums, may also be a reason.]

[But what’s more amazing is that Jung Ha-sung’s home runs are coming when the team needs them most, right?]

[That’s right. This is where experts can see why the Yankees went to such lengths to acquire Jung Ha-sung.]

What is most needed for a hitter?

Accuracy or power.

Everything is correct.

But the most important thing was clutch ability [the ability to perform well under pressure].

If you can’t score runs in scoring situations, you’ll be undervalued no matter how great your hitting ability is.

But Ha-sung’s clutch ability was outstanding.

Since the start of the second half, Ha-sung has consistently delivered in the games the Yankees have won.

[There is a lot of interest in what kind of final record Jung Ha-sung will leave behind at the end of the 2011 season.]

What kind of record will Ha-sung leave this season?

People’s attention was focused.

* * *

As Ha-sung’s performance continued, the atmosphere in the clubhouse began to feel different.

‘The guys who openly doubted me are gone now.’

Even the players who were close to Alex Rodriguez no longer challenged Ha-sung.

That meant Ha-sung’s recent performance was incredibly outstanding.

And there was another reason.

“How’s your condition today?”

The person who approached him first and spoke to him.

It was Jorge Posada, one of the Yankees’ most senior players.

“I’m always in good condition.”

“That’s good. When you get old like me, you feel creaky from the moment you wake up in the morning.”

“Haha! Shouldn’t you go to the hospital for that?”

The relationship with Posada had improved to the point where they could exchange jokes.

Being close to Posada, one of the most respected figures in the clubhouse, inevitably reduced friction with other players.

‘Of course, it’s another matter whether the other guys accept me or not.’

For now, this relationship wasn’t bad.

It takes time for them to accept him.

Above all, there was little to gain by antagonizing them.

Rather, at the current point in the championship race, there were only disadvantages.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

“Huh? It’s nothing. I’m just thinking about when I’ll hit my 40th home run.”

“What? Puhaha! What a ridiculous guy. You think you can just achieve 40 home runs?”

“Of course. My goal is higher than that.”

“Wow~ I guess that’s what it’s like to be young. Your ambition is amazing. Above all, you’re a guy who can really achieve it, so it’s even scarier.”

“Of course.”

Ha-sung said as he put his luggage in the clubhouse.

“Looking up keeps me going.”

Posada’s eyes widened at Ha-sung’s words.

‘I forgot.’

At some point, he stopped looking up.

‘I just thought I was getting old. I stopped looking at higher places.’

Posada clenched his fist.

It was as if his fading competitive spirit had been rekindled.

* * *

Ha-sung’s 40th home run was now a foregone conclusion.

What people were curious about was when it would happen.

[When will Jung Ha-sung’s 40th home run be hit?]

[I can’t say for sure, but it won’t be long.]

[If Jung Ha-sung records 40 home runs, wouldn’t that be a first in Major League history?]

[That’s right. It will be the first record of a pitcher with 10 or more wins hitting 40 or more home runs.]

[The value of the home run ball will also skyrocket.]

The market for memorabilia was very large in Major League Baseball.

The 70th home run of Mark McGwire, the 73rd home run of Barry Bonds, and the bat used for Babe Ruth’s pre-called home run, etc.

The prices of various memorabilia were worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

[Recently, the home run ball that came out when Jung Ha-sung hit his pre-called home run is already said to be worth over $100,000 in the United States.]

[It is known that a Major League Baseball fan offered up to $300,000, but the owner of the ball refused to sell it.]

Ha-sung is a player enjoying the highest popularity.

Naturally, memorabilia associated with such a player has tremendous value.

[Unfortunately, no more home runs came out in the series against the Baltimore Orioles, but it is expected to be recorded soon.]

[Many fans are expected to flock to the United States to catch his home run ball.]

[The next game is an away game against the San Francisco Giants.]

[Attention is focused on whether Jung Ha-sung will be able to record 40 home runs in his last San Francisco appearance this season.]

* * *

The Yankees were definitely a team with a lot of money.

That’s what he felt on the private plane.

‘The Oakland private plane was definitely not bad. But this is a completely different level of facility.’

Since the Oakland Athletics are also a Major League Baseball team, they travel by private plane.

However, Oakland’s private plane was used in the form of a lease, not a purchase.

As a result, the interior was not greatly modified.

If it was greatly modified, the cost of restoring it would be high.

But the Yankees were different.

‘This is all owned by the Yankees.’

The Yankees owned a private plane.

And the interior was remodeled to suit the players’ tastes.

Thanks to this, there was a bar as well as a separate space where players could enjoy games.

In addition, food was provided at any time if the player wanted it by hiring hotel chefs.

‘This is the Major League money power.’

Athletics and Yankees.

Despite being the same Major League Baseball team, there were big differences in these areas.

‘It’s comfortable.’

Inside the remodeled private plane, Ha-sung rested comfortably and spent his travel time.

At the same time, he was simulating the game against the San Francisco Giants in his head.

‘The first game is against Lincecum.’

Tim Lincecum.

He was a player with quite a history with himself.

‘He’s the guy who had a home run stolen from me last year.’

It was himself who ended the pitching duel with Lincecum.

It was thanks to the home run at the time that he was able to embark on a new challenge as a two-way player.

‘He’s a guy with a strong pride, so he won’t avoid a showdown with me.’

Not avoiding the showdown was advantageous to himself.

‘Recently, there have been a lot of pitchers that avoid a showdown with me.’

He clearly felt it in the game against Baltimore.

Major League pitchers are avoiding him.

Thanks to this, he did not record a home run except for the first game.

But this wasn’t bad either.

‘Those great major leaguers are afraid of me.’

A smile spread across Ha-sung’s lips.

Posada, who saw it while passing by, said.

“What are you thinking about that you’re smiling like a villain?”

“Huh? It’s nothing. I’m just happy thinking about when I’ll hit my 40th home run.”

“Geez… you’re a unique guy.”

Posada shook his head and passed by.

Ha-sung, who was left alone, closed his eyes, already looking forward to the match against Lincecum.