Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 234

Mound Villain – Episode 234

Mound Villain 234

Clang-!!

[Jeter crushes the 4th pitch!!]

Jeter’s bat swung powerfully.

The well-hit ball escaped the infield and landed in front of the center fielder.

Ha-seong dashed from 3rd base without a moment’s hesitation, diving into home.

[Home run! Jung Ha-seong scores his 2nd run of the game! The Yankees add another point, widening the gap!]

The score was now 3 to 0.

Considering Lincecum’s ERA [Earned Run Average, a measure of runs allowed per game] was in the 2-point range, they had already gotten a significant lead.

‘He must feel even worse knowing I contributed two of those three points. It wouldn’t be surprising if his confidence starts to crumble.’

Lincecum had a strong sense of pride.

More than anything, he had a fierce rivalry with me.

‘But he’s been hit by me twice already, so he might be shaken up.’

However, that was Ha-seong’s misjudgment.

“Hiss-!!”

Whoosh!

Thwack!

“Strike!!”

[Lincecum gets a strike with a 93 mph fastball as his first pitch!]

[He throws a powerful fastball right after giving up a run, taking the count!]

Lincecum was an ace for his team as well.

He didn’t easily show signs of faltering just because he gave up a run.

‘He’s tougher than I thought.’

I briefly forgot that this was the Major League.

‘This makes it even more interesting.’

Ha-seong smiled and waited for his next at-bat.

So far, his record was 2 hits in 2 at-bats.

Among them, he had a single and a triple.

* * *

After Ha-seong’s score, Lincecum’s strong pitching continued.

CC Sabathia, who was on the mound for the Yankees, also did his best to match Lincecum in the ace showdown.

Clang-!!

[A weakly hit ball! The left fielder catches it easily!]

Thud!

“Out!”

[Sabathia finishes the 4th inning without giving up a run! He’s putting on a performance worthy of the Yankees’ ace!]

A pitching duel between Sabathia and Lincecum.

Although the Yankees were ahead, a 3-point lead could be overturned at any time.

“Ultimately, getting more runs will be crucial.”

“That’s right. This inning will be important to do that.”

Posada, who was sitting next to him, replied.

“That’s right. Lincecum’s pitch count has exceeded 70, so he’s more likely to make mistakes. Statistically, he tends to struggle more as his pitch count increases.”

“Hmm… that’s definitely true.”

Posada nodded.

‘I was about to point that out, but he already knows. This guy has not only skills but also a sharp mind.’

The Major League scouting teams provide analysis data before each game.

But it’s up to the player to actually read and use the data.

Of course, there is a briefing, but many players tend to trust their instincts.

Even if they listen to the briefing, they often ignore it.

But Ha-seong was different.

He paid close attention to the briefing and then reviewed the data himself.

Especially since he was both a pitcher and a batter, he invested even more time in self-analysis.

The reason was simple.

‘If I fail as a two-way player, there are plenty of people waiting to criticize me. I don’t want to give them any ammunition.’

The path of being a two-way player that Ha-seong was pursuing.

It wasn’t something he was doing because someone told him to.

Others told him to focus on just one role.

He was ignoring their advice and going it alone.

If he failed, he would face tremendous criticism.

Ha-seong didn’t want to experience that.

‘I will definitely succeed.’

For those who challenge the unknown, tremendous pressure weighs on their shoulders.

Ha-seong was overcoming that pressure and holding his ground.

* * *

5th inning.

Ha-seong and Posada’s predictions were accurate.

Thwack-!

“Ball! Base on balls!!”

His control faltered, and he walked the first batter.

[Tim Lincecum walks the lead-off hitter after a full count!]

[He has been pitching well so far, but this time the batter showed great patience.]

[By getting on base after a tenacious at-bat, he might inflict some mental damage on Tim Lincecum.]

Ha-seong admired the lead-off hitter’s walk.

‘Indeed, the Yankees are the Yankees. Even the lower batting order knows exactly what role they have to play.’

The role that a batter has to play varies depending on the situation.

Sometimes they need to focus on getting on base and seeing as many pitches as possible.

This was exactly one of those cases.

Lincecum’s pitch count was increasing, and they needed to shake his confidence somehow.

This meant they should prioritize getting on base rather than trying to hit for power.

And McGill, the 9th batter, executed it perfectly.

‘This is where the opportunity arises.’

Baseball is a game of momentum.

McGill created the momentum, so they just need to capitalize on it and seize the opportunity.

But Lincecum was not an easy pitcher.

[With no outs and a runner on 1st base, Yankees’ lead-off hitter Brett Gardner steps up to the plate.]

[His batting average has dipped slightly, but he has excellent plate discipline.]

The camera showed Brett Gardner and then switched to the waiting batter’s box.

[In the waiting batter’s box, 2nd batter Robinson Cano is waiting. And 3rd batter Jung Ha-seong is warming up! The Yankees’ fearsome lineup is looming over Lincecum.]

The fearsome lineup.

There was no better way to describe the Yankees’ 1-3 hitters in the second half of the 2011 season.

[Originally, Robinson Cano held the fixed 3rd spot, but with Jung Ha-seong joining the team, he took over the 3rd spot.

Cano, who was originally the 3rd batter, moved to 2nd, and Gardner went down to 1st, creating a perfect 1-3 combination.]

[And with Derek Jeter at 4th and Mark Teixeira at 5th, there are many hitters who combine accuracy and power, right?]

[That’s right. It feels like the missing piece has been perfectly fitted with the addition of Jung Ha-seong.]

Ha-seong’s arrival wasn’t just about adding another good hitter; it completed the team’s puzzle.

That synergy was terrifying to other teams.

[Lincecum’s shoulders have become heavier. He can’t help but feel the pressure.]

If he couldn’t get Brett Gardner out, he would have to face Cano and Ha-seong in succession.

Lincecum gave his all in the at-bat against Gardner because he had to avoid that scenario.

“Hiss-!!”

[He threw the first pitch!!]

The ball left his hand quickly and curved like a snake, heading towards Gardner’s body.

Thwack-!!

“Strike!!”

[A sharp strike near the plate! Lincecum shows his power with a 96 mph first pitch!]

Lincecum, who had been throwing in the low 90s, started hitting the mid to high 90s as he pitched with everything he had.

Gardner was taken aback.

‘Why is he suddenly throwing so hard against me!’

It was the most frustrating situation.

But he couldn’t just complain.

‘I have to get on base somehow.’

Gardner knew his role well.

A role to keep the momentum going.

He knew he had to do his part, so he focused even more.

‘Both the batter and pitcher are incredibly focused.’

Ha-seong could tell by watching them from the dugout.

That their concentration had intensified.

‘It’s almost like they’ve entered my zone.’