Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 235

Villain of the Mound – Episode 235

Bases loaded, no outs.

And Ha-seong stepped up to the plate.

The atmosphere at the Giants’ home stadium, Oracle Park [formerly AT&T Park], grew heavy.

“Damn it… Of all times, it has to be Ha-seong.”

“How are we supposed to stop that guy?”

“Even for Lincecum, stopping Ha-seong right now might be too much.”

“They’ll definitely replace him.”

The ace was defending the mound.

Even with a high pitch count, there was still the aura of an ace.

Lincecum was a player fans couldn’t easily give up on.

But the opponent was just too much.

[The Giants fans’ despair at the appearance of the major league’s best hitter is palpable.]

[This season, Jung Ha-seong has been a force to be reckoned with in bases-loaded situations, hitting three grand slams.]

Ha-seong was putting up incredible numbers.

And in bases-loaded situations, he was a true monster.

It was enough to make Giants fans despair.

And that went for the Giants staff as well.

[Giants manager Bruce Bochy is heading to the mound. Will he pull Lincecum?]

[It’s certainly a possibility. His pitch count is already at 90, and his control is wavering, so a pitching change wouldn’t be surprising.]

If it were any other pitcher, Bochy’s decision would have been swift.

He would have already signaled for a pitching change, and a fresh arm would be warming up in the bullpen, but Lincecum was special.

‘This guy is our ace. Even though the opponent is formidable, I have to respect his wishes.’

If Lincecum refused to come out, even the manager couldn’t force him. That was the respect afforded to the ace.

But he wanted to avoid that confrontation if possible.

‘Right now, Lincecum might not have enough left to shut down Ha-seong. If they face off, the team could be looking at a disaster.’

It was the most difficult situation.

Just as the saying goes that no individual is greater than the team, an individual’s desires couldn’t outweigh the team’s needs.

Therefore, Bochy’s mission was to talk to him and convince him to leave the mound.

‘The problem is whether Lincecum’s pride will allow him to accept the situation and step down…’

Lincecum had a fierce competitive spirit.

Knowing that, manager Bochy’s head began to ache at the thought of persuading him.

And his worries soon became reality.

“Are you telling me to come down from the mound in this situation?!”

“As you know, if we give up a big inning here, it could cost us the game.”

“You’re talking as if I’m guaranteed to get shelled.”

“That’s not what I mean. I just hope you’ll consider that this decision is being made because your stamina is clearly diminished.”

Lincecum sighed as he watched Bochy speak as diplomatically as possible.

For the manager to be this considerate spoke volumes.

The problem was that his pride wouldn’t allow him to be taken out of the game.

“I got us into this mess. I want to get us out of it with my own hands.”

“Hmm…”

It was the ace’s plea.

Bochy’s 고민 [agony/worry] only deepened.

‘It doesn’t matter if we lose today’s game. But if Lincecum gets hammered by Ha-seong, will he be able to recover mentally?’

He knew, without being told, that Lincecum considered Ha-seong a rival.

That’s why he was even more worried.

If he got hit hard in this situation, Lincecum’s confidence might shatter.

‘But if I pull him now, his morale might be even more damaged.’

Sometimes it was better to leave no regrets.

Bochy saw this as one of those moments.

‘Even if he falters, that’s something he has to overcome.’

Lincecum wasn’t a child.

He was a professional player and the ace leading the team, so Bochy decided to trust him.

“Okay. Then I’ll leave it to you.”

“Thank you.”

“You are the Giants’ ace. Pitch with pride.”

“I know.”

Confidence returned to Lincecum’s voice.

Hearing that answer, Bochy smiled and stepped off the mound.

[Ah~ Manager Bochy is leaving Lincecum in the game and heading back to the dugout!]

[It seems he has decided to trust his ace. But this could be a very risky decision.]

[He knows better than anyone how dangerous Jung Ha-seong is with the bases loaded.]

It wasn’t just the commentators who were worried.

“Can we really trust Lincecum?”

“His pitch count is high, so he must be exhausted. It would be better to take him out now.”

“The opponent is Jung Ha-seong! How can you trust him against that guy?”

“Damn it! Is Bochy losing it or something?!”

Even the fans were losing faith in their ace, Lincecum.

That’s how overwhelming Ha-seong’s current performance was.

It was a disadvantageous situation in everyone’s eyes.

And Lincecum knew that very well.

‘I can’t betray the manager who’s showing this much faith in me.’

Lincecum’s concentration intensified.

* * *

Ha-seong, stepping into the batter’s box, could sense it.

‘The atmosphere has shifted.’

The hesitation in Lincecum’s demeanor on the mound had vanished.

The anxious look he had before was gone, replaced by a calm resolve.

‘An ace isn’t just a great pitcher. An ace is a pitcher who can pull the team out of a crisis.’

He knew it well because he had dedicated himself to his team in the past.

He understood how deep Lincecum’s loyalty to the Giants ran.

That’s why he was able to summon such tremendous focus in a critical situation like this.

“Hoo…”

It wasn’t going to be an easy battle.

Ha-seong could feel it instinctively.

* * *

[Lincecum gets the sign from Posey and delivers the first pitch!]

It’s a crisis with bases loaded and no outs.

Everyone knew that the first pitch was crucial.

‘No one’s going to try to steal home here.’

In a bases-loaded situation, the chance of a steal of home was slim.

Above all, Ha-seong, the team’s best hitter, was at the plate.

The possibility of attempting a straight steal of home was virtually zero.

Knowing that, Lincecum raised his leg.

Whoosh-!!

Dust flew as Lincecum unleashed his signature, unorthodox windup.

[Tim Lincecum, winding up!]

[Lincecum is showing he intends to give it everything he’s got!]

Lincecum coiled his body, channeling every ounce of strength he possessed.

Then, in a flash, he unleashed it all.

Whoosh-!!

“Hee-eup!!”

The sheer speed of his rotation generated a palpable wind.

The ball, propelled by that instantaneous burst of power, hurtled forward with incredible velocity.

‘Inside pitch!’

Ha-seong, tracking the ball’s trajectory, stepped into the box.

Adopting an open stance, he kept his elbow tucked close, rotating his lower body and hips to maximize the bat’s spin.

Whoong-!!

The bat whistled through the air with a menacing sound.

The instant the bat’s path intersected with the ball’s.

Swaeeeek-!!

The ball seemed to gain even more speed.

Ppeooooeok-!!

The ball zipped past the plate.

Whoong-!!
The bat sliced through empty air.

“Swing! Strike!!”

As the umpire signaled the strike, Ha-seong’s face tightened.

‘The ball sped up.’

The ball’s velocity was demonstrably higher than before.

This wasn’t just a perception; it was reality.

[Lincecum unleashes an incredible fastball! Clocks his highest velocity of the game, 98 miles per hour, in this critical situation!]

[The velocity is impressive, but the location is equally superb. A challenging pitch, aimed precisely at the batter’s body.]

[He’s clearly digging deep, drawing on every reserve of power in this crucial moment.]

Lincecum’s pitch was undeniably superior to his previous ones.

This signified his heightened focus.

‘So, you’re an ace too, huh?’

It was a display only an ace could deliver.

“Hoo……!”

Ha-seong, taking a deep breath as he returned to the batter’s box, intensified his concentration.

‘This is the decisive moment. No point in holding back.’

A state of intense focus demands a significant energy expenditure.

Pushing concentration to its absolute limit inevitably accelerates stamina depletion.

Sustaining that state continuously would tax even Ha-seong’s exceptional endurance.

However, in this critical juncture, he had to embrace that risk and exploit it.

“Play ball!”

As Ha-seong completed his preparations, the umpire’s call rang out.

Mirroring his first pitch, Lincecum contorted his body and hurled the ball with every fiber of his being.

“Heup-!!”

Swaeeeek-!

The ball, released from his hand, streaked toward the outside low corner of the plate.

Ha-seong’s foot anchored itself in the inside corner as he rotated his waist.

It was at that precise instant.

Whir-ik!!

The ball’s trajectory subtly shifted.

Recognizing the change, Ha-seong instantly checked his swing, halting the bat’s forward motion.

Thwack!

“Ball!”

[The bat is held back at the last second! Jung Ha-seong expertly reads Lincecum’s deception and checks his swing!]

One ball, one strike.

The strategic duel between the two players continued.

Ttak-!!

“Foul!!”

[The third pitch is fouled off! The bat is overpowered by the 99-mile fastball, sending the ball into the stands on the third base side!]

Lincecum summoned every last bit of strength.

He knew this was the most important pitch he had to make.

And facing such a determined Lincecum, Ha-seong also committed himself fully.

Thwack!

“Ball!!”

[The bat remains still as the forkball drops! Two balls, two strikes!!]

[The back-and-forth between these two players is incredibly intense.]

They had each landed a blow.

And both players understood that the game’s outcome was about to be decided.

‘He used the forkball on the third pitch to set this up.’

Lincecum exchanged signals with Posey [the Giants’ catcher].

‘Throw your best pitch. A fastball.’

‘Okay.’

Lincecum nodded, acknowledging Posey’s call.

By throwing the forkball, he had familiarized Ha-seong with that particular pitch.

If he now unleashed a full-power fastball, the perceived speed would inevitably feel even faster.

In essence, he had deliberately conceded the fourth pitch to maximize the impact of the fifth.

“Hoo…….”

Lincecum inhaled deeply, focusing his mind completely.

‘I want to repay the faith of the manager and my teammates who believe in me. To do that, I have to throw the best ball I possibly can.’

The situation was undeniably pressure-filled.

But that pressure was unlocking Lincecum’s full potential.

‘Here I go.’

Lincecum, his eyes blazing with intensity, lifted his leg.

Ha-seong, watching him, thought.

‘If he deliberately wasted a ball……’

He was already anticipating Lincecum and Posey’s strategy.

‘This time, you’ll go for the most powerful fastball you can muster.’

The reason Ha-seong could anticipate their thoughts was his extensive experience as a pitcher in his previous life [a reference to a past life or previous career].

That’s why he understood better than anyone what a pitcher would be thinking when delivering the ball in this critical situation.

“Hee-eup-!!”

[Fifth pitch is on its way!!]

And at this precise moment.

Knowing the pitcher’s intentions provided a significant advantage.

Kwazik!!

Ha-seong’s foot was planted firmly in the ground.

Whir-ik!!

Starting with his lower body, his waist, and then his upper body rotated in perfect synchronization.

Whoong-!!

Finally, as the bat swung, it connected powerfully with the rapidly approaching ball.

Ttaack-!!

The instant the ball was struck, everyone knew.

[This is……!!]

[It’s going, going, gone!!]

That the batted ball had cleared the fence.