The game concluded with a Yankees victory.
Unsurprisingly, Ha-sung was named the MVP of today’s game.
Having achieved a cycle [hitting a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game], it was only natural.
It was also natural that reporters would focus their questions on Ha-sung.
However, the atmosphere today was far from amicable.
“Jung Ha-sung, is there a reason you stopped at first base during your last at-bat?”
“Couldn’t you have easily aimed for second base?”
“Did you intentionally stop at first base for the sake of the record?”
The atmosphere resembled a hearing.
No, that’s exactly what it was.
The relationship between the reporters and Ha-sung wasn’t great.
Ha-sung had been at odds with the reporters since the past.
To be precise, he had been resisting the rights that reporters had taken for granted.
Naturally, the reporters saw Ha-sung as a thorn in their side.
Of course, they couldn’t show it.
Ha-sung was the best pitcher in the major league.
But today was different.
‘The internet is already showing animosity towards Ha-sung’s actions.’
‘Korea, I don’t know, but America isn’t lenient towards guys who don’t give their all in the game.’
‘You’ve been caught red-handed!’
The public opinion regarding Ha-sung stopping at first base was negative.
In America, no one condones a player half-assing it, no matter the situation.
Even if he’s an outstanding player.
Major League fans would even boo if a pitcher didn’t sprint to first base.
But stopping at first when you could easily go to second?
It was unacceptable to Major League fans.
The reporters were planning to latch onto that.
‘No matter what excuse you make, we won’t let it slide.’
‘We’ll make sure to publicize this!’
Like predators spotting prey after a long time, they gleamed with sharp eyes.
But Ha-sung was someone who exceeded their expectations.
“Yes, that’s right.”
He readily admitted.
“What did you just say?”
“Are you saying you stopped at first base for the sake of the record?”
“Yes. I stopped at first base for the sake of a cycle.”
He was so confident that they were taken aback.
How could he say it so confidently?
Taken aback by his confident answer, the reporters forgot to ask questions.
Ha-sung asked the reporters.
“Anything else you want to ask?”
A reporter, snapping out of it, asked.
“If that answer is true, you’re saying you didn’t give your best in the play for the sake of personal record. Is that true?”
“I did prioritize my record, but I always gave my best in the play. That’s why I was able to achieve the hit for the cycle.”
“That’s sophistry. You must know the saying, ‘It ain’t over till it’s over,’ right?”
“Yogi Berra’s great quote. But let’s look at today’s game. In the 9th, my last at-bat, we already had a 9-point lead. What are the chances of this score being overturned?”
“There’s always a chance it could be overturned, no matter how small!”
“Yes. There’s definitely a possibility. It’ll be overturned once in ten thousand times. Then how often will my record come out?”
The reporter was speechless at Ha-sung’s question.
“It’s a feat that no one has ever achieved in the 120-year history of the Major League. I had the opportunity to be the first to achieve it. I succumbed to that temptation. I have no intention of making excuses for the criticism that I didn’t do my best.”
Such confidence in admitting his mistakes so easily?
It was an answer that the reporters didn’t anticipate.
‘I was hoping he would make excuses.’
‘I didn’t expect this kind of answer.’
‘Where does that confidence come from?’
The reporters’ expressions changed drastically at the unexpected answer.
* * *
Ha-sung confronted the controversy head-on.
But the media was busy bashing him.
[A player who didn’t give his best for personal record!]
[Is he really the best player in the Major League if he didn’t play with all his might?]
[His actions this time deserve criticism!]
Most media outlets poured out articles criticizing him.
But not everyone was like that.
[It was already a one-sided game! Ha-sung’s choice is not wrong!]
[A choice to achieve the first record in Major League history! Can we really criticize him?]
Many articles defended Ha-sung.
Not all reporters were moving to criticize Ha-sung.
It could be seen that many reporters were defending him as he became the best player in the Major League.
And public opinion was flowing in a similar atmosphere to these media outlets.
-Isn’t it wrong for Ha-sung not to play with all his might?
-That’s true, but the game was already one-sided, right?
-Still, stopping at first base was too much.
-He admitted that he was wrong, so we should forgive him.
-It’s a record that hasn’t come out in 120 years. Which player wouldn’t want to miss that?
-Are you saying we should forgive him for not playing with all his might?
-If he hadn’t played with all his might, he wouldn’t have achieved the hit for the cycle.
Public opinion was also divided, heating up the internet.
The controversy over Ha-sung’s play this time was that heated.
But this controversy disappeared in the next day’s game.
Swish-!!
“Safe!!”
[He’s safe! Jung Ha-sung! He completes a double with a precarious slide into second base!]
[Ah~ It was a really precarious timing, but he was safe thanks to running with all his might!]
Ha-sung showed a hustle play that didn’t spare his body.
As evidence, his uniform was already dirty with dirt as the 4th inning was passing.
The word ‘laziness’ disappeared from the fans’ minds at that sight.
* * *
Ha-sung’s performance after joining the Yankees was amazing itself.
[Jung Ha-sung brings victory to the Yankees with 7 innings of scoreless pitching!]
He became an ace, like an iron wall, for the Yankees, who were evaluated to have a weak starting rotation.
[Jung Ha-sung leads the Yankees’ 4-game winning streak with 3 consecutive home runs!]
In the central batting lineup, he transformed into a powerful hitter and led the Yankees’ attack.
As he played a definite role in both pitching and hitting, the ranking of the Yankees, who recruited him, also rose rapidly.
[The Yankees rise to 2nd place in the American League East Division! Only 3 games behind the 1st place Boston Red Sox!]
[The Yankees are having an amazing second half after Jung Ha-sung joined! Can they rise to 1st place?!]
Ha-sung’s individual performance, combined with the team’s rise, caused Ha-sung’s stock to rise day by day.
[Jung Ha-sung is recording the highest uniform sales ranking ever!]
[Some predict that Jung Ha-sung’s uniform sales revenue this year will be the highest in Major League history!]
[Vigor announces that limited edition products planned with Jung Ha-sung will be released in time for the postseason!]
Vigor, who caught Ha-sung’s star early, had no intention of missing this moment either.
“Sales of products related to Jung Ha-sung are increasing day by day.”
“As soon as the article about releasing a new model came out, the company’s stock rose 13 percent.”
“Shareholders are sending opinions that we should prepare to renew his contract right away.”
Vigor was already a global company.
Looking only at sports equipment, it could be said to be the best company in the world.
The fact that the company’s stock rose by 13 percent with just one article showed how great Ha-sung’s influence was.
Naturally, it was not strange that there was talk of renewing his contract with him.
“How about signing a permanent contract with him?”
“A permanent contract?”
“Yes. Messi and Ronaldo, etc. Haven’t various players signed lifetime contracts?”
A lifetime contract is a contract method with a lot of risk.
The value of a sports player can drop at any time.
Because the risk of injury is always lurking.
Nevertheless, there were some players who signed lifetime contracts.
Players called icons of the industry.
In the past, there was Michael Jordan, and now there are Messi and Ronaldo, etc.
Vigor was seeing Ha-sung as being on par with those players.
“I’ll discuss it quickly.”
“We must not miss Ha-sung. The moment we miss him, we will no longer be able to discuss being the best in the industry.”
Vigor was currently at the top of sports equipment.
But it wasn’t that there were no rivals.
Several companies were trying to catch up with them.
Ha-sung was needed to shake them off.
* * *
Ha-sung, who joined the Yankees in July, continued his incredible pace in August as well.
[Jung Ha-sung achieves 19 wins this season!]
[It was no different just because it was the Eastern District! Untouchable Jung Ha-sung’s pitching is perfect itself!]
[Jung Ha-sung succeeds in achieving 300 strikeouts for the second season in a row!]
[How far will his performance in the 2011 season continue?!]
As he reached 19 wins and 300 strikeouts early in August, there was no player who could compete with him.
Naturally, there was also talk of the Cy Young Award [awarded annually to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball].
[A green light has been turned on for Jung Ha-sung to win the Cy Young Award for the third consecutive year!]
[No one can compare to him!]
[Jung Ha-sung is posting outstanding results!]
Originally, at this time, discussions about who will receive the Cy Young Award are fiercely burning.
But this season, as in last year, there was no need for discussion.
Because Ha-sung’s performance was so outstanding.
Ha-sung, who is certain to receive the Cy Young Award this season as well.
And there was another award as well.
[Jung Ha-sung has only 2 home runs left until he reaches the 40 home run mark!]
[Jung Ha-sung, who can aim for the Hank Aaron Award [awarded annually to the best offensive player in each league], the Cy Young Award for hitters this season!]
[Where is the limit of Jung Ha-sung, who is ranked 1st in all batting categories?]
[Jung Ha-sung, a true perfect player who is perfect in both pitching and hitting!]
Some were predicting that he would be the first player in Major League history to win the Cy Young Award and the Hank Aaron Award.
And these predictions were gradually becoming a reality.
[Jung Ha-sung achieves 39 home runs!]
He was proving once again that he is the best hitter this season by hitting his 39th home run of the season.
And the number 1 team in the district was approaching Ha-sung.
[The Yankees will play a 4-game series against their fateful rivals, the Boston Red Sox!]
[In the second game of the series, the Yankees decided to field their ace, Jung Ha-sung!]
[Jung Ha-sung will challenge for his 20th win and 40th home run of the season against the Red Sox!]
[If the Yankees sweep this series, they can rise to 1st place in the district for the first time this season!]
There was a lot at stake in this 4-game series against the Red Sox.
For Ha-sung personally, it was an opportunity to challenge for his 20th win and 40th home run of the season.
And for the team, the Yankees, it was a golden opportunity to rise to 1st place in the district.
Above all, considering the rivalry between the two teams, it would be a series that they could never lose.
As this news was delivered, the internet was heating up.
-We can’t lose to the Red Sox anyway, but we can’t lose this series even more!
-We’re going to destroy the guys who make errors in this series!
-Let’s keep our minds straight and show the power of the Yankees!
Not only the Yankees fans but also general baseball fans were looking forward to this series.