Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 253

The Villain on the Mound – Episode 253

Ha-sung’s addition to the national team was causing a stir in Korea.

The New York Yankees’ opponent for the Championship Series was decided.

[The Texas Rangers advance to the Championship Series!]

The opponent was none other than the Texas Rangers.

A peculiar light flickered in Ha-sung’s eyes as he watched the game.

“History doesn’t change much.”

In the original timeline, the Texas Rangers *would* become the American League champions this season.

While not overwhelmingly dominant in the regular season, they boasted the best winning percentage and advanced to the Division Series as the top seed.

However, Ha-sung’s regression [his return to the past] changed everything.

The New York Yankees became the top seed and faced the Tampa Bay Rays, who came up as a wild card.

Thanks to that, the Texas Rangers had a tougher fight.

But somehow, they managed to win and secure their place in the Championship Series.

“They’re not an easy opponent.”

This season, the Texas Rangers had a decent combination of pitching and hitting, led by their newly acquired ace, Cliff Lee.

At least, that was the case during the regular season.

“They simply exploded in the postseason.”

Starting from the Division Series, the Texas Rangers’ hitters awakened.

Nelson Cruz, who would have hit the most home runs in a single postseason series if Ha-sung hadn’t been there, Adrian Beltre, Michael Napoli, and even the Texas’ future star, Josh Hamilton.

They boasted an incredible batting lineup and unleashed a barrage of hits.

“Even for me, their batting lineup is not an easy opponent.”

At least during this period, the Texas Rangers’ lineup was among the best in the American League.

It meant they were not an easy opponent.

“It’s the Major League, so it’s to be expected.”

It’s where the best players in the world gather.

And the place to determine the pinnacle is the postseason.

There are no easy opponents.

Ha-sung repeated this once again and entered a state of mental focus.

* * *

As the Championship Series was decided, people began to make predictions.

The National Championship Series still showed divided opinions.

But the American League was a different story.

-Of course, the Yankees will win.

-The question is whether they’ll sweep or not, right?

-That’s right.

-It depends on how many games Ha-sung plays in.

-He’ll be starting in the first game, so we should bet on the Yankees winning that day.

-Las Vegas bookmakers are already leaning towards the Yankees winning.

-The odds are almost 900 to 1?

-Are there people betting on Texas?

-They must be aiming for a big win [a high payout for a risky bet].

In Korea, as well as in the United States and many other countries, people predicted the Yankees would win the first game.

It was a testament to how dominant Ha-sung’s performance had been this season.

However, Yankees manager Joe Girardi was wary of this atmosphere.

‘There’s no such thing as a sure thing in baseball. People seem to think that Ha-sung’s appearance will automatically lead to a win.’

This kind of atmosphere puts a lot of pressure on the pitcher.

Doing well in a game that you’re expected to win doesn’t mean much.

Conversely, what would happen if a mistake is made or if he’s not in his usual condition?

‘There would be immediate criticism. People would wonder what’s wrong.’

The pitcher himself would know that very well.

Above all, Ha-sung hadn’t failed once this season.

What would happen if such a player made a mistake in an important game?

The impact on him could be more severe than expected.

‘Even if it’s not his mistake, his mentality could be greatly shaken if a teammate makes an error.’

There was a saying that baseball is a mental sport.

The mental aspect plays a big role.

If that mentality is shaken, it may not recover in the short term.

“Hoo… Am I worrying too much?”

That’s what a manager’s job is.

They have to look at the pessimistic aspects before the optimistic ones.

That’s the only way to respond in any situation.

“We need to prepare for the worst. But the basic thing is to trust Ha-sung and go with him.”

He just hoped he would perform as he had shown this season.

* * *

Championship Series Game 1.

[The Championship Series Game 1 between the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers is about to begin!!]

The game was at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees’ home field.

[Unlike the Division Series, which was a best-of-five series, the Championship Series is a best-of-seven series, isn’t it?]

[That’s right. Games 1 and 2 will be held at Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees’ home field, where they had a high winning percentage, and Games 3 to 5 will be held at Globe Life Park in Arlington, the Texas Rangers’ home field, and Games 6 and 7 will return to Yankee Stadium.]

[The New York Yankees finished the Division Series with a shocking result of 3-0.

It remains to be seen how many games the Championship Series will last.]

At that moment, the camera caught the player standing on the mound.

[The New York Yankees’ starter is, of course, this player! It’s the untouchable Jung Ha-sung!]

With the caster’s introduction, Ha-sung began his practice pitches with a windup.

Despite lightly throwing the ball, the scoreboard showed 94 miles per hour.

[Jung Ha-sung is throwing the ball lightly at over 90 miles per hour even in practice pitches! He looks to be in great condition today!]

[Jung Ha-sung’s greatest strength is his consistency. He has never collapsed significantly since his debut in the Major League!]

[Isn’t he famous as a player with thorough self-management even in the Major League, where professionals gather?]

[That’s right. In the United States, some people call Jung Ha-sung a baseball robot.]

[It’s a famous anecdote that several paparazzi have targeted him since his debut in the United States, but to no avail.]

[He was a player who only knew training and games.]

[That’s why he was able to reach his current position.]

Surprisingly, Ha-sung was a diligent player.

He had been the subject of several controversies, but most of them were related to interviews.

Most of them were controversies that arose naturally from being at odds with the media because he said what he wanted to say.

[Didn’t Jung Ha-sung, who was resting after the Division Series, also drop the big news of joining the national team?]

[That’s right. He is finally joining the national team four years after his debut in the Major League.]

[The KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] unusually quickly confirmed this fact.]

[Originally, he would have to be selected through a fair process, but Jung Ha-sung is already a player who has surpassed that level.]

In the KBO, a technical committee is convened to select national team players, and the process involves stages such as the first selection, the second selection, and the final selection through meetings.

However, Ha-sung skipped all these stages.

As a result, there was some talk in some quarters, but it was only a small minority.

From the beginning, it would have been strange if Ha-sung had not been selected for the national team.

[With this, Korea has once again become a candidate for winning the Olympic baseball event.]

[We can say that the power has increased at once. But what’s important now is the Championship Series right in front of us, rather than the Olympics.]

[The Texas Rangers’ lineup that you will face today is at a different level than the Tampa Bay Rays, isn’t it?]

[They gave a solid feeling even in the regular season, but in the Division Series, the terrifying lineup began to breathe fire.]

[Today, the Texas Rangers have Ian Kinsler as their leadoff hitter, followed by Elvis Andrus and Josh Hamilton in the top of the lineup.]

The Texas Rangers did not change their tactics.

That meant they were confident in their lineup.

[C.J. Wilson will be the starting pitcher.]

[Yes. His appearance, who showed a good performance in the Division Series, is enough to make us expect that today’s game will be a pitching match.]

[If the game passes the middle innings, we may be able to see a Korea-Japan match.]

[It’s thanks to Uehara Koji, who was traded from Baltimore to Texas as a relief pitcher.]

Uehara Koji, one of Japan’s legendary pitchers.

He was active as a starting pitcher in Japan, but failed in the Major League. He had transformed into a relief pitcher to survive.

[We don’t know if the two players will face each other, but what’s important now is the top of the first inning.]

[That’s right. How will Jung Ha-sung get through the top of the first inning? The game begins!]

The Championship Series has begun.

* * *

The Texas Rangers’ leadoff hitter was Ian Kinsler.

[Ian Kinsler, who is no exaggeration to say is the best second baseman this season, is entering the plate.]

[Unlike 2010, when he didn’t play a full season due to injury, he appeared in 155 games this season, recording 158 hits, 32 home runs, and 30 stolen bases, joining the 30-30 club [players with 30+ home runs and 30+ stolen bases in a season].]

[It’s really an amazing record. Isn’t it widely expected that the Texas Rangers will proceed with a long-term contract after the season is over?]

[That’s right. He will surely be the player to succeed Michael Young.]

The Rangers’ away fans began to stir at the appearance of Ian Kinsler.

That’s how outstanding Ian Kinsler’s performance was this season.

But the opponent was Ha-sung.

“Hoo……”

After exchanging signs, Ha-sung entered his windup.

[Jung Ha-sung throws the first pitch!!]

“Heup-!!”

With a short shout, Ha-sung, who stepped forward, threw the ball with all his might.

Whoosh-!!

The ball that left his hand pierced past Ian Kinsler at a fierce speed.

Thwack-!!

Before Ian Kinsler could react, the ball was lodged in the mitt.

“Strike!!”

[First pitch strike! A strike is declared with a roar like a bomb exploding! The speed is 101 miles per hour!!]

[Jung Ha-sung is throwing an amazing ball from the first pitch.]

[Jung Ha-sung is showing his best condition today!]

It was the now-commonplace impact of the first pitch.

‘Tch… Still a monstrous ball.’

Ian Kinsler had faced various pitchers this season.

But the most intense pitcher among them was Ha-sung.

‘The ball curves in like a snake. I definitely thought I hit it, but it runs away and gets stuck somewhere else.’

That was Ha-sung’s greatest strength.

It was the movement.

Most major leaguers throw moving fastballs.

But Ha-sung’s moving fastball was on a different level.

Both vertical and horizontal movements show movement similar to breaking balls.

Thanks to that, it was difficult for hitters to aim for solid hits.

‘Now is not the time to whine.’

Ian Kinsler calmed himself down and stood at the plate again.

‘As the vanguard of the attack, I have to somehow start the flow of the attack.’

In the Division Series, Ha-sung showed a perfect pitch.

There are several reasons why he was able to show such a performance, but it means that no one attacked him in the first inning.

‘The leadoff hitter of the Tampa Bay Rays didn’t play a proper role. The leadoff hitter has to get on base somehow and create holes in the defense.’

Ian Kinsler understood the sport of baseball well.

That’s why he knew how much difference there was between situations with and without runners.

And it was his job to do that.

‘He’s increased his concentration.’

Ha-sung could feel Ian Kinsler’s increased concentration.

Ha-sung’s lips curled up when he saw that.

‘That doesn’t change anything.’

Ha-sung also increased his concentration and continued his windup.