Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 262

The Mound’s Villain – Episode 262

As everyone predicted, Ha-sung easily secured the first win of the World Series, moving one step closer to the championship ring.

[Just like the Championship Series, the World Series is also a best-of-seven format. The New York Yankees successfully seized the initiative with their first win.]

[Jung Ha-sung’s pitch count was a bit high, but it was a close game with only a one-point difference, so they couldn’t take him out.]

[Although closer Mariano Rivera is reliable, entrusting it to Jung Ha-sung was more reassuring.]

[A starting pitcher who is more reliable than the best closer in history. Manager Joe Girardi is truly a blessed manager.]

[Since his pitch count was high, Jung Ha-sung will probably rest in the second game, right?]

[That’s highly likely.]

Ha-sung’s pitch count was higher than expected.

He threw over 110 pitches, completing a shutout from the 1st to the 9th inning.

Physical strain was inevitable.

That’s why manager Joe Girardi came to find Ha-sung.

“How’s your condition?”

“I’m fine. I’m a bit tired, but I’ll recover soon.”

“Your recovery is truly remarkable. Even after throwing over 110 pitches, you bounce back so quickly.”

“I had to overcome the physical limitations to both pitch and hit effectively.”

Joe Girardi nodded at Ha-sung’s answer and asked.

“What are you planning for the next game? If you want, I’ll put you on the bench.”

The decision of who plays is usually the front office’s domain.

No matter how great a player was, they couldn’t interfere with those decisions.

“Seizing a single opportunity isn’t a bad idea, but if I only take one at-bat and then sit, the Cardinals are likely to intentionally avoid pitching to me later in the series.”

“Hmm. That’s certainly a valid point.”

“In that case, I’d rather be in every at-bat. Send me out as the designated hitter.”

“Alright. Then we’ll do that.”

His participation in the second game was decided.

In fact, Ha-sung could have rested.

But the reason he didn’t was because of the unique circumstances of this World Series.

‘From the third game onwards, which moves to the Cardinals’ home stadium, I can’t play as a designated hitter.’

The American League has a designated hitter [DH] system.

It’s a system where a hitter bats in place of the pitcher.

But the National League doesn’t have this system.

In other words, the pitcher also has to bat.

This was a new situation for Ha-sung, who was used to pitching and hitting.

‘I only played in the American League this season. There was no reason for me to bat in the Winter League [referring to interleague play].’

The Winter League, where interleague games with the National League take place, follows the rules of the league to which the home team belongs.

In other words, if the game is held at the home stadium of a National League team, the game proceeds without a designated hitter.

There was no reason for Ha-sung to play in such a game.

That was one of Ha-sung’s potential weaknesses.

[There’s a variable from the third game of the World Series.]

[A variable?]

[Yes. It’s that Jung Ha-sung might not be able to bat.]

[Why is that?]

[Because the series moves to the Cardinals’ home stadium, and the rules of the National League, not the American League, apply.]

[Ah~ the designated hitter disappears.]

[That’s right. The pitcher also bats, and there’s a high possibility that Jung Ha-sung, who has been playing as a designated hitter, won’t be able to bat.]

[If that happens, the Yankees will suffer a huge loss.]

[Yes. It’s like losing Jung Ha-sung, the key hitter who leads the offense, so it will be a significant disadvantage.]

Experts also knew this well, so they were saying that the Yankees had to win the first and second games to win this World Series.

And that was what Ha-sung agreed with.

‘We have to get two wins first and then move the series.’

That was why Ha-sung insisted on playing in the second game.

* * *

World Series Game 2.

The New York Yankees sent out another ace, CC Sabathia.

And the Cardinals sent Jamie Garcia to the mound.

CC Sabathia was a well-known player who had been the Yankees’ de facto ace until Ha-sung joined.

He had a good record this season as well, with 19 wins, 8 losses, an ERA [Earned Run Average] of 3.00, and a WAR [Wins Above Replacement] of 6.3.

Jamie Garcia was inferior to Sabathia, but he also showed a good performance with 13 wins, 7 losses, and an ERA of 3.56 this season.

Since he was a player receiving the minimum salary, this level of efficiency was ideal for the Cardinals.

[The match between Sabathia and Garcia unfolds.]

The two players showed stable game management from the beginning, continuing their pitching duel.

[CC Sabathia finishes the first inning with a three-up, three-down!]

[He’s showing good form today and easily handling the Cardinals’ hitters.]

Sabathia showed a stable performance, and.

[Although he allowed a hit to Jung Ha-sung, Garcia also finishes the inning without allowing a run.]

[He allowed a hit, but he overcame the threat by getting Derek Jeter to fly out to the center fielder.]

Garcia also finished the inning without allowing a run.

“It’s likely to be a pitching duel.”

Derek Jeter approached Ha-sung, who was sitting on the bench.

“I think so too. Both pitchers are in good form. They’re also good at controlling their pitches.”

“It’s not easy to get hits off these guys. I should have brought you home.”

“It was a golden opportunity. How could you miss it?”

Derek Jeter chuckled as he looked at Ha-sung shaking his head.

“Yeah, yeah. My bad.”

“I’m just kidding. The hit wasn’t bad. The direction was the problem. Above all, Garcia’s pitch movement was good.”

“That’s right. It wasn’t a clean hit.”

“The tailing isn’t severe, but the vertical movement is.”

“Hmm, would it be better to swing a little lower?”

“I’m already doing that.”

Derek Jeter nodded at Ha-sung’s answer.

“You really have a great ability to understand pitchers.”

“I started as a pitcher, after all. I can roughly tell what characteristics they have when they throw, and what their condition is like today.”

It was an insight that he could have because he played in the same position.

Derek Jeter admired Ha-sung.

‘I also knew through analysis data that Garcia’s pitch movement changes more vertically……’

The analysis capabilities of Major League Baseball are the best in the world.

No matter how great a player appears, they are all analyzed before half the season passes.

But it’s only average data.

The problem was that the players weren’t robots, and they didn’t throw according to that average.

There were times when they couldn’t, and there were times when their condition was so good that they pitched beyond the data.

Today, Garcia was such a case.

‘Garcia’s pitch movement is better than usual. I have to approach it differently than usual.’

Ha-sung mentioned it casually, but Jeter took it to heart.

He used that information to adjust his approach.

* * *

As Ha-sung and Jeter talked, the game continued as a pitching battle.

Clang-!!

[He hit it! But it’s a ground ball! Derek Jeter fields the ball cleanly and throws it to 1st base!]

Thud!

“Out!!”

[It’s out! Sabathia shuts down the Cardinals’ lineup, blanking the 4th inning without allowing a run!]

[Sabathia’s pitching today is very stable. The tempo is fast and the movement of the ball is excellent, making it difficult for hitters to get a good swing.]

Sabathia went down the mound, and Garcia of the Cardinals came to the mound.

Thud-!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[Garcia strikes out the first batter!]

[The Cardinals probably didn’t expect Garcia to pitch this well.]

[He is overwhelming the hitters with very excellent pitching and is playing an equal game with Sabathia.]

[Following the first game, the second game is also becoming a pitching battle, and the batters of both teams are struggling to get hits.]

Then Ha-sung walked to the plate.

“Waaaaaa-!!”

At the same time, cheers erupted from the stands, and Yankee Stadium shook.

[But the story changes when this player appears.]

[Jung Ha-sung, who got a hit in the first at-bat and started the attack, is facing his second at-bat.]

[Jung Ha-sung accurately scooped up Garcia’s falling slider and got a clean hit.]

[It was a very good swing.]

[However, it didn’t lead to a score because the subsequent hit didn’t happen.]

As the pitching battle continued, it was even more regrettable that they had not scored from Ha-sung’s hit in the first inning.

But Ha-sung didn’t feel such regret.

‘Concentrate…… concentrate…….’

Concentrating only on this moment, he glared at Garcia.

“Hmph!!”

[1st pitch thrown!]

Whoosh-!!

The ball that left Garcia’s hand darted toward the low outside corner of the strike zone.

Thud!!

“Ball!!”

[First pitch is a ball. The 94-mile fastball was well-placed to the low outside corner.]

[It was a good pitch to tempt the batter to swing, but Jung Ha-sung wasn’t fooled.]

[It was a ball that was about half a ball outside of the strike zone.]

[He has a really good eye.]

A good eye and good control.

The two met, so the game was not easily decided.

Thud!!

“Ball!!”

Clang!!

“Foul!!”

Garcia was throwing each ball with precise control, but Ha-sung did not swing the bat unless it was the pitch he wanted.

He made contact on the 3rd ball, but unfortunately, the timing was a little early.

‘He’s controlling not only the location but also the speed of his pitches.’

Considering Garcia’s career, this speed control was more impressive than I thought.

‘The problem is that he’s not challenging me directly.’

Garcia was avoiding a direct confrontation with Ha-sung.

If the pitcher avoids the match, there wasn’t much Ha-sung could do.

Then Derek Jeter in the on-deck circle caught his eye.

From his practice swings, Ha-sung could read his condition.

‘He didn’t just dismiss what I said.’

Derek Jeter was a veteran among the veterans of Major League Baseball.

Above all, his career as a player always remained at the highest level.

That’s why his pride was great.

To the extent that he could have easily dismissed what Ha-sung said.

But Derek Jeter never ignored Ha-sung’s insights.

‘Looking at the trajectory of his swing, it seems like he’s trying to adjust to Garcia’s pitch movement.’

Seeing Jeter’s changed approach, Ha-sung was able to step onto the plate with a much more confident feeling.

Thud!!

“Ball! Base on balls!!”

And he didn’t bother to swing at Garcia’s pitches, who was clearly avoiding the match.

[Jung Ha-sung gets on base with a walk!]

[He recognized Garcia’s changeup well with a good eye.]

[I can’t deny that Garcia seemed to be avoiding the match.]

[After all, a match with Jung Ha-sung is bound to be nerve-wracking.]

[That’s right. It may be a better choice to compete with Derek Jeter.]

Looking at Derek Jeter stepping up to the plate, Ha-sung was ready to run at any time.

But such preparation became unnecessary.

“Hmph!!”

[First pitch thrown!]

The ball that left Garcia’s hand flew with a deceptive movement.

Derek Jeter swung the bat with all his might, perfectly timing his swing.

Whoosh-!!

The trajectory of the swing, which was different from before, accurately met the movement of the ball.

Clang!!

Along with the satisfying sound that followed, Derek Jeter tossed the bat.

[He hit it!! And Captain Jeter throws the bat!!]

As the ball disappeared beyond the fence, Derek Jeter clenched his fist.

“Waaaaaaaaaaaa-!!”

Along with the cheers that followed, the number 2 was added to the Yankees’ scoreboard.

[It’s over! Captain Derek Jeter’s two-run home run explodes!!]

Ha-sung, who stepped on home plate first, waited for Derek Jeter.

The scene of Jeter, who stepped on home plate after him, high-fiving with Ha-sung was broadcast all over the world.