Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 75

The Mound’s Villain – Episode 75

No one expected it.

[Jeong Ha-seong’s Record Streak Halted.]

Who would have thought it would be stopped?

And that the reason would be the team, not the player himself.

[The Athletics have recorded 3 wins and 3 losses in their last 6 games. All 3 wins were overwhelming victories with a difference of 5 points or more due to the explosive performance of the batting lineup, so Jeong Ha-seong had no chance to play.]

The public was taken aback by this article.

– Why isn’t Jeong Ha-seong playing?

– There are no save opportunities.

– Can’t he just play?

– What are you talking about!

– Isn’t it just getting a save if you pitch in the 9th inning?

– Wasn’t a save given when the team wins while leading within 3 points?

– A save is only recorded when you finish the game with your team winning within a 3-point difference.

– Seriously, you don’t even know what a save is?

– Looks like some newbies who recently got into baseball because of Ha-seong’s popularity.

As Ha-seong’s popularity grew day by day, some people started watching baseball for the first time.

They didn’t know how save points were earned, which led to ‘save’ trending in real-time search rankings.

[1st Place: Jeong Ha-seong’s New Record]

[2nd Place: Jeong Ha-seong]

[3rd Place: Save]

[4th Place: Major League Record]

Search terms related to records naturally promoted him, but baseball fans didn’t care about that.

– When is he going to achieve the Major League record already!

The most important thing was whether Ha-seong could achieve the Major League record.

* * *

Interest in Ha-seong’s new record was high in the United States as well.

With high public interest, the media was naturally eager to cover him.

“When is he coming…….”

“Doesn’t he drive a Ferrari these days?”

“Yeah, he’s been driving it for a while now.”

Numerous fans and reporters were mixed together at Oakland Coliseum, waiting for Ha-seong.

It was unusual for so many reporters to gather.

That meant there was a lot of interest in Ha-seong recently.

“By the way, what do you all think?”

“About what? The record?”

“Yeah. It’s true that it’s been halted recently. There are a lot of stories saying he’ll fail to achieve it because the momentum has been cut off.”

“But there’s still time, right?”

“The problem is that the Athletics only have 14 games left.”

“If he doesn’t get any save opportunities, it’s over.”

“I wanted to see him achieve the record.”

The reporters also seemed disappointed.

Once a record like this is set, it makes things easier for the reporters.

They could write related articles and secure a huge readership.

Vroom-!

At that moment, a Ferrari appeared with a loud roar.

“It’s Jeong Ha-seong!”

“Ha-seong is here!!”

The reporters rushed to take pictures of Ha-seong, all holding up their cameras.

As Ha-seong parked his car and walked out of the parking lot, the reporters swarmed him.

“Jeong Ha-seong! Your record attempt has been halted. Can you say something about your current feelings?”

“Do you think you’ll succeed in breaking the record this season?”

The reporters’ main goal was to get a comment from Ha-seong.

That’s why most of their questions were similar.

Ha-seong stopped and took the time to speak to the reporters.

“Achieving the record is possible if the opportunity comes. As for my current feelings, I’m indifferent. I’m just thinking of it as a time to rest and taking a good break.”

“Aren’t you impatient?”

“I’m not impatient at all. There are still 14 games left.”

“Isn’t it ‘only’ 14 games left?”

“Wouldn’t that depend on how you think about it? I think I can get about 4 saves in 14 games.”

“Ooh~”

Ha-seong’s comments were full of confidence.

The reporters liked these kinds of comments.

Several more questions followed.

* * *

Ha-seong’s remarks were soon published in articles and released to the public.

– Jeong Ha-seong is so confident.

– He doesn’t seem like a rookie, lol [laughing out loud].

– It’s fun because he has such guts.

– Isn’t he lying when he says he’s indifferent?

– It’s just a comment, lol.

– No wonder the reporters like him.

Most fans liked Ha-seong’s interview.

No one would dislike a confident player.

Especially if his performance backs it up.

Of course, if his performance drops, public opinion will turn against him. No one likes a player who only talks a lot without performance.

“Hoo…….”

Ha-seong warmed up in the bullpen while watching the game situation.

‘Today’s game will be close.’

The game was going back and forth.

At the point where the 6th inning was passing, the score of both teams was 1 to 1.

The tense battle continued without letting go of the tension.

‘If we can hold on well until the 6th inning, it will be more advantageous for us since our bullpen is stronger. The question is whether we can score additional points.’

The game continued as Ha-seong thought.

From the beginning of the 7th inning, the Athletics showed a move to not give up additional points by activating the bullpen.

But the problem, in Ha-seong’s view, was not that.

‘The bullpen is strong enough that I don’t have to worry about it, but we need to score to win.’

Scoring was something the batters had to do.

The problem was that the Athletics’ batting lineup was not scoring points again today.

‘We need to make a change.’

Tony, too, was thinking the same thing as Ha-seong.

‘We’ll make a move in the 8th inning.’

Tony was checking the player list, looking for the moment to make a move.

And he set that moment as the 8th inning.

The batting order starts from number 9, but if a runner gets on base, it leads to number 2, Arnold.

‘If it’s Arnold, with his recent pace, we can expect a lot.’

Arnold, who joined the team from the second half of the season, was showing good performance.

In particular, his batting average when there are runners in scoring position is over 40%, showing his ability as a clutch hitter.

That’s why Tony wanted him to have a chance.

‘We’ll use a pinch hitter for number 9.’

The existing number 9 hitter, Mack, was showing a batting average in the low to mid .200s this season.

He was still on the roster because he occasionally hit unexpected home runs, but there were no resources to replace him in the current Athletics.

However, with the expansion roster applied, there were many resources to use as pinch hitters.

‘The guy with the best batting average in Triple A [Minor League Baseball] is…….’

Tony checked the batting averages of the players who came up from Triple A.

And his eyes went to one player.

‘It’s Jack.’

Ha-seong’s partner, Jack.

He was also called up with the expansion roster.

* * *

8th inning, bottom.

With the score still tied at 1 to 1, the Athletics made a move.

[Tony is bringing out the pinch hitter card. He’s putting Jack, who was called up with the expansion roster, as a pinch hitter for the leadoff hitter, number 9.]

[I remember this player. He probably hit a home run in the last game of the exhibition game.]

[So, are they expecting a home run?]

[There’s a possibility. If they lead by even 1 point, Jeong Ha-seong can come up in the 9th inning and get a save.]

[I hope the Athletics score here.]

The fans who came to the stadium were thinking the same thing.

“Score a point and pass the save opportunity to Ha-seong!!”

“We have to score here!!”

“Get on base somehow!”

What the fans who visit Oakland Coliseum want is Ha-seong’s save.

That’s why they were putting tremendous pressure on the batter.

‘I want to see it too!’

Jack also had the same feeling as those spectators.

‘When I got called up to the major league, I thought he would definitely come and say, ‘What took you so long?”

That was the first thing Ha-seong said when he saw Jack when he was called up in September.

It was a Ha-seong-like remark, but it came to Jack a little differently.

‘Even I didn’t think I would come to the major league this season…….’

Thwack!

“Ball!!”

Jack focused.

‘He thought I would come. I want to give my friend, who believes in me, a chance.’

Jack gritted his teeth and gripped the bat.

And he swung the bat with all his might at the incoming ball.

Crack!!

[He hit the second pitch! A well-hit ball!!]

The batted ball passed over the first baseman’s head and fell inside the line.

[It’s fair! It’s fair!! Jack rounds first base and goes to second! The right fielder catches the ball and throws it to second base!]

“Safe!!”

[Jack steps on the base first, and the runner goes to scoring position with no outs!!]

[That was a very good hit!]

[And now the batting order leads to the upper batting order!]

The Athletics seized the opportunity.

* * *

Ha-seong started warming up.

Boom-!

Boom!!

Every time he threw the ball, a roar echoed in the bullpen.

Watching that, Sanchez shook his head.

‘His ball has become even stronger because he hasn’t played in recent games.’

You could feel the power Ha-seong had even in practice pitches.

‘Will Ha-seong get a chance today?’

No sooner had Sanchez finished thinking than.

Crack!!

A cheerful sound rang through the ground.

The pitchers in the bullpen, including Sanchez, all looked at the ground.

“Wow!!”

“He hit it!!”

Ha-seong didn’t bother to look at the ground.

Because he could tell just from the shouts of the spectators.

“It’s in!!”

“Ha-seong finally has a chance!!”

That they had gained a leading score.

* * *

[9th inning, the Athletics’ closer! Jeong Ha-seong, the best closer in the major league, is on the mound to finish the game!]

[It’s only 1 point, but it couldn’t be more comfortable! It’s as if they already think they’ve won the game!]

[That’s right! Jeong Ha-seong, who has appeared in 59 games this season and recorded 1 win and 58 saves without a single blown save! In a word, he’s untouchable! He’s a player you can’t touch!]

While the caster and commentator were praising Ha-seong with their mouths dry.

Ha-seong was finishing his practice pitches and applying rosin [a sticky substance used by pitchers for grip] to his hands.

Tony approached Ha-seong and lightly patted him on the shoulder.

“Get ready to go home.”

This one word showed how much faith the manager had in Ha-seong.

“Yes.”

Ha-seong, who nodded, received the ball back from the infielder and stepped on the pitcher’s plate.

[Jeong Ha-seong! It’s been a long time since he’s been on the mound!]

[Since it’s been a long time, the first pitch is the most important!]

It’s been a long time since he’s been on the mound.

There was a slight anxiety.

Of course, not for Ha-seong himself.

‘You’d want this, right?’

Ha-seong immediately nodded at Trevor’s sign, who was wearing a mask.

[Jeong Ha-seong, who exchanged signs, throws the first pitch!]

A smooth pitching form followed with the windup.

Following the stride, the body rotated, and following the arm’s throwing motion, he threw the ball with all his might.

“Hmph!!”

Whoosh-!!

The ball that left his hand cut through the wind with a sharp sound.

The ball that passed over the home plate in an instant was directly embedded in the mitt.

Thwack!

“Strike!!”

[First pitch strike! The speed is…… 100 miles!]

[Ah-! Jeong Ha-seong! He throws a very good ball from the first pitch! It was a really great ball!]

[He must have rested well recently, so he’s throwing a really sharp ball from the first pitch.]

Ha-seong’s pitching to get his 59th save began.