Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 84

Mound Villain – Episode 84

Minnesota fans were in despair.

“Ah-! Jung Ha-sung is up!”

“Damn it! How are we supposed to score here?”

“Jung Ha-sung in this situation…!”

Considering Ha-sung’s performance this season, the Minnesota fans’ despair was understandable.

[Jung Ha-sung is on the mound to finish the Division Series!]

Everyone watching the game, including the commentators, thought Ha-sung would end this series.

‘These moments are the most dangerous.’

Ha-sung, standing on the mound, was wary of that atmosphere.

‘Nothing is guaranteed in baseball. You never know when and where variables will arise.’

Reducing those variables was what he needed to do now.

“Hoo…!”

Ha-sung focused.

What he had to do was clear.

Turning the batter away.

If they won today’s game, they would have enough rest time, and the Championship Series would begin.

There was no reason to conserve energy.

‘It’s time to go all out.’

Since this was his second appearance in the series, he had no physical issues.

[Jung Ha-sung and Trevor are exchanging signs. Jung Ha-sung nods and prepares to pitch, stepping onto the pitcher’s plate.]

[As I always say, the first pitch is important. You need to get a favorable count.]

[That’s right. Jung Ha-sung, windup!]

Hamsung, gathering strength as he raised his arm, turned his body and kicked his leg up.

Then, he rotated his body, sending all his power to his fingertips.

“Hup-!!”

[He throws the first pitch!]

The ball, leaving his hand with a shout, flew with fierce speed.

The batter’s bat turned, checking the trajectory of the ball.

Whoosh-!!

Just as the bat was halfway around.

Whir!

A slight spin on the ball moved it away from the bat’s path.

The batter was startled and tried to stop the bat, but it was already too late.

Whoosh!

Thwack!!

“Swing! Strike!!”

[First pitch, swing and a miss! The batter swings at an 88-mile-per-hour high-speed slider!]

[From the first pitch, he perfectly draws out the batter’s swing with a fearsome breaking ball!]

[Jung Ha-sung’s slider is not only fast, but its break is also excellent, isn’t it?]

[Yes. The break happens after the batter identifies the ball and starts to swing, making it difficult to hit squarely!]

Ha-sung, having secured the first strike, threw the second and third pitches in succession.

Tap-!!

“Foul!!”

[Second pitch, the bat is pushed back by a 100-mile-per-hour fastball! The ball falls into the stands on the third base side, making it two strikes!]

Thud!

“Ball!!”

[Third pitch, the batter starts to swing at the changeup but stops! Trevor, the catcher, asks the first base umpire for confirmation, but the call is that he didn’t swing!]

One ball, two strikes.

It was a count where intense mind games took place in baseball.

[He can throw a decisive pitch to end the at-bat, or he can throw another bait pitch to secure a stable outcome.]

[What choice will Jung Ha-sung make?]

[Considering Jung Ha-sung’s usual style, he will end it here.]

Ha-sung was a pitcher who pitched aggressively.

It had only been a year, but that fact was known to almost all players and fans.

He had been pitching that aggressively.

That’s why batters facing Ha-sung only had one thought in this situation.

‘He’s going to decide the game.’

The ball would come into the strike zone.

[Jung Ha-sung, windup!]

Ha-sung went into his windup to throw the fourth pitch.

[He throws the fourth pitch!]

The ball, leaving Ha-sung’s hand, flew with fierce speed.

‘It’s coming with a fastball!’

The batter’s bat turned sharply, identifying the pitch Ha-sung threw.

The batter’s judgment was accurate.

The pitch Ha-sung threw was a four-seam fastball.

But there was one thing.

There was a mistake.

Whoosh!!

Thwack-!

“Swing! Out!!”

[The bat swings and misses the high fastball!! The rising ball passes over the bat, inducing a swing and a miss!]

[He used the fastball, which he usually throws as a finisher, as bait! It was a very clever pitch!]

They guessed the pitch correctly, but they didn’t guess the location.

[Only two outs remain!]

Ha-sung’s strikeout show began.

* * *

[Thwack-!]

[Strike! Batter out!!]

Ha-sung’s pitching was being broadcast worldwide via TV.

The fans watching the scene couldn’t help but admire Ha-sung’s pitching.

[He gets the second out with a 101-mile-per-hour fastball!!]

His debut Division Series.

But Ha-sung didn’t flinch.

Rather, he was overwhelming the batters by pitching as usual.

“How is that guy a rookie?”

“He’s really amazing.”

“If he had been with us this year, wouldn’t we have been able to win?”

Among those watching Ha-sung were the members of the KBO’s [Korean Baseball Organization] national team technical committee.

As Ha-sung’s performance grew this year, arrows of criticism flew at the committee for not picking him for the WBC [World Baseball Classic].

It’s quiet now, but it was very stressful when it was at its worst.

That’s why they were paying close attention to Ha-sung’s performance.

“We should include him in this Asian Games team, right?”

“Shouldn’t we?”

“If he has zero blown saves in the major league, he will dominate the Asian Games.”

Most of the opinions were favorable.

The performance Ha-sung showed was that great.

It was difficult to find a pitcher more outstanding than him, even compared to any domestic pitcher.

But not everyone agreed.

“I’m against it. He’s the guy who refused to play for the national team with a lie about an injury. He doesn’t know the meaning of the Taegeuk mark [Korean flag emblem]!”

It was Kim Tae-hyun, a legendary pitcher who had 133 wins in the KBO, although he is now retired.

Kim Tae-hyun, who had been a pitching coach for a professional team after retirement, stepped down from his coaching position and is currently serving as a member of the technical committee.

He also served as a technical committee member at the WBC, managing the pitchers.

In other words, he was a very influential figure in forming the national team.

Other committee members couldn’t say anything special to Kim Tae-hyun’s opposition.

“Well, Kim’s words are also right.”

“Well, wearing the Taegeuk mark means you have to have that much responsibility.”

“Looking at what he did last year, even if he wears the Taegeuk mark, he won’t be able to bear that responsibility….”

It was then.

[Thwack-!]

[Strike!! Batter out!!]

[It’s a strikeout! Jung Ha-sung strikes out three batters in a row to end the game!!

The Oakland Athletics confirm their advancement to the Championship Series for the first time in three years!!]

[Jung Ha-sung leads the Athletics to the Championship Series with really great pitching!!]

The Oakland Athletics’ Championship Series was decided.

Watching the scene, the technical committee members coughed and made awkward expressions.

* * *

[The Oakland Athletics grabbed the last remaining American League Championship Series ticket.]

[‘The End’ Jung Ha-sung was selected as the MVP of Game 4, ending the game by striking out three batters in the ninth inning.]

[Jung Ha-sung! Also selected as the Series MVP!]

[Ha-sung’s performance, the first Korean to be selected as Series MVP!]

[Highlights of Jung Ha-sung’s Division Series!]

Ha-sung left another mark as a Korean by winning the 4th game MVP and the series MVP.

His performance was a fresh shock to Koreans.

-He’s performing not only in the pennant race but also in the postseason.

-Koo-! A strong heart that doesn’t pick a stage!

-Ha-sung is really born with it.

-Is two games without giving up a run real?

-He even gets the Series MVP.

While fans’ praises continued.

The media began to highlight the match between the Yankees and the Athletics.

[Oakland Athletics face the Evil Empire, the Yankees!]

[Will the Athletics work a miracle against the New York Yankees, where many superstars reign?]

[A battle between a big market VS a small market! Who will be the winner?!]

The match between the Yankees and the Athletics flowed into a structure of a big market versus a small market.

The Yankees raised their power through large-scale investments ahead of this season.

Of course, the media highlighted these parts.

[In short, it can be said to be a battle between David and Goliath.]

[Is the difference that severe?]

[Yes. Ahead of this season, the Yankees acquired Milwaukee Brewers ace C.C. Sabathia for $161.1 million over seven years and A.J. Burnett for $82.5 million over five years. In addition, they brought in Mark Teixeira for $180 million over eight years. The money that will go into these three players alone exceeds $400 million.]

[It’s an enormous amount just calculated by salary.]

[It’s more than the total salary of the Athletics team.]

David and Goliath.

Looking at the size alone, they were no match for each other.

The assessment was that the result was obvious.

[Gamblers are also more focused on the New York Yankees. If you bet $100 on the Yankees to win, you will receive $112, but if you bet $100 on the Athletics to win, you will receive $542.]

In short, they didn’t see the Athletics having a chance to win.

The difference in power between the two teams was that severe.

[As a Korean fan, there will be many people who want the Athletics to advance to the World Series.]

[That’s right. I also desperately want to see Jung Ha-sung play on the World Series stage.]

[But because of the closer position, the impact on the game is limited.]

The closer is definitely an important position.

But there was a limit to how much the closer could influence the game.

That’s why the general opinion was that Ha-sung’s influence would be small even in this Championship Series.

* * *

The Athletics, who took a day off in Oakland, took a private plane back to New York.

‘It’s quiet.’

The Athletics team was quieter than ever.

Everyone seemed to be focusing.

The players also knew.

That they were the underdogs in this Championship Series.

They also felt bad that the media was creating an atmosphere that they would lose.

“Ha-sung, did you see this article?”

“What is it?”

Jack, who was sitting next to him, handed him a magazine.

It was a New York Times magazine, and Rodrigo decorated the main page.

That wasn’t a big problem, but the content of his interview on the first page was annoying.

[The Athletics are great. But in the end, we will be the champions.]

[What do you think of Jung Ha-sung?]

[He’s a great player. But he’s just a rookie who just debuted. He’s sure to tremble in the Championship Series.]

[The head-to-head record is ahead of him?]

[Head-to-head records with bullpen pitchers in the pennant race don’t mean much. Above all, I am strong on the big stage. If I meet him, I will hit the ball over the fence.]

It was content that provoked Ha-sung.

And the last words he left were even more spectacular.

[The media has recently highlighted the confrontation between me and Jung Ha-sung. That itself is uncomfortable. I have been a player representing the major league for over 10 years. A rookie who has only played for a year is no match for me. I’ll acknowledge him if he lasts 10 more years in the major league.]

Ha-sung’s lips twisted at the interview of the guy who called himself a rookie.

“That roider bastard.”

Jack was startled by the word roider that came out of his mouth.

‘Who else would call Rodrigo a roider [someone who uses steroids] so openly?’

At least not among the players.

Because Rodrigo’s influence in the major league is so great.

‘I don’t think I can just let it go.’

What would happen if Ha-sung, who was so angry, ran into the media?

Jack swallowed without realizing it.