Chapter 103 – Episode 102. The World Is Wide. (One)

The world is wide.

I actually knew. Since Seonghyun and Jung Woosung threw a lot in the match against Japan, the final was hopeless. And Joo Seung-cheol, who can be seen as the center of the Korean batting line, was missing due to injury.

As expected, the US national team made it to the finals. And the total number of Major League All-Stars. American starting pitcher Verlander finished the first inning with a triple-death. And the end of the first inning started.

Korea’s starting pitcher was NV Rex’s ace, Kim Si-hyun. Ace who towed the 5th place of NV Rex, a weak team in the 2021 season. He was a highly anticipated pitcher in Korea as he was aiming to advance to the majors as a free agent.

However, Trout is the No. 1 hitter in the US.

Why is Trout hitting number 1? There will be people who have doubts. When I saw the lineup, all the players in the national team had their doubts.

But if you look at the lineup, oh, Trout can hit number one. You just put the good players in the top batting order. They all agreed.

Despite being injured last season, the first hitter with a batting average of 0.287 with 38 home runs, and the second hitter who won the American League MVP award with 64 home runs, a new clean home run record from Trout. And Goldschmitz, the National League MVP with a batting average of 0.339 and 41 home runs, hitter No. 3.

At the end of the first inning, when the best sluggers in the major leagues were all out, I had no choice but to stare blankly at the sky while appreciating the batted ball.

‘It went over again.’

Trout’s walk, Judge’s two-run. And Goldschmitz’s back-to-back home runs. Kim Si-hyeon gave up three runs from the first inning and collapsed. Korea’s strategy was based on the calculation that Kim Si-hyeon would eat at least two innings, so there was no pitcher in the bullpen. Although Choi Joong-hoon was preparing in a hurry. I wouldn’t put it in once.

Besides, the next hitter was Harper. Harper didn’t play in many games either, but he hit .323 with 21 home runs. If it wasn’t for the injury, he would have competed for MVP this season as well.

“…….”

“…….”

The infielders were also in no mood to shout “Fighting” Due to the continuous battering. It was the same for me

‘Hmm…. When will it end?’

Rossby looked bored too. Sweat was pouring down Kim Si-hyun’s body like rain, and Harper entered his at-bat. Ball, ball, ball. The ball thrown by Kim Si-hyun goes out of the strike zone three times in a row.

“Seniors. It’s a cool shot for a walk, right?”

“Does Ji Maeng-ho lick his mouth again? Are you still out of your mind?”

“… Sorry.”

Choi Ju-tae’s words scold me. But unlike the last time, it was a voice that lacked pulse. Because I never thought I could win. Besides, even the benches in America are full of monsters. Like Stanton or Freeman.

“Base on Balls!”

Even if you filter it, the next hitter is also a slugger. Batting 5, Betts. A typing that hurts to explain.

Right!

Betts lightly hit the ball and it flew far into the outfield. Center fielder Lee Eun-chong is doing his best. Lee Eun-chong dived and got the first out count near the wall.

“One out! One out! Let’s get two more! Just two!!”

From the edge of the outfield, Lee Eun-chong is heard shouting.

“Fuck. Did Ji throw it? Under….”

And the muttering of Sihyun Kim on the mound.

I wasn’t familiar with the pitchers’ team and the batter’s team because they were divided, but I knew them to some extent. That Kim Si-hyun is a good person. I’ve never seen him swear during training, and I’ve heard that he’s a good senior who buys food for young pitchers.

However, Kim Si-hyun was bathing on the mound. Watching from behind, I was certain that an unimaginable pressure was weighing down Kim Si-hyun.

“Sihyeon! Send one towards me! I’ll stop them all!”

Still, Choi Joo-tae’s mouth was loose, perhaps because he had an out count. However, Kim Si-hyun’s expression was still unresolved.

‘That guy is completely wrong. He’s lost his fighting spirit.’

‘It looks like that even to me.’

He would do anything if he showed signs of coming back to life like Seong-hyeon, but Kim Si-hyeon’s eyes were already dead. And as I expected, Kim Si-Hyun sat down on the mound after hitting a huge home run by Arenado, the next hitter.

“Pitcher replacement. Choi Joong-hoon.”

A worse manager came up and declared a pitcher replacement.

“Sihyeon, I tried.”

“… Sorry. Director….”

Kim Si-hyun’s eyes sparkle. The helplessness of not being able to do anything pooled in those tears.

“Gather around. Let’s stop one just one! Can you do it We have to help Joong-hoon!”

While Choi Joong-hoon was practicing pitching, Jin-mo Koo called us together.

“What do you do when the ball comes?”

“… Ji Maeng-ho.”

Ick, when my inner feelings came out without my knowledge, Kim Suho glared at me.

“… Sorry.”

“Brothers, even Maengho is saying let’s do well. Under…. Let’s score some points next inning. OK?”

“Joo-tae, you know that a guy who was out after being the first pitcher has no credibility when he says such things, right?”

Still, thanks to Choi Joo-tae, the dark atmosphere was slightly relieved.

… And it took less than five minutes for the atmosphere to darken again.
Walks, hits, walks. 1 company full base. Trout the batter.

“[Hey! Hit it gently!]”

Choi Joo-tae shouted at his colleague Trout. Trout also smiled as if he understood Choi Joo-tae’s words. Then Trout stepped into the plate.

‘Well…. If it’s a normal cliché, here’s a grand home run… ,’

Deep!

When Trout’s batted ball flew by, I stopped thinking and went straight to second base.

“Joo Tae hyung!”

“Receive!”

Shortstop.

“Out!”

2nd baseman.

“First base!!”

“Throw it!!”

1st baseman. A 6-4-3 double hit that connects like water!

“Nice!!”

“Blocked!!”

“Joo Tae-ya, the defense was good!”

“Fierce Tiger, Cover Nice!”

The first inning, which had been so long, came to an end.

“Guys! The game isn’t over yet! Concentrate everyone! 5 points is not a big deal! We can!”

After entering the dugout at the end of the first inning, the weatherman called the players together. He had seniors who were older than him, but the weather manager didn’t care and continued to spit out words.

“Verlander? That baby is rice. It says it throws 95 mph, but it’s just a ball in the low 150s. I can hit enough. Pitchers who throw 150 are common in Korea these days, right? Ohtani Think about it, Ohtani. It’s just that baby! “

There were many pitchers who threw 150. Of course, that wasn’t the average speed, though. The average speed is 152 km/h, which is a problem. But that didn’t matter now.

I, the other players, and the other players all knew that, but there was no player throwing up at what the weather manager was saying.

There is no player who wants to lose even if the loss is dark.

“Sangju Mai has grown up. Ham will show you.”

Batter Kang Kang-beom leaves the dugout while spraying his bat.

“Hanbeom hyung! Go for it!”

“Let’s show one!”

“If you can’t hit here, you’ll lose! Strong criminal!”

“What’s wrong with losing!”

Kang Han-beom looks back at the dugout with a smile. Is he confident… ?

‘Your face is frozen.’

Muttered Rosby, who remained on the mound to check Verlander’s grip. After all, even a strong batter would feel burdened….

*

[Verlander dealing with Kang Han-beom. Throw the seventh ball!]

Ta-evil!

An ordinary ground ball rolling in front of the shortstop. Even if Usain Bolt runs from the left at bat, it’s a ball that would be out. Kang Han-bum ran to first base with a giant ball weighing more than 100kg. It was slow, but at this moment, it was such a sprint that was faster than anyone else.

[Out. A strong criminal who is out at first base.]

[Ah…. Well…. Oh, Kang Han-beom is currently the best player in the national team, right? Players sitting in the dugout should watch and learn from this. Even at the moment when the 99.9% is sure to be out, he believes in the 0.1% probability and sprints with all his might. Even though it is said to be a 5-point gap, you should never give up. Japan also had a miraculous come-from-behind victory, and our players can do it.]

[That’s right. It’s not over until it’s over. Like the old adage in baseball, you have to do your best until the end. Second inning yet. The game has a lot left. Now, the next batter, Gu Jin-mo, enters.]

[Goo Jin-mo showed a bad performance in the last match against Japan, but he is showing a good figure throughout the WBC? He hopes he will show a great figure this time too.]

[Verlander’s first ball. A strike that goes all the way into the zone. Redemption is 96.2 miles. Gu Jin-mo shook his head.]

[How old is Verlander now, and does he throw balls like this? Ah! It’s a ball that doesn’t really make sense.]

[Koo Jin-mo, who hit 43 homers in the KBA league last season and won the Golden Glove again in 3 years! I have to show you here. The second ball is a slider. Goo Jin-mo puts up with it!]

[As expected, Gu Jin-mo! He strikes out a lot, but his eye for the ball is pretty good!]

[Three ball hit! This batted ball lands in front of the right fielder exquisitely! Goo Jin-mo on base for the first time! He doesn’t seem to be intimidated even against Verlander!]

[Now, the next hitters are Ki Sang Joo and Ji Maeng Ho. They are hitters with one shot, so you can make up for it!]

‘Can do. Haven’t you dealt with Verlander too?’

The weatherman walked to the plate with a nervous heart. During the WBC period, the striker’s batting average was 9 hits in 20 at-bats. He had a batting average of almost 50%, but Ki Sang-ju could not be satisfied with that batting average.

-‘Meteorologist, is there a reason this bastard was released? He hits really well against Australia, Panama, China, and Taiwan, but he can’t hit Japan or the US at all. Gisangju is just for domestic education.’

After the dinner, I turned on my cell phone and saw this post. It was spiteful, but the weatherman couldn’t refute his words. It was true to some extent, though false, that he hadn’t hit a single one. In addition, the batting order was adjusted against the United States. The director must have been aware of that.

However, Ki Sang-joo was a hitter who peaked in Korea, and instead of venting his anger, he looked at the pitching of Verlander, who was expected to be a starting pitcher, all night long.

‘… Can you do it well?’

Still, he couldn’t help but feel his heart tremble. Verlander’s pitching last season was, like his nickname, ‘monster’ itself. And the image we showed today was not much different from the image we showed last year.

“Strike!”

Verlander’s curve cascaded through the strike zone. A ball that looks too low to the eyes of meteorologists.

“[Wasn’t it low?]”

“[Came in. Are you dissatisfied with the judgment?]”

“[No.]”

He tried to protest to the referee using the English he learned during his three years in the US, but it didn’t work either.

‘I didn’t even expect it in the first place.’

Verlander takes the setup position again. I looked back yesterday and now I can see the pitching form even if I close my eyes.

The baseball leaves Verlander’s hand and curves in from the outside.

‘Slider… !’

As he trained his image while watching the video and practiced his swing according to the trajectory, Ki Sang-joo turned the bat smoothly.

Right!

[Meteorologist! Technical blow! It’s an exquisite push!]

[I did a good job aiming at Verlander’s backdoor slider. That’s it! Weatherman! The left-handed shift was strongly hit, and the clever Kiseon player pushed it exquisitely!]

[Now the situation is 1 company 1st, 2nd base! Ji Maeng-ho comes to the plate!]