Chapter 169 – Episode 167. Special Training? (2)

“Now. Concentration! Concentration!”

While the players were gathering and chatting, coach Lee Soo-hyun, who had brought materials, focused the players’ attention.

“You are very excited today.”

Certainly, the atmosphere of the team was exhilarating, as manager Lee Soo-hyun said. He caught the first place team, UG Overlords, in a winning series, and although he gave up his record in the last game, he almost destroyed it, so he couldn’t help but be excited.

“Did you get all the materials?”

“Yep!”

“Yes, Charlotte squad…. Well, is there anything different from last year? Except for the strong criminal.”

“But it is big.”

Someone muttered at the director’s words. And most of the players seemed to agree with that murmur.

“It’s not that big.”

Last year, the Charlotte Blue Mariners ranked ninth. It was a team that was tossing and turning in the lower ranks while tossing and turning with the Volcano Falcons. However, Kang Han-beom’s performance this season was 4th. Hancheol was cruising with the Grizzlies, recording an 11-9 record.

For your information, our team ranked 8th…. Still, by winning the winning series against UG Overlords, he reached a tie with NV Rex. The 10th place was, of course, Volcano Falcons. I heard that the team was stumbling around with Wonhyung Lee missing.

How do you know? Every time the volcano went down, whether it was a fight or a volcano fan, I had no choice but to know because I was screaming at the DM. After the interview that day, the swear words were piled up in my DMs to the point where I couldn’t enter the stargram.

… Well, there was a lot of support from the fans.

“But, Ji Maeng-ho. Wasn’t the batting condition good today? Isn’t there something wrong?”

“No! Leave it to me.”

Even so, Lee Soo-hyun seemed to know that today’s batting practice was not the same as usual because he was the manager. Following Rossby’s advice, I was trying to change my batting form little by little to a form that suited me, so of course my training performance was a bit poor.

“No way…. Aren’t you nervous because you came to resign?”

“Ah, no. Am I that person?”

Certainly because Busan is the old capital, there were many people who recognized us from the moment we got off the bus. His eyes were slightly hostile. Moreover, even though there were many people who recognized him, there were not many fans who asked for his autograph unless he was a national star.

Well, it was nice that I didn’t have to bother signing autographs. As Soyoung said, I was the type to sign autographs for fans constantly, but I couldn’t help but be bothered.
“Good luck then. There are rookies who get nervous every time they resign.”

“Hey, it’s good that a lot of people come. Besides, when we come a lot from away games, it was so good.”

“Why?”

In response to my reply, someone from the team asked that.

“Don’t you feel good when you hear booing?”

“Really? He’s an odd kid.”

“It means that the opposing fans are wary of me, how could I feel bad? The fact that fans are wary of that means that I am a threat. That pleasure that makes those fans quiet. Oh Just imagining it is thrillinghehe.”

“Anyway, that bastard is an asshole.”

“Still, the fierce tiger mindset is good. I am similar.”

The players reacted in various ways to my words. From the reaction of not understanding to the reaction of empathy. However, there seemed to be a little more reaction that I did not understand.

“Okay. It’s good that you have to make up your mind like a fierce tiger. Don’t be afraid. You all know I’ve been pro for several years. There’s no need to be afraid to go in. Then let’s do well in this match.”

“Yep!”

“All right!”

So the power analysis time is over. And I got a little excited at the thought of hearing the booing from the passionate Sajik fans.

‘And the fact that I don’t know the location makes me a little excited. Surely, if you hit unknowingly, wouldn’t that be like hitting 5 hits in 5 at-bats? A talent I didn’t even know was hidden under Mr. Rossby’s dastardly tricks.’

‘How could that be?’

‘Why! It could be.’

‘Still, that’s a good look. Before the game, I was worried that if I asked to know again while trembling, I would have to give it up. That’s great.’

‘Ah, I’m not that kind of person!’

The first professional game to seal the location and play. For some reason, my heart raced because it felt like I was making a new debut.

*

“Senior, just go on base. Really.”

“Then can I call you?”

“Yes.”

What is this guy talking about? Ji Maeng-ho talked to him before he went to bat, and Kim Su-ho was embarrassed inside.

From what I’ve seen since the national team, before the game started like this, Maeng-ho Ji was always slapping a bruise pretending to be meditating, so he didn’t even think he would talk to me.

And, there was something different in Ji Maeng-ho’s eyes when he spoke like that. Should I say he’s on fire? When did you see these eyes? Kim Soo-ho recalled memories that were not long ago in Ji Maeng-ho’s eyes, as if he had seen them somewhere.

This look was similar to the look in his eyes when he shouted arrogantly at senior Seonghyun standing on the mound during the game against Japan.

And Ji Maeng-ho, who looked like this, was quite believable. No, has Ji Maeng-ho always been trustworthy? Except for the occasional distraction or incomprehensible behavior, he has always been reliable.

“I’m going to leave even if you don’t say anything.”

Today’s starting pitcher is Kim Min-hyeok, who is rumored to be weak in the first inning. Kim Soo-ho had no intention of missing this chance.

[According to the baseball world, isn’t there a saying to be careful of the 1st and 5th innings?]

[You’re right. In the first inning, pitching can falter because the pitcher has just been on the mound, and in the fifth inning, the ball gets used to the batter because it usually comes back to the batter for a third at-bat. So dangerous. Therefore, if the starting pitcher endures until the fifth inning, he meets the requirements of a winning pitcher.]

[That’s right. And for this pitcher on the mound right now, the first inning is more important. A man for whom the first inning is more important than anyone else, Kim Min-hyeok is the starting pitcher for the Charlotte Blue Mariners today.]

[Kim Min-hyeok, in fact, is a player who has received a lot of expectations. However, he is a player who is always held back by a chronic control problem. However, if he safely passed the first inning, the rate of quality starts was 100% for both last season and this season. However, in the game that collapsed in the first inning, all of them failed to complete 5 innings and were demolished. We’ll see what the game will be like today.]

[And the lead batter of the AT against Kim Min-hyeok is third baseman Kim Soo-ho. After taking over as manager Lee Soo-hyun, he transformed into the number 1 hitter and showed a pretty good figure?]

[You’re right. Kim Soo-ho. He is a good player with long hitting power and a pioneering eye, but his long hitting power decreased a bit after coming to Jamsil. However, due to team circumstances, it was not possible to pick and hit good balls, but this season Ji Maeng-ho, Ki Sang-joo, and Choi Jin-cheol. With the addition of these good hitters, he is fully demonstrating his pioneering vision.]

[Oh, so this match must be important? A match between Kim Min-hyeok, who falters in the first inning, and Kim Soo-ho, who chooses a walk and shakes the pitchers. That first ball!]

Kim Min-hyeok’s first pitch hits the high strike zone.

“Strike!”

‘Huh, I’m glad. As expected, I don’t touch the first ball like analysis.’

Minhyuk Kim wiped the sweat dripping from his forehead with his forearm. Of course, those sweat drops were not the drops of sweat that flowed down when one threw a ball.

The meaning of those sweat drops is a burden.

A pure white mound that no one has stepped on. When stepping on that mound, any strong-hearted pitcher would tremble. The pressure that the team’s win or loss rests on their shoulders. And only a pitcher who can overcome that burden can claim the honorable position of starting pitcher.

And Kim Min-hyeok was the type who couldn’t overcome the pressure well. According to the analysis that he rarely swings the first pitch, he managed to land a strike in the first pitch, but his hands were still sweaty. He wiped the sweat from his thigh and smeared the rosin powder on his right hand again.

[Kim Min-hyeok is ready.]

[Certainly, Kim Min-hyeok seems to know his record. Pretty cautious, right?]

[The second pitch that follows… ! Strike! Kim Soo-ho throws a bat!]

“Nice! Nice! Good night!”

Confidence begins to rise as you watch the hitter swing and miss.

‘Yes, I can.’

Kim Min-hyeok’s wind-up starts and the pitch that left his hand now sticks toward his body.

‘Okay… !’

Right!

But Kim Soo-ho is Kim Soo-ho. Kim Soo-ho hits the course toward his body, which he stabbed exquisitely. Although the timing was late, it was a pretty exquisite course. Minhyuk Kim’s eyes follow the ball by itself. Between third baseman and shortstop. The two fielders threw their bodies, but perhaps because the course was exquisite, the ball savagely rolled into the outfield.

[Leading batter Kim Soo-ho’s hit! Today, the start of the AT line is good.]

[Isn’t AT’s batting line really changed? It looks like it can be called the strongest in the league as long as the veteran, recruited player, and new player create exquisite synergy.]

[And the strongest batting line, the man in the center. Ji Maeng-ho steps in.]

[You’re ranked first in all batting averages except for hits and runs, right? Currently, there are three 40% hitters in the league, including Maeng-Ho Ji, and Maeng-Ho Ji’s batting average is 40.5 9. He’s batting three or four pennies higher than the other players. In addition, home run and RBI ranked first. In particular, the home run is three points away from the second place. If a rookie like this is in the top batting order, AT’s batting line is bound to be strong.]

Kim Min-hyeok’s face was already wet with sweat.

-Kim Min-hyeok, that bastard is spilling broth again
ㄴ Ah, how many years has that bastard been? Is he still like that every episode?

-Hey, let’s go, let’s go!

-Kim Soo-ho seems to have awakened these dayshaha
Is it because of Ji Maeng-ho behind him? ㅇㅇ Looks like I’m watching it in my NV dayshaha

– Shake off Kim Min-hyeok, because today we’re also Jung Jin-hong, so I’m nervous.
ㄴBut I’m relieved to see that bastard Jansonhaha
ㄴI think we should make people from District 2 and come up to District 1.