Chapter 229 – Episode 227. What Are These Bastards Doing Today? (One)

“Player Ji Maeng-ho! In the first game of the second half, you went 4-for-4 with great performance. How do you feel?”

“Not particularly good.”

“Yeah, that’s fine too… , Yes?”

“To be honest, I thought I would hit a home run because I was coming to literature, so I was in a good mood, but today I didn’t hit a home run, so I feel a bit bad. In fact, in literature, if you don’t hit a home run, you feel like you’re losing money. Next year, I think I’ll have to ask the captain to pull down the fence. Haha.”

“As expected, an outspoken answer… ! Where is the source of Ji Maeng-ho’s confidence? .”

The interview with Ji Maeng-ho, which the UG Overlords players were watching, was cut off there.

“What do you think of when you see it?”

“…”

UG coach Moon Ki-taek’s low voice silenced all UG players.

“How long are you going to keep losing because you can’t stop this cheeky bastard? Huh?”

“… Sorry.”

“Kids. Don’t you guys have any pride? Do you think it makes sense to be humiliated like that by a young guy? Huh?”

After Ji Maeng-ho’s ‘sniper ceremony’ incident, Moon Ki-taek was one of the directors who trembled when it came to Ji Maeng-ho. Of course, aside from that, Moon Ki-taek had quite a few reasons to be angry with Ji Maeng-ho.

First of all, looking at the opponent’s record, AT and UG’s opponent’s record in the current situation of 10 matches was 6 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw, AT was ahead. The opponent’s record against 5th place AT was not very suitable for UG Overlords, a strong team running in 1st place, beating Hyunseong, 2nd place, by 2 games.

“Can the winning team of the previous year be held back by AT like this?”

And at the center of it was Ji Maeng-ho, who was performing like a monster. Ji Maeng-ho, who went 4 hits in 4 at-bats in yesterday’s game and says it’s no big deal.

“Are you pros? Do you think that kind of performance as a pro makes sense!”

Director Moon Ki-taek sometimes wields a whip,

“Still, I believe in you guys. You can do it Think of last year’s championship competition with Hyeon-seong. Was it harder than now? It’s not Guys who can do enough, so I’m not doing this because I’m frustrated. Huh?”

Sometimes, he gave them carrots and instilled a desire to compete in the hearts of the players. At Moon Ki-taek’s words, the players’ eyes began to light up one by one.

One of Moon Ki-taek’s greatest strengths was his ability to dominate such players. In 2017, the team, which had been slumped to 7th place, has been ranked 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, and 1st since 1st place in 2018, the first year in office. Hal was directed by Moon Ki-taek.

“Director, I understand what you mean. But I am afraid of Ji Maeng-ho.”

Of course, even so, not all players deeply accepted Moon Ki-taek’s words. Most of the players who accepted Moon Ki-taek’s words were hitters who did not directly deal with Ji Maeng-ho. However, because the pitchers who directly competed against Ji Maeng-ho were under a lot of pressure, there was a fear of Ji Maeng-ho in the back of their hearts.

It was a statement that could have demoralized the team, but you have to admit your condition to move forward. Kim Seong-gyeol courageously put the grievances that only players on the ground could know about.

And when Kim Seong-gyeol, the leader of UG pitchers, said that he was afraid of Ji Maeng-ho, Moon Ki-taek sighed inwardly.

“Seong-gyeol, are you afraid of Ji Maeng-ho? That little guy.”

“Honestly, I am afraid. Same with the All-Star Game.”

The pitcher was a creature tightly united by his pride. At any time, at any time, if he does not have the pride that he is the best, he will not be able to withstand the pressure of the mound and will collapse. And Kim Seong-gyeol, who is running the best stock among such pitchers, was saying that he was afraid of Ji Maeng-ho.

“Senior Sungkyul said something like that…”

All the teams in the KBA tried hard to attack, but Ji Maeng-ho was the hitter who was not attacked, so Kim Seong-gyeol’s words did not feel like such a complaint. Rather, Kim Seong-gyeol’s words were those of a pitcher full of pride, so I could feel the respect for the hitter who is currently performing the best in the league.

“I have no idea how to deal with it. No curve or changeup. But let’s compete with a fastball, so even a ball over 160 easily goes over the fence, really… Why are you playing in Korea? . In my heart, I also want to compete, but no matter how I throw it, all I can think of is the image of going over the fence.”

At the words of Kim Seong-gyeol, the ace of UG and representative of the KBA league, just before the atmosphere that Moon Ki-taek had worked so hard to hold collapsed, Moon Ki-taek opened his mouth again in a low voice.

“Yes, it can be scary.”

“Director?”

“I was a professional player too, and every time I met there was a hitter I was afraid of. Joo Hyung-jin, you know well.”

When Joo Hyung-jin, a Korean baseball hero, broke his egg and flew away, Moon Ki-taek was also a pitcher who enjoyed the same era.

“Every time we met, I thought I was going to hit a home run, and the media used to highlight Joo Hyung-jin. By the way. I did not lose to Hyungjin Joo. Do you know why?”

All the UG players in the meeting room listened to the story of coach Moon Ki-taek’s days as a player, which even the UG players who had been together for more than 5 years had not heard before.

“… Director?”

“I threw it all over my body. It’s the place that others fear the most. I hit it once or three times, and after that, I didn’t stand on the inside of the plate.”

“That…”

“Why do you think my way is cowardly? But, that’s baseball. Doing everything your opponent hates is baseball. If you can’t win, aim with the idea of ​​crushing your opponent.”

“But unlike senior Hyungjin Joo, Maengho Ji is a threatening runner on the floor.”

One pitcher asked such a question. The biggest difference between Hyungjin Joo and Maengho Ji is their focus. So far, no catcher has been able to snip Ji Maeng-ho from stealing the base. Even if he hit Maeng-Ho Ji, Maeng-Ho Ji was a runner who could run to third base at any time.

“Break your opponent. The same goes for beasts. Don’t let the pitchers carry that burden alone.”

“Yes?”

“Since when did baseball start thinking about the opponent and playing carefully? Beasts are the same. If Ji Maeng-ho runs, defend with the thought of breaking his leg. Block the base with your feet, step on his hands as you slide and lift your knees to keep him out of the head first. Don’t let that cheeky bastard run amok! Baseball is war!”

“Director…”

“Make sure you never look down on our team again. I am responsible for the aftermath.”

The hearts of the UG players, who had almost collapsed at Moon Ki-taek’s declaration of determination to use any method to help the team win, began to burn again.

*

“Senior Jinmo, are you the designated hitter today?”

For a first baseman, defense was not a very important factor, but it was a skill that was hard to ignore once the defense reached a certain level. From that point of view, there were few first basemen in the KBA league who were recognized for their defensive abilities.

One of those first basemen was Gu Jin-mo, who is now stepping on second base. From the manager’s point of view, I thought that it would be difficult to give up Goo Jin-mo’s defense at first base, but I thought it was a bit strange to see Gu Jin-mo play as the designated hitter like today.

Well, I think so, but there were things I wanted to talk to because I was just a little bored. Not a single ball has come my way since the game started. That’s why I had a conversation with a familiar face, Gu Jin-mo, in this dead-end situation.

“The speed is good. I just took the lead, are you okay?”

“Ah, senpai and I aren’t even on average.”

“What are you and me doing?”

“Ah, didn’t we share the same bat?”

Of course, throughout the national team period, Gu Jin-mo and I couldn’t even say that we were good friends with empty words. Because we bumped into each other a lot. However, after borrowing Gu Jin-mo’s bat and hitting the decisive home run, I thought it was enough to share jokes like this.

“No way, senior, are you having a hard time? But is it hard enough for the first baseman to manage his stamina? Although it’s summer… Ah! Is it because you’re older? But weren’t you the same age as Suho? Am I already having a hard time in the summer?”

“Are you trying to scratch me?”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

How did know? Gu Jin-mo was a straightforward person, so the reaction when scratching was quite fun. Of course, he was a straightforward human being, so there were things that clashed more.

“Tsk…”

Goo Jin-mo clicks his tongue strongly. Gu Jin-mo, who clicked her tongue, pursed her lips as if to say something.

“Why, do you have something to say?”

“Write. Hey.”

“Yes.”

“Be careful.”

“Suddenly?”

What the heck is this man out of the blue?

“Just be careful.”

I tried to ask why he said that, but after a short break, Jang Yoon started pitching again. Several balls went into the catcher’s mitt, and the ball collided with the batter’s bat.

Right!

A ball that floats high. The batted ball floated in a good position for me to catch, perhaps thanks to the conversation with Jin-mo Koo that relieved my boredom.

“My ball.”

He shouted a call, approached the ball, and easily caught it. He tried to scratch Gu Jin-mo one more time during the inning shift, but perhaps because it was a two-out, Gu Jin-mo had already disappeared.

‘By the way, what was your last word? It’s just embarrassing.’

And it didn’t take long to see what the words meant.

“Cheek!”

“Ha, fuck. How many is this Senpai, are you throwing three in a row towards you? If I throw it one more time, will you really not stand it?”

As if these cubs had decided to come out today, they kept putting the ball toward their bodies. That too, far out of the strike zone. Considering Kim Seong-gyeol’s command, the situation is unconditionally considered intentional.

But what annoyed me even more was that the ball was coming in such an ambiguous position that I couldn’t hit it even if I didn’t avoid it. A ball that comes to such an ambiguous place that a dead ball comes out immediately if the pitcher misses even the slightest pitch.

I would rather run coolly if I threw it in a position that suits my body, but since I was watching it from an ambiguous position that touched my nerves, I had no choice but to talk.

“…”

‘It’s going to keep shutting up, isn’t it?’

Besides, I didn’t like the gunner who kept his mouth shut even when I spoke to him.

“It’s one point, can I just skip it? Can you run to third base?”

Since I came out as the lead batter in the top of the second inning, there was no runner to block me until third base. To think of getting me on base with a walk in that situation. My liver was swollen, or I was afraid that I would hit a home run, or one of the two.

“Cheek.”

And Kim Seong-gyeol’s fourth ball flew in a similar way this time. He was in a position where he would have been hit directly if he had bent his elbows a little more.

“Ah, fuck. It makes baseball feel bad.”

I thought about running, but from the beginning of the game, if I was ejected, I would not have a chance to hit a home run, so I endured it and walked to first base.

‘If they filtered me, I’d have to pay the price, right?’

‘Are you going to run right away?’

‘Yes.’

And the gap to run came quickly. Kim Seong-gyeol, who was not good at keeping himself in check because he was a sidearm, grabbed a curve grip on his second ball. I ran to second base without missing the timing.

‘Done!’

Familiar timing and familiar sliding. I just stretched out my hand to second base.

‘Huh?’

At that moment, I felt the knee of the second baseman, who was guarding the second base, go toward my hand. The senses he had accumulated during countless sliding events sounded a warning that it was dangerous. With that movement that seemed to be different from the usual base cover, he withdrew his left hand as it was.

“Out!”

“Oh, sir!”

And because of the hand he took, he suffered his second stolen base failure of the season. But that cheeky position angered me more than that.

‘Mr. Rossby, did that bastard just try to take my hand with his knee?’

But I wasn’t sure, so I posed a question to Rosby, an expert in the field.

‘It’s tough. Hehe, if it were me, I wouldn’t have been able to hold a bat for half a year. Or it wouldn’t have been bad to shoot with spikes. These days, they’re too soft-hearted.’

And Rossby convinced me of that.

‘I wondered why these idiots were doing this today, so I told them to be careful?’

The face of Gu Jin-mo, who had been telling me to be careful with an embarrassed expression, came to mind. Now it seemed clear to me what the words meant.

‘How dare you play this prank on me? I searched all over, you motherfuckers.’