Chapter 257 – Chapter 255. Last Game of the Season (2)

“[Coach, are you going to play outside this game too?]”

Seeing Austin Webb, accompanied by his interpreter, came to his room, Moon Ki-taek grabbed his head.

“Did you come here to ask about it?”

It was rare in Korea for a player to come to the manager’s room, but such Korean rules did not work for foreigners with different cultures. Besides, to question the direction of the team set by the coach? If Da-Austen had been Korean 10 years ago, he would have heard Pata, which he used to use as an amateur coach. Director Moon Ki-taek was resentful that the world had changed.

“[Yes. I want to compete with Ji Maeng-ho.]”

“Ha…”

At Austin’s words, Moon Ki-taek sighed deeply again. There was a strategy that effectively blocked Ji Maeng-ho in the previous day’s game, but I wanted to win.

‘Is this guy without a brain?’

But that doesn’t mean he couldn’t reject Austin’s words. Austin Webb was the undisputed ace of the team and a contender for MVP of the season.

“[Why? Is the director anxious about me?]”

So far, he has appeared in 28 games and played 173.2 innings with an ERA of 2.53 and 193 strikeouts. And Austin, who has won 17 wins and won the triple crown in the pitching category, was a player with as much pride as his skills.

The team’s special ace who recorded this kind of performance in the season of riding two lows (a phenomenon in which the average ERA and runs scored per game in the league are high with a good batter’s record and a low pitcher’s record), and also used Munhak, a hitter-friendly stadium, as a home. Is showing pride, is there any director who can refuse it?

“I didn’t say I was worried. But…”

Moon Ki-taek was not a manager who could refuse the request of the ace of the team. However, I couldn’t help but imagine Austin being beaten up by Ji Maeng-ho.

“[Director, trust me. I can beat Ji Maeng-ho.]”

“Um… Translate.”

“Yes, Director.”

“Have you been hanging out with this friend for a long time?”

“Yes. Well, sometimes I called on my days off, so I had to translate at that time too, so I stuck around for almost a year.”

“[What are you talking about? Talk so I can understand.]”

Moon Ki-taek continued speaking to the interpreter, ignoring Austin’s vaguely understood English.

“How do you see it? How would you feel if you refused?”

“Wouldn’t it be easy given Austin’s personality?”

To think that someone who fell out of the majors and moved to a baseball periphery would do such a thing. Could Austin have acted like this even in the major leagues? Moon Ki-taek resigned himself to the unfortunate reality and opened his mouth.

“Ha… Translate from now on.”

“Yes yes. All right.”

“I understand what you mean. But.”

“[But?]”

“If you can’t stop Ji Maeng-ho in this game, do what I tell you to do in fall baseball. Got it?”

“[Huh. I get it. Because it won’t happen anyway.]”

‘What does this bastard believe in and be so confident?’

Austin’s record against AT is 1 win and 2 losses. In addition, he even gave up three home runs against Ji Maeng-ho. Of course, he had never hit a home run in Jamsil because he had never been matched in Jamsil, but it was difficult for Moon Ki-taek to understand such a confident appearance.

“[Then, director. Look forward to today’s game.]”

“Prepare for the game hard.”

“[Okay, Man.]”

“Then let’s go. Director.”

“Okay, watch him to make sure he doesn’t do anything weird.”

“Yes.”

Tak, the door closes and the two leave. And the sigh of Moon Ki-taek that followed.

“Ha… It’s still a headache, but a guy named Ace is only proud of himself.”

Main catcher Baek Kyung-ho left the team due to poor physical condition, while alternate catcher Kim Jeong-wan suffered from a concussion and needed to rest. On top of that, the team’s third catcher didn’t have a good relationship with Webb. Inevitably, the young catcher was called up from the 2nd team. Austin Webb, who has to match the team’s fourth catcher in a situation where the catchers have deserted like that, is forced to act like this. Moon Ki-taek’s sigh grew deeper.

“Under… It would have been better if Sungkyul had that kind of personality.”

The domestic ace Kim Seong-gyeol was a problem because he had a weak mentality, but the foreign ace Austin Webb was a problem because his ego was too strong.

“I can’t help it. I can only hope that they will listen to me in fall baseball, taking advantage of today’s defeat.”

You cannot undo what has already happened. That is why Moon Ki-taek decided to think positively. I hope this defeat will be the cornerstone of fall baseball.

However, Moon Ki-taek did not realize that he had already concluded that he had already lost a game he hadn’t even started in his subconscious.

*

“Maengho, how are you feeling today?”

How is your condition? I used a lot of energy yesterday, but it wasn’t the best. But it’s more familiar to me than ever. When I went into the game without sex, I was physically better than usual, but my concentration was better when I had sex until the morning like today.

Not the best, but as usual. This was better than putting effort into my swing just because I was in good condition.

Well, besides, my condition wasn’t important in today’s match.

“Is my condition important? It doesn’t matter if your opponent is betting a match or not.”

“Well, I’ve been avoiding it since Friday.”

“I will die too. My hands itchy.”

I missed the thrill of crossing the fence. In the first game against UG, I hit an inside-park home run, but I wanted to hit a real home run that went over the fence because my hands were vague.

“Hey, it’s Austin today, so why don’t we compete?”

“You should hope so. What.”

Austin Webb. UG’s ace foreign pitcher. He was one of the toughest opponents in the KBA, with a very good pitch and a fastball velocity in the low 150s and a large breaking ball. If Rossby could tell me the location, it would be easy because he has good control, but since he can’t tell me the location, it’ll be difficult today, probably.

Besides, this is Jamsil. To be honest, I didn’t have the confidence to pass Jamsil by pushing the ball away from a pitcher the size of Austin Webb.

‘If I throw a curveball or a changeup, how will I pass it, but I wouldn’t throw it either?’

It was even more disappointing because I couldn’t even see those pitches in the UG match.

“Hey! Gather! The national anthem begins.”

“Yes.”

The players gathered and the national anthem rang out in Jamsil Stadium. While listening to the national anthem, I looked at the stands and saw that the stadium was filled with spectators wearing AT uniforms.

‘Fuck, I have to show you something. It’s 57 home runs now, so 3 home runs. The 60 home run was practically over the water. I just need to get 60 stolen bases.’

Two left to steal 60 bases. It wasn’t a particularly great record, but it was a record that hadn’t been released in recent years, and with 60 stolen bases, even if I didn’t play the rest of the games, the king of stolen bases was almost confirmed, so I thought it would be a gift to the fans who came to see me.

“Seniors! Good luck with today’s game!”

“Okay, give it a good throw.”

After the national anthem ended, Lim Jun-hoo’s fighting spirit resonated in the dugout, and we went to the ground. Perhaps it was because he asked to go to the club with him if he became the winning pitcher today, Junhu was full of spirits.

‘I have to choose one today. But that bastard went to the club a few times and still can’t do it without me. Tsk, it’s too big. I raised it.’

Right!

“Second!”

The first hitter of UG turned the bat from the first pitch. A batted ball that rolls lightly at me. I quickly approached, caught the ball, and threw it accurately to the first baseman.

“Out!”

Lim Jun-hoo, who showed a good start, ended the first inning by blocking the second and third batters with a three-way retreat.

“Hyung, how was my ball?”

“It was good.”

“Would you like to see my brother?”

“No, it was good to play. If you had gone to another team, you would have hit 5 more home runs, Kabi.”

“Ah, unlucky. Anyway, make me a winning pitcher.”

“You have to throw well.”

“Ah, don’t do that.”

“Fuck! The male cub is gross! “

He cursed Lim Jun-hoo, who was showing disgustingly cute acts, and took his typing equipment.

‘Fuck, I’m suddenly cold because of that bastard.’

Hearing the cute boys play him even before he went to bat, it felt like his motivation was waning.

‘Well, it wouldn’t matter if I threw it outside anyway.’

I waited for Austin’s pitch as I prepared to walk out. Rossby was too busy watching the cheerleaders from the cheerleader’s seat, not giving out pitches as if he was tired from the two-day outside game. And Austin’s first pitch thrown.

‘Uh?!’

I reacted late with the bat to the first pitch that stabbed my body.

Widely!

‘Fuck!’

The ball hit by the bat started rolling toward first base. I started running to first base quickly, but my start was delayed, probably because I was flustered by the unexpected situation.

“First base! First base!”

“First!”

Goo Jin-mo stretches out his hand at first base. At the last step, I stretched my foot as long as possible, but it was after the catcher’s throw had already arrived.

“Out!”

“Fuck!”

“Look at how swearing. Go in.”

Goo Jin-mo smiles and speaks. Fuck. Are you competing here? What? Throw a fastball to the inside from the first pitch? I was taken aback by the completely unexpected situation and threw out the bat.

‘Ah, I should have waited!’

I just had to wait for a strike, but I swung the bat unknowingly because it was a ball I hadn’t seen in a long time. No, it was a ball I could hit enough without panicking in the first place! It’s been a long time since I’ve missed an opportunity like this! It’s all Rossby’s fault.

How dare you leave me watching the cheerleaders?

‘Mr. Rossby! Mr. Rossby!’

I quickly found Rossby.

‘What?’

‘Now is not the time to watch cheerleaders!’

‘I watched you hit a grounder in the infield?’

‘Because it came into my body! Towards the body!’

‘Then why not?’

‘Damn! Starting today, will I only have sex with Soyoung?’

‘Can I tell you from the next at-bat?’

Rossby’s urgent voice is heard. It’s like this in the first place. Where are you watching cheerleaders at a sacred baseball game?

“Brother. You didn’t want to go to the club with me, so you deliberately played the first ball, didn’t you?”

“Shut up. Because it feels like shit.”

“Yes.”

After coming back to the dugout and cursing Im Jun-hoo and sitting on the bench, it felt like my heart was calming down.

‘Whoa, yes. Rather good If you do this, you might be able to compete with me for the rest of the at-bat? Frequently, the cub, I went through! ‘