Chapter 281 – Episode 279. Asian Games. (5)
“It seems like you’ve completely lost your will?”
Japan’s baseball players, who are considered to be second-tier players in the KBA league, were not enough to stop our national team. Of course, the level was higher than that of other national teams except Taiwan, but it was still a natural result.
Although our national team selected for the Asian Games was not Korea’s full strength, most of them were All-Star players, and players such as Nana Joo Seung-cheol, Kim Hwan-young, and Lee Yong-gi were strong candidates for the Golden Glove. Moreover, the pitching staff was quite strong.
When the bottom of the 7th inning began, the score was 11:2 and the score difference was 9 points. If one more point was scored, the game would end in a cold game. Even though the opponent is a team made up of baseball players from society, it is Japan. I wanted to end it here with a cold game.
“Okay then, let’s finish this inning. Are you ready?”
“Of course. Please just leave it to me.”
And the leadoff batter this inning is me.
‘Children, we are left behind.’
I strengthened my resolve and went to bat.
“[Let’s do it in moderation and get it over with, right? The finals are tough anyway.]”
“[Shut up.]”
“[Oh, you speak English well. The catcher who was sitting all the way to the plate couldn’t say a word.]”
As the score gap widened, the new catcher at home was a guy who could speak English.
“[Wouldn’t it be embarrassing to speak out like that with that level of skill?]”
“[What’s embarrassing about saying that? People should speak and live. Isn’t it more embarrassing for a baseball player to be bad at baseball? Oh, so that’s why I can’t play pro? Sorry?]”
“[This bastard…]. Well, what does a mouthy bastard know? Wasn’t it nice to hit a home run against subpar teams?]”
Ugh, this bastard? Are you saying this because I didn’t hit a home run today? It was absurd. He didn’t have a home run today, but he hit every ball near the fence and got on base in every at-bat except one that was caught…
‘Are you mad?’
‘No? Why me?’
‘You look pissed?’
‘… ‘Please tell me the type of pitch.’
‘It’s a slider.’
‘Okay.’
“[You sure don’t say that and throw a breaking ball from the first pitch?]”
“…”
“[Seeing as you can’t answer, I guess that’s right? Yeah, I won’t swing it.]”
“…”
“Ball.”
I lightly skipped the breaking ball that went out and scratched the catcher again.
“[It’s obvious, it’s obvious. Actually, I’m just playing baseball as a member of society.]”
‘First, I saw a slider. I’d like to see a fastball too…’
Since this was the first pitcher to come up in this inning, data was needed. According to the hitting coach, this guy is a pitcher who throws a fastball, slider, and sinker. In order to get a perfect shot, it was better to watch all of his balls.
‘This time it’s a sinker.’
‘Sinker isn’t bad either.’
“[Surely, you wouldn’t throw an inward-curving sinker after an outward-curving slider? Even high school students these days don’t throw like that.]”
“[Close your mouth.]”
“[No, because the level is too low, I want to teach you a lesson. Amateurs should consider it an honor to learn from a professional.]”
“Ball!”
“[Ugh, it’s obvious, obvious. I will never be able to become a professional.]”
The sinker he threw was also a ball that bent toward the body and fell out. Are you really thinking about skipping it? If you skip me here, you will definitely get 1 point… ?
“[I’m telling you this in case you don’t know, but you know that once you get one point, it’s over, right? Since you’re an amateur, you probably know the cold game well, right? Isn’t it? If I walk, I’ll run to third base, and if I get to third base with no outs, you know? Think carefully?]”
“[Please shut up! And I get paid by the company to play!]”
If you’re going to lose your temper like this, why are you scratching people? Seeing the catcher get angry makes me feel a little more at ease.
‘It’s a sinker again.’
‘Okay.’
The sinker angle of the guy I saw earlier wasn’t that big. And the speed was quite slow, around 130 km/h. Now that he’s checked the trajectory, he waits for the guy’s ball, ready to hit it when it gets inside the zone.
‘Come!’
Ta – Aak!
The batted ball disappears to the left with a cheerful sound. A foul over the fence. It seemed like the bat was faster than I thought.
“[There is no next time. You know?]”
“[Huh, bluffing.]”
“[Voice trembles. This is advice. Okay?]”
“[No need!]”
At this point, you might want to throw a fastball… One slider and two sinkers. In addition, we saw a large foul home run. If the catcher is angry and the pitcher is scared, there is a high probability that he will throw the most familiar pitch.
‘It’s a fastball.’
‘Also! Mr. Rossby, can I play Guess now too?’
‘When you have time to think about such things, just look at it and hit it. I should have passed that ball earlier.’
‘Tch.’
Since Rossby was right, he couldn’t really refute it. All you can do is wait for his fastball.
‘Throw it into the zone. Please.’
However, his fastball went high and entered the catcher’s mitt.
“Ball.”
“[Really filter it? I’m going to run to third base, can you catch me?]”
The catcher had no answer. The current ball count is one strike, three balls. It was a count that felt comfortable even if the batter swung the bat, and it was a count that required the pitcher to put the ball in the strike zone. Especially if the opponent can steal third base at any time.
‘It’s a slider.’
And if you just know the pitch…
Ta – yep!
I was able to easily hit the ball I wanted to hit into the strike zone. Even in situations like this, they tend to be pushed to the middle to avoid giving a walk.
“It flies well. [When dealing with me from now on, don’t drag it on for a long time. Oh, we don’t have anything to meet?]”
I left a word of advice to the catcher and threw the bat. And the batted ball falls over the fence. As he raises his fist, Koreans cheer from the audience. The sound was louder because the baseball field was almost empty.
-Ji Maeng-ho! Ji Maengho! Ji Maengho!
-Ji Maeng-ho! Cool!
Of course, unlike the crowd’s reaction, the dugout’s reaction was quite calm.
“Why are you reacting like that?”
“I was already getting ready to leave work when you left. “Regardless of whether it’s a home run or not, one point is always scored.”
“You have to like this, you shouldn’t.”
When I wasn’t sure whether to be happy about the fact that the players believed in me or sad about the calm atmosphere even after finishing the game, the coach approached me.
“Ah, Meng Hao. Today’s interview will take courage, so pack your bags too.”
“… Yes.”
“You’re not even allowed in the finals, bastard.”
“… Yes.”
I decided to be a little sad.
*
-[AG] The Korean baseball team! A 12:2 cold game win over arch rival Japan! All that’s left is one step!
… The baseball team, which achieved a 10-run lead thanks to Ji Maeng-ho’s walk-off home run, ended the game in the bottom of the 7th inning. There is now only one win left until the gold medal. Will the Korean baseball team bring joy to the people again? … Meanwhile, the final is scheduled to be played against Taiwan.
A cold game against Japan? ㄷㄷ
ㄴㄴIt’s meaningless because I’m a member of society haha
ㄴGaza won the Asian Games~~~!!!!
ㄴThe future of Korean baseball is definitely bright. It’s great to see young players, including Hwasan players, Ji Maeng-ho, and Joo Seung-cheol, performing well like this.
-Actually, I was worried about the age limit for this Asian Games, but I’m glad to see that it’s doing well.
ㄴHonestly, if I don’t win the Asian Games, I’ll have to swim haha. It’s a low-level competition
ㄴㄴThat’s right, but hasn’t there been such a cool game in history? I was almost winning by cold.
ㄴI was worried too, but Korea’s future is bright. In particular, Ji Maeng-ho was crazy. The key is how much you get paid to go to the majors.
ㄴIsn’t Joo Seung-cheol good at it too? As expected, Joo Hyung-jin’s son haha
-Wow, I’m just playing with Japan too.
ㄴBecause the level of other baseball teams is low. I think it would have been developed if Japan had appeared in the first team
What the hell are you doing?
Is it true?
Yes, I made it to the finals at WBC~
ㄴㄴㅋㅋ I somehow managed to win by luck haha
This is really a mess haha
-But why isn’t Meng Ho-shin interviewed today?
ㄴIf you were a director, would you want to interview Ji Maeng-ho? LOL
ㄴㄴㄹㅇ Every time I open my mouth, it’s a disaster haha
-The Ministry of National Defense must investigate Ji Maeng-ho. How many people is this guy exempting from military service?
ㄴㅋㅋㅋㄹㅇ I’m a military service broker
ㄴI haven’t even won yet, but I’m excited haha
ㄴㄴThen are you going to lose? ㅂㅅahhaha
Wow, looking at the records now, this guy has 12 hits and 9 home runs in 14 at-bats? Aren’t you crazy?
ㄴㄴHe’s hitting 60 home runs at .400, so of course hehe
ㄴㄴThe record was crazy haha
ㄴㄴHonestly, even in the KBA, the record was raised by beating so many substandard kids.
ㄴBut the god of fierce defense is a kid, so why are you in the military?
ㄴㄴOrphans also have to live in an orphanage for about 5 years to avoid going there.
ㄴㄴSo you don’t feel it either?
What a bastard
-But honestly, I’m anxious. Isn’t Chen Jianhao a major-leaguer? What happens if it spreads like this?
ㄴNo worries ㄴㄴ He’s the 4th starter in a weak starting team haha. He’s just a KBA mercenary.
No, it’s still major league…
ㄴㄴ6 wins, 12 losses, 4.96 level. He played rote because he was a bastard. I heard he’s done with this bastard and is going to Neufv next year?
So, I’m really curious. Honestly, if you had to pick two hitters to go to the majors in the KBA, would it be Joo Seung-cheol or Ji Maeng-hon?
If you can’t shake off even Chenji, it would be better to close the major haha
*
[2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. The finals that many people have been waiting for. Matches between South Korea and Taiwan and between Taiwan and South Korea will be held here. Hello. Commissioner.]
[Hello.]
[Today’s game is attracting a lot of attention, right?]
[You’re right. The Asian Games will end tomorrow, and the public’s expectations are high whether we can add one more gold medal before the Asian Games end.]
[In the women’s volleyball bronze medal match held yesterday, she added another medal by winning the bronze medal.]
[You’re right. I saw it too, and it was really overwhelming.]
[And in soccer, there is a final game left, so I hope the Red Devils do well and bring good news.]
[You’re right. And before that, we have to bring you good news first, right?]
[Yes. So, what do you think of today’s game?]
[First, Korea is expected to win, but it is expected to be a fierce game. Taiwan’s starting pitcher today is Chen Jianhao, who is active in the major league.]
[In fact, the Major League does not agree with the selection of players, but wasn’t it surprising that Chen Jianhao participated in the Asian Games?]
[Yes. Let me tell you what I think: The Major League office is making efforts to increase the popularity of baseball, and it seems that they have allowed it for the sake of popularity in Asia. Anyway, I think it will be a good match since our national team players are also players who are not inferior to the major leagues.]
[To face Chen Jianhao, the national team selected Zhang Wuju as the starter, right?]
[Yes. He is a player who throws a ball as fast as 100 mph and has good stamina, so he is perfect as a starting pitcher. In addition, coach Lee Geum-hyun, the national team coach, announced an all-out effort, and everyone except Baek In-hyuk, who was the starter for the Japan game, will be waiting in the bullpen, so we can look forward to it.]
[Then, I will tell you the starting lineups of both teams. In the top of the first inning, Taiwan attacks.]
With Jang Woo-joo’s first pitch, the match between the two teams with the gold medal on the line began.