Chapter 388 – Episode 380. Vs Netherlands. (1)
‘… Meanwhile, Mr. J, a baseball star who had a pink vibe with Joohee, was also known as a famous libertine in the baseball world. After witnessing the meeting between Joohee and Mr. J for the first time, the reporter followed Mr. J to find out more about him, and was able to learn something surprising. Mr. J was meeting many women. He especially enjoyed going to the club and could even be photographed entering the hotel with fans during away games. … Can I write this and post a photo here? I included the story of the Asian Games, and also included photos of the women I met at the Olympics. I think it was roughly completed, right?’
Dodger Stadium, where the baseball game between Korea and the Netherlands is held. As reporter Choi of X-Catch watched the players warming up, he took a final look at the article he was planning to send.
‘Well, when I first started reporting, I never imagined it would be like this.’
In particular, it was a huge feat to find that a player who participated on the national soccer team in last year’s Asian Games had sniped at a player expected to be Ji Maeng-ho in a byeolgram.
-Some people come to the national team and just have sex with foreign women, but we’re training like we’re going to die! Haha, but that kid did well in the event and won a gold medal, it’s legendary. Well, she was kicked out of the Olympics, even though it was a medal-winning sport.
If anyone in the know reads this, they can clearly tell that it is an attack on Ji Maeng-ho.
Since it was written on a non-public account, it did not spread to the world, but after looking for something, the article he found stimulated reporter Choi. And she went that way to find her team leader.
-“Team leader, it was like this at the Asian Games, but wouldn’t it be like this for the Olympics?”
-“But are you sure about that?”
-“That’s right. “There are a few seniors in the sports field, and I know them all, right?”
-“But why didn’t those bastards explode? Is it because I’m doing well?”
-“Anyway, if we can prove it at the Olympics this time, it will be a real achievement. Ji Maeng-ho, you’ve been hot since last year.”
-“… So.”
-“L.A. Please send it to me.”
-“You idiot, isn’t this just because you want to go to America with company money?”
-“Lol… Well, let’s do it together.”
-“Ugh, yeah. “I’ll charge your travel expenses, so take a look.”
-“Yes! Loyalty!”
Ji Maeng-ho, who left the country on the same day as the baseball team and watched, did not disappoint his expectations. He was able to take pictures of Ji Meng-ho looking intimate with foreign female athletes at a restaurant or hotel near the athletes’ village, and his article was also roughly completed. At first, the idea was to shed light on the love triangle between idol Joo-hee, actor Se-hee, and Ji Maeng-ho, but the more it was sold, the more stories there were about Ji Maeng-ho, so it became like an exposé article, but it seemed like it would get a lot of views, so I was satisfied. 〈 Br〉
In addition to the scandal with Se-hee, photos with Joo-hee, and photos of him going to restaurants and hotels with other women, he even found out Ji Maeng-ho’s secret Byulgram account through a fan who covered the story. In the process, I discovered something I didn’t really want to know: Ji Maeng-ho is amazing in bed, but the preparation was perfect.
‘At this level, I have modified the parts that need to be modified…’ . Thanks to you, I came to watch the Olympics with company money. Meng Hao, thank you.’
I closed my laptop and looked at the LA sky. The summer in the house was sunny and warm, giving me mental satiety. And I was grateful to Ji Maeng-ho. It was rare to find such a benefactor as he even gave me the opportunity to tour the United States.
‘It’s a bit pitiful. He’s a hard-working guy.’
In fact, I also felt sorry for him. What I found out while researching Ji Maeng-ho was that Ji Maeng-ho was a self-made player who came from an orphan to this point.
Although his private life was a little dirty, there were not a few people like that in the entertainment industry, and although he didn’t know much about baseball, he felt a little sorry for Ji Maeng-ho because he thought he could become like Joo Hyung-jin or Seong-hyeon. If this article were to come out and be criticized by the entire nation, one person could have been ruined.
Reporter Choi’s conflict continued with his pity and gratitude toward Ji Maeng-ho.
‘Ha, if I published an article when I was eliminated, it would definitely be ruined.’
If an article was published when the baseball team was eliminated, it was certain that one player’s life would be ruined. Of course, that didn’t mean we wouldn’t publish an article.
What reporter Choi was worried about was the timing.
‘Should I pay if I’m eliminated? Or should I pay it when I lose?’
Since there was a group stage, losing one game did not mean the national team would be eliminated. I thought it would be too cruel to publish an article on the day the national team was eliminated, and there was a possibility that the article would be a piece of tissue paper on the day the national team won.
In fact, to reporter Choi, who does not know baseball, the odds of Korea winning the championship seemed quite high. As a result of watching the practice game to take pictures of Ji Maeng-ho, Ji Maeng-ho’s performance was amazing even to reporter Choi, who does not know much about baseball.
In terms of percentage, 10% pity, 20% gratitude, and 70% anxiety about winning? If baseball fans had heard, they would have laughed and asked how they could win when there were the United States and Japan, but since reporter Choi did not know much about baseball, he did not find it strange.
Reporter Choi said that all he knows about baseball is home runs and strikeouts. To reporter Choi, Ji Maeng-ho, who seemed to hit a home run every time he played in a practice game, seemed like the best player in the world. Ji Maeng-ho’s position in Korea, the incredible records found through articles, and the appearance of Ji Maeng-ho seen with one’s own eyes. In addition, articles are making a fuss about this national team being the best of all time.
‘Since we won the championship in 2008, there is a high possibility that we will win the championship this time as well, right?’
It was a situation where I couldn’t help but worry about winning.
‘I’d rather lose in the group stage…’
After thinking about that, I realized that it would be better to blow up right away when I lost in the group stage rather than saving up for articles. Then, every time a baseball game continues, your article will come to the forefront.
‘Okay, lose. The article is almost finished anyway.’
Reporter Choi ultimately wrote the article while praying earnestly for the national team to lose. How much time has passed? By the time reporter Choi finished his report, the match between Korea and the Netherlands was about to start.
*
[Hello citizens. The first match of Olympic Group C between Korea and the Netherlands begins now. Commentator Kim Jun-il joins us for his help.]
[Hello! This is Kim Jun-il.]
[Commissioner Kim, what do you think of this match against the Netherlands?]
[Netherlands match. Actually, the Netherlands is not a team to be taken lightly, right? Current and former major league players are listed on the national team roster. In particular, shortstop Bogaerts is said to be the best offensive shortstop in the major leagues, and he is such a great player that he has five Silver Slugger experiences?]
[Yes.]
[And Kenley Jansen is also a great pitcher, holding the record for the most saves in the Major League. He may end up in the Hall of Fame, so the Netherlands’ power cannot be said to be weaker than ours. There will be many familiar names to those who have watched the major league, such as Jonathan Scoop, Didi Gregorius, Andrelton Simmons, Pedro Strop, and Josh Palacios, who returned to the big league.]
[And today’s starting pitcher, Van den Berg, is a name quite familiar to Korean baseball fans, right?]
[You’re right. This is a player who performed well in the KBA League as a member of Shilla Triggers for two years from 2020 to 21. He is currently playing in St. Louis.]
[So what is Korea’s power like?]
[Of course, the Netherlands is a strong opponent, but there is no need to be discouraged. We also have many players with major league experience. Jung Woo-sung, a starter for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Ko Young-hwan, a bullpen player for the Minnesota Twins, and Choi Joo-tae, the starting shortstop for the LA Angels. There are many players from the major leagues, including Seong Hyun, Ki Ki-joo, and Kang Han-beom.]
[You could say that this is truly the greatest power ever?]
[You’re right. In addition, Jang Woo-joo, who hit 100 mph, Ji Maeng-ho, who set a new home run record with 6 consecutive at-bats, and Joo Seung-cheol, whom the Major League sends scouts to check on every year. It can be seen as a power that is second to none.]
[Yes. Now both teams’ national anthems will sound, and the game will begin. The top of the first inning begins with the Netherlands batting first. Let me call you the Netherlands’ lineup. 1st hitter Jurickson Profar, 2nd hitter Roger Bernardina, 3rd hitter Xander Bogaerts, 4th hitter Didi Hrehorius, 5th hitter…]
[It’s a solid lineup for a European powerhouse, right?]
[Now, I will call the defense lineup of Korea against him. The starting pitcher is Pittsburgh’s third starter, nuclear submariner Jung Woo-sung. And the catcher who works with Jung Woo-sung is Lee Yong-gi, the best catcher in Korea. And from first base, Koo Jin-mo, Ji Maeng-ho, Choi Joo-tae, and Kim Su-ho guard the infield, and the outfield consists of left fielders Ki Ki-joo, Joo Seung-cheol, and Kim Jeong-hyeon.]
[Because it is a big international stage, the Olympics, athletes may be nervous. The key is to overcome that tension. I hope that Korean players will perform well.]
Group C, which South Korea belongs to, opened with a match between Korea and the Netherlands. People who don’t know much about baseball usually ignore the Netherlands, but the Netherlands, a European powerhouse, was a team with potential. In particular, in 2013 and 2017, the WBC brought shame to Korea, and the salary of Bogaerts, the main hitter, was similar to the salaries of 2–3 teams in the KBA league combined.
And Choi Joo-tae knew the potential of the Dutch team as he faced them in the WBC in 2013 and 2017.
“Meng Hao, aren’t you nervous?”
Before facing the Netherlands, Choi Joo-tae spoke to Ji Maeng-ho, fearing that his partner and young player Ji Maeng-ho might be nervous.
“What is there to be nervous about?”
“But it’s a major league stadium. “Aren’t you scared?”
“Hey, senior. Where is the peck in the stadium? It’s just the same. Well, a lot of people came.”
“Well, you weren’t scared at the WBC either. Let’s show it properly today.”
“We have to show it properly.”
And the referee’s signal to start the game echoed throughout the stadium. At that sign, the two people stopped their conversation and watched the match between the pitcher and the batter with serious expressions.
[Jung Woo-sung throws the first ball!]
Perfect!
And the Netherlands’ number one hitter, Profar, hit Jung Woo-sung’s first pitch. Jung Woo-sung’s first pitch is a sinker that is good for inducing ground balls. As the battery calculated, the ball that Propa pulled bounced on the ground and quickly headed toward right field.
[Second baseman diving! Ji Maengho!]
No, I was trying to head towards it. Until Ji Maeng-ho jumped a few meters in one go and dived. Ji Maeng-ho, who threw his body towards the batted ball, caught the ball, then got up at lightning speed and threw the ball to the first baseman.
[Ji Maeng-ho! Catch this ball! Beastly defense! Throw to first base, out! Ji Maeng-ho steals Profar’s hit. Player Propa, you look disappointed?]
[Wow, there was great defense from the beginning of the game. It was really instinctive defense, right? If it weren’t for Ji Maeng-ho’s quick feet and athleticism, it would have been a hit. As soon as I saw the batted ball, I thought it was a hit to right field that went between first and second base, but Ji Maeng-ho’s defense was perfect. When a fielder plays defense like this, the pitcher feels good.]
“Nice catch!”
“Are you crazy about defense?”
“Thank you, Meng Hao.”
Ji Meng-ho, who heard the compliments of his seniors, nodded his head in pride and raised his gloves to respond to the compliments of his seniors.
Anyone could see that it was a poor defense, but the person who showed such defense seemed to be making a gesture that it was a natural play. Choi Joo-tae, who was watching from the side, spoke to Ji Maeng-ho again.
“I guess you weren’t really nervous?”
“Senior Joo Tae. “I’m Ji Maeng-ho.”
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