Chapters 445 – 437. Stepping Towards a New Record. (6)
“Ha, indeed. “It’s because the last game of the season was scheduled with us.”
“There are many games canceled due to rain, so there is nothing we can do. And who knew records would be hung like this?”
Hancheol’s coach Park Dae-hoon was struck by an unexpected situation.
.400 batting average, .600 on-base percentage, 62nd home run, and 84th stolen base. During the two games, there wasn’t a single unimportant record at stake in having to face Ji Meng-ho.
“Under… I thought all the records would be set in Daegu…”
“That’s right.”
If Ji Maeng-ho had set new records in Daegu, he wouldn’t have had such a headache. All he had to do was to do his best against them and prevent them from batting .400 and on-base percentage to .600. If he had set all those records in the Daegu expedition, all he had to do was play the game while dealing with moderate opponents and filtering out the game. However, since all these records were hanging, there was no way.
Filter? New records for batting average, on-base percentage, and stolen bases will be provided.
You don’t filter it? Considering Ji Maeng-ho’s hitting ability, he had a high probability of setting a new home run record.
Lee Ji-seon is impossible to avoid. Moreover, he was a player for AT Thunders and not any other team. A player from AT Thunders, their rival in Jamsil, who eliminated them from the semi-playoffs last year. He gave up all the great records to a player on a team like that. It was a shameful thing.
Director Park Dae-hoon was a person who understood that humiliation better than anyone else. Since the 90s, when Hancheol was losing to AT, I have only played for one team and have keenly felt the rivalry between the two teams.
Just as AT fans and players hate losing to AT more than death, Hancheol fans and players also hated losing to AT more than death. But, giving all those records to a player from a team like that?
‘That’s terrible. … But there is no way.’
But there was no way. Now, the Hyunseong Mad Cats, who did everything they could to protect the team legend’s record, ended up losing the 61st home run after being criticized by fans and public opinion. Hancheol’s situation was worse than that.
Hyunseong had a justification to protect the team legend’s record, but Hancheol had no justification to exclude Ji Maengho. These two games were dead games, even with the rankings of the teams facing each other determined. If this record hadn’t been set, he would have even considered not using the entire starting lineup.
“How, is there no way?”
“Hmm… Pray? All we can do is pray that the pitchers stop Ji Maeng-ho. It is also Jamsil.”
“Under… It means there is no way.”
Director Park Dae-hoon’s sigh deepens. Because there was virtually no way to stop Ji Maeng-ho. Then he had to make a choice.
“But even if we can’t stop the records from being set, we have to win the game, right?”
“I guess so, right? Thinking about the upcoming fall baseball season…”
All that remains is to fill the players’ confidence by winning the game, even if it means losing the record. In order to win, they had to defeat the AT Thunders, who were waiting in the Korean Series. In that situation, would you take both of the previous two games? This had quite a big meaning.
Of course, going to the Korean Series wasn’t easy. Shilla Triggers, who were expected to advance in the wild card match, were not an easy team. Even the Korean series wouldn’t have been a dream if they could beat the strong Shilla Triggers in the fall.
Although the Hwasan Falcons are waiting in the playoffs, in coach Dae-Hoon Park’s mind, the Hwasan Falcons were not that threatening a team. The Hwasan Falcons are the first team to appear in fall baseball in several years. Except for starting catcher Lee Yong-gi and ace Seong Hyun, it was obvious that they would be crushed by the pressure of a big game.
And preying on such a team was easier than anything for the Hancheol Grizzlies, who advanced to fall baseball for 10 consecutive years from 2015 to this year and won three championships and two runners-up.
‘Considering that Shilla Triggers will produce an ace before the wild card, we can actually say that we are going to the playoffs. Then, it’s the Korean series against AT that catches the volcano. It would be right to set the tone by winning this game.’
Their record against AT Thunders is 8 wins, 6 losses, and 2 draws. If we won both games, we could match our opponent’s record.
“Let’s go at full strength for this two-game series.”
“All right. So what about tomorrow’s selection?”
“Let’s go ahead with the selection as planned.”
“All right. Then, I will prepare as Seungyoon.”
“Yes, Seungyoon is also a player who needs to perform well in big games.”
The game management strategy was decided at the end of the coaches’ meeting. Hancheol players also welcomed it.
“It’s a bit like being carried around by the AT kids.”
“Good. Let’s pretend it’s fall baseball practice, win today and tomorrow, and then take a break.”
“Seungcheol, if you hit a home run in 10 consecutive at-bats, you’re a tie. Let’s hit a home run in 10 consecutive at-bats!”
“What do you mean? “Is Meng Hao resting in the meantime?”
“Wouldn’t Seungyoon stop it? Seungyoon! Isn’t that right?”
“Yes… “What?”
Except for Na Seung-yoon, who was announced as a starting pitcher,
‘Fuck, how are we supposed to stop Ji Maeng-ho?’
The fielders were talking among themselves and raising their morale, but from the perspective of pitcher Na Seung-yoon, Ji Maeng-ho was just a disaster. From Na Seung-yoon’s perspective, it was easier to skip Ji Maeng-ho altogether. If he was going to get scolded even if he got hit anyway, it would have been easier to do it and direct the blame on the bench.
“Yes, our Seungyoon has nothing to lose.”
“Seungyoon! Let’s get 13 wins!”
Haha. Well, that’s right. “It’s about Ji Maeng-ho!”
‘Fuck!’
Na Seung-yoon answered his seniors with a smile, but inside he had no choice but to spit out an insult.
“Seungyoon. I’ll give you points. “Don’t worry.”
“… Yes.”
Joo Seung-cheol, a classmate, tried to comfort Na Seung-yoon, but he was not particularly comforted. After all, the only thing that was destroyed was his ERA.
‘Fuck. If it’s just shit, I’ll just throw it with my body and curse at it. Still, I also played in the Asian Games with Maengho, so I won’t immediately throw a tantrum.’
I went into the game with that thought in mind.
‘This bastard… The color of your eyes…’
As soon as I saw Ji Maeng-ho’s eyes at the end of the first episode, that thought came to mind. Ji Maeng-ho’s eyes as he stood at bat were eyes that could kill a person.
‘I die. 100% death.’
If it were under normal circumstances, I don’t think he would have come up right away after throwing a ball that hit his body. Still, we had a conversation at the Asian Games.
However, Ji Maeng-ho, who is currently aiming for a new record, was different. He took a look in his eyes that made it seem like he would kill anyone who tried to stop him from achieving his record.
‘… If I had skipped it, I think I would have just run.’
If he was in that situation, he would have run to the mound even if he had just walked.
‘I didn’t feel that way in last year’s Junple…’
Na Seung-yoon was overwhelmed by momentum even before he threw the ball. And the first pitch was thrown.
Ta – Aak!
Na Seung-yoon’s first pitch went into the middle, and Ji Maeng-ho swung the bat from the first pitch. Na Seung-yoon’s head automatically turned toward left field at the loud hitting sound.
‘Fuck!’
But fortunately for Na Seung-yoon, the launch angle of the batted ball was low. Due to his momentum, he was unable to throw the ball properly, so the velocity of the fastball, which was usually around 150, was low, and because it was hit earlier than Ji Maeng-ho expected, it did not have the angle to go over the Jamsil fence.
Empty! A ball that hits the fence properly and falls. Na Seung-yoon once again cursed under his breath when the leadoff hitter hit a double in the bottom of the first inning.
“Backup!”
The impressions end here. Na Seung-yoon tried to take a step to play back up when he heard a sound coming from behind.
‘… Huh?’
But he didn’t even need to move a step. Because Ji Maeng-ho, who should have run to second base on a hit like this, was stuck on first base.
‘… ‘What is it?’
Is it sabotage? ? I thought for a moment. Seungyoon Na was able to realize the situation right away.
‘This devil… Same bastard!’
Ji Maeng-ho intentionally stopped at first base.
That devilish bastard had stopped at first base to set another record.
[It was clearly a hit that could have reached second base, but Ji Maeng-ho stops at first base.]
[Hmm… They probably stopped to record stolen bases, right? The number of stolen bases Ji Maeng-ho has recorded so far is 83. He was one record away from tying and two records away from being set. And coincidentally, two bases are placed in front of Ji Maeng-ho.]
[For the record.]
[Usually, when a cycling hit is made, there are cases where this happens with only one hit left, but this is the first time I have seen this happen from the very beginning of the game. Well, it’s not a situation that I don’t understand. Anyway, the rankings of both teams were decided, and it would not be strange for a player like Ji Maeng-ho to behave like that in a game like this.]
[Perhaps you have finished talking with the coaches?]
[You’re right. No matter how important your personal records are, aren’t there many cases where you make such decisions on your own? He probably made a promise before the game started that he would play like that if the situation arose.]
[Director Lee Soo-hyun also applauds.]
[I am also looking forward to whether Ji Maeng-ho will run to third base and surpass the record in one go.]
[A check is entered. Three leaves.]
And in such a situation, Na Seung-yoon had no choice but to throw a check.
Na Seung-yoon, the pitcher who allowed the 62nd home run. Na Seung-yoon, the pitcher who allowed the 85th stolen base. Because it was impossible to leave two titles as an allowed pitcher with two records representing the league.
It was probably impossible for him to leave his image in the video that would be released until the end of the KBA League.
“Safe!”
‘Fuck! Get caught! ‘It’s a fierce tiger!’
He threw five checks in a row, but Ji Maeng-ho slipped into first base as if making fun of himself and did not allow a check.
‘Fuck, I don’t know.’
Na Seung-yoon threw a fastball toward home plate with a desperation in his heart.
“Strike!”
And Ji Maeng-ho did not run.
‘Whew, was the check still effective?’
‘This time, let’s go to the curve.’
‘Yes.’
And the curveball thrown. The moment Ji Maeng-ho twitched his foot, he started running toward second base like a ghost. I knew that Ji Meng-ho was running thanks to the shouts of the fielders, but once he started pitching, he couldn’t stop.
“Ball.”
“Safe!”
The referee’s decision is heard continuously.
‘How does this fucking bastard know how to always run at the timing of a breaking ball?’
If I felt despair until now, I felt angry now.
“Safe!”
“Safe!”
In order to relieve his anger, Na Seung-yoon went as far as checking second base, who did not throw well. And when he threw the third check,
[Ah! It’s falling out! The check ball rolls in front of center field! The runner on second base goes to third base! You’re not going. Ji Maeng-ho on second base.]
Haha, this is no different from a declaration of war, right? Center fielder Joo Seung-cheol has a good arm, but considering Ji Maeng-ho’s main strength, he would never be able to steal third base, right? This is him openly saying that he will steal even third base.]
“Ha, are you fucking crazy?”
Na Seung-yoon, forgetting the unwritten rule that he must hide his emotions on the mound, ended up spitting out a curse word out of his mouth. And quite loudly. And then he makes eye contact with Ji Meng-ho on second base, and that devilish guy smiles and raises his hand.
The hand was clenched into a fist, but only one finger was raised towards him. That finger was his thumb.
“Shiba…”
Na Seung-yoon felt like he wouldn’t have any mental energy left if he watched any longer, so he shifted his gaze towards home plate. The catcher’s signature is a fastball.
“Strike!”
This time, Ji Maeng-ho did not run.
‘After… Yes, stealing third base is a bit burdensome.’
Ji Maeng-ho did not always run to third base, so Na Seung-yoon, relying on that record, continued to compete with batters. And a slider thrown in a full count situation.
“Third base!”
Ji Maeng-ho ran toward third base again.
“Base on balls.”
“Safe!”
[Ji Maeng-ho’s 85th stolen base of the season! The history of the KBA League is rewritten here. And the main character is Korea’s best baseball player! This is Ji Maeng-ho!]
The broadcasters and spectators cheered, but Na Seung-yoon, standing on the mound, was on the verge of bursting out in anger.
“Ah! Fuck! In moderation… !”
Na Seung-yoon’s mentality, which allowed such humiliation, was now on the verge of crumbling to dust. Moreover, Ji Maeng-ho is at third base and Kim Su-ho is at first base. Meteorology at bat.
Ta – Aak!
And one hit of meteorism shattered Na Seung-yoon’s mentality.
[3:0! The weather forecast targets Na Seung-yoon, who was shaking.]
[4:0! Williams’ back to back home runs!]
[Na Seung-yoon allows a walk to Choi Jin-cheol. … Oh, the bases are loaded. Na Seung-yoon ruled out Woo Gwan-hyeong and Yoon Seong-tae to save the day, but Jeong Yun-cheol gave a hit and Baek Jeong-jin walked, leading to a crisis with the bases loaded and two outs. And Ji Maeng-ho at bat.]
[Na Seung-yoon’s condition looks bad? Ah, the coaches are coming up.]
[In the end, Na Seung-yoon goes down the mound. Ends today’s game with 4 runs allowed in 0.2 innings.]
In this way, Na Seung-yoon was criticized and recorded the disgrace of being the 85th pitcher to allow stolen bases, but he was able to avoid the disgrace of being the 62nd pitcher to allow home runs.
And there were rumors from fans that Na Seung-yoon’s face as he came down from the mound somehow looked like he was smiling, but whether Na Seung-yoon really smiled as he came down from the mound will remain as one of the mysteries of the KBA League in the future.