Chapter 513 – Episode 505. First Watershed? (3)

Tinier continued to pitch well for two games after returning from injury, but it wasn’t much of a surprise.

There were very few players in the KBA League who could hit the bat of a pitcher who threw a fast ball in the mid-150s range into the zone. Moreover, Tinie is a Lee Ji-sunda type pitcher who added a slider to that fast ball. Lee Yong-gi, the best catcher in the league, mixes balls for such a pitcher?

As long as Tinye had control of his pitch, it was natural for him to become an untouchable player in the league.

Even in our batting line, which is said to be the strongest in the league, there were almost no players who could attack Tinie’s pitch.

First, senior Jincheol, the team’s main batting lineup, has a hard time keeping up with fast balls, perhaps due to his age. He is now thirty-nine in Korean age, although he won the Golden Glove last year. He was old enough to be a player, and his batting average had dropped significantly from last year and was now hovering around .255. Of course, he still had the strength to hit 10 home runs, ranking second on the team in home runs.

And Suho senior also had a wide zone and pulled his hitting point forward, but his hitting point was basically behind him, so he had a weakness in fastballs. Jeong Hwi-cheol, the number one hitter this season, also has weak power, so even if he hits fastballs like that, he can’t produce good batted balls. It was hard. Catcher Hyunseong initially had no expectations of hitting.

At least, Williams, a mercenary, Sangju senior, and Seongtae-hyung, a tool guy with a fast bat speed, could be expected to hit meaningful hits, and Baek Jeong-jin is somewhat talented at batting, so maybe we can hope for a little?

The director must have been aware of this fact, so he put forward a different lineup than before.

“Today’s number 1 is Light Jeongjin.”

“Yes.”

“From number 2, it’s Meng Hao, Sangju, and Williams as usual. And short Seongtae in number 5.”

“Oh, Seongtae number 5.”

When Yoon Seong-tae was called to the 5th batter’s position, the other players also expected it, but responded to the manager’s words with considerable surprise.

“And Suho is number 6. Jincheol in number 7. Jincheol, are you okay?”

“Yes. Director. “Do you think I’m someone who can’t play just because I’m not a kid and went down in the cleanup?”

Senior Jincheol also responded coolly to the director’s words. To be honest, if Jincheol had a career like senior Jincheol’s, he could have protested when his batting order was lowered, but the manager seemed to accept it without saying anything since he was a star who won two consecutive Korean Series games.

“Okay. Thanks. Jincheol. Just aim for a home run comfortably at number 7.”

“I understand.”

“And in number 8, catcher Hyunseong. Center Hwicheol is number 9. Okay?”

“Yes!”

A batting lineup that seems to have met almost all expectations, including the 5th hitter. Of course, it was obvious that 50% of those expectations would be placed on me. Because the director’s eyes looking at me also contained that kind of expectation.

“Yesterday was honestly a natural disaster. Everyone admits it, right? If you catch Seonghyun in that kind of zone, he won’t be able to hit in the major leagues. But today is different. Even though Tinie has pitched well in the last two games, you never know when he might collapse. “I believe everyone is feeling that they will be able to secure today’s game.”

As the good atmosphere continued, the director did not say anything special during the meeting, but today he spoke at length. The coach clearly felt that this game was an important one in the future of the Korean Series. To be honest, it’s still early in June, but it was almost certain that we would take first place, and with a strong starting and batting lineup, it didn’t seem like we would fall.

In other words, each series against Hwasan was a rehearsal for the Korean series. The coach also felt this, so he spoke longer than usual to the players.

“Good. From the look on his face, he seems to understand what I’m saying. Meng Hao, do you understand?”

“Of course.”

“Yes, if Meng Hao understood, then he understood everything.”

“… Yes?”

“Let’s go and kill them so that we can’t even think about selecting targets like this in the future. Invincible!”

“”AT!””

“Director! Wait a minute! What was that… !”

“Okay, let’s give it a try today. “I don’t know what kind of confidence these bastards who keep talking about are making jokes about.”

“Honestly, it was Seonghyun sunbae yesterday, and there is no reason to lose today.”

I anxiously waited for the coach’s explanation as I couldn’t understand his words, but there was no opportunity to hear the explanation as it was drowned out by the players’ voices.

*

“Strike!”

The speed posted on the electronic display board was 156 km/h. Tinie’s ball, as evaluated by Lee Yong-gi, was a ball that was enjoyable to receive. Of course, until he got injured, he was someone who added the cancer of wild pitching to the already difficult position of catcher, but after the injury, Tiny was completely different.

Tinie, who suffered a fracture to his toe after being hit by Ji Maeng-ho’s batted ball, began to pay more attention to his lower body during pitching movements, probably because he was concerned about his toes during pitching practice. As his lower body stabilized, he was able to control his pitch.

‘If this is the case, should I be grateful to Meng Hao?’

Of course, Tinie did not suddenly have the control to penetrate every corner of the zone like Seonghyun. Can you throw the ball in the zone when you want to throw it in the zone, and outside the zone when you want to throw it outside the zone?

But that was enough for the league.

“Strike!”

… Like now. Tinie’s ball hit the outside of the batter’s middle slightly, but Baek Jeong-jin’s swing missed, resulting in a strike two after two balls. A fast ball in the mid 150s and a high-speed slider in the mid 140s. Although there were only two pitch types, Lee Yong-gi was confident that he would make this pitcher the best pitcher in the league.

‘If you throw such a good ball but can’t even lead properly, you should retire as a catcher.’

Two fastballs hitting the strike zone. Here, ordinary batters swing their bats at every ball that comes near the zone. And there was the easiest way to catch such a batter.

‘This time with a high fastball.’

‘Okay.’

Battery’s eyes connect and Tinier prepares to pitch. And a high fastball that hits the high zone. About three balls were missed, but because they were so fast, Baek Jeong-jin’s bat stopped on the way out, and Lee Yong-gi immediately checked with the umpire to see if he was swinging.

“It turned, right?”

“… Jitterbug! Strike out!”

No matter how good a hitter he was, he had no choice but to flinch when a ball came near his eyes, and being able to withstand such a ball was what differentiated top-class hitters.

‘Nice… This is it.’

In Lee Yong-gi’s opinion, Baek Jeong-jin is not yet that good of a hitter. Lee Yong-gi was secretly delighted to see Baek Jeong-jin striking out just as he expected. Because striking out a batter with three pitches was the greatest joy a catcher could feel.

‘After…, Now let’s focus.’

But the joy is short-lived. Now was the time to focus with all my might. Because the batter standing in front of him was Ji Maeng-ho.

“How are you?”

“Did you sleep well last night?”

“What are you going to do?”

“To be harsh.”

Yesterday, the umpire’s tendencies matched well, and we were able to tie up Ji Maeng-ho, but as soon as Ji Maeng-ho came to bat, we felt the pressure of the strike zone filling up.

‘Well, I didn’t tie it up because I gave two walks yesterday. Under… I want to skip it.’

When I felt that pressure, I had a strong desire to skip Ji Maeng-ho. But he couldn’t ignore it. When Ji Maeng-ho was on base, he had to throw only a fastball to avoid giving up stolen bases, and even a fast ball in the mid-150s was enough for a better as good as Ki Ki-ju to get the timing right.

However, if a slider was requested, it was clear that Ji Maeng-ho, who had perfect timing, would steal second base. If he walked, he would definitely score 1 run, and if he led a home run, there was still a chance of a hit, so it was right for him to bet on higher odds.

‘Yes, anyway, the reason we brought in these guys who are only fast at the ball was to deal with Ji Maeng-ho. Let’s stick together. I just need to give at least 1 point. Fastball?’

The first pitch is a fastball that goes into the zone. The best way to deal with Ji Maeng-ho was to throw a strike on the first pitch. There was a high percentage of Ji Maeng-ho aiming for the first pitch, but that was a statistical trap. Ji Maeng-ho had a tendency to swing after seeing all the pitches of the starting pitcher he met for the first time that day. This is Ji Maeng-ho’s secret that only the catcher who faced him directly can know. And in the case of Tinier, who only had two pitch types, the first pitch was especially important.

‘Probably, it’s to check how the pitcher’s ball is that day. Well, guessing the timing just by looking at it is a monster. So this time, throw the fastball in the zone…’

‘No, no.’

But Tinye shook his head.

‘Fuck. Just put the first pitch in the zone. Then within the slider zone?’

‘No, no. I want to go for the missing ball. Sliders are okay.’

‘Ha, fuck you bastard.’

Lee Yong-gi had no choice but to nod his head at Tinie’s strong appeal. For a fireballer with terrible control like Tinie, the most important thing is to enjoy the atmosphere. If the pitcher’s spirit was discouraged here, he could have returned to the way he was before the injury, so it was an inevitable choice.

‘Please. Come into the zone.’

The first pitch was thrown along with Lee Yong-gi’s prayer.

“Ball.”

Unfortunately, Tinier’s slider fell outside the zone.

“Oh. Look at each other.”

‘I’m excited. Young. ‘Is this enough?’

Ji Maeng-ho’s appearance through the catcher’s mask was slightly bright. Although he was controlling himself as much as possible, Ji Meng-ho’s excitement was clearly visible in Lee Yong-gi’s eyes.

‘Write it. Sliders should not be thrown into the zone. It’s an atmosphere that will be passed over no matter what. This is a fastball. … Do you hate it again? Oh, this idiot really. Just do as you’re told. Then slider. Outside the zone this time.’

‘Okay.’

It is clear that the ball count will be wasted. Although that would not happen, I prepared to receive the second ball, hoping that Ji Maeng-ho would think this ball was a fastball or that he would think it was worth hitting a slider and swing the bat.

“Ball.”

However, Ji Maeng-ho did not move, and two balls were thrown.

‘Fuck. I just wasted the ball count. You can’t ignore Ji Maeng-ho for this. I have no choice but to leave it to luck and throw a fastball into the zone this time.’

He was 100% sure that the slider would go over, and if he feels this way, most of his predictions have come true, so the only pitch Lee Yong-gi can ask for is a fastball that goes into the zone. If I had gotten a strike on the first pitch, I would have been able to win the game by throwing in a slider, but now all I can do is pray.

‘Please exquisite borderline control…’ !’

I opened my mitt wide while waiting for Tinier’s third pitch, hoping that I wouldn’t swing the bat at Tinier’s fastball, which I saw for the first time today, or that Tinier’s ball would hit the borderline exquisitely.

And Tinier’s third ball was thrown. However, I did not feel the heavy sensation that should be felt from the mitt. All I can feel is the refreshing sound of hitting, as if the ball is splitting apart.

Ta – Aak!

“Oh, shit.”

The ball floats high and slowly flies toward the fence. Tinie raised her finger high and pointed to the sky, as if she thought it was done, but Lee Yong-gi, who had been watching Ji Maeng-ho for a long time, could feel it.

This ball went over the fence.

-Wow!!!

-Ji Maeng-ho! Ji Maengho! Ji Maengho!

Listening to the sound of the crowd, Lee Yong-gi could do nothing but look at the batted ball, put his hands on his sides and spit on the ground.

“Brother. Did I ask you if you slept well? “I won’t let you sleep today.”

Lee Yong-gi had no choice but to spit on the ground again when Ji Maeng-ho said that he was scratching himself while stepping on home plate.