Chapter 758 – Episode 745. Expiation.

[6-4-3! A flowing double play! Gilbert cleans up the top of the first inning! Now, let me introduce the Yankees’ offensive lineup in the bottom of the first inning. 1st hitter Ji Maeng-ho, 2nd hitter Judge, 3rd hitter Soto, 4th hitter Stanton, 5th hitter Verdugo, 6th hitter Volpi, 7th hitter Vientos. The batting order consisted of Ohapi, the 8th hitter, and Sujeishi, the 9th hitter.]

[There is a change in the Yankees’ batting lineup, right? First, Verdugo played in center field 5 times today, and Sujeisi was used instead of first baseman Hall.]

[It’s been a while since Verdugo played as a starter, right?]

[You’re right. You were left out of the starting lineup for the last 8 games, right? There were probably a lot of left-handed pitchers, but Stanton’s hitting was so good that he didn’t appear as a starter, but he seems to be giving Kelnick, the starting center fielder, a break today.]

[And I will tell you the defensive position of the Chicago White Sox. Soroka is the pitcher… … Soroka is currently on a two-game losing streak, so I am curious to see what he will show.]

[Soroka is a player who throws a four-seam fastball with a top speed of 96 mph and an average of 93 mph, a sinker, a slider, and a change-up, and his strength is the heavy pitch that comes from his sturdy physique. In the 2019 season, his actual debut season, he recorded 13 wins with an ERA of 2.68, and after moving to the White Sox, he recorded 10 wins twice in 24 and 26.]

[Yes. Soroka’s records this season are 2 wins, 2 losses, and an ERA of 3.89, and against him, Ji Maeng-ho, the Yankees’ number one hitter, comes to the plate. He is a proud Korean who ranks first in almost every category with a season batting average of .400 and 7 home runs and 21 home runs.]

[Yes, in some ways he seems to be doing better than when he was in Korea. Haha. In fact, when analyzed, the performance should drop, but I hope Ji Maeng-ho continues to show such performance.]

[Soroka’s first pitch, ball. It is a fastball of 92.3 miles (148.5 km/h).]

*

‘Oh, this much? I think it was a little faster when I saw it in the video… ‘Have you felt less relaxed?’

Perhaps because it was the first episode, I briefly laughed at the slightly slower speed than the average speed seen in the video. There was a brief commotion in the locker room before entering the game, so he decided to approach the plate as best as possible for the team.

‘What is the team… Hitting a home run is the best team bet.’

‘Still, the velocity is slow today, so it might be different from the video.’

I tend to agree with the saying that the best team bet is a home run, but there was something more important than that for the number one hitter.

The goal is to show as much as possible what kind of pitch the pitcher is throwing today to the batters waiting in the waiting box or dugout. It was especially important if it was the first at-bat of the first inning.

After coming to the major leagues, everyone was left to their own devices, so I didn’t pay much attention to it, but the first hitter’s job is to provide as much information about the pitcher as possible. Since I emphasized team play before entering the game, I decided to fulfill that mission this time.

And although no one will realize it, it also had the meaning of atonement for hitting a colleague in front of the director.

‘It’s a fastball. ‘Body side.’

‘Okay.’

The second ball I waited for, determined to see as many balls as possible.

“Ball.”

Mr. Rossby’s words about a body fastball were fleeting, and the guy’s ball was hit high and outside. Of course, the result was a ball because it was an absurd miss.

‘I definitely feel like I’m losing control…’

Additionally, the speed stamped on the electronic display board was 90 miles per hour (144.8 km/h). It was clear that velocity and control were not in normal condition.

‘Okay, watch carefully.’

I glanced at Judge, who was in the waiting box, and held the bat slightly. If you do this, it will be difficult to make a true hit, but it will be easier to hit the ball. Set the hitting timing as late as possible and wait for the guy’s ball.

‘It’s a changeup, outside.’

When I heard the word change-up, I thought about holding the bat longer, but this was atonement. I knocked out his slow changeup that went about 79 mph (127.1 km/h).

Perfect!

“Foul!”

Since I didn’t intend to hit the ball anyway, the ball I touched lightly went straight toward first base. A foul is called.

‘The change-up angle is similar to the video… Oh, fuck, I think I would have passed if I had hit this…’

But this is atonement. I was holding the bat briefly with the mind of a monk who was scourging himself.

‘It’s a change-up. ‘Body side.’

‘Okay.’

And the choice of battery is change-up. When he saw that it was a foul, he seemed to have misunderstood that I was not getting the timing right.

Perfect!

“Foul!”

But this time, he swung the bat quickly, and the ball hit the tip of the bat and curved toward third base. Foul again.

‘It’s a change-up.’

‘Fuck, stop throwing it. ‘Show me the other ball.’

I held the bat long, thinking that if I kept fouling, I would just keep throwing changeups.

‘Throw it into the zone, I’ll really send you flying to the end of the universe.’

This is not greed, but part of my teamwork to show off more balls.

“Ball.”

However, this ball fell about two balls behind the zone. Before we knew it, the full count was reached.

‘Fastball.’

‘Okay.’

The guy I checked today’s fastball is around 145-150 km/h. I saw so many balls with this kind of speed in Korea that I could hit them with my eyes closed. So, it didn’t really matter if I held the bat shorter and set the timing a little later.

And the guy who threw the ball flew almost at eye level,

Perfect!

“Foul!”

I kicked the ball away from him once again. If I had left it alone, it would have been a walk, but since this was atonement, I couldn’t walk away irresponsibly just for the sake of myself.

‘Throw the slider and sinker quickly.’

The goal of this atonement is to show the ball to the waiting batters at least twice. I could have struck out or hit a grounder, but as long as I could show the team my resolve, I didn’t mind getting one out.

Fortunately, his speed was similar to the speed seen in Korea, so the probability was low.

‘Fastball.’

Perfect!

“Foul!”

‘Slider. ‘Body side.’

‘Okay, I’m finally throwing it.’

Perfect!

“Foul!”

‘Slider 82 miles? Well, it’s not much different from the video. Looks like the fastball was a bit bad today, huh?’

‘Fastball.’

Perfect!

“Foul!”

‘Stop throwing fastballs, really. If you throw it in the fucking zone, it will really blow up.’

‘It’s a sinker. ‘Body side.’

‘Okay.’

Perfect!

“Foul!”

The sinker’s velocity is 90.2 miles (145.1 km/h). Although he was familiar with the velocity, he had good movement, so this time he got into the zone and almost ended up on the line.

Still, my heart feels lighter because I saw all the balls he threw. Of course, he had no intention of stopping atonement.

‘It’s a slider.’

‘Okay.’

Perfect!

“Foul!”

‘You crazy guy, stop it. ‘How long on earth do I have to watch?’

‘After… Mr. Rossby, who failed to stop me, must also atone.’

‘This idiot… So how long are you going to keep doing this shit?’

‘Until my atonement reaches the bishop.’

‘… It’s a slider, towards the body.’

Mr. Rossby speaks in a resigned voice. It seemed like he was tired of watching and was hoping my at-bat would end quickly, but there was no way Mr. Rossby was giving me the wrong pitch. Because this was the contract that Mr. Rossby and I promised.

Therefore, I trusted Mr. Rossby and swung the bat assuming a slider,

Perfect!

“Foul!”

Once again, the ball curves toward first base and a foul is called.

‘After… Are you watching, director? I was so rude today.’

As the director, of course he was watching, but I didn’t think my words reached him.

But still, I couldn’t give up on this.

This was atonement for my sin of hitting a player in front of the coach, and it was a struggle for the team to win, as I thought I would win today.

‘Fastball. Outside.’

Now, it seemed like I could really hit his fastball with my eyes closed, but I looked at his ball with both eyes straight open.

And then, tap lightly.

Perfect!

“Foul!”

‘Mr Mattingly! Stay tuned! ‘Aaaaah!’

“Foul!”

*

Perfect!

The sound of a batted ball echoes through Yankee Stadium once again. And the batted ball that was hit by the bat deflects once again to a place where the fielder cannot catch it.

“Foul!”

The result is a foul.

The crowd begins to buzz at the result. Because this was the 10th consecutive foul hit after the full count.

“Get out!”

“What are you doing! Get it right!”

And the angry White Sox fans boo Ji Maeng-ho. But the jeers are soon drowned out by loud cheers.

-Waaaaa!!!

-Ji! Ji! Ji! Ji! Ji! Ji! Ji!

Because this was Yankee Stadium, the home of the New York Yankees.

The home fans who came to cheer on the Yankees began to raise their voices at a sight they rarely see, and once again, a foul hit made the crowd go crazy.

“Fuck!”

And in the bottom of the first inning, Soroka, who was throwing the ball while sweating profusely from the leadoff hitter, could not hold back any longer and swore when the game reached 16 pitches.

‘Fuck, should I just guess?’

I really want to throw a fastball at that arrogant Asian guy’s head. But it couldn’t be done. This is now a battle of pride. The Major’s way is not to run away even if it means dying. Even if I threw a blank ball at him in my next at-bat, I wanted to catch him this at-bat.

An all-out effort thrown with such strong hope.

Perfect!

“Foul.”

Despite Soroka’s determination, the ball curves again and hits the net.

‘Yeah, you fucking bastard. Let’s see who wins.’

“Foul!”

“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!”

[Hey, I just cleared the 18th ball again.]

[It’s all settled now, isn’t it? You can see the madness in Ji’s eyes.]

[The official record for the most pitches thrown by one pitcher to one batter in the major leagues is the 21 pitches that Belt recorded against Baria in 2018. And the unofficial record is 28 pitches recorded by Luke Appling in 1943.]

[Haha, I am also looking forward to seeing if Ji will be able to surpass that record. Now, if you look at Ji’s bat, he is holding the bat briefly and tapping it to make as much contact as possible. I feel like Ji Maeng-ho, who knows almost all pitches and swings the bat, could do it.]

[… Foul! … Foul! … Foul! Ji is on par with the belt record! … Foul! And the belt record is surpassed! … 23! … 24! … 25! Yankees fans gathered at Yankee Stadium are chanting Ji’s name in unison.]

[And… In fact, there is some criticism that these foul hits increase the length of the game, but the spectators can’t help but be happy. This is a new record for the first time in almost 100 years.]

[Yes. Come to think of it, Appling only played for the White Sox throughout his career, so perhaps the players’ resentment toward Appling is now clinging to Ji’s bat.]

[Haha, that might be possible. Appling is also recorded as having produced numerous foul hits with his perfect contact ability and exquisite bat control.]

[… 26! … 27! Maeng-Ho Ji left just one pitch in Luke Appling’s unofficial record! And Soroka’s 28th pitch was thrown! Ji Maeng-ho hit the ball! This batted ball curves toward first base! Foul!]

[And… It is truly an honor to see such a great record in person. Ji’s bat control looks divine. No matter what kind of pitch Soroka throws, he taps the bat as if he knows it!]

[And Soroka’s 29th ball was thrown! Toward Ji’s body! Exit! Cheek! Cheek! Maeng-Ho Ji gets a walk after the 29th game! After a great fight, he gets a walk!]

The match between Ji Maeng-ho and Soroka, which will be recorded as the match of the century, ended after 29 pitches when the ball thrown by Soroka, whose hands were weak, headed toward Ji Maeng-ho’s body.

No matter how Ji Maeng-ho was standing still, he couldn’t hit the bat with the ball that would have hit his body, and Ji Maeng-ho was also slowly losing strength in his hand holding the bat, so he avoided the ball and ended up walking.

“Aaaaah!”

The pitcher screamed and was secretly happy that he had finally let that damn guy go, and the batter also cursed inwardly, sensing that the ball would not go forward even if he hit it in the next at-bat.

‘Fuck, this is so fucking hard… If I do this shit again, I’m not human. It’s not a person! Mr. Rossby said it would be a record if I did a little more, so I kept cutting without realizing it.’

‘Tsk, I’m doing something meaningless, but I should at least set a record.’

And I saw enough, no, too much of the ball…,

[… Judge’s hit! Let’s go! 17th home run of the season! … Soto’s batted ball goes over the fence again! Back to back! Back-to-back home runs came out!]

[It looks like Soroka is very tired, right? Hey, Ji’s persistent game results in back-to-back home runs.]

… Judge and Soto’s back-to-back home runs were enough to keep the excitement going at Yankee Stadium, which had witnessed the game of the century with its own eyes.