Chapter 765 – Episode 752. Is It Light?

“Wow, I’m cold.”

In the bottom of the 8th inning, when the game was leading 9:4 and Tampa Bay was down by 1, I almost grabbed my bat because I knew there was no way I would get out of the game today, but fortunately Camacho and Miller The game ended at 9:8 without giving any more points.

It was a bit absurd to see Camacho smiling after coming on the mound with the bases loaded and hitting all of Gonzales’ runners with one hit, then allowing no runs in one inning.

To be honest, this was so different from Korea that I still couldn’t get used to it. Even when I was in Korea, I used to feel sorry when the bullpen wasted runners, but it felt like the major leagues didn’t pay that much attention.

Moreover, Camacho is the same age as me and is the youngest among the pitchers. I thought he might have noticed, but he showed no signs of it at all, so I approached Camacho and asked him a question.

“Hey, aren’t you sorry?”

“Huh? “What?”

“You gave up 3 points and Gonzales had 6 points?”

The pitcher who came up before Camacho today and made the bases loaded was Gonzales, who was playing the role of a left-handed pitcher. Gonzales, who was in the 3-point range, had his average ERA soar to 6-point range with today’s game. It went from a decent bullpen to an open-and-shut bullpen in just one game.

“So who wants to stack runners? And I didn’t hit a home run.”

But Camacho’s answer was shocking. Does it feel like there is no teamwork at all? Well, seeing as he rushed out and hit the pitcher when clearing the bench, he wasn’t a guy without teamwork, but even Camacho was in this mood, which once again makes me realize how selfish pitchers are.

I thought about correcting his selfish thoughts by punching him, but since this was one of the few bullpens on our team that was humane, I held back the fist that came up.

In fact, if you had to point out our team’s superficial problem, it was the bullpen.

Although they are said to be cycling, the starting staff, who receive an annual salary of $130 million, combined with the league’s strongest batting line led by me, Judge, and Soto, were doing their roles well.

However, looking at the bullpen, the performance was miserable. Closer Miller was making 15 saves, going back and forth from the 1-point range to the low 2-point range, and although Camacho was holding on by scoring in the low to mid 2-point range, everyone else was recording 4-point range.

Gonzalez, who was the only player with a 3-point range, also saw his average ERA soar to 6 points in this game. Coach Mattingly, who prefers not to make any changes to the first-team squad, had already sent two bullpen players down to the minor leagues, so the problem with the bullpen was serious.

Even if I wanted to help, there was no way I could help because humans were not broken electronic devices and squeezing them would not solve the problem.

What can I do is just give up a lot of points to help pitchers throw the ball in a stable state?

“Bitch, your ERA has gone up, so you should at least feel sorry.”

“Huh?”

… And there was something about providing mental education to the cocky youngest child with kind words.

“Shouldn’t we be helping other bullpen pitchers?”

“Oh, no, I will change my position to starter in a few years…”

“Still, dude. It’s a bullpen now. “Hurry up and go to your senior and apologize.”

“No, it’s not like I always concede goals, I block more…”

“Use it.”

My advice seemed to have touched Camacho’s heart, so he stopped moping and approached Gonzalez.

‘Wow, it’s nice to see. This is a team.’

With this, my reputation within the team will also increase.

The position of Yankees captain is a position that wields omnipotent power to the point of removing players like me from the lineup. I also wanted to experience that power at least once while I was with the Yankees, so it was quite important to win the public support of the players.

Since it wasn’t like Judge would be the captain forever, I thought it was a wise decision to lay the foundation like this from now on.

Moreover, Camacho was from the Yankees farm and there were expectations that he would one day become a franchise star and ace leading the Yankees, so it was quite meaningful to win his heart by giving him valuable advice from now on. 〈 Br〉

‘Well, if I do this for 2–3 years, I will be able to become captain and lead the team by the 4th year.’

I don’t know if Judge was still playing at that time, but I thought it would be fun to force Judge, who has a good hitting feel, to take a break.

Hehe.”

“Ji. Are you feeling happy? “Why are you laughing so hard in the locker room?”

“There is such a thing. Jersey, see you later. Haha.”

“Hmm… “I’m not feeling well. How about taking another day off?”

… Tsk, to keep it in check again.

After thinking about it throughout today’s game, I could only think of one reason why Judge removed me from the lineup.

The reason is checks.

Even though they are on the same team, Judge is the hitter who won the home run title in the American League for three consecutive years. They must have been keeping me in check in this subtle way because I was in the way of their record of being the home run king for four consecutive years.

Considering that he had been bragging about how many home runs he had hit since the beginning of the season, my thoughts were 99% certain.

“But I won’t lose.”

“… What do you mean?”

Pretending not to know until the end.

However, there was no need to tell me that I had discovered Judge’s plan. It was clear that if they knew that I had noticed, they would be more blatant in their efforts to keep me in check.

“Somehow, the situation is strange. “Don’t you have to rest tomorrow too?”

“… It’s okay. Captain.”

It was a little humiliating to be matched, but if I became captain, I could have humiliated myself even more than this, so I took a step back.

“First batter, second baseman Ji.”

… Fortunately, I was able to be included in the starting lineup the next day. The flattery he gave before leaving the locker room yesterday seemed to have had an effect.

‘Did you immediately feel better after flattering her once? The jersey had a slightly easy-to-understand style.’

And then the game started. I definitely only rested for a day, but the bat felt lighter than yesterday,

Perfect!

As soon as the game started, I was able to hit the first pitch of the opponent’s starter, Bradley, and produce a hit.

‘Then shall we run again? Mr. Rossby, are you ready?’

‘Okay. I’m ready.’

I was a little tired, but if you get paid, you have to pay for it. I was ready to run as soon as the breaking ball sign came out, and Mr. Rossby gave me the signal at one strike, one ball count.

‘It’s a slider.’

‘Okay, let’s go.’

And as soon as the opponent’s starting pitcher flinched, he ran towards second base,

Ta-ah!

Judge’s bat was also swung without delay.

‘… Wow.’

… At 150 m, he made a large hit that seemed to have flown.

Judge’s record in yesterday’s game was 0-hit in 5 at-bats. However, the quality of the hit made all the hits, and in the end, today, I made a hit that went over the fence from the first at-bat.

Now, the difference between Judge and me in the number of home runs is 6. Considering Judge’s ability to rush, it was a difference that could not be taken lightly.

“You’re back! Aaron!”

“Let’s go easily today too!”

“Okay, this is it!”

Well, I felt perfect seeing my team members happy.

Our team scored 2 points with Judge’s home run, and Vientos, who came out as the 7th hitter, added 1 more point, widening the lead to 3:0 in the first inning.

3:0. It was a large difference in points, but I couldn’t feel that relieved. This was because Singer, the 5th starter who started today, was not in very good condition as he gave up 15 runs in 15.1 innings in the last 3 games.

“Strike! Out!”

“Out!”

“Out!”

However, contrary to my worries, Singer’s start was quite good with a three-way strike, and I was able to come to bat for the second time in the top of the second inning.

‘It’s a cutter. ‘Body side.’

‘Cutter?’

The ball he hit me in his first at-bat was a fastball. Tampa Bay’s battery must have thought I was aiming for a fastball, so they chose a cutter from the first pitch.

‘Well, it’s no use.’

I had already seen a lot of his cutter in the power analysis video, in the dugout, and at bat, and since his cutter didn’t show any special movement, it wasn’t a burdensome ball to hit from the first pitch.

‘Today’s fastball was around 95-97 mph (152.8-156 km/h), right?’

I adjust my timing to that level of speed and wait for the ball. And the guy’s ball was thrown shortly after.

Ta – Aak!

‘… It’s definitely light, isn’t it?’

I guess I wasn’t mistaken when I felt the bat was light in my first at-bat, and I was able to respond to his pitch perfectly.

‘… Or is this guy’s ball too light?’

The distance of the batted ball is about 127 m. When I thought about Judge’s home run, which flew about 150 meters away, I felt a sense of defeat, but it was a home run anyway, so I circled home plate with a light heart, and I had a sweet taste of victory when I saw Judge, who came to bat, hit a sharp ball but was thrown out with a line drive. I could feel it.

“I went 2 out of 2 at bats today.”

“… Huh? Suddenly?”

“Well, that’s just it.”

I didn’t forget to taste Judge’s goofy expression as dessert.

After that, the game continued to be quite one-sided. In the top of the third inning, Verdugo, who was looking satisfied as he slapped himself in the locker room again today, hit a home run for the first time in a month, bringing the score to 6-0 after three innings, and Singer continued his good pitching.

So I was able to get my third at-bat in the top of the fourth inning with no outs, and a pitcher I had never seen named Campbell was on the mound. Fortunately, the speed I saw during practice was similar to Bradley’s.

‘First, I’m in good condition today, so I’ll try to hit aggressively.’

Anyway, it’s 2 hits in 2 at-bats and the score is 6-0, so I paid for my meal. After I decided to boldly turn the bat,

Ta – Aak!

This time, thanks to my strangely light body, I succeeded in hitting the ball accurately.

‘Stop!’

However, unlike before, I fell after hitting the fence and could only get to second base.

After that, taking advantage of Judge’s advanced hit and the opponent’s wild pitch, he was able to score the third score of the game today, and the game became looser as the score gap increased.

And then came the fourth at-bat.

‘Are you going to aim for it?’

‘What?’

‘You idiot. As long as you hit a triple, you’re cycling.’

‘… How do I aim for a triple?’

‘So, you’re not going to aim for it?’

‘… Well, that’s not true.’

After hearing Mr. Rossby say that cycling was a hit, I started to get a little greedy. Anyway, the difference in scores was ample, and I paid for the meal.

Even if I just pushed it to the right, no one would say anything to me. Plus, I’m in strangely good condition today!

Perfect!

“Foul!”

“Ball.”

“Ball.”

Perfect!

“Foul!”

As I was batting, aiming for a ball that was easy to push.

‘It’s a change-up. Outside.’

The pitcher chose the perfect ball to hit as the deciding ball.

‘Light tap, light tap.’

After deciding to touch it lightly so as not to use too much force and not hit a home run,

‘… ‘Two three!’

Perfect!

I pushed the guy’s ball against the grain.

And as I intended, the batted ball headed towards the right line.

‘Please, please!’

I ran straight toward the base, praying that the right fielder wouldn’t catch that batted ball.

But is it because I was in such good shape today? The batted ball I sent had no intention of sinking and kept flying toward the fence.

‘Don’t fall, don’t fall.’

Now I circle first base, hoping that the batted ball will not go over.

And, the right fielder jumped high to catch the ball.

-Waaaaa!!!

As the cheers echoed through the stadium, I turned my head to see if there had been a super catch, but all I could see was the fallen right fielder and the white ball bouncing off the fence. I increased my acceleration and ran straight to third base.

‘Hmm… Are you going to go home? I think it’s possible.’

‘… ‘No!’

Mr. Rossby decided that a ground home run would be possible.

Yes, a home run on the ground. Of course the home run was good. … But honestly, cycling is so hot, how can you hold back!

It was fortunate if I got out at home, but if I actually stepped on home plate, it would have been a disaster, so I just slid toward third base.

-Waaaaa!!!

‘Well, I just need to hit two home runs tomorrow… By the way, I feel really light today. Is it because I took a day off?’

Did Judge anticipate this and give me a break? After hitting the cycling hit, that thought briefly crossed my mind.

But that thought didn’t last long.

Ta – Aak!

‘And…, It went over again.’

“Now are there 6 left? Please wait. Ji. I will follow you soon.”

Seeing Judge bragging to me after hitting multiple home runs, it was almost certain that Judge had kept me in check.

‘Fuck it, I should just run all the way to home.’