Chapter 78 – Episode 77. National Team VS UG Overlords. (2)

“Then, thank you for your hard work!”

“Okay, take a break today and see you tomorrow. Everyone has time, so I believe they will recover while taking a break. Dissolution!”

“Yep!”

Lee Geum-hyeon dismissed his players and moved to his room prepared by his UG team. The room prepared by UG for his national team was quite satisfactory.

When he was alone in a luxurious room, the thoughts he had heard during the game did not leave Lee Geum-hyeon’s head.

‘Well…. Ji Maeng Hora. This is really difficult.’

When the president first said that Ji Maeng-ho and Jang Woo-joo would be included in the national team, Lee Geum-hyeon strongly opposed it. He thought that the national team was not a children’s playground and that it was nonsense that they were recruiting young people who had just turned 20, and even those who had no professional experience.

However, when the president insisted on making a request for the popularity and development of Korean baseball, Lee Geum-hyeon said he wanted to see their video. After all, he couldn’t ignore the governor’s words all at once. He’s thinking about cutting him once and for all if his high school baseball performance is poor.

Jang Woo-joo was as he thought. He has a fast ball, but his pitches are below average. However, it was worth scratching because that fast ball was 10 km/h different from ordinary pitchers.

Especially when he saw his 160km/h fastball, I also felt that I knew why the governor was so hung up.

Because 100 miles has always been an element that baseball fans are enthusiastic about. I thought maybe he could be the future of Korean baseball as the president said.

And when I saw Ji Maeng-ho’s video, I couldn’t help but be surprised because he was different from what I thought. High school students made home runs by pulling or pushing, and regardless of whether it was a breaking ball or a fastball, the timing was bizarre.

No matter how prodigy he was at guessing, I had never seen a hitter hit the bat as if he knew all the balls like Ji Maeng-ho. But Ji Maeng-ho was able to do that.

‘This guy is interesting.’

His face is also good, so if he explodes, he is a player who is sure to lead Korean baseball.

‘I don’t think the governor is hanging around for nothing. If he has this much potential, I might take him with me. Anyway, the WBC entry is 28, so it’s spacious.’

Unlike the Olympics or Asian Games, which select 24 players, the WBC was able to select 28 players, so I thought that two seats could be used for promising players. And the public opinion was not bad, saying that it was an investment for the future.

And the training of the national team began. As shown in the video, Ji Maeng-ho’s training was quite good. He had not to mention strength, and even quick feet that were not befitting of his size.

Even Lee Geum-hyun, while working as a professional coach, had seen a player who made him feel that way just by training. Hyungjin Joo in his rookie days. He is a strong criminal on the verge of bursting, which he confirmed while preparing for the Olympics. Choi Jin-cheol was preparing for the season by transferring to the future Tigers.

All of them are historical players who made a mark in Korean baseball. And they were the players who occupied the home run king like a meal. Ji Maeng-ho had a unique scent that could only be found in Geopo.

‘The problem is that the defense is a bit disappointing.’

However, due to the nature of the international stage, the defense that can block one point was a very important part. Ji Maeng-ho, who had just graduated from high school, was considerably inferior in defense compared to Park Chul-young, who had played several seasons in the pro league. His athleticism and shoulders looked pretty good, but the accuracy of his throw and the quality of his glove were lacking.

In particular, glove quality and glove quality are not gloves these days, but he seemed to be doing glove quality while using the old glove he used as an unemployed baseball player.

It feels like using a glove that is not good at absorbing shock because the fingers are wide apart. As such, Maeng-Ho Ji’s defense looked somewhat sloppy.

‘So he moved from shortstop to second base? With that kind of slugging power, he could have played third base or first base….. Well, then it would be a waste of motor nerves.’

I don’t know about Lee Geum-hyeon, but Rossby, who was playing defense when he didn’t even have a proper glove, had a big influence on giving him such a sloppy feeling. Of course, it’s something you never know for the rest of your life.

Anyway, looking at him as a hitter, Ji Maeng-ho seemed to be a slightly better player than Park Chul-young, but in fact, the second baseman didn’t need to hit long hits in the national team’s power. Just looking at his contacts, Park Cheol-young, who has already proven his ability, was a better player.

And in addition to that contact ability, if you evaluate him as a fielder, Park Cheol-young seemed like a better choice. In addition, although the two have similar baserunning abilities, the balance began to tip toward the more experienced Park Chul-young as he won the stealing king for two consecutive years.

“As expected, it would be difficult to change the starting lineup, wouldn’t it?”

No matter how fiercely he steals bases without being scared during practice games, it was absurd that a guy who hadn’t even made his professional debut would be a starting player in the national team. The use of Ji Maeng-ho is a large runner or pinch hitter in a game against an underdog team.

Entering this game, it was inevitable. It is natural for him to run the game conservatively on a bigger stage.

‘Still, if you see me worrying like this, it’s clear that I’m the same as me. As the president said, perhaps it could bring about a revival of Korean baseball. Just like Hyungjin Joo.’

Joo Seung-cheol, Ji Maeng-ho, and Jang Woo-joo. Looking at the young players on the national team, it seemed like it could definitely boost the popularity of Korean baseball again like it did during the 2008 Olympics.

“Still, I want to see him play as a starter. It’s a practice game anyway, so maybe one or two games won’t be a problem, right? Put Ji Maeng-ho on second base….”

Lee Geum-hyeon began to draw up the starting lineup for tomorrow with a feeling of regret.

*

“Today’s starting pitcher, Jang Woo-joo.”

“Yes?! Me?!”

“Okay, let’s see how the youngest ones are. Do you want to see them too?”

“Yep!”

“Five! 160 Let’s see!”

“Hey, congratulations. Well, it’s just a practice match.”

“And the second baseman is Ji Maeng-ho. Batting ninth, second baseman. Don’t be nervous and just do it like you did in training.”

Am I the pick? I wasn’t even thinking….

“All right!”

‘It seems that even monkeys have eyes to see.’

‘Also. Did Mr. Rossby believe me too?’

‘It’s embarrassing if the guy I learned from only sits on the bench. Just like yesterday.’

Hehe, let’s do well today. You know? As usual. Just put in an impact and how did it get to the start….’

I thought it would be enough to make a strong impression today. Because I was definitely better than Park Cheol-young.

“Oh, Meng Tiger, congratulations. Please do well and let my brother rest.”

Just in time, the national team’s starting second baseman, Park Chul-young, approached me. During training, we talked a lot because we were in the same position, and we were quite close because we were in the same age range.

“I can rest forever, is that okay?”

“Oh, do you see the confidence?”

“I’ll demote you to a major runner. I.”

Hehe, this kid is funny. Then bet call? If I go on base today, I will make coffee.”

“Ah, can I get on base?”

“Getting on base is easy, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Then a long shot?”

“Long hit call! Seniors! If Cheol-yeong hyung hits a long shot today, he will make coffee!”

“Hey, it’s only you and me betting, are you crazy?”

“Five! I guess Cheolyoung made some money?”

“I’m not even a free agent yet!”

“Good. Then, if the fierce tiger can’t hit long shots, I’ll shoot!”

“Five! As expected, the man of 15 billion, the weatherman!”

“If you can’t hit it instead, you’ll have a special hit with me today, Maengho. Know? Hit it.”

Fuck…. Suddenly interrupted…. No matter how much I went out, I couldn’t pour cold water on such a good atmosphere.

“Yes….”

“Then, please take good care of me so that Maengho can return to bat as much as possible!”

Haha. The sangju takes care of the juniors diligently.”

“Isn’t it the same team? Fierce tiger We have to show the power of AT. Is not it?”

Haha. Right.”

This person joined later than me, and seemed to have a higher level of pride in AT than Kim Suho. In terms of joining, I’m the first to join….

“Suho hyung! Then, the Thunders unite and put in a spirit and go.”

“Me too… ?”

“Isn’t it the pride of Seoul, AT?”

“Ah, there’s also a senior Sangju senior….”

“Ooh! Traitor, weatherman, get out!”

At the end of the warning, catcher Lee Yong-gi and Kim Jung-hyun, who are playing in Hancheol, immediately booed.

“Yumma, the pride of Seoul is AT. Maengho Ji, right or not?”

“You’re right.”

The weather manager is an annoying senior, but this is true. Because it was Soyoung’s team, not anyone else’s. Seoul’s pride being AT is as natural as Soyoung being my woman. Well. This is right

“Wow, you transferred now, right? Nice to see you. Hit the back of the head right away with Kisang Stock’s parent team!”

“This bastard.”

Puck!

“Ah! Brother! Maeng-ho, be careful too. I don’t know when I’ll get hit. Because it wasn’t a joke when I was with you.”

“Bitch, when did I ever hit you?”

“Now! This is violence!”

“This is a sign of intimacy. Are you saying weird things to your child? I can’t. Hancheol, let’s gather together after a long time today.”

“Sorry. Seniors!”

Ki Sang-joo seemed quite friendly with the players of his former team, Hancheol. Well, it’s only natural that they’re close because they’re players who were in their prime? Certainly, seeing that juniors followed him well, it seemed that a player with leadership was right.

Because a team needs a clubhouse leader like that to win.

‘The problem is, he cares too much about me….’

Even if I die today, I have to hit the long hit. I don’t want to be caught by the weatherman until dawn!

*

UG Overlords and Gu Jin-mo, a powerful team in KBA that always stays in the top ranks thanks to the strength of the batting line and mound that use sticky strategic baseball as the center, are strong hitters. Despite using a small stadium, the team’s pitching power was a team that did not miss first or second place with Hyeon-seong.

However, now that UG Overlords’ first starter and finisher were selected for the national team, and the second domestic starter appeared yesterday. You can say that half of UG’s pitching power is gone. In fact, UG’s second starter Lee Seok-gyun, who played yesterday, also had the ability to be called up to the national team, but he was not selected due to an injury last year.

“Strike!”

The pitcher I am facing right now is UG’s 4th starter, Seo Dong-ho. Until last year, he was a pitcher who kept the UG’s mound with Jang Yoon.

‘I heard from seniors that they throw 150 degrees easily, but is it because it’s spring? It’s not as fast as I thought.’

The feeling of restraint is about 140 seconds? It seemed to be a style where the body came up late. However, as a result of kicking the ball off the foul, the pitch was definitely on a different level from the pitchers I faced in high school or the pitchers in the second group. The movement was also significant.

‘Because it’s two balls, two strikes. Are you going to throw a breaking ball?’

‘It’s hard-hearted. I guess they’re going to bully me because I’m a rookie.’

Eww…. It’s hard to be tough. I’d rather throw a breaking ball.

‘The catcher’s mitt is toward the body.’

A two-seam that curves toward the body of a right-handed hitter thrown by a right-handed pitcher. Let’s focus The moment Seo Dong-ho winded up and threw the ball, he swung the bat in line with the timing of the two-seam we had seen before.

Deep!

‘Fuck, I wasted it.’

I could feel the right moment. It will be difficult to get this ball out of the infield. Maybe a shortstop grounder?

I immediately threw the bat and started running toward first base.

“Run!”

“First base!”

In front of my eyes, I see a white base soiled with mud. And I can see the first baseman’s hand extending his glove.

Puck. The sound of the ball hitting the leather texture of the glove could be heard.

“Out!”

“Ah-oh! Write.”

It bends more than you think. After all, is a pro a pro? If I had taken one step closer, it would have been safe. Well, I still saw one at-bat.

Even if Bonds comes, it is only natural that he will not be able to hit in every at-bat. The number of at-bats left is three at-bats, even if counted at a minimum.

‘Because there are still many opportunities… !’

Don’t miss it next time!