Chapter 817 – Episode 804. There Is No Number Nine. (2)

‘Ugh, you are stupidly strong monkey bastard. That’s not a monkey, that’s a gorilla, gorilla. Anyway, Asians are barbaric.’

Jimmy, who left the Yankees’ clubhouse with his hand wrapped, cursed Ji Meng-ho in his mind. Seeing as my hand was still sore, something must have gone wrong.

Usually, Ji Maeng-ho’s ‘feel’ rarely worked properly. In high school, he became the best player due to an unexpected car accident and bench time, but even now, the memories of that time are stuck in his subconscious, so Ji Maeng-ho’s sense of victimization was unusual, and usually when this kind of ‘instinct’ was triggered, it was mostly due to Ji Maeng-ho’s misunderstanding. .

However, if everyone who sees it doubts it, there was a time when the ‘touch’ was right, and now was just such a case.

‘That kind of barbaric gorilla is the best in the major league? I can’t admit it.’

Jimmy was the ubiquitous racist and a man who could not accept that an Asian would become the best in the major leagues. That’s why he subtly pretended to ask a question and mentioned something sensitive to baseball players.

Baseball players are usually sensitive, especially when it comes to records. Once a record entered your mind, you became aware of it and your body tended to exert more strength, and in baseball, such unnecessary strength was likely to cause a slump.

‘I put .400 and 60 home runs in his head, so he’ll probably have a hard time for a few days. Hmm, I wish I could work hard throughout the season if possible. The best player in the major leagues has to be American.’

Jimmy smiled evilly at the thought of Ji Meng-ho’s suffering, and quickly went to a nearby hospital because of the pain he felt in his hand.

“Well, based on the x-ray, it looks like the bone in your hand is cracked. Did you hit something hard?”

“Yes? It was just a handshake…”

“Haha, how can you crack your hand by shaking it? It must have hit somewhere. First, I put on a cast and then undergo physical therapy for a few days.”

‘Such a bastard…’

When Jimmy heard that his hand bones were cracked, he cursed Ji Menghao in his heart. As an American who is a paradise for suing, he thought about suing Ji Meng Hao for a moment, but for some reason, the thought of meeting Meng Hao again made him a little scared and soon gave up the thought.

‘Who would believe that he cracked a bone in his hand just because he shook his hand…? . And considering the salary he receives, even if I sue, there is a high probability that I will lose… Well, well, I guess so. And it doesn’t make sense for a sports reporter living in New York to lose to the Yankees.’

Jimmy left the hospital and headed to Yankee Stadium, thinking that he could not sue Ji Maeng-ho because of various realistic circumstances, not because he was scared.

‘Just try not to do well today. ‘I’ll show you what a veteran reporter’s criticism is.’

If Ji Maeng-ho performs poorly today, I am thinking of writing a harsh criticism article.

When we arrived at Yankee Stadium, it was just about time for the game to start.

The starting pitchers for both teams today are Burland and Gilbert. It was inevitable to be worried about the Athletics’ starting pitcher, Berland, who was recording poor results.

Then came the Yankees’ attack in the bottom of the first inning.

‘Please just stop Ji, Burland. Phew…, Ji won’t be able to swing the bat easily, and since he was provoked like that during the interview, he’ll probably be shaken.’

Jimmy watched Ji Maeng-ho’s at-bat, praying earnestly that Berland would do well against Ji Maeng-ho.

And Ji Maeng-ho’s bat went out from the first pitch.

‘Haha, as expected, I’m in a hurry…’

The moment Jimmy saw Ji Meng-ho’s swing, which was different from usual, from the first pitch, he thought that his strategy had worked and laughed at Ji Meng-ho,

Ta – Aak!

The sneer disappeared without even having time to appear on the face.

‘Uh? Please, please don’t fall.’

A batted ball heading towards the short-distance right fence… Jimmy looked at the batted ball, praying earnestly that it would not go over the fence, and before he knew it, the line drive ball flew at high speed and was heading near the fence.

Tongue.

And fortunately, Ji Maeng-ho’s batted ball hit the fence and bounced off as if that prayer had reached the sky.

‘Whew, at least a double…’

Jimmy breathed a sigh of relief at the ball that did not become a home run, and the moment he turned his head back toward the base, Ji Maeng-ho was running toward third base.

‘What kind of speed is this guy… !’

The right fielder’s laser-like throw headed toward third base, but the result was safe.

‘Well, aren’t there guys like that?’

The speed is unbelievable for an Asian… Moreover, even though he was conscious of the record, he boldly swung from the first pitch and made a triple. The thought that there was something different about that guy struck Jimmy’s mind. But Jimmy tried to ignore it and watched the game, muttering, ‘It’s probably luck.’

[Judge’s batted ball flies high! The Yankees take advantage of Judge’s sacrifice fly to score the first run! … Soto walks. … Hall’s timely hit with two outs and a runner on second base! The Yankees lead 2-0. … Two outs in the bottom of the second inning. The runner is on first base, and Ji Maeng-ho comes to bat second.]

And Ji Maeng-ho’s second at-bat.

‘I guess I was lucky. Please don’t hit me, please don’t hit me…’

Jimmy cursed Ji Maeng-ho and earnestly prayed that Ji Maeng-ho would be out in this at-bat,

Perfect!

Jimmy’s prayer sadly did not come true.

[Ji Maeng-ho’s hit lands next to center fielder! Volpi started running and reached third base! And Ji Maeng-ho said, Oh! Go all the way to second base! Safe at second base! Ji Maeng-ho shows incredible base running!]

Rather, Ji Maeng-ho’s feet just shined once again.

After that, the Yankees’ offense ended without a score, but Jimmy began to sweat. And the reason for the cold sweat was not because of the tingling pain in my hand from earlier.

‘A triple and a double in two at-bats? This is…’

For some reason, I had an ominous feeling that Ji Maeng-ho would achieve a record today.

And in the bottom of the fourth inning, Ji Maeng-ho’s at-bat came again,

[This hit is next to the shortstop! Sideways! Ah! Catch the shortstop! Ah! But he can’t throw to first base! Ji Maeng-ho’s infield hit!]

[Hey, you get one more base with your feet today? A double becomes a triple, a single becomes a double, and a ground ball to shortstop becomes a single. It’s a speed that completely forgets the heat!]

[Oh, and with this hit, I recorded a triple, a double, and a single.]

[Haha, Ji Maeng-ho currently has 2 heat-for-the-cycles, and if he can do it one more time, he will tie the record for the most, and it would be amazing if he could tie the record in just one year.]

[But, for some reason, am I the only one who thinks that Ji Maeng-ho could do it?]

[Haha, me too. Ji Maeng-ho is a player who can do that.]

Jimmy’s ominous feeling began to become reality as Ji Maeng-ho produced an infield hit.

‘No, no matter what, a home run…, A home run is not something you can hit if you want.’

Jimmy watched the game between the Yankees and Athletics, continuing to deny that ominous feeling. And the Athletics’ starting pitcher Verlander, who was standing on the mound, was greatly shaken, and the score soon increased to 4-0, and Ji Maeng-ho came back to bat.

A new pitcher, Estes, is waiting on the mound.

In that situation, Ji Maeng-ho, who came to bat, started acting strangely, something he had not done in previous at-bats.

‘Well, that is…’ !’

The moment Jimmy recognized the action and was shocked,

-Waaaaa!!!!

Yankee Stadium was filled with huge cheers.

[Ji Maeng-ho’s proprietary patent! It’s a predicted home run! With only one home run remaining in Heat for the Cycle, Ji Maeng-ho predicts a home run!]

[Hey… Did you know this? I think he knew because he was smiling… That’s really great confidence. Normally, when you’re approaching a record like this, you try not to be conscious of it, but it’s really amazing.]

Ji Maeng-ho hit a pitched home run against Ohtani in the All-Star Game, which has now become Ji Maeng-ho’s trademark.

‘Please, please. This isn’t it, please. Estes, stop it… !’

And while Jimmy was watching Ji Maeng-ho’s preview home run, he was hoping more earnestly than ever for Ji Maeng-ho to fail in this at-bat. As a sports reporter, he also had a desire to see historical scenes…,

‘A hit is good, a double is good, so just a home run, please.’

… This was because he had a strong feeling that if Ji Maeng-ho hit a home run as he had predicted, he would inevitably come to like the Asians he hated so much. That’s the collapse of Jimmy’s lifelong values…

Jimmy desperately hoped that wouldn’t happen.

“Ball.”

“Strike.”

“Ball.”

“Strike!”

In Jimmy’s prayer, the count suddenly became two balls, two strikes, and the moment Estes threw the fifth ball,

Ta – Aak!

… Ji Maeng-ho’s bat swung like a thunderbolt.

Ji Maeng-ho’s batted ball flies toward the left wall in a beautiful arc. A home run that you can tell without having to watch until the end… But Jimmy kept that scene engraved in his eyes.

It was because I wanted to see this confident Asian hitter bat until the end. After appreciating the hit, I looked at the ground again and saw Meng Hao raising his right hand and stepping on base with a confident expression.

The sight was so shiny that, as a human being, the sight seemed so beautiful.

Click, click.

Jimmy’s camera, which had never photographed Asians before, captures Ji Maeng-ho.

And only then did Jimmy realize.

‘Why was I doing that?’

He realized how futile what he had done so far had been. Asians were also human beings who could shine beautifully.

‘I guess I should make a donation on my way home from work.’

On his way home from work, Jimmy thought about donating to an anti-racism foundation and began typing on his keyboard to record this scene in history.

*

-Ji Maeng-ho, the best and most perfect hitter in history.

A monumental moment that will forever be remembered in baseball history occurred in the Major League today.

… At the moment when he had a triple, a double, and a single, leaving only one home run in Heat for the Cycle, Ji Maeng-ho, unlike other batters, confidently faced the opportunity that came his way. In the midst of the Heat for the Cycle, Ji Maeng-ho attempted a pre-emptive home run…

If someone were to ask what the best scene in baseball history was, this reporter would say the preview home run scene from today’s game without even thinking about it. Ji Maeng-ho’s fantastic scene will remain in the minds of baseball fans for a long time…

Meanwhile, with this home run, Ji Maeng-ho achieved 60 home runs. These 60 home runs were achieved in 115 games, and it is expected that it will not take long for Ji Maeng-ho to become the greatest player in baseball history (Greatest of All Time).

*

‘Oh, they say I’m the GOAT? Isn’t this acknowledged? Mr. Rossby, are you disappearing now?’

‘Hmph, what happened because one reporter got excited? There’s still a long way to go, you little gorilla.’

‘Wow, I think this is the first time they’ve called me GOAT in an article, right? What is the reporter’s name? Jimmy Tinker… ? Write, who is it? Does the name look a little familiar? Hey, most Americans have similar names. It must be someone I met somewhere.’