Chapter 823 – Episode 810. Master and Disciple. (3)

‘It is very difficult for a left-handed batter to hit a ball to a left-handed pitcher. As expected, I learned a lot from who I watched.’

‘… I mostly face right-handed pitchers. This season, we were at a level of almost 3:1.’

‘Huh? ‘I’m just talking to myself, why are you overreacting?’

‘… Then don’t say it out loud. Well, I understand. They say that when you get old and become deaf, your voice gets louder.’

‘Shut up, you little gorilla.’

Perhaps excited that Bellinger hit a hit in his first at-bat, Mr. Rossby began muttering like an old man. It was difficult to watch because it was as if he had imitated himself with Bellinger.

‘Ha, this is ridiculous. I’m here…’

For no reason, I hate Rodon for calling out all the others and only getting a hit on Bellinger.

Well, thanks to Rodon’s good handling of the other batters, he was able to prevent the disaster of Bellinger, who was able to get on base as the leadoff hitter, from coming home, but seeing the guy who was able to prevent that in the first place only getting a hit against Bellinger, he is a bit like Mr. Rossby. It was to the point where I suspected there was a relationship.

‘Well, maybe not like that.’

Anyway, the score is 0:0. The top of the third inning began like that, and with Volpi striking out, it was my turn to bat with one out and no runner on base.

‘Whoa…’

In my first at-bat, not only was my timing not right, but I ended up hitting an infield fly with too much force, so I take a deep breath and relax my body before going to bat.

‘Yes, you tried it alone in the Colorado game too. These bastards are shit. Let’s keep doing what we do, Meng Hao.’

And comforts me once again. There was no reason to be nervous because it was the same for KBA players and major league players who flew when hit anyway, but I was so excited in my first at-bat.

As I step into the batter’s box and do my routine and smell the foul smell of batting gloves, a sense of spiritual awakening flows through my body.

Welch’s average speed is 94 to 96 mph (151.2 km/h to 154.5 km/h), and his highest speed is about 97 mph (156.1 km/h). He was a guy who threw a pretty fast ball, but that level of velocity seemed ordinary to me, who was already used to the fast velocity of major-leaguers.

Moreover, he is confident that he can throw a circle changeup that is no different from my own. There was no reason to be scared of a pitcher with an ERA of 6, whose velocity was mediocre, and his winning pitch was mine.

Today, for some reason, our batting lineup was blocked, but that was okay. Since it had already completed one turn anyway, it was almost certain that it would collapse. And it started with me.

‘Let’s go, Meng Hao. The first pitch is a fastball. Okay.’

Well, the breaking ball is nothing special, so the first pitch will be a fastball. I could know this much without listening to Mr. Rossby.

And just as I expected, his fastball goes high toward the body.

“Ball.”

‘Yes, yes. It should come out like this. If you’re not a fastball, it’s no big deal, right?’

When he throws the ball as expected, I get the thrill of knowing my prediction was right.

But the predictions end there. One of Mr. Rossby’s teachings was to clear your head as much as possible, so I stopped making predictions.

I wait for his next ball with as much timing as possible for the fastball.

‘It’s coming…’ !’

Perfect!

“Foul!”

But this ball is a slider in the low 130s. I breathe a sigh of relief when I hit a ball that could have been an ordinary ground ball if it had come inside the line.

‘Calmly, calmly.’

Clear your head, but remain as calm as possible. There was no need to rush to show it to Mr. Rossby.

“Ball.”

This time, he does not react to the breaking ball, which clearly deviates, and the ball count increases by one. I also felt it in my first at-bat, but my ball control wasn’t that good. Is there a reason why a left-handed pitcher who throws a fastball in the mid-90s has an ERA in the 6 range?

When I thought about that, I realized that there was only one thing I should aim for.

The ball I should aim for is the ball that requires a strike.

And in general, pitchers with poor pitch control tended to throw fastballs to get strikes. Especially against a hitter like me who has a good starting pitch.

Since I had one extra strike count anyway, if a breaking ball comes, I can just take one strike, which makes my heart feel lighter.

So, I set my entire body’s clock to the timing of his fastball and wait for him to throw away any distracting thoughts.

‘Come, come.’

The guy gets into pitching form. The guy’s ball stretches out from the three-quarter form. The ball feels slightly distant after leaving his hand.

‘Outside!’

As soon as you determine that his ball is outside, prepare to attack the outside by slightly moving his elbow away from his body. But, as he always did, he left his arms for last, rotating his hips and putting his whole body on the bat.

And he hits the guy’s ball while still looking at the ball until the end.

Ta – Aak!

The moment it hits, it feels like there is no need to even look at the batted ball. I immediately held the bat like a gun and aimed it in front of me. However, this time the target is not the pitcher on the mound, but center fielder Bellinger.

‘Did you see it? Mr. Rossby’s successor is me, you thief.’

After giving a warning to the arrogant guy who tried to steal Mr. Rossby from me, I throw the bat. As the series of processes ends, Wrigley Field is filled with cheers.

‘Great, this is it.’

Hearing that shout, I felt like my dick was standing up for the first time in a long time due to the exhilarating pleasure of getting revenge on the thief. After pretending to touch the guard and readjusting his position, he walked to first base and saw Mr. Rossby looking at the women in the stands.

‘Mr. Rossby!’

‘… Huh?’

‘Did you see it? ‘I hit a home run.’

‘Tsk, I can’t believe you like robbing a 6-point pitcher. You still have a long way to go.’

‘Hehe, I’m saying something that I don’t mean for no reason.’

Listening to Mr. Rossby’s grumbles that didn’t even make sense, I finally felt like the world was going back to normal.

‘So, will you help me from now on?’

‘No. During this series, we’ll show you who Mr. Rossby’s real disciples are. And it also proved that the batting form we created through putting our heads together is better than the hitting form that Mr. Rossby used when he was a player.’

‘You put your heads together. ‘I made that form too?’

‘I always did everything myself.’

Anyway, I heard you’re very proud of yourself. Does he become like that when he gets old? I shouldn’t grow old like that.

*

[… Rodon neatly ends the third inning. The score remains 1:0. … In the top of the 4th inning, the leadoff hitter is Stanton, the Yankees’ number 4 hitter.]

[You declared a perfect revival by hitting over 40 home runs in a game two days ago, right? I think it’s amazing to see this resurgence in the final year of FA. Who would have thought that 37-year-old Stanton would make such a comeback? Haha.]

[Yes. In fact, excluding the 17 seasons in which he received the MVP, Stanton has never hit more than 40 home runs…, Uh, the moment I tell you! Stanton’s batted ball! Behind left field! Behind left field! Let’s go! Stanton’s 41st home run! This is Stanton, the Yankees’ number 4 hitter! Score 2:0!]

[Wow, just like Stanton, this is an incredible home run. If this is the case, I wonder if the Yankees will re-sign Stanton.]

[Yes. Now at bat is Vientos, the number 5 hitter. … Out! … Strike! Out! … Out! After Stanton hit a home run, Welch ends the inning without allowing any more runs! Is Welch showing good form today?]

[Actually, even though Welch’s performance is not good, he is a left-hander that the Cubs cherish, right? A 23-year-old lefty who touches mid-90s. Is this what the Chicago Cubs are expecting from Welch?]

[… In the bottom of the fourth inning, the leadoff hitter is No. 2 hitter Bush. … Out! The third batter, Caminero, comes to bat. … Caminero’s double! And with one out and two on base, the best hitter in the National League, number four hitter Bellinger, is now at bat!]

[Bellinger also succeeded in making a complete comeback this season, right? He is showing better performance than the season when he won MVP. Moreover, he gave Rodon a hit in his first at-bat, so we have something to look forward to.]

[… Bellinger’s pushed hit! It goes over the third baseman’s head! The runner on second base goes all the way home! Home! Coming in! Bellinger’s timely hit to make up for one point! Score 2:1!]

[Wow, Bellinger, it’s a beautiful swing, isn’t it? In fact, Bellinger’s batting form has changed a lot this season, but seeing him face off against Ji Maeng-ho, the two players seem to have some similarities. As expected, top-level hitters seem to have something in common.]

[… Out, … Now at bat is Torres, the number 6 hitter. In his first at-bat against the Yankees for the first time since leaving the team, he grounded out to shortstop. … Torres’ batted ball! Let’s go! Gleyber Torres strikes a dagger against his former team! And the Chicago Cubs succeed in coming back 3-2 with Torres’ two-run home run!]

[Hey, actually, they haven’t been doing that well this season, and maybe it’s because Ji Maeng-ho perfectly filled Torres’ empty spot, but Yankees fans haven’t been saying that they miss Torres? Today’s home run may change the minds of Yankees fans.]

*

“Rodon, take it easy. Comfortably. It’s not like anyone is coming to catch you.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s relax and go. The win is guaranteed anyway, and it’s just one game of the season.”

‘Why is this guy like this? Earlier he was looking at me like he was going to kill me, but now he looks like a sage. Is it because I hit a home run? He’s a guy I really can’t understand.’

*

[Two outs, top of the 6th inning. Vientos is the number 5 hitter at bat. … Vientos hits the ball! Score 5:3! The New York Yankees turn the game around with their powerful batting lineup!]

[… Bellinger! … Arlekin! … Torres is out! Carlos Rodon gives up 3 runs in 6 innings, recording a quality start! The game now goes to the top of the 7th inning!]

[… Ji Maeng-ho gets a walk with one out and runners on first base. Now it’s Judge at bat. … Judge’s hit! Right! Right! Hit the fence directly! The runner on second base has already hit home! Ji Maeng-ho, the runner on first base, goes home! Home! Home! Coming in! 7:3! The New York Yankees’ captain widens the score gap! Aaron Judge! … Soto’s timely hit! Judge, the runner on second base, comes home! Score 8:3!]

[Bottom of the 7th inning, Carlos Rodon is still on the mound for the Yankees. The pitch count is 87. … Out! … Out! … Out! Rodon showing pitching while allowing 3 runs in 7 innings!]

[Rodon played his role well. He looks like he’s going to come off the mound now, right?]

…

…

[Score 10:4! Gonzalez finishes the match! New York Yankees record 3 consecutive wins!]

*

“Mr. Bellinger.”

“Huh? Ji.”

“You can’t beat the original team with that form.”

“Have you noticed my form? Ji? Haha, I knew that. How can I eat…”

“That’s a bit much. I’m a busy person…”

“This…”

‘It would have been better if we had had a meal together and talked about baseball. I guess I should go home and watch Ji’s batting video from today.’

*

Well, looking at Bellinger’s regretful expression, he seemed to have realized that he couldn’t defeat this body with that form.

You’re trying to steal Mr. Rossby’s attention like that. There is no way.

It would be nice if he could change his batting form like this. Well, I was getting good results just by following it, so I didn’t think I would change it.

‘Who provides aid?’

‘Because I won, I am the helper.’

‘What kind of bullshit… No, it’s done. But you know there are still two games left, right?’

‘Of course. ‘I will show you the quality of the aid of the remaining two Gyeonggi Province.’

There are two remaining games against the Chicago Cubs.

There was enough time to tell Mr. Rossby, who was stubborn as an old man, who the real successor and disciple of Mr. Rossby was.