Chapter 835 – Episode 821. Toward a New Record! (6)
“Umm… Director, am I number 1?”
“Juan, since your on-base percentage is high, I’d like to see what you do at No. 1. Why? “Are you not confident about number 1?”
“Hey, what are you saying? Well, I’ve hardly ever batted first, but it might be fun.”
While I was talking with the coach and Soto about today’s lineup, Judge looked at me with viper-like eyes.
“… Why do you look at me like that?”
“I’m sure they didn’t change the batting order because of the RBI, right?”
“… The playoffs are coming soon, and the coach must have something in mind. Why? I’m scared.”
“Hmph, I’m scared. I thought they had used some kind of trick again. For example, hiding behind me.”
“Hey, Judge. “Why are we so competitive among the same team?”
“Big, big. Anyway, let’s do our best.”
“You’re not on base because you don’t want to give me an RBI, right?”
“Wow.”
… Be quick-witted.
I felt a bit of remorse, but including today’s game, there are only 4 games left until the end of the season. Compared to the jersey that came out behind me throughout the season, this was cute.
‘And the new RBI record is 8 RBIs… Judge, I’m sorry, but I’m busy.’
*
[Oh, the Yankees came out with a new batting order? Soto in number 1, Judge in number 2, and Maengho Ji in number 3. The batting order of Ji Maeng-ho and Soto has been changed.]
[In any case, since Ji Maeng-ho currently has 183 RBIs and is only 8 RBIs away from the 191 RBIs recorded by Hack Wilson in 1930, it seems that the batting order was changed for the sake of records. There are 4 games left, but with Ji Maeng-ho’s skills, he can easily score about 8 RBIs in 4 games.]
[However, I am a little worried about the change in batting order.]
[Haha, Ji Maeng-ho was a hitter whose batting performance did not drop even though he alternated between 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th positions in Korea, so you don’t have to worry about that.]
[In the bottom of the first inning, down 1:0, the Yankees’ number one hitter is Soto. Boston’s starting pitcher is Tanner Hauck. He has appeared in two games this season, posting a 2.08 earned run average over 8.2 innings, and today is his first start.]
[Hauk was also a player the Red Sox had high expectations for, but he is not showing his full potential due to his elbow injury, right? He appeared in 28 games in Triple A season, recording an ERA of 3.78, but it remains to be seen what kind of performance Hauck will show today…]
[Actually, the Red Sox and Yankees have confirmed their rankings, so today’s game may not have much meaning, but it is very important for each player, right?]
[You’re right. This is especially important for players like Hauk. If we show a good performance today, we could make it to the playoffs.]
[… Out! … Out! Hauk hits difficult hitters Soto and Judge with two consecutive base hits. And at bat is Ji Maeng-ho, who came in as the third batter today! … Strike! Out! Three batters in a row are out! Hauk creates a three-way inning against the Yankees’ hard-hitting line!]
[… Hauk gets Volpi out and hits 9 batters in a row! The score difference of 2:0 remains! The game now goes to the top of the 4th inning! … Out! The inning ends like this! Singer who makes an inning with a three-way strike! … Now, in the bottom of the 4th inning, the Yankees’ batting lineup starts with No. 1 hitter Soto.]
*
Ta – Aak!
Soto’s batted ball flies through left center. It was difficult to hit a home run due to the low launch angle, but that was okay for now. Now it’s a jersey at bat.
Whoa!
“Strike!”
Even from the stand-by batting box, a strike is declared for a swing that looks like it is aiming for a big hit.
‘… Is it too explicit?’
And as if the opposing starter wasn’t a fool, he gently teased Judge and drove him to two strikes.
“Strike! Out!”
In the end, he struck out Judge and raised the out count.
‘Sseu-eup, are you going to skip it if I do this?’
Now the situation is 1 out and 2nd base. I walked to the plate feeling a bit nervous, thinking that an intentional pitch would be thrown, but fortunately, that didn’t happen.
‘Why?’
‘Tsk, can’t you tell just by looking at it?’
‘Yes? Why is that?’
‘That bastard has played in 3 games so far? If you want to go to the playoffs, you have to show your true worth. Probably, all I can think about is catching you and getting into the entry list.’
‘Oh…, Is it sharp?’
‘Hmm. Get ready. It’s a fastball.’
‘Okay.’
For some reason, I thought nothing came into the catcher’s mitt. It seemed like he gave up control and threw with all his might. Considering that I got out 9 batters in a row in that situation, I felt like I was in pretty good shape today, but unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to stop me now.
His pitch ranges from the high 140 km/h to the low 150 km/h speed. In my first at-bat, I tried to set the timing quickly to aim for a home run, but ended up striking out on a pitch that came contrary to what Mr. Rossby said, but I was different now.
Because now I am a new Ji Maeng-ho who only aims for RBI.
Set the timing as late as possible and create a state where you can react no matter which direction the ball comes from.
‘Just try to come into the zone.’
A ball from a guy who was so determined and waited. The guy swings his arm like a whip, and the ball that leaves his hand traces an outward trajectory.
‘… Tap lightly!’
Perfect!
And I lightly pushed his balls away. The direction of the batted ball is toward right field! Although the batted ball speed was not fast, the opponent’s outfield was slightly pulled to the left, so the batted ball fell in a position where it could not be caught.
-Waaaaa!!!!!
While listening to the cheers of the home fans cheering for a timely hit, I easily made it to second base.
‘With this, it’s 184!’
There are now 7 RBIs left to set the new record.
‘If it’s really like this, wouldn’t it be possible if I got on base a little closer? Oh, it would have been nice if Judge had just gotten on base. … Surely not?’
For a moment, I had a naughty thought that Judge had intentionally left out the base, but he couldn’t have done that, so I put that thought aside and focused on the game.
“Out!”
After that, Stanton hits a ground ball to shortstop with two outs.
Ta-ah!
However, Hall, who played as the number 5 hitter, came out with an exciting swing and the score immediately increased to 3:2.
As expected, even if it was a game where winning or losing didn’t matter, it felt better to win than to lose, so I was able to return to the dugout with a smile, and the bottom of the 5th inning came with Singer blocking the top of the 5th inning, meeting the requirements for a winning pitcher.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Hauck was still standing on the Red Sox mound. … Looking quite tired.
‘Hmm… Even when I look at this, it looks like it needs to be replaced?’
Even to me, it felt like it was time to change, but seeing as he didn’t change, does it seem like the pitcher’s will is strong? The Red Sox coaches didn’t seem to go against the player’s wishes by sending him off before the fifth inning because today’s game was a garbage game with no impact anyway.
However, that choice was a mistake. It seemed like the decision was correct as Verdugo was called out, but as he gave up consecutive walks to Volpi and Soto, Judge had the chance to get on first and second base with one out.
‘Captain. Let’s just fill the bases. You’re winning anyway.’
‘… Are you cursing or cheering?’
‘… ‘Both?’
‘Hehe, funny bastard.’
And as if my prayers worked, I got a walk and the opportunity to load the bases came to me.
‘Great, it’s a good thing they asked me to change it to number 3.’
When you’re the number 1 hitter, the opportunity to hit the bases once in 10 games comes as soon as you change the batting order to number 3, right in the first game.
I couldn’t hide the laughter that came out.
And fortunately, the Red Sox, who could not sit by and watch three consecutive walks, replaced their pitcher.
Why am I fortunate?
Of course, there was no way a pitcher in that condition would have thrown a ball into the strike zone at me, and what I was aiming for was not one run, so it was fortunate that the pitcher was replaced here.
‘… Who is it? Gahad? This is the guy who hit a home run in the first game.’
The new Red Sox pitcher is Gahard, a rookie pitcher who hit a home run against me in Game 1. As soon as the season ended, he had to play in the wild card game, so it seemed like he was trying to give his starting pitchers as much rest as possible.
And, it was very fortunate for me that a rookie came up.
There was no way a rookie pitcher who needed to impress the coaches would pitch and run away from the danger of the bases being loaded.
“Ball.”
‘Yes, you can at least see the first pitch.’
“Ball.”
‘Ha, I’m out of control?’
“Ball.”
‘… No, right? There’s no way I’m throwing a walk here? There shouldn’t be one?’
Gahad throws three balls in a row and looks at me with an angry expression. That facial expression clearly shows that things are not going as planned, and they are very upset!
‘Please, calm down and throw it away…’ . Under…, I need to help you out.’
As a baseball player, I couldn’t just sit back and watch a rookie pitcher fail, so I decided to help him.
Whoa!
“Strike!”
This time, he deliberately swings the bat at the guy’s ball, which misses ridiculously. And the guy’s fifth ball was thrown.
Whoa!
“Strike!”
Another missed swing and a full count. And I smiled to myself. The fifth ball he threw was much closer to the zone than the fourth ball.
When I glanced at his expression, he seemed to be a little calmer than before.
‘Yes, you want to make a name for yourself by catching a great batsman like me, right?’
An unknown pitcher or a rookie pitcher strikes me out? Then it was as if the path to stardom had opened. Even in Korea, some pitchers have featured me in the media a few times after striking out me.
‘It’s a fastball.’
‘Okay.’
And as if he also had a desire to become a star, he chose a fastball as his last pitch. If he had prepared for a walk, he would have thrown a breaking ball, so there was a high probability that his ball would enter the strike zone this time.
Of course, there was a possibility that he would throw out of the zone, so if he did, he would consider making a foul and delay the timing as much as possible. Anyway, my goal was not a home run but an RBI, so there was no need for a true hit.
And the guy’s sixth ball was thrown.
‘… Outside!’
Perfect!
Push the ball of the guy facing outward against the edge. The timing was a little late, but the batted ball flew towards the fence in a gentle curve.
‘Okay, if you do this, you get at least 1 RBI. … Huh?’
… Toward the right fence, less than 100 m away.
Tung.
The batted ball, which continues to curve to the right, hits the pole and falls to the ground.
‘… ‘Huh?’
-Waaaaa!!!!
Listening to the cheers of the crowd, I can finally feel it. He hit a grand slam and hit 4 RBIs at once!
‘Tsk, you didn’t want to become a star either. ‘Why is this ball so light?’
This is the result even though I helped them while losing two strikes. After wishing the Red Sox’s rookie pitcher, who is unlikely to be seen often in the major leagues, good luck in the future, he slowly ran toward home, raising his hand in response to the cheering crowd.
*
-Yankees win 15:3!
… Thanks to Ji Maeng-ho’s grand slam, the Yankees avenged yesterday’s loss by scoring 15 runs against the Red Sox…
-Ji Maeng-ho! Only 2 steps left to reach the monumental tower!
… Ji Maeng-ho, who played as the third hitter in today’s game and was on the hunt for RBI, recorded 3 hits in 5 at-bats, 1 home run, and 6 RBIs in today’s game, leaving only 2 RBIs behind the 191 RBI set by Hack Wilson in 1930.
Meanwhile, Ji Maeng-ho, who debuted in the major league this season, set a new record for home runs in a season with 79 home runs, a new record for scoring in a season with 249 points, and a new record for OPS in a season with an OPS of 1.514. Additionally, depending on his performance in the remaining games, he could set a new record for slugging percentage in a season and a new record for RBI in a season…
┗ How many records will he break in just one year since his debut?
┗┗Just playing baseball is a bastard haha
┗┗Honestly, the slugging percentage is also a factor, but Gibson’s is 0.974, so it’s a bit ambiguous
┗ㅇㅅㅁㅎㅅ
┗It’s more surprising that there is a record that I couldn’t break haha
┗┗Because the Major League isn’t shit haha
┗The fierce defender, a new record for RBI~~!