Chapter 852 – Episode 838. Do You Still Trust Your Colleagues?

If you don’t have expectations, you can’t be disappointed, and if you don’t have trust, you can’t feel betrayed.

Ta-ah!

‘Yeah, I didn’t even fucking expect it.’

That’s why I wasn’t at all embarrassed when Buehler allowed four runs in a row, hitting four batters in a row from Ohtani to Tatis, Betts, and Smith, culminating in Smith’s home run.

‘No, but this is a bit…’

… I was slightly, just slightly embarrassed.

In fact, there were some signs of this happening. He showed a very poor performance in the championship series against Houston, allowing 4 runs in 5 innings. Of course, I didn’t expect to give up 4 runs in 0.1 innings.

“Out!”

Still, Buehler increases the count as Seungcheol catches his brother.

‘Phew… ‘I’m glad I have Seungcheol.’

Seungcheol’s performance in the last three games was 1 hit in 11 at-bats. And he didn’t hit a hit in this at-bat either, so he’s now 1-for-12. In terms of batting average, it’s about 8 pennies… I was very fortunate because it felt like almost 10 players were playing.

Are enemies more trustworthy than colleagues?

However, I was worried that Jia’s expression would worsen as Seungcheol’s performance worsened, but unfortunately, because my nose was three feet tall, I couldn’t afford to worry about his wife’s expression.

“Out!”

And then he got three outs by getting Candelario, the hitter of note, out. So we ended the long first inning, giving each other 4 points.

“Hey, Ji.”

So, before the top of the second inning starts, Verdugo, who is supposed to be the leadoff hitter, calls me.

“Huh?”

“This at bat… “Please.”

“Huh? “You got hit before the game.”

“It’s not enough, it’s still not enough.”

Verdugo’s batting performance is currently ranked 3rd in the team, behind Nana and Soto. Of course, this was possible because the Dodgers’ pitchers tended to give the ball easily to Verdugo, who had the weakest punching power on the team and was slow on his feet, but Verdugo believed that the reason was because he got slapped by me.

And now, Verdugo seems to have become addicted to the taste, and wants to feel the taste of my hand not only before the game starts, but even when he goes to bat.

‘What a bastard…’

At this point, I’m starting to get scared too.

‘This is why you shouldn’t do drugs. As time goes by, I find myself looking for stronger stimulation. ‘Don’t even start with things like marijuana.’

… Even Mr. Rossby was horrified, so Verdugo’s current condition was clearly not normal.

“… I understand.”

However, the desire to be good at baseball cannot be prevented even by law. I decided to grant Verdugo’s request.

“This time to the left.”

Before the game starts, Verdugo, who was hit on the right cheek, hits the left cheek. Is the heart of Jesus, who slapped his disciples on the right cheek and told them to turn to him the left cheek, the same as mine now?

Ta-ah!!

Just like that, I slapped Verdugo with the heart of Jesus, just like the nickname that real New York fans call me.

“Okay, this is it.”

I heard Verdugo muttering with both cheeks red, but I did my best to ignore Verdugo’s words.

And then the second inning began.

Verdugo, who entered as the leadoff hitter, turned the bat from the first pitch,

Ta – Aak!

The batted ball goes over the fence.

“Aaaaah!!”

As I entered the dugout and saw Verdugo sharing his joy with his teammates, a thought occurred to me.

‘… Is it really effective?’

Verdugo has 10 home runs this season. And he was a guy who had never hit more than 20 home runs in his entire career, so seeing him hit a home run in the World Series like that made me think that my hands were really working.

I slapped myself in the face in a corner where the camera couldn’t catch it, just in case.

Mate!

‘Oh, fuck, it fucking hurts.’

But it just hurt, and there was no focus or any such effect. Rather, the area where it hit tingled, and it felt like my nerves were being dispersed.

‘… I really shouldn’t have anything to do with that bastard.’

With Verdugo’s home run, the score is 5:4. I also had to prepare for my next at-bat, so I left Verdugo, who looked extremely excited, and walked to the standby at-bat.

Perfect!

“Out!”

However, Volpi is out as he hits the ball that misses the mark.

It’s been a while since I got a chance to bat in a situation where there were no runners on base. Considering that the hitter waiting behind me was Soto, not Judge, I could have waited…

Perfect!

‘Oh, shit!’

Is it because my own cheek was tingling? My concentration was scattered, and I ended up hitting Yamamoto’s ball with the tip of the bat.

Again… A batted ball that passes by the pitcher and rolls slowly.

‘Run!’

‘I know!’

Since there was nothing I could do even if I looked at the batted ball anyway, I ran toward first base at full speed. And I see the first baseman extending his hand.

“… Safe!”

“Phew… “I thought I was going to die.”

Even though the home run wasn’t a success, the situation wasn’t bad because the infield hit was enough. Now all that’s left is to run to third base.

“Strike!”

“Safe!”

“Strike!”

“Safe!”

In that situation, a bad situation arose where Soto, who had been waiting for me to steal third base, got two strikes, but Soto was Soto.

“Base on balls!”

Starting with two strikes, he tenaciously continues his at-bat and walks to first base after an 8-pitch game.

Ta-ah!

And he took advantage of Stanton’s ultra-long outfield fly to get home comfortably.

‘Cee, you should have done this a long time ago.’

Now it seemed like our batting lineup that I knew had returned. I was left with the feeling of regret that it would have been much easier if I had done this in the second game, but I felt like there was nothing I could do about it since there were times when I knew what batting was for 1 or 2 games…,

‘No, don’t trust this trash, Ji Maeng-ho! You have to do it.’

… In the blink of an eye, I gathered myself once again.

“Ugh!”

“Jersey! Are you okay?”

… When I saw the jersey getting on base after being hit in the thigh by a ball that fell out of my hand, I felt like I was going to lose heart again, but I pulled myself together and in the end, it was the right choice.

Ta – Aak!

‘Ah, it varies. Really. This guy was from the Dodgers, right? I think it came as a trade…’

Once again, Buehler hit a two-run hit and the game was tied.

So, in the important game of Game 4 of the World Series, Buehler, who recorded a devastating performance of 6 runs in 1 inning, goes down and Merda comes to the mound. Yesterday, senior Woosung tried to fill Rodon’s vacancy but failed by allowing 3 runs in 2 innings, so the only pitcher who can throw a long inning now is Merda, who is in the 5-point range.

‘Am I being punished…? ?’

For a moment, I wondered if the heavens were punishing me for thinking that it was fortunate to see Singer’s injury, but when I thought about it, it seemed like there was nothing I could do if Rodon and Buehler went bankrupt and Singer came.

The Dodgers are also the ones who devastated the league by scoring around 7 points per game this season.

In fact, there were many experts who evaluated us as superior in terms of power because I hit .400 and hit 80 home runs, but excluding me, we were far behind the Dodgers.

And, it occurred to me that since I was in lockdown, this outcome was inevitable. And Merda gets a timely hit from Tatis, increasing the score to 7:6.

‘Ah… It’s a shame. … No, don’t give up. Because it’s still worth doing.’

For a moment, I thought, ‘Is this the end?’, But there were still many opportunities left. And if you only get one chance…

In a situation where we were down 7:6, before the start of the third inning, I gathered my teammates together, bowed my head, and made a request.

“Please make the bases loaded just once. Really, please, please.”

At my words, the players lower their gaze in a solemn mood. With losses in games 2 and 3, and a situation in which the team lost 6 points but suffered a reversal, the mood sank to the ground.

However, at that time, a guest I did not invite broke the silence and raised his voice.

“So, are you guys going to stay quiet when the youngest member of the team bows down and asks for something like this?”

“Director… !”

The main character of that voice was Director Mattingly.

To be honest, in a sport called baseball, the only thing a coach could do was replace the pitcher, so he was useless, and it was strange for me to call a man who was well over 60, so I didn’t call him, but when the players gathered, he seemed to have approached me. It was.

“Know how embarrassing it is. Are we going to get caught up in the World Series again like this? Don’t forget who we are. We are the Yankees. Look at the letters on the chest. And once again engrave it in your hearts. That you are Yankees. The Yankees, the best team in the world. If there is anyone who is scared at this level, tell them now. “I’ll send you on vacation right away.”

Is this the true face of Director Mattingly? I feel a power that I have never seen before.

During the regular season, there were no dangerous situations, so Mattingly remained quiet like a spectator watching baseball in the VIP section, but in this situation, the true value of a former club legend came out.

“Mark!”

Then, Mattingly, who gave a long speech, called Vientos, the leadoff hitter of the inning.

“Yes, four!”

Vientos responded to the coach’s call like a scared recruit.

“Get on base. It is an order from the director.”

“No, I will try my best!”

“Effort? Effort is something you always put in, and you have to do it well now. Good! And when you come back, you come back while stepping on home plate.”

The sound of Coach Mattingly hitting Vientos on the back echoes through the dugout. Vientos’s expression, which used to be harsh, has now changed into something more acceptable.

‘… Fuck, you should have done this a long time ago.’

Even though I didn’t have to say it, I thought about how good it would have been if I had done it well.

Anyway, when Vientos walked to the plate, new Dodgers pitcher Bobby Miller was waiting on the mound.

Ta – Aak!

And after a persistent battle, Vientos’ batted ball splits the sky of Dodger Stadium.

“Out!”

However, he was caught in front of the fence and was out.

Well, if I hit a hit or a home run just because the manager said something, the manager would have received a salary similar to mine, so I wasn’t particularly surprised. Of course, that did not mean that Director Mattingly’s speech was meaningless.

“Good. When you let go of fear, you can hit good balls. Well done. Mark.”

“Let’s go! Logan! Let’s go! Yankees!”

Because I could feel the atmosphere in the dugout changing with Vientos’ big hit.

Perfect!

And, as if continuing the momentum, Ohapee’s sharp batted ball passed by the third baseman, sending Ohapee all the way to second base.

Perfect!

-Wow!!!

Verdugo, who got slapped by me again and came out to bat, hit a timely hit, tying the game.

“Base on balls!”

Plus Volpi’s walk.

Now the situation is 1 out, 1st and 2nd bases.

‘Ah… Just leave this guy alone and just hit…’

However, there was nothing I could do.

Using the bases loaded strategy with one out and 1st and 2nd bases was common in baseball, and the Dodgers, who were already filtering me out with walks, had no reason not to use that method.

“Intentional Work!”

And as I expected, the Dodgers chose an intentional throw here.

-Woowoo!!!

There were boos from the Yankees’ fans, but Miller on the mound paid no attention and focused on pitching.

‘Soto’s eyes… Was he originally able to make such a cruel expression?’

… Without even knowing that Soto’s pride had been hurt.

Ta-ah!

-Waaaaa!!!!!

“Soto! “I believed it!!!”

I wasn’t afraid of anything as long as I had a colleague who could have my back at any time.

‘… But, please adjust the batting order a long time ago.’

… Although I was a little resentful of the manager who trusted his teammates so much that he continued to trust Judge, who hit 3 hits in 27 at-bats before the World Series.