Became the Problem Child of MLB - Chapter 219



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Episode 219: Not World Class (5)

Each major league team has its own unique team color. Just as our team was once called the Lovely Losers, this means that each team has an image that represents it.

The team color of the Tampa Bay Rays, who are playing against us today, is ‘small market.’ They are one of the poorest teams in the major leagues. However, they are also a team that shows miraculous results through innovative management that suits the team’s situation.

Whether it’s a small market or a big market, a rebuilding team or a contender team, that’s not really what’s important when you’re meeting the opposing team. What’s important is the team’s recent winning percentage.

The team with the highest winning percentage in recent matches is the strong team and is the one to be most wary of. In that sense, Rays, who has won all of their recent five matches, is by no means an easy opponent.

With starting pitcher Mikey pitching a shutout through the fourth inning, I came up to bat for the third time in the top of the fifth. The score was still 1 to 0.

As I was sweeping the plate with my foot and looking up at the ceiling, the Rays catcher spoke to me.

“Is there anything good up there?”

“There is nothing good, but there are some annoying things.”

“Kuhahaha, I never thought I’d hear something like that come out of your mouth. That’s amazing.”

“Do you know what kind of alien I am?”

“Um… Honestly, a little bit?”

This is ridiculous. I ignored the dirty catcher’s words and looked at the ceiling structure again.

Tropicana Field is the only enclosed dome stadium in Major League Baseball. It is the same facility as the Korean stadium that a famous commentator once passionately claimed was a fake dome, and this is quite a concern for the batters.

The tightly closed ceiling is a problem, but the various lights and the structures that support the lights are a bigger problem. Depending on where and which structure you hit, it can be a home run, a ball in play, or a double. As a result, it is common to see batters staring at the ceiling instead of the ground after hitting.

I was also ‘admitted’ to a double in my last at-bat. In another stadium, it would have been a hit that would have flown over the fence with the wind, but there’s nothing I can do about it.

“cheek!”

The first pitch came in quite high. It is not only the batters who are affected by the dome stadium environment. The subtle humidity and air pressure have a greater effect on the pitchers.

The pitcher is ready to throw the second pitch. He places his hands on his chest, takes a deep breath, and strides hard.

Still high, but lower than the first pitch. I swung hard toward the point I had pictured in my head.

Taaaaaaaah—!

It felt like a pretty good hit, but it didn’t look like the ball would go all the way. The ball went high again, and this time it hit the ceiling again.

“Ground rule double!”

… … .

No. Well, a double is good, but hitting the ceiling with consecutive at-bats feels a little strange. Especially on a day like today when I’m in good shape.

Were you lucky on your first at-bat?

“There’s probably no other player in the world who has such a bad expression on his face after hitting a double, except our team’s loser.”

After that, Victor got a walk and loaded the bases on first and second base, but Andy’s hit was caught by the center fielder and no runs were scored. As I went into the dugout to get my defensive gloves, Victor chuckled and said,

“That’s not it.”

“No, it’s written all over your face. ‘I’m really upset right now.’”

As Victor said, I’m not upset about not hitting a home run. I’m just a little disappointed that the hit didn’t lead to a score.

I was about to say no, but decided to just go with the flow.

“Hmm. Then is there anything else written?”

“What kind?”

“Life is tough because of Victor… right? Yeah. Of course not.”

Victor unclenched his fist only after listening to what I had to say. What kind of fist is that? If I get hit with one, I’ll pass out.

“You rascal, behave yourself.”

“Yes, boss.”

“Let’s just let it go this once. But not twice.”

“Thank you, boss.”

As I was about to go out onto the field with my gloves on, the coach spoke with a troubled expression.

“Hey guys, can you do something about that gang talk?”

* * *

The Tampa Bay Rays, a typical small-market team, can’t even think about signing a big-name free agent or a S-class player who would have to pay an average of $30 million per year. The reason Rays fans didn’t want Yandy Franco when he came onto the market after last season was because the team didn’t have money.

To compensate for this innate weakness, the team has put all its efforts into developing promising players. By utilizing its unique development know-how and trade strategies, it has always managed to build a team that exceeds its payroll.

“Who will you send out in the 8th round?”

The Rays manager asked a question in return to the pitching coach’s words.

“Who’s waiting in the bullpen?”

“Tony and Kayson are getting ready.”

“Hmm. How about Cayson?”

“Okay. I think he wants to go out too.”

“Then put Cayson on standby.”

“All right.”

Even as the manager and pitching coach talked, the Rays’ prospects were busily moving back and forth to the dugout.

“I feel good. I think I can do something if I go out as a pinch hitter later.”

“Hey, take your turn. It’s me today.”

“Who decided that order?”

“I just decided. Hehe.”

I took out the bat for no reason, swung it once, leaned against the wall, stretched, and watched the manager’s reaction. I wanted to somehow catch the manager’s eye and get a chance to play.

The Tampa Bay Rays are a team that delays the call-up of outstanding prospects as much as possible in order to increase their service time. That means that if they don’t make a mark when joining the team with an expanded roster, it’s hard to know when they will be able to step foot in the big leagues again.

The prospects were making a quiet commotion in the dugout, but occasionally glancing at the opposite dugout.

“Did you see it earlier?”

“I see, then.”

“Honestly, they’re the other side, but they’re fucking…….”

The player, who had been watching the manager and coaching staff, continued speaking.

“It’s cool.”

If Victor Arouswell had heard this, he would have snapped, “What’s cool about me, you think our team’s idiot is cool?” But to these newly minted major leaguers, Han Jae-yi was an untouchable.

“Do you want to go together later?”

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“Okay. Let’s go say hello.”

The racers, who had been huddled together and holding a strategy meeting, took a quick step onto the field after the bottom of the 7th inning when a familiar song began to ring out in the stadium.

It’s a cleaning time where the players who were warming the bench can take a short break to warm up.

“hey.”

Among the players running around the wide field, the most courageous man spoke to Han Je-i.

“what?”

And when the sharp reply came back, he stuttered without realizing it. It would be different if he had something to say, but in fact, there was no clear purpose for talking.

“Uh, um. That’s…….”

The Cubs players, who had naturally shrugged their shoulders, began to gather around the Rays player one by one.

“Oh, nononono. Hey, can you see? Your team’s players are over there, not here.”

‘Do you know anyone who doesn’t have eyes?’

“Not now. Just don’t go near that guy normally. There’s nothing good in becoming close to him.”

‘Can you say that to your teammate?’

“You understand. My child has a personality that’s a bit… dog-like.”

‘…What is this?’

Lucas Martin, Andy McGregor, and Casey Martinez spoke in turn. To be honest, I couldn’t accept it. What on earth is this overprotection when he didn’t do anything to Hanjei?

Victor Arouswell puts a finishing touch on a promising race prospect.

“Hey, little one. You want to see something bad?”

“Ahahaha…….”

Only then did the man come to his senses and smile awkwardly.

‘It wasn’t Han Jae-yi who was protecting me.’

Han Je-i said in bewilderment as the man who had been walking slowly suddenly disappeared as if running away.

“Who’s eating it? And what’s that? I was just asking, so why are you freaking out and making people look weird?”

* * *

The batting lines of both teams, which had been silent until the beginning of the game, began to heat up as the game progressed into the second half.

It started with a tying run home run by the Rays’ No. 4 hitter, but the Cubs’ main lineup didn’t back down either.

-Wow, Andy McGregor! He’s hitting his 40th of the season here at Tropicana Field! The Cubs are back on top again! He’s shaking off his poor form today!

Andy McGregor, who had not been able to get a run in the fifth inning, yanked a high fastball with all his might and finally hit a solo home run, his 40th home run of the season.

-Today, the Cubs are enjoying the advantage of a home run park, as it is not a home team race. Both home runs during the game were scored by Cubs players.

“You finally came to your senses!”

“Andy, I believed!”

“Fill your baseball pockets! If anything slips out, I won’t let it go!”

Cubs fans filled the stadium on the East Coast and were jumping for joy. And then, minutes later, Andy McGregor’s home run seemed to have completely forgotten about it, and they were back in full swing.

“Just finish it off!”

“Only 2 points? I want 10 points!”

“You little punks, get to work now!”

It is a difficult environment for those playing the game to stay focused. It is also difficult to keep up with the changing atmosphere from moment to moment.

But the silver lining is that the Cubs players are all too familiar with their fans.

In the top of the eighth, Zimmerman hit a single. Kyle Elias walked and Jose Flores was retired on an in-field fly.

And then came Sejay Suarez’s turn at bat.

Rays bullpen pitcher Kayson Garfield calmly applied rosin to his fingertips as he took the mound. But while his actions were calm, his mind was in tangled confusion.

Sejai Suarez is in the scoring position. He is not a player to be taken lightly, although he is not very visible because he is overshadowed by Hanjei. And the biggest problem is that Sejai Suarez must be caught.

“JAY! JAY! JAY!”

As Han Je-yi, who was standing at the plate, swung his bat, the crowd cheered in unison as if they had promised.

‘That guy is the problem.’

Sejay Suarez, who persistently harasses pitchers, and Hanjei, who is a nightmare in and of itself, are followed by Victor Arouswell. This one is not even human. He is a man who is more suited to being an immortal zombie.

Then the batting order moves on to Andy McGregor, who hit his 40th today.

“Base on balls!”

Finally, Sejay Suarez walked. With the bases loaded, Hanjei came up to the plate.

Honestly, I was about to sigh a little. It’s a question with no answer. Against a guy who hits as many home runs in one season as a typical hitter would in two or three seasons, any pitch you throw has the potential to be a home run.

But separately from that, I also had this thought.

Han Jae-yi’s performance today was 3 hits in 3 at-bats. He hit one home run and two doubles. No batter can produce results in all four at-bats in a game.

An unknown source of courage took control of the pitcher.

“strike!”

The first pitch was a strike. The ball landed almost exactly where he intended. The second pitch was a ball. Then, on the third pitch, he got another strike.

Two strikes, one ball.

The catcher sent a pitching sign, but Kayson Garfield thought this was the right time. This was his chance to strike out Hanjei.

The catcher sent the signal again and again, but the pitcher was not persuaded. Instead, he insisted on his opinion even more strongly, and eventually got his way.

Taaaaaaaaaaah!

And as the results rolled over his head, he stood still and blinked.

What just happened?

It was definitely a good pitch. It was a good pitch that you only get to throw a few times in a game.

“You crazy bastard!”

“I love you, Jay!”

“@#%*#*#@@!!#%@!”

An unpleasant sound was ringing in my ears, and in the distance, the pitching coach was heading to the mound after receiving the ball from the umpire.

“great job.”

The pitcher, having accepted the result, left the mound. He didn’t want to admit it, but he had to admit it. He was no match for that crazy guy.

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