Became the Problem Child of MLB - Chapter 225



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Episode 225 Visible Moment (4)

For many major league teams, but especially for the Giants, the Cubs have been a phenomenal “phenomenon” this season.

If you look closely, you start to wonder if it is an area that can be overcome with human power. During the game, complaints such as “Is this baseball?” would often erupt among the players, and even on days when they won against the Cubs, they would often lose all their energy after a fierce battle.

In this situation, strategically giving up games may be the answer. The season is long, there are many games to play, and the team’s strength is limited.

‘I want to go home.’

But now, at the end of the season, when the rankings are in full swing, Giants starting catcher Adam Curtis ignored the sweat running down his catcher’s mask. Despite the chilly September, the stadium was warm with the crowd’s enthusiasm, and the pitcher nodded his head at my signal.

There is no dilemma like this dilemma.

If Hanje hits a home run here, it will tie the Giants’ retired number for most home runs in a single season, and it will be in the first game of the series. The Cubs might have to watch as they celebrate on their own home field.

Even if we were to call it a walk, that wasn’t the right answer. Adam Curtis was a player with excellent meta-cognitive abilities.

You can’t catch Han Je-yi who steals with your own shoulder. The answer is obvious just by looking at the fact that Han Je-yi’s already poor stealing prevention rate has plummeted since his debut.

‘Shit.’

My head hurt. It didn’t hurt this much even when I was planted upside down on home plate. To make matters worse, the big pitcher who went was looking for a match with Han Je-yi.

‘Did you get shot in the head?’

Pedro Tyson, standing on the mound, nodded slightly and tried to reassure himself. As if even if he were to give up a home run, it was a problem the pitcher had to deal with. He actually said the same thing when we spoke briefly just before he went up to the mound.

“I plan to go toe-to-toe with him, fighting him squarely.” Hearing those words, Adam Curtis swallowed the sigh that was on the verge of bursting out.

‘Fair and square?’

Why are you looking for justice in baseball for a guy who’s going to freeze to death? If you wanted to show off on your own, you should have found a different job than being a baseball player.

Baseball is a mean sport from the beginning. Runners try to steal the next base by avoiding the catcher’s eyes, and pitchers try to fool batters by refining their changeup pitches to resemble fastballs. No umpire gives attitude grades to scouts like the leader of a Boy Scout.

The team’s star hitter, RJ Osborne, couldn’t stop the pitcher, but he applauded in a small way. At this point, he was starting to wonder if he was the only one who was weird.

‘Okay, go ahead and do whatever you want.’

Adam Curtis, resigned, let the pitcher throw a cutter inside. The result was a ball. The catcher glanced up at Hanjei.

Hanjei stood motionless. If only I could know what was going on in that little head of his, Adam Curtis thought, gritting his teeth.

I wonder what kind of ball he’s waiting for. He probably doesn’t have the heart to hit it. Maybe he just watched the first pitch.

The second pitch also followed the pitcher’s suggestion. This time, an outside fastball. Han Je-i didn’t swing the bat, and this pitch also became a ball. 2 balls, no strikes.

‘What do you want to do?’

Even though the situation was extremely favorable for the batter, the pitcher looked calm. And he immediately gave the pitching sign.

I like this one quite a bit. When a left-handed pitcher faces a right-handed batter, the fastball is a good option. Pedro Tyson’s fastball is top-notch, so if he does it well, he can induce a groundout.

The batter’s bat was spinning in time with the incoming pitch. Adam Curtis imagined Hanje hitting the top of the pitch and grounding out. It was exhilarating just to imagine. But the problem was that such imagination rarely comes true.

Taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah-!

Adam Curtis’s mind flashed with the home runs he had hit from Hanjei. Was this a kaleidoscope? It was as if someone was forcibly opening his ear holes and screaming.

Despite the wild trajectory of the ball, the batter who sent the ball flying calmly finished his swing.

Watching Han Jae-yi from behind, an impression that didn’t fit the situation would pop up from time to time. If a baseball textbook had to include the basics of batting form, wouldn’t that kid be the textbook? It was an impression that could never be expressed out loud.

“Fuck…….”

As he took off his catcher’s mask, sweat trickled down the side of his eyes. Adam Curtis hoped and hoped that the sweat wouldn’t look like tears.

The ball was flying dirty far away. Fans wearing gloves were chasing the home run ball, and the groans and cheers were a thick, discordant mix.

The pitcher who had been calling for a head-on confrontation just a moment ago suddenly came to his senses or was exorcised, and was looking at Han Je-yi, who was circling the base, with his mouth wide open. Han Je-yi noticed the pitcher like that and said just one word.

“What are you looking at?”

Anyway, the Cubs fans who filled the stands were jumping for joy. Some Koreans among them couldn’t hide their overwhelming emotions and burst into tears.

“Hey, I’m the one who wants to cry…….”

Adam Curtis muttered as he looked at the face as big as a door on the scoreboard.

* * *

– Amazing! I can only say amazing! A boy who turned 20 yesterday has his name engraved next to Barry Bonds’! His 73rd home run after his 72nd! No one can stop him anymore! No one, not even Jay himself! Damn, my heart is about to burst out of my mouth. Who wouldn’t? A rookie who hasn’t appeared in 30 years is pushing aside the names of legends one by one! Now I don’t know!

– This must be a symbolic moment! Jay’s seventy-third home run exploded in Oracle Park, Barry Bonds’ front yard! I’ve never seen such a fancy birthday celebration! Jay rounded third base… … and finally scored! What a beautiful night, folks! The boy who engraved his name in Major League history for the first time in 30 years is waving to the fans!

– In the stands, fans are shedding tears for different reasons. Oh, dear. I hope someone can quickly give that lady a handkerchief. I think I’ll cry too if I watch it.

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– That’s right. Who said love is invisible? Love is visible. At least for this moment!

* * *

I once had a colleague who said that Major League Baseball stadiums are quiet, unlike Korea. He said with a dry tongue that the fans watch the games very gentlemanly.

When I experienced it firsthand, I found that to be true. Cardinals fans, famous for their politeness, applauded and cheered when the pitcher struck out and the batter got a hit.

And our fans, well… … .

“@#$%@@!#@&^%$#!!”

They are laughing, chatting, and having fun as if this is Wrigley Field. I think people who thought that cheering was exclusive to Korean baseball fans would change their minds when they see our fans.

They arbitrarily shouted, “Thank you, Giants!”, sang “Happy Birthday” to me, chanted Yandy’s name after he struck out a batter, and booed the Giants pitchers.

The stadium was heated up by the crowd, who seemed determined to make up for the airfare they paid for all the way to San Francisco.

The Giants immediately took Pedro Tyson off the mound after he allowed me a home run. It was a pity for me, but I think it was the right decision. The pitcher looked really bad, as if he was shocked by the home run. If he gets shocked by something like this, what will he do for the rest of his career?

In the end, Pedro Tyson left the mound with his shoulders hunched, wondering where the confidence he had been looking at me with on the mound had gone.

‘Damn, why are you stepping down from my plate?’

Victor, who was grumbling while watching that scene, didn’t even show any sincerity by covering his mouth with his hand. When I couldn’t stand to watch and said something, he only grumbled with an embarrassed expression.

‘Mind your own business, you rascal.’

Well, I don’t know how much better they want us to do. Now all that’s left is to beat Barry Bonds’ record, and I wonder what they’ll say then.

Anyway, Yandy pitched six shutout innings and the Giants poured all their bullpen power into the game.

In fact, if we look at the record against the Giants so far, it is correct to say that the Giants have been completely taken over by our team. Some people are even linking the Giants and us as a new rivalry.

The Giants seemed unable to give up any more records to our team. The pitchers warming up in the bullpen showed their determination, but when they returned to the plate, they walked.

“Hey, what is it?”

“…what.”

“The ball was free-spirited. I almost got hit.”

“…Damn it, how did you get hit by that ball?”

Adam Curtis, who caught the last ball almost with a frog jump, glared at me and said, “Oh, this is fun. I play baseball for this taste.”

-People of the town, catch that crazy guy here! There’s a crazy guy in here!

Well, am I the only one who is out of my mind?

Taaak!

Sejai shook his buttocks at first base after getting on base with a hit, Casey startled the catcher by screaming when the ball hadn’t even grazed his body, and Andy pretended to steal after getting on base with a walk, extending his lead, and then said this to the bewildered pitcher.

“Why? This is the first time you’ve seen a runner stealing?”

Yeah, well… … .

Personally, I think Andy is the worst. He’s not really going to steal, so what’s the point of bothering the pitcher?

Watching the players get excited, I thought they were getting excited too early, even though the game wasn’t even over. Well, I didn’t really do anything to make it happen. If other people saw me, I probably wouldn’t be any different from them.

“Huh huhu…….”

“…….”

“It’s a beautiful night. It’s the perfect night for Yandy.”

“…….”

I just let it slide when Yandy gave the mound to closer Dennis Washington and smiled darkly. Isn’t that a pretty generous colleague? No one knows me like this, really.

Taaak!

In the bottom of the ninth, the last hit of the game was caught by Zimmerman, who took off his catcher’s mask and threw it. Zimmerman, who chased the hit until the end, threw his body, and the umpire threw his fist a moment later.

“These crazy guys!”

“Do you know whose dog’s name is 116 wins?”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“I don’t mind dying like this!”

“Leave me alone! I still have a lot to do!”

“Ugh, ugh, ugh! Why did you hit me! It’s scary when you say you’ll just report it with words… Ugh! I almost bit my tongue off… Ugh!”

Well, it was a pretty beautiful night.

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