Became the Problem Child of MLB - Chapter 231



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Episode 231 Re-exploring the route (5)

I’ve often heard people say that I don’t know how to do things in moderation.

Especially in the rehabilitation group that visits like an annual seasonal event, the coaches would grab me and tease me. They would say, “Take it easy, why did you come down after all that rehabilitation?”

Of course, I know that those words came from a heart that thought of me. Even from the perspective of an onlooker, it must have made you sigh.

But no one would have been as frustrated as I was. No player was as obsessed with reducing the risk of injury as I was. I even studied how to reduce injuries more than how to hit better.

In fact, the way to drastically reduce injuries is not to stretch harder or to build muscle through weight training. These are just stopgap measures. The fundamental solution is to not go beyond the range of motion allowed by each individual’s body.

For example, this is the case. Not chasing a ball that can be caught if you run a little further, safely landing on second base even if it is a ball that could be hit for a triple, or not pushing the ball even if it is a ball that you can swing at at the plate.

Of course, this isn’t to say that these things are wrong. You do need to protect yourself to some extent to prevent injury. But then suddenly, this thought occurred to me.

‘Is there any reason why such a half-professional player should remain on the ground?’

Fans want players to show fighting spirit and competitive spirit in any situation.

That’s the spirit of sports. It’s not over until it’s over. Fans come to the stadium to see players who don’t give up until the bottom of the ninth inning and two outs, even if their team is down by a large margin.

I didn’t want to keep my position by disappointing those fans’ expectations. I didn’t want to disappoint the fans who cheered me on just to satisfy my greed.

That mindset hasn’t changed even now. Even if the outcome is decided or the championship is confirmed, I just try my best. I think that’s the least I can do to repay the people who support me.

“Safe!”

I walked in my second at-bat and just ran out. Home runs are nice, but I also like getting a free base like this.

Maybe it was because he lived through a time when stealing a base was unthinkable even with his fast feet. He stole a base as if to vent his frustrations from that time.

“JAY! JAY! JAY!”

And then he shook off his uniform as the fans cheered for him, jumping for his 49th stolen base of the season at second base.

Stealing is a game where the one who steals the timing wins. And I, fortunately, am the player who has never lost a game in that game this season.

The Minnesota Twins catcher seemed very aware of that. The pitcher threw a pitch that went way outside to Victor, and he was shocked when I pretended to run to third base.

The ball, which the catcher threw with all his might, entered the second baseman’s glove a beat later than my feet. The second baseman belatedly tagged me with his glove and asked,

“Are you going to run?”

Hmm. I don’t know what kind of answer you’re hoping to get.

“no.”

“…Don’t lie.”

“If you didn’t believe me, why did you ask?”

When I said that as if it was ridiculous, the second baseman looked a little embarrassed. I left the guy who was just mumbling without saying anything behind and took the lead. Then, a pickoff came flying right away.

“Home plate is up front, you idiot!”

“Did you put honey on that?”

When that situation repeated itself again, the fans in the stands started to scream. The pitcher showed his whole body and soul that he was worried about me, and the crowd alternated between cursing the pitcher and cheering me on. It was a pretty tricky situation to steal, but as always, it wasn’t a big deal.

The pitcher may have wanted to continue the war of nerves with me, but in the end he had no choice but to throw the ball to the catcher. I took advantage of the dizzying atmosphere and ran.

It is often said that stealing a base is a 3.3-second game. In particular, stealing third base is a game that can be concluded within 3 seconds at most. He temporarily increased his sprint and ran at full speed.

Accuracy is as important as speed. I saw the ball the catcher threw flying through my field of vision. At the right time, I avoided the tag from the third baseman, touched the base with my hand, and then looked up.

The moment the referee, who had been frowning and thinking hard, finally spread his arms to the sides, I stood up without realizing it.

“Safe!”

The long, long cheers echoed through Wrigley Field as if they would never end. The fans, who had already lost their voices when I hit a home run in my first at-bat, chanted my name even louder and louder.

I just set a record that is the first 50-50 in baseball history. I shouted along with the cheering fans.

Well, of course I’m happy about setting a record, but actually, more than that.

“You crazy bastard! What’s wrong with your head?”

“Baseball Genius!”

“Wow, wow, wow, wow!”

“Catch that kid! Catch him alive and hand him over to NASA, and I’ll eat the FA money for free!”

“Even if you sell it, hand it over after the season ends! No, hand it over after I retire!”

“Victor, don’t say things you don’t mean! You have no intention of retiring anytime soon!”

“Don’t worry about it and just move on!”

just.

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I think it was because I was so happy at this moment that I couldn’t stand it.

* * *

[‘Baseball like you’ve never seen before.’ The Cubs end the 2032 season with their 120th win in the final game!]

[Cubs with a 74.8% winning percentage. Breaking the common sense of baseball.]

[(PHOTO) Han Jae-yi’s passionate roar that made Cubs fans cry.]

└Damn. I haven’t stopped crying for hours. I feel like something’s wrong with my organs.

└Bro, don’t worry, it’s not just you. Everyone in my family has had their eyes crinkled.

└Someone please tell me how not to love that little kid. It makes my daily life difficult.

└Today I decided what scene I’m going to play at my funeral. The moment Jay roared will be remembered as one of the best moments of my life.

[(PHOTO) Cubs fans still fill the stadium after the game ends]

[(PHOTO) The lights of Chicago that never go out. The ‘Chicago Night’ brought about by the Cubs]

[(PHOTO) Cubs fans with body paint. A line of ‘J’s decorate the outfield stands.]

[‘BOOM!’ From 76 home runs to 50-50! Han Je-i shows his fighting spirit in the final game of the season. Becomes a hitter like no other in MLB history!]

[Cubs manager Sean Tillerty, ‘Honestly, it feels like a dream. I’m grateful to the players, the fans, and the organization for allowing me this glorious moment in my life… ‘]

[Cubs sweep Minnesota Twins series, secret weapon Roger Mendez-Dylan Schrenk play.]

[Han Jae-yi’s lie-like year 2032, from beginning to end, only ‘J’.]

* * *

Late at night, a baseball broadcaster continued speaking in an excited tone.

-You all remember. What some experts said about the Cubs before the season! ‘Last season, all the positive IFs were about the Cubs, and next season, nothing can be guaranteed…’ Looking back, it’s absurd and heartbreaking. So, you guys, don’t blindly believe what the experts say. They actually don’t know much, yes. Not all of them are like that, but please keep in mind that there are some fakes mixed in.

└I don’t know everything in an instantㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└What the hell is this? ㅋㅋㅋ You speak so strongly. ㅋㅋㅋ Can you handle it?

└It’s a personal broadcast, so what lol And I don’t think the ‘self-proclaimed’ experts will be able to refute it anyway lol

└Even if you tremble, you can’t do anything right? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Not only in Korea, but in any country, experts tend to fall into the compulsion to tell a different story from the general public. Since their job is to discover unique points that the public does not know about and package them in a plausible way, they also have to accept the side effects that come with this.

“Haha, okay. I lost. I never wanted the Cubs to fail, but I can’t deny that my prediction was completely wrong. Congratulations, Cubs! I didn’t know you guys would do this well!”

A panelist on a sports cable channel made the confessional remark, causing laughter to erupt from the audience.

It was worth it. The Cubs’ performance in 2032 was completely irregular. No one expected the Cubs to win 120 games in the regular season.

Behind the amazing team performance were the efforts of all team members.

Jose Flores (batting average 0.289, on-base percentage 0.376), who overcame the slump after the fall season that was called chronic illness and played a leading role for the team.

Sejai Suarez, whose batting performance in the second half of the season was slightly lower than in the first half, has established himself as one of the top hitters by recording 20-20.

Lucas Martin, who stood out with a batting average of 0.311 and improved outfield defense, Andy McGregor, who hit 40 home runs and delivered a decisive blow to the hot batting lineup, Casey Martinez, who protected the hot corner with a stable third base defense and a batting average of 0.289. And their spiritual pillar, ‘Undead’ Victor Aruswell, who hit 25 home runs even at the age of 40.

Not only did they have a strong starting five, but the bullpen pitchers who were brought in at the right time also did their job well.

The most wins in Major League Baseball history are the result of the combined efforts of each and every player, but objectively speaking, not all players’ contributions can be the same.

Who is the Cubs’ most valuable player? Even experts who had different opinions before the season were unanimous this time.

Season batting average .391, on-base percentage .538, slugging percentage .911. He hit 76 home runs and achieved the first 50-50 in baseball history.

Two summers ago, when Han Je-yi was named to the starting lineup, fans who doubted their eyes went to Wrigley Field wearing a uniform with his name on it (2032 Chicago Cubs MD sales No. 1, Players uniform sales No. 1 of all time).

And Han Je-yi responded to the fans who chanted his name with WAR 17.2 (1st all-time), 159 runs (4th all-time), 177 RBIs (4th all-time), and OPS 1.449 (1st all-time).

There have always been those who have distrusted Hanjei, or tried to undermine his integrity, despite his record being more than a century old. And Cubs fans have paid them no mind.

[It is time for worship. Everyone please stand, look toward New York, and pray.]

└Amen.

└Amen.

└A-men.

└What are these crazy guys doing?

└ Could this be a prayer for the place where Jay was born and raised?

└Don’t lie. I just wanted to tease you.

In any case, a star appeared who broke a record that seemed impossible to break. The Major League Baseball office, anticipating a post-season boom, published articles every day.

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