Became the Problem Child of MLB - Chapter 234



Only Noblemtl
Read Novel Noblemtl

Episode 234: Problematic Typing (2)

Basically, there are social conventions or common sense in every sport. They are not written rules, but they are things that people usually expect.

There is such common sense in baseball. For example, the leadoff hitter will try to get the starting pitcher to throw a lot of balls, and once he gets on base, he will try to get on the pitcher’s nerves.

It is also common sense that the role of the table setter is to pass the opportunity to the center line.

“Base on balls!”

Jose Flores dogged the pitcher until he finally drew a walk, and as soon as he got on base, he started shaking his butt like he was desperate to steal first base.

Starting pitcher Wells Roberts took his mind off the runner. He let out a sigh after inducing a groundout from Sejay Suarez. It was strange. The short moment he took to catch his breath after receiving a new pitch from the catcher felt like an eternity.

“JAY!”

“JAY!”

“MY JAYYYYYYYY!”

The fanatics’ cries that seemed ready to attack the pitcher at any moment were nothing compared to the momentum of the batter slowly walking up to the plate.

A sharp stone that sticks out between perfectly sensible things. A gap in the interlocking clockwork. A destroyer of order that defies conventional wisdom.

There have been many players who have claimed to be the league’s problem children over the years. The Major Leagues are a place where baseball monsters from all over the world gather, and Wells Roberts is one of them.

He has been an integral part of the Reds’ starting rotation this season, and on his so-called weak days, he has shown off pitching skills that are comparable to those of the league’s leading aces.

The batters were confused as to whether a fastball, cut, changeup or curveball would come flying at them, and Wells Roberts, like a veteran, would easily cook up such batters.

That’s why there was a time when I thought Han Jae-yi was just one of those rookies. At the time, he was a rookie who had debuted less than a month ago, and I thought he was good enough to go up against him in strength.

But now it’s different. Even among monsters, there is a clear hierarchy. Han Je-i, as seen in the pitcher’s eyes now, is a batter who is on a different track from the monsters that are all over the league.

Wells Roberts took a deep breath, hiding his complicated expression. The first pitch was a changeup. It was a sign from the bench, not the catcher.

The first at-bat of the first game of the postseason. The Reds bench’s intentions against Han Je-yi were clear.

A batting average approaching .400. And I knew that the batter had a 53.8% chance of reaching first base. I couldn’t not know.

But the first at-bat of the postseason tends to have a somewhat strange atmosphere. The batters, intoxicated by the strange atmosphere of the stadium, often show a different side than in the regular season, and no one can guarantee what will happen.

An on-base percentage of 50% means, conversely, that half of the batters fail to get on base.

‘Hanjae doesn’t always succeed.’

This obvious proposition gave strength to the Reds bench. It is a classic among classics to induce a ground ball when there is a runner on first base. With one out, one ground ball can get you through the inning.

That’s it. In a world where common sense prevails, the result of extremely sensible people putting their heads together is this.

Wells Roberts froze in the position where he had thrown the ball. He couldn’t even breathe. If he did, the monster would know of his presence.

Then, time, which had stopped for a moment, began to flow again, and the pitcher encountered something that defied common sense.

Taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah-!

My complicated mind was completely emptied. This moment felt a little unrealistic. I was clearly grounded in reality until just a moment ago, but it felt like I was just a fingernail above the ground.

But what is clear is that this experience does not last long. The pitcher, who stepped onto the mound again, was out of breath.

And then he was faced with a reality twice as dire as he had imagined.

“@%@#!$%##% ^#$@%&@!”

There were no words I could understand. I could only feel it with my body. The joy and anger the audience felt, the indescribable emotions, came rushing in like a tidal wave.

And finally, one person’s name continued endlessly like a round song. That name stuck to my ears and didn’t seem to come off.

* * *

The Division Series is a best-of-five series.

There is no one who does not know the importance of the first game in a postseason game like this. It is common sense that the first game and the first score determine the future series, so it is not necessary to give an example.

The strategies of both teams ahead of such an important match were similar.

-The coaches of both teams who met in interviews before the game said the same thing. They said it was important not to give up the victory they had early in the game.

-Yes, that’s what coaches with a lot of postseason experience always say. It’s easier to protect what you have than to take a win from the opponent!

-The probability that the first goal will lead to the first win. And furthermore, the probability that the first win will lead to the win of the entire series is high.

After the bottom of the first inning, the camera captured the commanders of both teams on the same screen. Manager Sean Tillaherty called the battery coach and gave instructions leisurely, while the Reds manager looked at Yandy Franco, who was going up to the mound, with a stern expression.

* * *

In team sports, it is important for players to understand their roles. In fact, it is a given. There is a big difference between knowing what you have to do and moving forward, and just doing it mechanically.

At the plate, it is important to create variables, and on defense, you need to minimize variables. While I usually focus on creating variables, Martin has been trying to reduce variables.

If you watch from the side, you can see the difference. It’s far from the kind of play that produces defensive highlight clips or elicits cheers from fans, but he’s more stable and prepared for hits than before.

Unlike Martin, Yandy is a show business guy. He knows how to get people’s attention and he has the skills to do so.

Well, in some ways, you could say he’s the most professional player on our team.

Yandy took his pitching stance and I lowered my stance slightly. I took a deep breath and held it for a moment, then focused all my attention on the batter.

“strike!”

This process is repeated until the results of the at-bat are known. Routine is essential to maintain focus during long game periods.

Taaak!

Mark DeHaan, who had hit 30 home runs this season, pulled the ball toward left field. Martin took a careful first step and followed it to the foul line to make the catch.

“out!”

It’s a good start. Martin throws the ball to the cheering crowd and trundles back to his defensive position. He smiles and gives a thumbs up, and his chin lifts slightly. It’s no big deal.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * Baca Novel Korean * *
* * * Noblemtl dot com * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Then he took a pose with a more focused expression than before. You have good concentration. You will see it if you live long enough. In the past, he looked like he wanted to hide somewhere at any moment.

Taaah!

Shortstop Noah Haley swung the bat hard from the first pitch. It seems to be the Reds’ strategy for today’s game. Yandy is a pitcher who fights with fair play regardless of the opponent. If he can’t get off early by increasing the number of pitches, he must have decided that an aggressive approach is the answer.

The ball is headed toward the right rear. Today, too, we can’t relax because of the wicked Chicago wind.

With my gaze fixed on the ball, I strongly stamped my right foot on the ground and jumped up to catch the ball. Sejai looked at me with his mouth wide open.

“What did you do to Spike?”

And he pestered me about finding the spring attached to the bottom of his shoe. Martin gave me a thumbs up, as did I, and Yandy… … .

“Fuck yeah!”

I did well just now, so why are you making a fuss…?

* * *

Wells Roberts pitched pretty well despite giving up one run. He has the makings of a good starting pitcher. That’s probably why he was chosen as the starter for the Division Series.

However, in short-term matches, things happen differently than in the season. Skill is important, but it is not easy if luck is not on your side.

After Jose got on base on a hit, Sejay came up to the plate and swung his bat at a fastball. The ball hit second base and bounced high.

“Safe!”

If luck had been on my side, there would have been a high chance of catching a double play, but the result was a scoring opportunity with runners on first and second base in front of me.

How will the Reds battery turn out? The crowd all stood up to greet me, and the catcher returned to home plate after a brief conversation with the pitcher. It looks like he won’t be dismissed for an intentional walk.

“cheek!”

And the first pitch was thrown. It was quite a threatening course. It seemed more like a warning message to stay away from home than a ball aimed at my head.

“Roman, I don’t know what you think of me, but I think you’re a pretty nice guy.”

“Really? It’s an honor.”

“But I don’t know if my fist thinks that way.”

“…Then that’s right. What did you say?”

“I’m saying this just in case, but if something happens, run far away. Don’t roll around on the ground with the pitcher for no reason.”

“Oh my, you are so kind.”

Roman Bell said in a playful voice. Catchers often say things they don’t mean. It’s to gain control of the game against the batter.

Well, that’s about it. I glanced at the dugout and saw that Victor was already ready to run out.

“The most affectionate person on our team is Victor.”

“Oh, is that right?”

“These days, my hormones are out of whack. My emotions are running wild, and that sometimes makes things difficult for us. Please tell that to the pitcher too. Let’s not make things difficult for each other.”

“…It was a mistake, a mistake.”

If I can get the catcher to give up, my job is almost done. From now on, I have to focus on the pitcher.

What pitch will Wells Roberts choose in a pinch run? He’s trying to get the hitter out of the zone, so he’ll likely throw a changeup that drifts out.

“cheek!”

A cutter that flows as expected. If it’s two balls and no strikes, they’ll try to take the count.

Taaah!

“Foul!”

The crowd, ready to cheer, let out a small sigh. The catcher said nothing as the foul home run flew past the pole, and I took the hit without hesitation.

The pitcher bit his lower lip and took a deep breath. I gripped the bat tightly as I took in the sight.

Since the days that are now forgotten, I have always been a problem solver on the ground. A problem solver does not pass opportunities to others. He just greedily takes what is right in front of him.

Taaaaaaaaaaah!

A low changeup. He scooped up the ball with all his might, which would have been a ball if he had left it alone. The ball was caught right on the bat. You can tell this kind of pitch without even looking at the result.

A stadium teeming with spectators who surge one by one like waves, a pitcher with his head bowed, a catcher at a loss for words, and a dugout where joy and sorrow intersect.

“Waaa …

“JAYYYYYYYY!”

“$%#@@*$%@!”

“JAY! JAY! JAY!”

It couldn’t have been a more beautiful sight. After throwing the bat that created the sight behind his back, he started circling the bases.

* * *

[Cubs dominate NLDS Game 1. 6-0, a bright start to the postseason!]

[Yandy Franco, who recorded the first shutout in the Division Series, was named the game MVP with a 13-knockout, no-run performance.]

[Han Je-yi, who shines with 3 hits and 2 home runs, is the Cubs’ problem solver who needs no further verification.]

[Cubs manager Seung-jang, ‘I trust my players. And the players trust themselves and go into the game. The 120 wins the Cubs have had this season are the culmination of that trust. We will play the remaining games ‘like the Cubs.’]

[League coach, who was tight-lipped in front of reporters, said, ‘We were not lucky at the beginning of the game. Everything else was perfect, and we will focus on preparing for the next game.’]

[Reds vs. Cubs, NLDS Game 2 Starting pitchers for both teams are Ian Hartwick and Travis Wheaton.]

[The Cubs, who have made up for last season’s shortcomings, are looking forward to the remaining postseason.]

Read Novel Noblemtl
Read Novel Noblemtl