Became the Problem Child of MLB - Chapter 243



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Episode 243 Forever (3)

Statistically, the team that wins Game 1 of the World Series has a 63% chance of winning. Since the 1990s, the odds are a whopping 83%, and the home team has a 94% chance of winning Game 1.

But odds are just odds. The Mets, Yankees and Kansas City, who lost both games at home and still won the World Series, proved it.

The Red Sox players knew this well. They also knew very well that it would be in their team’s best interest to focus on how to win the remaining games rather than trying to find meaning in the first game they had already lost.

What really made those players uncomfortable was none other than the attitude of the opposing team. To be precise, the confidence and assurance that was reflected in every facet of the Cubs team was uncomfortable.

Going up against a confident opponent on a field where you can’t be sure of anything is a process of constantly doubting yourself. Like catcher Wayne Grant, who constantly checked himself during the game.

“There is nothing wrong with the team. It was just a little bit of bad luck. We will definitely win tomorrow and return to Boston.”

Wayne Grant spoke confidently in his post-game press conference. Few people knew that the smile on his face was fake.

An intangible entity that appears as vague words such as momentum or flow. Players are more swayed by this vague entity on the field than they think, and they constantly try not to show it. They cannot accept that they have already lost the momentum.

On the other hand, a natural, unadorned smile appeared on the face of Cubs manager Sean Tillaherty when he appeared in the interview room.

“The MVP of the game today was the entire team. They knew their roles well and weren’t afraid to step up at the right time. The Cubs aren’t a team where one player carries all the burden. I hope the Red Sox learned that from this game.”

The public’s reaction to the interview was extremely mixed. Cubs fans were proud that the manager had said the obvious, but fans of the other 29 teams argued that the interview was too arrogant for a manager who had just won the first game of the series.

[The Cubs manager is trying to teach too much. Anyone who sees him would think the World Series is already over.]

└Dude, that’s exactly what I was trying to say.

└Well, it’s true that he meddled, but I think he said the right thing.

└Hmm, explain.

└The Red Sox acted like they didn’t have a 3rd batter in the opposing team’s batting lineup from the second half of the game. And what happened? It was exactly as everyone saw. They gave up an additional run to the next batter and got crushed.

└That’s right. In the end, the message the director wants to convey is one sentence. ‘Avoiding Jay is not the right answer.’

└Fuck. Then what?

└Why are you asking me that? It’s something your good players should know how to do 😉

└Damn. The director and the fans are both so unlucky.

└Thanks for the compliment 😉

└What great praise. My heart is pounding.

No manager, especially one who is praised as a great manager, can be free from the criticism of fans. This is something that must be endured from the moment one takes on the position of manager, regardless of the sport. Sometimes, it is a position where one must stand as a bullet shield representing the team.

Manager Sean Tillaherty, who achieved the most wins in major league history and advanced to the World Series for two consecutive years, could not avoid criticism.

‘He is truly the best coach in the world, he is living a life of luxury by meeting good players, he has met a team of players that are far superior to the coach’s ability’, etc.

There were many reviews that pointed to director Sean Tillaherty’s incompetence, but he didn’t care at all. Instead, he showed his boldness by laughing off such reviews.

“Personally, I get the most nervous when I announce the match lineup.”

The next day, manager Sean Tillaherty appeared in front of reporters waiting for Game 2 and said this with a deliberate smile. Then, as he slowly unfolded the lineup sheet, the reporters all let out a sigh of disappointment.

“Haha, I know you don’t have to. The regular season and the postseason, the lineup is always the same. But I don’t want to cause any confusion to a lineup that is running well. If something like that happens… No. I made a slip of the tongue. I really hope that doesn’t happen.”

The Cubs’ lineup was like a well-chosen All-Star lineup.

Whether it’s the leadoff hitter, the middle of the batting order, or the lower batting order that passes the opportunity on to the upper batting order, each player with a strong personality has filled their positions well.

And this is where director Sean Tillaherty’s talent truly shines.

“I saw it when I came in, and the opposing team was all really angry. It was scary. Isn’t it?”

“No way.”

“Okay. I was waiting for that answer. Standing on end is something only a prey does.”

Those words erupted into relaxed laughter throughout the locker room. The tension that had remained was relieved when the traditional powerhouse Red Sox was likened to a creature at the bottom of the food chain.

“Prey? What is that?”

“Just keep your mouth shut and nod.”

Several players, who had heard the banter between Sejay Suarez and Andy McGregor in the corner, snickered and prepared for the match.

No one but the players knew better than Sean Tillaherty that uniting players with strong personalities and creating synergy was one of the reasons the Cubs were able to complete the season without a hitch. The manager thought that was enough.

Anyway, the starting pitcher for Game 2 was Travis Wheaton, as previously announced. The Red Sox’s pitcher to counter him was Noel Collins.

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It’s a showdown between the two starting pitchers from each team. So baseball fans are saying that the real battle will begin after the starting pitcher leaves the mound.

‘Which of the two starting pitchers will dominate the opposing team’s batting lineup more?’

Before the game, major league fans took notice of this fact.

But what really caught people’s attention after the game wasn’t that Noel Collins was the losing pitcher after allowing just two runs in seven innings, or that the Cubs headed to Boston in a good mood after winning two straight games at home.

[(2032 WS) BOS 1 VS 2 CHC]

[The Cubs are on a 2 game winning streak! They only need to win 2 games to win the championship!]

[(PHOTO) Han Je-i scores on an intentional walk in the chaotic bottom of the 6th inning.]

[The fourth intentional bases-loading walk since 1998. What was discussed at the Red Sox’s mound meeting?]

[Red Sox Noel Collins, ‘I have nothing to say’ about the situation in the bottom of the 6th inning. Declines to be interviewed… … ]

[Cubs manager Sean Tillerty predicted the future before the game, saying, “The Cubs are not a team where one player carries all the burden.”]

[WS 2-game losing streak Red Sox, is the problem internal?]

* * *

Our fans are looking at me for quite some time in the future. Just like Victor started playing coaching in the last years of his career, they want me to follow in his footsteps.

It seems like he wants to start off as a playing coach, then move on to coaching a team with retired numbers, then learn the front office, and eventually become a team legend coach… … .

-You’re the manager? Is something wrong with the team?

Well, I think the same way. I can’t fulfill all my fans’ wishes. And after retirement, I want to live a new life the way I want.

Even aside from these personal thoughts, being a manager of a team is not an easy position. All decisions are judged by the fans, and most strategies end up being based on results. Even if it seemed like the right decision at the time, if you lose in the end, that decision will fade.

This is also the reason why many directors suffer from physical and mental stress during their term and end up in hospitals.

In fact, if I set my feelings aside and look only at the decision at that moment, I think the Red Sox manager was right.

The media and Red Sox fans who are currently pouring their firepower on him will probably gradually learn as time goes by. The records will prove what kind of hitter I am in a bases-loaded situation, and historically, the success rate of intentional bases-loaded walks is high.

But in the end, the Red Sox manager’s strategy failed. We always learn that the process is more important than the result, but not many people remember this fact on a big stage like the World Series.

No matter how much you like baseball, it’s not a sport for adults, right?

-It’s a game between the crazy and the less crazy!

Yes. Anyway, the Red Sox manager can’t avoid being criticized as a senile old man, and the team’s morale is expected to decline. I heard that there are even rumors of discord between the starting pitcher and the manager…

“If I was a starting pitcher and the manager intentionally walked me in the World Series and the team lost? Wow, I’m going to hate him to death. I’m going to be suspicious of everything the manager says from then on.”

“What Mikey is saying is that the Red Sox players are going to do that now?”

“Of course. Players are people too.”

Mikey’s words certainly made sense. People always regret the paths they didn’t take, and when a decision they were forced to make fails, they try to turn the arrows around somehow. It’s a kind of defense mechanism. It’s much more comfortable that way.

“Then the team atmosphere must be really good right now.”

“What are you talking about? Everyone would be hugging each other and going crazy.”

“After hugging each other, you throw yourself on the floor?”

Mikey shrugged his shoulders exaggeratedly in admiration at my words.

“After all, those with experience are different no matter what.”

… He’s not an experienced person. How long is he going to keep framing me?

Mikey pretended to be scared when I glared at him and disappeared into the bullpen. We went into the World Series with a different rotation, with a three-starter system.

The Yandy-Wheaton-Johnny system has been established, and other pitchers have moved to the bullpen. Mikey is also adding strength as a bullpen pitcher.

Even though they may think differently on the inside, our pitchers are not amateurs who show their discontent on the outside. They are just trying to help their team win the World Series.

We arrived at Fenway Park and headed into Game 3 after a day of rest.

“wow…….”

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

“Am I still half asleep? This is Boston, right?”

And as soon as I entered the field, I was met with Cubs fans who filled more than half of the stands.

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