Chapter 10

5 seconds later, the bulletin board! Chapter 10

2. Have you ever seen such crazy bastards...! (5)

Buffaloes' head coach Park Chang-hwa was in a bind.

'Not to mention yesterday's game, but today's game was almost entirely carried by Lee Kyung-hoon. Even if Daniel gets the attention for the shutout today... it's obvious to everyone that Lee Kyung-hoon led the game.'

Even Jacob Daniel, in his MVP interview, praised Lee Kyung-hoon's leadership and attributed the victory to him.

At that moment, Lee Kyung-hoon was giving an MVP interview on another sports channel.

Not only the players, coaches, and manager on the field, but even the Buffaloes' fans became aware of Lee Kyung-hoon's performance.

'If things continue like this, not only will it be impossible to send Lee Kyung-hoon down to the minors...

He will even threaten the starting catcher Moon Chang-jun's position.

'In this situation, I can't send Lee Kyung-hoon down to the minors. Given this...

I need to keep Lee Kyung-hoon in the first team and try to induce Moon Chang-jun's performance while eliminating Lee Kyung-hoon's playing opportunities.

'If I do that, I can at least dampen the momentum Lee Kyung-hoon has built up. Once he hits a rough patch, I can naturally send him down to the minors.'

This will further delay Park Seung-jung's debut in the first team, but... this is almost the only way now.

'But... how can I take out Lee Kyung-hoon, who is performing so well?'

To induce Moon Chang-jun's performance, I need to bench Lee Kyung-hoon.

However, in the last two games, Lee Kyung-hoon has become an indispensable player for the Buffaloes, someone who cannot be benched.

He has become a force that cannot be stopped, like a runaway train.

'Should I bench him again citing his defensive skills? ...No. Given his performance in this game, if I bench the catcher who stopped Park Min-hyuk's steal, it will only lead to more talk. Sending him out as a designated hitter... that won't work either. It will only highlight the difference in hitting ability between Moon Chang-jun and Lee Kyung-hoon. What should I do...!'

Coach Park Chang-hwa gritted his teeth, regretting that he had missed the timing to send Lee Kyung-hoon to the minors while keeping an eye on the front office.

And then.

'Ugh... I can hear your brain working from here, man.'

Watching Coach Park Chang-hwa, Manager Yoo Kyung-ryong smiled mysteriously.

Although Lee Kyung-hoon had occasionally been selected as the MVP and given an MVP interview by sheer luck,

'Two consecutive games... this is the first time, isn't it?'

Following his performance yesterday, which included two home runs and nine RBIs, today he recorded one home run and six RBIs.

Lee Kyung-hoon accounted for more than half of the Buffaloes' runs.

Additionally, as the starting catcher, he displayed defense beyond expectations and led Jacob Daniel to a shutout victory.

He was more than qualified to be interviewed after Jacob Daniel.

'Now, I guess I have to get used to giving interviews. I'll probably be doing this often from now on. ...Did Min see today's game? Next time, I'll call out Min's name. She'll like it. She might even brag to her friends that her name was on TV.'

While thinking about the MVP interview, Lee Kyung-hoon returned to the Buffaloes' clubhouse.

The Buffaloes' players in the clubhouse welcomed Lee Kyung-hoon warmly.

"Good job, senior!"

"Great work!"

"Hey! God-Kyung-hoon is here, God-Kyung-hoon!"

"God-Kyung-hoon, what...?"

Even though he waved it off, Lee Kyung-hoon wasn't in a bad mood.

Looking around the clubhouse, which seemed wider, Lee Kyung-hoon asked Kim Jin-soo.

"Hey, Kim Jin-soo. The pitchers aren't here? Did they already leave?"

"Ah, yes. The bullpen pitchers left right after the game. Since Daniel threw a shutout, they didn't even need to shower, just changed clothes and left."

A few young players chuckled and said.

"Did you hear that, Daniel? You made everyone else's job easy today."

"Nice pitching, Daniel!"

"Thanks, thanks!"

Jacob Daniel, who gave a thumbs up to Lee Kyung-hoon, thought.

'All he knows how to say is "thanks, thanks"...?'

"But, why did they leave so quickly?"

"Those guys went out for a quick dinner and then to drink soju."

"Of course. It would be a miracle if they didn't go to a third place."

Lee Kyung-hoon smiled bitterly at the players' words and was about to head to his locker.

'Hmm...?'

Thinking about it, Kim Jin-soo was also not a bullpen pitcher.

Before Lee Kyung-hoon could ask, Kim Jin-soo quickly answered.

"I threw a long inning yesterday, so I didn't even go to the bullpen. I was in the dugout today."

"Oh, right."

Only then did Lee Kyung-hoon vaguely remember seeing Kim Jin-soo cheering for his teammates from the corner of the dugout.

'As the starting catcher, I had to focus on so many things. I didn't even notice who was in the dugout... '

This chaotic and thrilling feeling, which he hadn't felt in a long time, wasn't bad for Lee Kyung-hoon.

At that moment, Kim Jin-soo opened his mouth as if he had more to say.

"Even if I was in the bullpen, I wouldn't have left with them."

"What?"

"Since I had a day off today, I might pitch in tomorrow's game. It's been a while since we swept a three-game series. We have to win somehow."

"Kim Jin-soo..."

A few players chuckled at Kim Jin-soo's thoughtful words.

And they said,

"Hey, man. Kim Jin-soo. Why would you pitch in a winning game?"

"Considering you're a losing pitcher."

The jokes, which weren't meant to be mean, were met with a good-natured response.

"Hey... I threw so well yesterday, didn't I? If I did that, wouldn't you send me out as a closer? Or even as a starting pitcher."

"You have big dreams, kid."

"Jin-soo did throw well yesterday, didn't he?"

"Sure... I'll admit that about yesterday's game."

Then, with a slightly embarrassed look, he said,

"Actually, we thought about going out after today's game, Senior Lee Kyung-hoon."

"But, I keep thinking about what you said after yesterday's game."

"I'm not going to practice, but I'll try to hold back on going out."

"Anyway, once tomorrow's game is over, we'll have a rest day, so we can go out then. Haha..."

Moved by the players who were inspired by the victory and the atmosphere he had created, Lee Kyung-hoon was touched.

And he thought,

'This is how you change things, bit by bit. Then, someday...

Snap!

At that moment, a dull sound of a bat hitting a ball came from the Buffaloes' field.

"What's that?"

"Chang-jun is doing special batting practice. He's getting nervous."

"••••••Really?"

In the changing atmosphere of the Buffaloes, Lee Kyung-hoon was pleased to see his competitor Moon Chang-jun's efforts.

'In the end, I will win.'

The next day.

Coach Park Chang-hwa couldn't believe his ears.

"What...?"

Today, the interpreter for the foreign pitcher Cedric Myers, who was starting for the Buffaloes, said this to him.

"He's asking to have Lee Kyung-hoon as the starting catcher."