Chapter 7

5 seconds later, the bulletin board is visible! Episode 007

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

[CHOROKCHANG SPORTS]

[Missiles 0 : 0 Buffaloes]

[sa7***** / What are you planning to do if you hit from the first pitch—

Although Lee Kyunghoon knew nothing about the domestic baseball bulletin board, he was aware of the text relay on the green window.

In fact, it was impossible not to know.

'Any baseball player should have seen it at least once.'

The text relay of Korean professional baseball available on the green window is actually a direct broadcast of the official text relay provided by the baseball association.

Therefore, the data used for the text relay is also the official data of the baseball association.

As a catcher, or rather, as a baseball player, it is impossible not to pay attention to this data.

'Actually, some teams use the green window text relay for their power analysis. Although it's more reliable to receive the records directly from the baseball association, the green window text relay is more convenient to look at.'

Of course, more detailed power analysis is done by the team's analysis team.

Anyway.

'It's fortunate that the vision of the bulletin board a few seconds later wasn't just my imagination...

However, the question is whether I can trust these words, these comments this time.

'After confirming it myself yesterday, I can trust them. However... I still don't know if the effect of the words will be the same as yesterday.'

When the domestic baseball bulletin board, or "Yage," appeared, what was visible were the titles of the posts.

'If you think of the bulletin board as a chat window and the posts as chat messages, just seeing the titles is enough to be useful. I used it that way in yesterday's game too.'

But.

'The comment section of the green window text relay might not be the same.'

Lee Kyunghoon thought that the function of the bulletin board and the comment section would vary.

'If the Yage appeared yesterday and the comment section of the green window text relay appears today, it might mean that a different bulletin board could appear later. It would be a problem if it's not related to baseball...

However, the fact that both the Yage and the comment section of the green window text relay are related to baseball is probably not a coincidence.

'I need to prepare so that I won't be surprised no matter which bulletin board appears.'

It would be enough to have basic information about other domestic baseball bulletin boards.

'Well, I can ask Jin-soo Kim for that. First...

I need to determine if the comment section of this bulletin board, the green window text relay, has the same function as the Yage.

'When the Yage appeared, it showed the situations that would happen a few seconds later, right after the current situation.'

I can't be sure that the comment section of the green window text relay will do the same.

[sa7***** / What are you planning to do if you hit from the first pitch—]

I don't know if this first pitch is the first pitch to the first batter, the second batter, the third batter, or even a batter from the Missiles or the Buffaloes.

'If only a few more comments were visible...'

For some reason, only one comment was visible this time.

Unable to do anything else, Lee Kyunghoon decided not to erase the words.

'Even if I know I'll get hit, I have to do it to be sure.'

And.

Thwack!

The Missiles' first batter, Park Min-hyuk, softly pushed the ball to the left fielder of the Buffaloes.

"Phew! Good start... Ah, thank you, Coach."

Park Min-hyuk, who had safely reached first base, smiled as he handed over his batting equipment to the Missiles' base coach.

"Time!"

Lee Kyunghoon, who had requested time from the umpire and walked up to the mound, smiled.

However, Park Min-hyuk's smile and Lee Kyunghoon's smile were different.

While Park Min-hyuk's smile was one of joy at the current situation...

Lee Kyunghoon's smile was one of confidence about the future.

Park Chang-hwa, the chief coach of the Buffaloes, couldn't suppress a chuckle.

After all, the thorn in his side, Lee Kyunghoon, had given up a hit on the first pitch to the first batter of the first inning.

This was a very different pitch sequence from the god-like lead he had shown in yesterday's game.

Lee Kyunghoon seemed nervous, requesting time and visiting the mound.

As a coach, Park Chang-hwa couldn't help but laugh at the situation.

'Right. That's right. What was Lee Kyunghoon planning to do? This is correct. This is how it should be.'

Although he had opposed Manager Yoo Kyung-dragon's decision to start Lee Kyunghoon, now he thought this might be better.

'Rather than being criticized for taking him out at a delicate moment, it's better to let him reveal all his skills and then take him out.'

Ultimately, Lee Kyunghoon would perform according to his ability.

'Tomorrow, no, as a favor, I'll let him start the day after tomorrow. I'll let him get stripped and sent to the minors to breathe the rural air until he retires.'

He needed to nurture his nephew, Park Seung-jung, the best prospect of the Buffaloes, and plan for the next season.

To do that, Park Chang-hwa was willing to do anything.

However, a play that made it impossible to laugh unfolded on the field.

Lee Kyunghoon, who had climbed to the mound, had a conversation with Jacob Daniel, the Buffaloes' foreign pitcher, through an interpreter.

What Lee Kyunghoon asked Jacob Daniel was just one thing.

'To trust his signs.'

Jacob Daniel's regular catcher was the Buffaloes' starting catcher, Moon Chang-jun.

For Jacob Daniel, it wasn't a pleasant situation that Lee Kyunghoon, not Moon Chang-jun, was starting as the catcher.

For a foreign pitcher, the result of each game significantly affects their current salary and future contracts.

'He asked because he knew that.'

Now that they were in sync, follow my lead.

If you do that, I'll give you the best results.

That's how Lee Kyunghoon persuaded Jacob Daniel.

Jacob Daniel agreed to follow Lee Kyunghoon's lead without hesitation.

This set the stage for Lee Kyunghoon to excel as a lead.

'Now that it's clear that the comments in the comment section have a similar function to the words in the Yage, there's nothing to worry about.'

Thinking this, Lee Kyunghoon gave a sign to the Missiles' second batter.

Then.

Park Min-hyuk's total successful steals this season are nine.

In other words, Park Min-hyuk will succeed in stealing this time.

'Who told you to leave him there?'

Since I know he's going to steal, I can catch him.

Lee Kyunghoon gave a pitch-out sign, not a pick-off sign, to catch the steal.

'Considering Park Min-hyuk's quickness, Jacob's pick-off won't catch him. The best he can do is to keep him at first base.'

If that happens, I won't be able to use the future I've discovered effectively.

So, Lee Kyunghoon chose a direct approach.

He decided to stop Park Min-hyuk's steal.

'I'll throw a pitch-out to get the ball out and catch Park Min-hyuk. It won't be easy, but it's not impossible.'

Fortunately, Jacob Daniel reacted immediately to the sudden pick-off sign without hesitation.

And.

Swoosh...

...Thwack!

He threw a fastball as fast as possible and as easy to catch as possible.

Lee Kyunghoon, who was fully prepared to throw to second base, caught the ball.

At that moment, Park Min-hyuk, the runner on first base, hadn't even reached halfway.

Lee Kyunghoon threw the ball to second base without rushing, ensuring a sure catch.

Thwack!

The Buffaloes' shortstop tagged, and the Missiles' runner slid.

A sandstorm erupted from the collision...

The second-base umpire raised his arm and shouted.

"Out—!"

"Right!"

The comment from 'hjhuO*****' disappeared from Lee Kyunghoon's field of vision as he celebrated by hitting his catcher's mitt.

After the incredible steal stop and Jacob Daniel's excellent pitching following his signs, Lee Kyunghoon flawlessly handled the first-inning defense.

And.

Swoosh...

...Thwack!

"Ball—! Walks!"

In the bottom of the first inning.

The Missiles' starting pitcher had recorded two outs but gave up a double to the Buffaloes' third batter.

He then walked the Buffaloes' fourth batter and hit the fifth batter with a pitch.

In the two-out, bases-loaded situation, Lee Kyunghoon, starting as the Buffaloes' sixth batter, stepped up to the plate.

However.

'Damn it...

An advertisement popped up.