Chapter 24

Professional Baseball 3 Great Lies -3-

#

When a super rookie appears in the baseball world, they receive various kinds of attention.

"Let's start with the batting. As you can see, his swing form is smooth. It means there are no unnatural parts, yet his swing is incredibly large and explosive. I think the fans of the Oceans like him even more because of this refreshing swing. This player looks muscular, but he doesn't have the large build of a traditional power hitter. He creates home runs with his swing. This shows how well he understands his swing mechanics."

Despite playing only three games, the Oceans fans were getting excited. The reduced crowd, which had been dwindling due to the team's poor performance over the past few seasons, was showing signs of returning to Sajik.

Of course, there were other opinions as well.

"The Oceans batters don't work well as a team. While the short distance to the outfield fence at Sajik Stadium makes home run swings effective, they are too monotonous. There are many batters with this style, and such swings are difficult to handle against pitches with a large drop. Kim Kwon-jong and Lee Hyo-won were hit by fastballs, and Tobar's curveball was quite flat. Yi Tae-young was hit by a tired two-seam fastball after 90 pitches. The ability to handle breaking balls will be the key."

In fact, it's only been three games. Although he has hit four home runs in these three games, igniting the hearts of Oceans fans, there are still 141 games left in the season.

What matters is how consistently he performs. How he deals with slumps and how quickly he overcomes them. How he handles the pitchers' strategies.

However, the Oceans fans had a different way of thinking.

[Wow, Kang Geon-woo is on pace for 192 home runs this season, it's amazing]

- On pace for 384 RBIs, wow

- Haha, can you hear the KBO exploding?

- Wow, at this rate, 1.5 billion won wouldn't be enough, 15 billion wouldn't be a waste

- If this continues, won't our foreign players win the pitching titles too?

- Why pitching?

- They don't face Kang Geon-woo, right?

- Ah, that's true, hahaha

- At the end of the season, Garfield and Simpson will probably be 1st and 2nd in ERA, hahaha

- The Oceans, a pitching powerhouse, hahaha

- But if they both do so well, they'll go straight to the majors, how will we handle it?

- They need to do well, but not too well, damn

- Even if it's King Geon-woo, 192 home runs might be too much?

- You know it, why ask?

- Then, 190 home runs without the extra two

- Damn, hahaha

Regardless of the opinions of fans or experts, the opposing team on the field has its own way of dealing with the situation.

After the game, Oceans' manager Oh Dae-seo called 35-year-old veteran right-handed starter Shin Hae-min, who was to pitch the next game, to the hotel.

"Hae-min."

"Yes."

"Let's take down that kid a notch."

"I was wondering why you didn't say that."

"Right. Be gentle, but also put some pressure on him."

"Hehe. I won't give him a walk and then give him a hard time on the bench."

"Hey, you. That's not even a proper sentence. Now, go and have a drink after your next start."

"Oh, sir. Why do you have to do this?"

The manager brought out a fairly expensive whiskey. He was a scary person to the younger players, but he knew how to handle the veterans.

"Sir, tell the pitchers to get their heads straight. We gave one game to the Oceans, so we need to win the remaining two."

"Don't worry. I've already talked to them."

"Good. Go and prepare well for the game."

#

"Kang Geon-woo was cooler than Park Jeong-shin."

My life was filled with praise.

Park Jeong-shin?

He's a top-notch third baseman in the KBO, but compared to my major league career... there's no comparison.

No matter what I hear, nothing can compare to the feeling of Yura praising me.

"Really?"

"Of course!"

Yura, who was excited, was cute. In fact, it would be harder to find a part of her that isn't cute.

Even when she's angry, she's cute, but not when she's really angry.

I never want to see that again.

"Isn't it tiring to come watch baseball every day after class?"

"Is class more important? Or is baseball more important?"

"Is baseball more important, or am I more important?"

"Of course, it's Kang Geon-woo!"

"I think you're more important than baseball."

Yura covered her mouth with both hands.

"Wow, Kang Geon-woo."

"Yep."

"Wow... Are you reading romance novels these days? Where did you learn that from?"

I have no interest in such things.

Familiarity is a scary thing. I realized that even people I thought would never leave me could turn their backs on me.

I realized it was my fault, so rather than feeling betrayed, I try my best to prevent it from happening again.

"Should I read some romance novels?"

"No. Don't. I feel like I might get diabetes just from this."

"Diabetes?"

"Ah, it's fine. I'm perfectly happy right now. I don't want more or less, just this."

"Got it. Oh, right. Do you want to check out No Kyung-woo's swing next time?"

"No Kyung-woo?"

"Yep. The one who said he doesn't need a uniform because there's no space in his closet."

"Why him?"

"He asked about my swing secrets, and I told him that I have a personal coach who looks at my swing."

Yura looked at me with a bewildered expression.

"Can I, a pro player, really help with that..."

Her uncertain fidgeting was also cute.

Honestly, interpreting data and giving direction is something I can do well now.

"Coach Yura."

"Yes?"

"Didn't you major in sports science to become an Oceans coach?"

"Ah, that's true."

I'm not lacking in talent.

Even though I'm still a college student, my skills from my past life are on par with any major league coach.

Back then, I might have been blocking Yura's path.

Objectively, it's a bit of a waste for Yura to be with the Oceans, but now that I'm here, maybe her dream can come true too.

"Think of it as gaining experience before graduation and getting a job. Just try it."

"...What if No Kyung-woo's swing gets worse?"

I answered firmly.

"If that happens..."

"Then what?"

"It means No Kyung-woo doesn't have the talent."

"Really?"

"If he can't improve even with your coaching, that's as far as he can go."

"Wow..."

Yura's mouth dropped open.

"You really..."

I pretended not to hear the rest.

#

The foreign pitchers, the 1st and 2nd starters, managed to play one game, but they seem to be able to deliver decent results.

As for the 3rd starter, Kim Jeong-yong?

It's not entirely satisfactory, but Hyeon-su said this:

"Kim Jeong-yong? Hmm. Not good enough for a 1st starter, a bit disappointing as a 2nd starter, but just right for a 3rd starter? He's the best 4th starter, but there's no one better than him among our pitchers..."

Now the problem is the 4th and 5th starters.

Senior Lee Hoon throws a good forkball but tries to pitch with a focus on fastballs. To put it less bluntly, his fastballs are not great.

And the 5th starter, Senior Lee Hyun-ho, has no merit other than being a left-hander. In fact, his batting average against left-handed batters is higher than against right-handed batters.

It might be better to bring in a promising pitcher from the minors and experiment.

To make this team a champion, many things are needed.

But what I can do right now is limited.

No matter how well I hit and field, I'm just one player, and a rookie at that.

Besides doing well in games, this is all I can do.

"Why are you wiggling your butt?"

"...Trying to maintain my center of gravity."

"Will your butt fall to the side if you leave it still?"

"..."

No Kyung-woo wiggles his butt when he bats, runs the bases, and fields.

"When you're fielding, start with a stable stance. If your butt is on the left and the ball comes from the right, it's hard to catch."

"You can dive to catch it."

"Every time you dive, I feel like I'm losing my mind."

"Is it that cool to dive?"

"Have you watched your defensive plays after the game?"

"..."

"Did you feel cool?"

"..."

"Take the data and watch it."

"Hey."

"What?"

"Don't become a coach or manager after you retire."

"What do you mean?"

"If you become a coach, the players will rebel and..."

"What? Nigger?"

The nearby Wolfpack was startled and shouted. No Kyung-woo waved his hands.

"No! Nigger no! No nigger!"

The Wolfpack laughed at No Kyung-woo's flustered reaction. It seemed they found it amusing to tease him.

After the Wolfpack left, No Kyung-woo looked at their bulky arms and then at his own, saying:

"If I build my arms like that, I can hit more home runs, right?"

I shook my head.

"No."

"Then what?"

"Focus on making contact first."

"Ah, when are you going to introduce me to that genius coach?"

"Watch what you do first."

#

Even for the passionate Busan baseball fans, selling out a weekday game had been rare in recent years.

The team's performance had a significant impact. Despite being a popular team, the Oceans had a game in the 2002 season where only 69 paying fans attended.

Even with growing expectations, the spring training success was something that happened every year, and the fans' pessimistic outlook was changed by a three-game winning streak. The Oceans fans are that kind of people.

[Busan Oceans, April 5th game tickets sold out!]

- All the guys who said they wouldn't watch baseball anymore are back.

- Haha, those pot heads.

- We're on a winning streak at home, but our performance might drop when