Chapter 31

"Genius Coach -2-"

#

[Oceans, leading with 7 wins and 1 loss. Oceans fans are frustrated by the lack of baseball on Mondays.]

- Last season, my blood pressure would drop on Mondays, but now not having baseball on Mondays is really frustrating.

- We need to keep the momentum going, damn it.

- With Oceans, next month will see high blood pressure on weekdays and low blood pressure on Mondays.

- Are we just ignoring King Geonwoo and Prince?

- Isn't Oceans' next starter either Lee Hoon or Lee Hyunho?

- Looks like they're set for a two-game winning streak, sharp as ever. Haha.

- They'll win the league championship for two consecutive years, you bastards.

- It's hilarious that the Oceans, known as the best security company in the country, are talking about winning the league championship. Haha.

- Isn't Oceans' parent company an insurance company? Do they do security too?

- 8888577

- 99101010

- Student comments, please.

- What's that?

- It's Oceans' ranking, what else? Hahaha.

- Even 99101010 is from the past five years. Hahaha.

- If there were relegation in baseball, we wouldn't have to watch Oceans.

- If there were relegation in baseball, Oceans might have won the second division at least once.

- They won in 1984 and 1992, you ignorant fools.

- Yeah, but not the regular season, just the KBO Series.

- I'm new to baseball, but those are different, right?

- Right, they are different. Oceans is the only team among those created before the 21st century that hasn't won a regular season.

- In the KBO, out of 10 teams, only half make it to the postseason, but Oceans hasn't even managed that for years.

- Be grateful... for my everything...

#

"Will you miss me?"

Jeong Yoo-ri chuckled, thinking about what Geonwoo had said earlier.

Lately, Kang Geonwoo sometimes feels like a pitiful hamster.

Of course, his build is almost like a horse. Even though he's an adult, he's grown a bit taller, and I've helped him correct his posture slightly.

He says it's because his spine has straightened, but why isn't Yoo-ri growing?

Anyway.

It feels strange but good. Back in high school, when Geonwoo was away for a tournament, I asked him if he would miss his sister, and he replied like this.

'Are you a kid?'

His tone and attitude changed completely.

What a rude guy.

Now, it's impossible to find that rude Geonwoo even if I wanted to.

At first, I was a bit suspicious. Did he eat something wrong? Is he just joking? Or did he get some deadly disease?

Now, I just think he's finished his rebellious phase and feel relieved. Everything is good.

- Our Geonwoo ♥: Let's go now.

- Our Geonwoo ♥: I left snacks at the door, did you see them?

Snacks?

I didn't see them.

Come to think of it, that useless brother was eating something and saying it was delicious. Yoo-ri opened the door and ran out.

"Hey! Jung Hyun-su!"

"What!"

"Where did you get that?"

"It was in front of the house?"

"You're dead today."

"What, why!"

"It's mine!"

"When I asked if you wanted to eat it, you said no!"

"Still, you're dead!"

"Oh! I didn't know it was yours!"

"Idiot! The box is heart-shaped! If it's in a heart box, it's obviously mine! What? Did you read the letter too?"

"Ahh! No, I didn't open it! Really! Ah! My head! My head! I really didn't see it!"

"You're really dead!"

"Oh! You smile so sweetly at Geonwoo, but only half as much to your brother!"

"Hey! Pig! Are you the same as Geonwoo?"

#

Maybe because we took a bus to Seoul, everyone looked tired.

I was a bit stiff too, but a little stretching should help.

Compared to the travel distances in Major League Baseball, this is nothing.

For example, during my time with the New York Yankees, it took over 6 hours to fly to Seattle for a game.

Anyway, we arrived at the hotel.

"Ah, my shoulder hurts."

Senior Lee Si-wook grumbled as he picked up his luggage. Before we left, Senior Yang Daegun, the team captain, had warned us.

"Everyone carries their own luggage."

The Oceans team is quite young. Since the veterans left as free agents, there are hardly any players older than Senior Yang Daegun.

Bae Young-han subtly suggested.

"What about above Yang Cap?"

"I'll carry it."

"Wow. Yang Cap. That's cool."

Bae Young-han teased the captain with a sly smile but carried his own luggage without a word.

Senior Yang Daegun offered to carry Senior Kim Jeong-yong's luggage, who is the pitching coach.

"Senior, I'll carry your luggage..."

"No, it's fine. Don't treat me like an old man."

"But your shoulder isn't good."

"Tsk. This guy is really something."

It's a bit awkward, but there's no helping it.

Senior Lee Si-wook, who is quite talkative, told me that in the past, the tension between the position players and the pitchers was due to Jeong Gwi-hyun and Ko Eun-tae.

Jeong Gwi-hyun would make mistakes and then yell at the pitcher for getting hit.

Moreover, some pitchers' rivalries were fueled by these two.

Anyway, the issues are gradually being resolved.

Hmm. The bullpen's problems are still far from being solved.

I became roommates with Senior Lee Si-wook at the Seoul hotel. I'm glad it's not Bae Young-han.

The biggest problem with room assignments was that Senior Yang Daegun and Park Eui-hyun were in the same room.

"Senior Yang Daegun! It's an honor to be your roommate! I'll provide the best service as a roomie!"

"Oh, Eui-hyun, oh, hey..."

Park Eui-hyun snatched Senior Yang Daegun's luggage and ran away.

It looks like a robbery to anyone.

"Geonwoo."

"Yes."

"Want to have some galbi and soju? To celebrate being roommates?"

Senior Lee Si-wook's strength is that he forgets bad things quickly, but his weakness is his poor memory.

"I have an alcohol allergy."

"Oh! Alcohol allergy! Right! I remember!"

The room wasn't that bad. Since the Oceans' parent company, Daeyang, has a wide range of businesses, the hotel is also owned by Daeyang.

I immediately sent a message to Yoo-ri to let her know I arrived, and took a picture of the room.

Then I sat down to review the materials Yoo-ri prepared. The materials include her interpretation of the data provided by the Quality Control Coach.

Our next opponent is the Bulldozers, one of the top three teams in the KBO League, known for their strong defense. Their starting lineup includes 6-7 players who can hit 20 home runs. The pitching rotation is well-organized, and the bullpen is excellent.

The opposing starter is the young right-hander Kim Jin-jong, born in 2006. His fastball is quite fast by KBO standards, and he uses the wide Jamsil Stadium effectively...

"Hey, Geonwoo."

It wasn't galbi, but Senior Lee Si-wook, who was eating squid legs, spoke to me.

"Yes."

"Is there something interesting? Want to watch it together?"

"Sure, let's watch it together."

Senior Lee Si-wook came over and looked at what I was watching, then grimaced.

"You really work hard."

To be honest, I'm not as diligent as I was in the Major Leagues.

"Still, you're doing well now."

"Even if I'm doing well now, I can't guarantee I'll do well tomorrow."

Did I sound a bit preachy? Hmm. I think Senior Lee Si-wook needs some improvement too. When things go well, he and Wolfpack explode, but when they don't, he disrupts the momentum.

"Wow... Genius is different..."

He has great physical attributes, but his mental game is a bit questionable.

After finishing the squid legs, Senior Lee Si-wook casually brought up a topic.

"Hey, I heard a story."

"What story?"

"About No Gyeong-woo's butt."

"Gyeong-woo uses his butt to adjust his batting rhythm, but he does it too instinctively, which sometimes disrupts his rhythm."

"Is that something you told him?"

Seeing his interest, there might be a chance.

I cleared my throat and said.

"I know a genius coach..."

"Genius coach?"

"Yes. He pinpointed the problem with Gyeong-woo's batting and gave some advice."

"Oh."

I had already mentioned No Gyeong-woo's case to Yoo-ri, so she tried to find the problem.

But there was no need to mention it to Senior Lee Si-wook beforehand.

Why?

Because I remember what Yoo-ri said.

'Oh, Lee Si-wook! That deer!'

...Of course, I can't say "deer."

'Why does he keep his hitting point so far back when he swings like that!'

Senior Lee Si-wook's swing is a pull swing from behind, which is good for batters who watch the ball all the way and hit it accordingly. But he swings however he feels.

However, moving the hitting point forward is a