Chapter 32

Genius Coach -3-

#

Each team mostly has its own unique color.

The Pirates, last season's champions, are praised for their exceptional focus and cohesion, excelling in every aspect.

The lineup never misses a crucial scoring opportunity, the starting pitcher fulfills the minimum required tasks, and the bullpen is formidable in close games.

Their strong performance in one-run games ensures that their record cannot be poor.

And then there are the Bulldozers, last year's runner-up in the Korean Series.

While they lack a home run king, they are known for their tenacious play.

They never easily let a pitcher off the hook, even in the lower lineup. Generally, their contact, plate discipline, and base running skills are outstanding, and their defense is also excellent.

Although they lack top-tier aces like Min Seung-gi, Kim Gwon-jong, and Park Yong-jae, their starting rotation is generally excellent, and their bullpen is among the league's best.

The Oceans, who have no clear advantage in starting pitching, bullpen, lineup, or defense, were essentially a meal for the Bulldozers.

If we must compare the Oceans and the Bulldozers:

While the Oceans have Yang Da-geun, who can hit nearly 30 home runs, their lineup lacks tenacity, and they have only one starting pitcher with a sub-3.00 ERA. Their bullpen boasts the worst (in a bad sense) ERA in the league, and their defense is a mess.

Thus, the Bulldozers thought they could easily handle the Oceans, even if the Oceans were on an early-season winning streak.

“Gang! Geun! Woo!”

“Ma! Busan Gangsta Gang Geun-woo, don’t you know!”

Clearly, except for one exhibition game, Gang Geun-woo had not attempted a steal at all.

However, after walking, Gang Geun-woo successfully stole second and third base, and was now dusting off his uniform.

“Why is he suddenly doing this?”

This question popped up from both benches.

The Bulldozers’ dugout, which had thought he wouldn’t attempt steals for some reason, was surprised, as was the Oceans’ dugout, which had openly stated he wouldn’t run to avoid getting hurt.

“It’s a bit surprising, but it’s two outs...”

This was the reaction from the Bulldozers’ bench.

“He’ll do anything if his girlfriend tells him to.”

This was the reaction from the Oceans’ bench.

“Why is his girlfriend making him do this?”

“His girlfriend told him to tear through the Bulldozers.”

“So he’s really going to tear through them?”

“He’s a pretty weird guy, isn’t he?”

“So, did he really come to the Oceans instead of the majors because his girlfriend wanted to see them win?”

Actually, at first, it was thought differently.

How many players who went directly to the MLB without going through the KBO have been successful?

Of course, it’s still early in the season, and some Oceans players thought this way.

‘He could have gone to the majors for real.’

Perhaps it wasn’t just talk; maybe he really did come to the Oceans for his girlfriend.

“Does he have any other promises with his girlfriend?”

“He said he would make the Oceans win the championship.”

“...”

“So, is that why he’s doing so well? Brother. If I get a girlfriend, will I play baseball better?”

“...”

“Brother Si-wook?”

“Kyeo-gu.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t have a girlfriend either...”

“Brother...”

#

Senior Da-geun walked out on a walk. 2 outs, 1st and 3rd.

I thought about stealing home, but I didn’t.

Anyway, Wolfpack is up to bat.

The Bulldozers’ infielders took their positions without any specific signals.

The third baseman stood almost in the middle between third and second base, the shortstop went past second base, the second baseman went into the outfield, and the first baseman stood far back. The outfielders also moved back near the fence.

This is the defense against Wolfpack, an extreme pull hitter with left-handed power. I used to try to hit for power by pulling the ball, but I found a solution by using an uppercut swing to launch the ball over the shift and into the outfield.

Fortunately, the opposing pitcher’s main pitch is a four-seam fastball, which Wolfpack and Senior Yi-wook are good at hitting.

The problem is that their recent form doesn’t look great.

“Str! ike!”

A full swing at a curveball that was low enough to bounce.

The catcher blocked it steadily, preventing any movement. If this were the Oceans before Park Yihyun joined, they would have given up a run here.

“Aaaaaaaaah! Wolf! Pack! The wolf from America! Home run king Wolf! Pack! Home! Run!”

...That crazy person shouting and mimicking a monster while standing on the dugout railing with his arms raised is indeed talking about this.

Just watching him swing makes you feel refreshed.

A full swing on the second pitch, and a strike.

It seems that despite the successful consecutive steals, this inning will end without a score. Senior Da-geun should have hit, but Wolfpack and Senior Noru are a bit less stable...

Thwaaack-!

“Aaaaaaaaah!”

“Wolfpack! Wolfpack!”

...It will fall, but this is the charm of a power hitter.

Wolfpack’s hit split the outfield of the wide Jamsil Stadium and fell beyond the fence.

“Oooooooooooooooowhoo!”

Wolfpack, who hit a home run, stepped on home plate while howling like a wolf.

Indeed, a home run is the best way to break a shift.

#

[-LIVE- Oceans 3 : 0 Bulldozers.]

-5th batter Wolfpack, 3-pitch at-bat.

-3-run home run. (Distance: 135m)

-That’s some distance ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ

-King Pack ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ

-So refreshing, so sweet ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ

-The Bulldozers are just a meal ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Where are those who wanted a refund on the fan after two strikes?

-What kind of bad guys are they?

-You’re the bad guy for wanting a refund

-Oh, 3 runs in the first inning against the Bulldozers

-Is he really doing something this year?

-Is the Oceans showing something? Can we really see it?

-6th batter Yi-wook.

-1-pitch at-bat.

-Right field fly out.

-That damn Noru kid really went all out

-He went all out, so he swung like that

-Damn, Yi-wook, do better

-Oh, man, really ㅡㅡ

-Think of it as a good thing; with runners on, if he had hit a fly out on the first pitch, you wouldn’t be able to chat

-If there were runners, he would have gotten more curses

-Everyone would be carried away by high blood pressure and wouldn’t be able to chat ㅋㅋㅋ

-That’s right ㅋㅋㅋ

-The emergency room in Busan would be full ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Oh, the roads in Busan are already a nightmare during rush hour, and now ambulances are everywhere ㅋㅋㅋ

-It’s like a Koolion gallery emergency room meetup ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-It’s so funny, Mr. Teacher, the patients came in with high blood pressure from Koolion baseball!

-But, Mr. Teacher, how many patients are there? The emergency room is full, send them to another hospital!

-Mr. Teacher! The other hospitals are full too!

-What’s going on? Did they hit a walk-off home run in the 9th inning?

-Mr. Teacher, Koolion fans don’t get high blood pressure from that!

-At this point, shouldn’t the Koolion team be dissolved for the health of Busan citizens?

-Oh, if the Koolion team is dissolved, health insurance premiums will drop ㅋㅋㅋ

-You bastards, stop laughing, is this funny?;;

#

Today’s starting pitcher, Senior Lee Hoon, is a fan of the Angels, who share Jamsil Stadium with the Bulldozers.

He says his whole family has been Angels fans since he was young.

Because of this, he was very enthusiastic about facing the Bulldozers.

Thwack!

Thwack!

“Ball!”

Thwack!

In the bottom of the first inning, he gave up 2 runs without getting a single out.

I hope the glass is okay.

His circulation isn’t good, and his hands and feet are always cold. I hope he didn’t fall backward and get hurt while watching the game. He shouldn’t get hurt.

At least, he only gave up one additional run in the bases loaded situation. Senior Lee Hoon, who threw 34 pitches in the first inning, looked thinner when he came down from the mound compared to when he went up.

“Bulldozers... bad... must get...”

Sometimes, his inner thoughts just spill out.

No Kyung-woo was practicing a hip-shaking exercise during the inning break.

“Three-quarters, three-quarters.”

“From now on, you’ll have to adjust your stance based on the pitcher’s form.”

“Of course, three-quarters. I know, three-quarters, yes. Three-quarters.”

It’s simple, which is good, but I’m a bit worried. Still, his hitting talent is quite good, so I can only keep helping him from the side.

The hitting coach came over and said,

“Kyeo-gu. Hold the bat a bit shorter, hmm. It might be good to tape the grip a bit.”

“Yes, three-quarters, I understand! Three-quarters, Coach!”

He doesn’t know his limits.

The hitting coach looked at No Kyung-woo in disbelief, but No Kyung-woo kept shaking his hips and mumbling “three-quarters” endlessly.

Senior Yi-wook stood next to No Kyung-woo and started shaking