Chapter 47

Neighborhood Tour -5-

#

Daegu Engines and Busan Oceans are the only two teams that have continued without changing their home cities, team names, or parent companies since the inception of the KBO.

However, the only common points between the two teams are that they are founding clubs and that their home cities are in the Yeongnam region.

The team with the most wins and the highest winning percentage in history, and the team with the most wins in a single season against a specific opponent (18 wins and 1 loss against the Oceans).

While there have been dark periods, the Engines, who have made the most appearances in the Korean Series, have a history that is hard to compare with the Oceans, who have had more dark periods.

Although their recent performance hasn't been great, the Daegu Engines have a sense of pride in their team.

And the Busan Oceans, who have had a good start this year, but it's uncertain when the fans' mood might change.

The starting pitchers for the first game of the season between the two teams were Kukmin Sung and Yeom Yun-hyun.

Despite the coaching staff not favoring them, the manager almost unilaterally decided to use Kukmin Sung in the first team, and Yeom Yun-hyun, a left-handed fireballer and a promising prospect for the Engines.

The starting matchup seemed as different as the histories of the two teams.

Kukmin Sung, whose top speed is 138 km/h, has a rather ordinary repertoire of pitches: four-seam, changeup, and a cutter he learned because his slider didn't work.

On the other hand, Yeom Yun-hyun, who has thrown up to 152 km/h, can throw a four-seam, slider, circle changeup, and forkball.

No one had high expectations for Kukmin Sung, an ordinary pitcher from the 8th round, compared to the left-hander who had been receiving attention since high school.

In fact, even Oceans fans didn't know much about Kukmin Sung's true potential. They were happy with his 7-inning, 3-run performance in his last game, but that didn't raise their expectations much.

A pitcher with an average fastball speed of just over 130 km/h and no flashy breaking pitches.

That's how baseball fans saw Kukmin Sung.

In the first inning, the Oceans scored the first point. Yeom Yun-hyun, a left-handed fireballer who struggled with control, walked the leadoff batter, but the Engines' pride, the real estate trio, including the keystone combination of Lee Hyun-dong and Kim San, induced a double play with clean defense.

[If Kukmin Sung pitches well, why can't I have high expectations?]

- Still, if he gets into a rhythm, his speed might increase, right?

- I think it's possible that he was nervous in his debut and that's why his speed was low.

No, 138 km/h was already an overestimated speed for Kukmin Sung, who was happy to get a chance in the first team.

- Don't you think he might have some secret weapon?

That wasn't the case either. While he was learning a two-seam, he wasn't yet familiar enough to use it effectively in the first team.

- Does anyone know how Kukmin Sung performed in the second team?

- He made two appearances, pitching 9 innings and giving up 6 runs.

- He must have a secret weapon if he can pitch in the first team despite that performance in the second team.

Of the 6 runs, only 1 was an earned run. Logically, if there were no catchers in the first team, what kind of catchers would there be in the second team?

The reality was that the Oceans' second team catchers were dropping 130 km/h fastballs.

Anyway, Kukmin Sung threw three consecutive balls to the leadoff batter, Kim San, of the Engines.

- He's doing poorly.

- Oh.

- Damn, lol.

- The problem with slow pitchers is that they lack confidence, so they throw outside the strike zone, and when they get into trouble, they get hit hard, damn.

That's how the fans saw it. He recorded a QS+ (7 innings, 3 runs or less) in his debut and was trying to do better, so he was walking batters.

But Kukmin Sung wasn't particularly shaken by giving up three balls. He was a unique person who didn't think he needed to pitch a no-hitter.

He was just trying to test the strike zone with slightly risky pitches.

Of course, the three balls were a bit disappointing. After glancing at Kang Geon-woo standing behind him, he threw a changeup.

"Strike!"

He thought the batter would swing at what he thought was a fastball, but the batter didn't seem to have any intention of swinging.

'A batter who won't swing at a good pitch if he doesn't have a strike.'

It was a bold thought. If the timing was off, it could result in a ground ball to the shortstop, but if the changeup was recognized, it could easily turn into a long hit.

'What if it's 3-1?'

If he threw a two-seam fastball, which the batter wouldn't expect, he might be able to induce an out.

But Kukmin Sung quickly dismissed the idea.

'The two-seam isn't that refined yet. I could easily get out of trouble, but it would be a waste to use it against the leadoff batter.'

The next attempt was a four-seam fastball right down the middle.

Thwack!

Not everything goes as planned. Kim San's bat swung fiercely, and the ball cleared the fence.

- He's out of options, lol.

- Damn, they should have scored more in the first inning.

- Shouldn't they replace the pitcher?

- Pukdong is so relaxed, damn.

- But who would replace him, lol?

The Oceans fans were already pessimistic about the game after seeing Kukmin Sung's first pitch.

'At least it's good. I can get back on track after giving up a home run. They scored a point earlier, so it's just a tie now, and there are no runners on base.'

Kukmin Sung smiled slightly, thinking this instead of feeling discouraged.

Of course, to others, it didn't look like a smile.

- He's scowling after giving up a home run, damn.

- What's he trying to act cool about?

- I want to punch him in the face.

He induced a ground ball to the shortstop from the next batter. Kang Geon-woo easily handled the fast ball and threw it to first base.

- Watching Geon-woo's defense is like a visual cleanse.

- God. Geon. Woo.

- If it weren't for Geon-woo, it would have been a hit.

- Bow to Geon-woo, Kukmin Sung.

The next batter hit a line drive to the shortstop.

- Kukmin Sung is surviving thanks to Geon-woo.

The fourth batter also hit a ground ball to the shortstop.

"Out!"

- Is Kukmin Sung just lucky?

- Does he get promoted every time he gets an out?

- What are you talking about? The order is 2nd team, 1st team, and then the 1st team. You're a moron.

- Is that important? He got three consecutive outs. What's the big deal? Aren't you an Engines fan?

- Why are you getting so worked up?

After the first inning, Kukmin Sung expressed his gratitude to Kang Geon-woo with a look.

Kang Geon-woo was thinking:

'Why are you glaring at me? Did you not like my defense? I think I did a good job.'

#

While a fast pitch is good, it's not everything.

After giving up a home run to the leadoff batter in the first inning, Kukmin Sung efficiently shut down the Engines' batters with his slow pitches.

"Walk!"

He also gave up a walk. As a pitcher who persistently attacks the edges of the strike zone, it's natural for him to give up walks.

The opposing team probably hasn't fully analyzed Kukmin Sung yet. After walking a batter, he slightly changes his pattern, moving from outside low to middle low.

Thwack!

After throwing eight slow four-seam fastballs, he followed with a changeup.

It doesn't have a steep drop but curves gently, disrupting the batter's timing. It's not enough to avoid a bat aimed at a fastball, but it's sufficient to induce a ground ball.

"Out!"

"Out!"

He has good control and pitches to avoid, but he also has a good temperament.

I have a rough idea. He often avoids trouble this way, but it won't be easy once he's fully analyzed.

Good control alone won't solve everything. He needs other weapons.

He's a player who will eventually shine with a two-seam fastball. All I can do is suggest the idea of throwing a two-seam. Whether he throws a two-seam like a key starter in Japanese professional baseball or a less effective one is unknown.

Still, I think he can do well without a two-seam for today's game. Actually, he did throw one. In the bottom of the third inning, with the bases loaded and no outs, he threw it down the middle. He gave up a run in that situation, but the double play put out the immediate fire, and I broke out in a cold sweat.

To throw a pitch he had never thrown before in such a situation.

Thwack!

Anyway, after the crisis, came an opportunity. In the top of the fourth inning, senior Lee Si-wook hit a grand slam.

"Did you see that! That's a grand slam!"

He said this as he stepped on home plate, despite disliking the nickname "Noreu."

Besides that, he drove in quite a few runs.

The 23-year-old left-handed fireballer, Yeom Yun-hyun, was pulled after 3.1 innings and 5 runs, giving up two more walks. The reliever struck out two batters but gave up a timely hit to senior Hwang Seok-gyu.

Kukmin Sung, who pitched 6.1 innings and gave up 3 runs, helped the Oceans win 14-7.

#

[Busan Oceans 14 : 7 Daegu Engines.]

- Kukmin Sung's quality start, lol.

- Lol, after giving up a home run, he got promoted to the 1st team and then to the 2nd team, lol.

- Isn't the 2nd team good enough?

- To get to the 2nd team, he needs to record a QS+, right?

- He's a king, lol. If he pitches a shutout, he becomes Kukmin Sung, lol.

- Do you need to pitch a shutout to find your surname? You baseball fans are so petty, lol.

- What if he pitches a perfect game?

- He becomes World Kukmin Sung.

- If it weren't for Geon-woo, he would have given up 8 runs in 0.2 innings and been sent back to the 2nd team.

- Still, Kukmin Sung is better than Lee Hyun-ho.

- Using Lee Hyun-ho as a starter is crazy.

[Oceans pitcher Kukmin Sung achieves 2 wins in 2 debut games, 'I'm happy.']

- ???

- Can't he speak Korean?

[What pitch did Kukmin Sung use to induce the double play in the bottom of the third? 'A two-seam I learned from Kang Geon-woo.']

- Who is Kang Geon-woo?

- Didn't Simpson also learn a two-seam from God Geon-woo?

- Can't we cut the coach and make Geon-woo a playing coach?

[Lee Si-wook's grand slam in Daegu!]

[Reliable Kang Geon-woo, the hope of Oceans' infield defense!]

- His defense is on a different level.

- His hitting is also on a different level, you baseball noob.

- Even praise makes him act up, damn.

- Stop fighting, idiots.

- Oceans fans always start with insults.

- Don't generalize, damn.

- Lol, you just proved it, lol.

#

"I'm fine."

The second game of the season against the Engines.

After pitching 8 innings and giving up 2 runs, Garfield told the batters:

"We can win next time, so don't give up and get us a win."

He often shows a hot-tempered side, but he doesn't blame the batters for it.

He threw 114 pitches. He wanted to pitch until the end, but the season isn't over yet.

I only got three walks today. The Engines' starting pitcher, Chae Ji-sung, was obviously avoiding me, and unfortunately, the other batters' hitting wasn't coming together.

It might be true that we fell for Chae Ji-sung's smart pitching.

An above-average four-seam fastball, a pretty good curveball, a decent slider and sinker, and a changeup that he throws occasionally to disrupt timing.

He's a true chameleon, fitting his nickname.

Trying to make up for yesterday's big loss, the Engines' batters didn't show a smooth game, but they showed concentration in the defensive situations.

We lost 2-1 that day.

If I were a fan watching the game, I might have felt a bit frustrated, but Yul was actually worried about me.

-Yul: Hey! A man doesn't get discouraged after losing one game!

-Yul: (Photo)

-Me: Can I use this as my profile picture?

-Yul: No.

-Me: Why??????????????????????

-Yul: I said no.

-Me: Okay...

-Yul: Don't act discouraged.

-Me: :(

-Yul: No crying.

-Me: The defense is solid.

-Yul: Ahem.

Yul sent a photo of herself pouting and pretending to kiss, to comfort me. She told me not to use it as a profile picture, probably because she was embarrassed.

Well, this cute picture is for me to see alone. It's precious.

And the next day's game.

Against the Engines' foreign pitcher James Berry, I hit a 140 km/h fastball that was thrown close to my body, just like in the exhibition game, and it cleared the fence.

"Kang! Geon! Woo! Kang! Geon! Woo! Kang Geon-woo! Oceans' Kang Geon-woo-!"

"Gang! Geon! Woo!"

"Hey! This is Kang Geon-woo!"

Sometimes, some pitchers, after getting hit once, try again.

It