Chapter 66

# Chapter 5 - The Burning House

It was a night filled with many events.

Jang Geon-woo's chattering to Jung Yoo-ri about what had happened had no impact on the flow of events. Jung Yoo-ri, who didn't trust her bird-like younger brother, didn't reveal anything to the family.

Of course, the same went for Jung Jong-seok.

[Hehe. Fellow fans. You know, the guy upstairs...]

[Oceans-like fans!!! If anyone needs a signed ball from Jang Geon-woo, I'll share five of them!!!*^^*]

[My mouth is itching, but I can't say anything because the guy upstairs might get into trouble...]

Jung Yoo-ri thought her father and younger brother were the same. In fact, Oh So-hee thought the same.

In any case, the coaching staff changes didn't end there.

Three coaches from the second team urgently moved to Incheon. The bullpen, defense, and battery coaches were also replaced.

Only the two base coaches and the two quality control coaches survived from the existing first-team coaches. While the two base coaches were part of the senior coaching line, they didn't get deeply involved, and the manager decided to keep them after interviews, believing they were more skilled than the other existing coaches.

The reason the general manager pushed the senior coaching line was largely due to the existing baseball network and the favor of the Oceans' club president. For the manager, it was a sudden event, but the general manager had prepared quite meticulously.

After the club president's one word, he did nothing. This was possible because Oceans had caused a sensation at the beginning of the season. Without Jang Geon-woo, this wouldn't have happened.

Coach Bae Yu-hong didn't just sit still.

Although he had failed once, he tried to use the media.

This happened when the veterans of Oceans and Vikings met.

"This way, neither of us gains anything. Let's drink this and call it off, Chang-yeol and Ho-geun. Do you agree?"

"Yes."

"Yes."

"Senior Jung Yong, I will apologize on behalf of what has happened."

"Alright. I'll apologize for what happened this season. Da-geun, is that okay?"

"Yes, I don't mind... Senior Chang-yeol, I'm sorry."

"Hey, Da-geun."

"Yes."

"Am I doing this because I'm afraid you'll hit me?"

"I know."

"Then it's settled."

"Kyu and Geon-woo and Ui-hyun..."

"Ah, forget it. When I become a free agent and join Oceans next year, we'll see."

"Senior, are you joining Oceans?"

"Wow, Seo Chang-yeol, that guy. Is he laying the groundwork to join Oceans now?"

"Ah, I don't know. It's possible. If someone tries to hit me, Da-geun will stop them, right?"

"Who else would touch the literary madman besides Da-geun?"

"Ah, Senior Yong-han. Don't call me that."

"Just be honest."

"No way!"

"Please, just once. When Da-geun raises his hand, it looks so pitiful."

While the veterans were exchanging various stories, the two coaches, Seong Jeong-woo and Oh Beom-seok, who Bae Yu-hong considered part of his line, reported his schemes to the general manager.

The general manager made a call somewhere.

"Mr. Lee Yong-gil. Yes, this is Park Jun-ki, the general manager of Oceans."

#

It was a rare occurrence, but the team captain, Yang Da-geun, gathered the players in the morning.

He seemed a bit relaxed. He probably wouldn't give a team pep talk.

That person is absolutely not the type to do such a thing.

"Let's take it easy today."

What does he mean?

Did they reach some agreement with the Vikings?

"I think everyone might be a bit confused in this chaotic atmosphere... Wait. Ui-hyun, don't open your mouth and listen to me."

Park Ui-hyun was about to say something but clammed up. The captain had a look that said, "Oh, really?"

"The head coach has moved to the second team, and the bullpen, battery, and defense coaches have also moved to the second team. New coaches will be joining the first team soon."

That's a welcome change.

However, regardless of that, I think we might need to face the Vikings head-on in the remaining two games.

Especially when I think about yesterday's game.

Baseball is a sport where the team that wins six out of ten games becomes the champion, and the team that wins four out of ten games finishes last.

If you can take down a top team, it gives you a significant boost.

"Let's forget what happened after yesterday's game. We can't control it anyway... We've done well so far, so let's just keep doing what we've been doing."

I haven't been with the team for very long, but I have some sense.

After the loss of the core players, Jung Gwi-hyun and Ko Eun-tae, the players in the senior coaching line were somewhat cautious, and now they seemed to have completely lost their spirit.

"And the Vikings..."

Actually, I don't have any particular feelings towards that team.

But it seems Senior Yi Seok-woo does.

"Senior, we were just starting to get a good fight going, do we have to be friendly again?"

He looked a bit dissatisfied. I've heard he's been through a lot. Senior Da-geun had a slightly awkward expression and said,

"Please, just once."

"What? What did you say?"

What?

Just once?

"Really?"

Really?

"Ah, well. If that's the case, I'll just watch this once, and if they mess up again, I'll beat them up..."

What.

If you ask to watch just once, you should watch.

Once is fine.

#

"Your weight transfer is really good right now. Instead of trying to fix anything, let's focus on not forgetting this feeling."

"Sure."

Kirk Simpson smiled and responded to the new pitching coach, Ron Berger's words.

I can't be sure of this coach's abilities yet, but it's encouraging that he's systematic.

Even if he says the same things as the previous pitching coach, it's different.

The previous coach only said to throw low. He said it was good to induce double plays.

No one doesn't know that.

Instead, the new coach is like this.

"This is the heatmap of the opposing team's fourth batter. It's quite unique. The batting average for low outside and high inside pitches is .200, while the batting average for high outside and low inside pitches is close to .400. However, the common point is that the slugging percentage for outside pitches is low. Do you get it? When it's not a scoring opportunity, a high outside pitch is worth trying. If the score is close, a high inside pitch might be good too."

The changes in the Oceans' training ground weren't limited to the pitching department. The relatively young hitting coach, Jo Hyun-min, was so unknown that almost no one remembered his playing days, but he knew what the players needed.

"Coach, my bat feels like it's getting longer..."

Lee Si-wook, who was working on his swing balance with a longer bat, was a typical example.

"It will keep getting longer."

"I'm not Sun Wukong..."

He grumbled a bit but followed well. His performance was visibly improving, so there was no reason not to follow.

Before the hitting coach changed, Lee Si-wook's batting average was .236.

For a starting first baseman who prioritizes hitting, it was quite low, but since he started the long bat training, his batting average has risen to .275, a significant improvement.

Of course, not all players' performances have dramatically changed yet.

The Wolfpack is struggling to improve their hitting precision, and their weaknesses still outweigh their strengths. Park Ui-hyun and No Gyeong-woo are still struggling to find their footing between what they can do well and what they want to do well.

Still, the fact that they are gradually improving is a definite plus. Especially, being able to play without hesitation is even more so.

"Senior Yang Da-geun! Look at this! I copied your batting stance because I admire you so much! Senior? Captain! Where are you going?"

There was still one person in the team who was cautious.

"Geon-woo. If Ui-hyun sees me, tell him I wasn't here..."

"Park Ui-hyun! I can't say he's fast, but he's definitely faster than the captain! Oh! Baseball genius Jang Geon-woo! Nice to see you!"

#

"I have some good news for you, sis."

- A foreign hitter replacement?

"No, not that..."

- Then a trade for a center fielder or a bullpen pitcher?

"Not that either..."

- Then what? Wait, let me guess. Is it a team sale?

I couldn't help but laugh. Yoo-ri seemed to take it as a positive sign and started listing off the names of good companies.

After seven names, I finally spoke.

"No, not that. The Vikings are asking us to watch just once."

- Huh?

"Senior Da-geun must have been scared."

At the beginning of the season, Yoo-ri asked for one hit from Kim Gwon-jong, and she used to curse the Vikings a lot, so I thought she would be happy.

But her reaction was surprisingly flat.

- Oh, what's the big deal.

"Are you not excited?"

- If we're going to beat them, we should really beat them. They've done so much to us.

I see.

There was more resentment than I thought.

I immediately tried to change the subject.

"Sis, do you know what the new hitting coach said to No Gyeong-woo?"

Yoo-ri had suggested many improvements for No Gyeong-woo.

Starting from his hips, not doing a leg kick, and recently, keeping his chin close to his neck and adjusting his wrist angle.

- Why? Because he's a mess and needs to be fixed?

Yoo-ri instantly became dejected. Just a moment ago, she was a hooligan eager to crush the Vikings.

"He listened to everything he's been doing so far and asked who he learned from."

- ...Is he going to sue someone for messing up a player? Geon-woo, hide me.

I couldn't help but laugh. She was completely off the mark.

"No, no. It's not that. He was surprised because a college student made the program. He said it was completely customized."

- ...Is it good?

If it wasn't good, he wouldn't have recommended it to No Gyeong-woo.

When I said it was, Yoo-ri's mood lifted.

- Oh, I was so surprised. You should have told me that from the start! Did he also suggest yoga?

I was reminded of the old Yoo-ri. When we were in the U.S. together, she genuinely rejoiced at my progress. She was a sports scientist who found joy in seeing a player become better through her solutions, not just because it was me.

Well, other players also benefited from her insights.

"He did. He's been working hard on it. I have to go now. The game is starting soon."

- Geon-woo.

"Yes?"

- Yoo-ri...

Yoo-ri lowered her voice, almost mimicking a foreign movie dubbing actor.

- Just one home run... please...

That sultry voice was so endearing.

Yeah.

It's a full swing today too.

#

Despite the peace agreement between the veterans of both teams, the game atmosphere was unexpectedly peaceful, contrary to the fans' expectations.

[What's going on? Why are Yang Da-geun and Seo Chang-yeol laughing and patting each other on the back before the game?]

- Didn't you see the news? They cleared up their misunderstanding.

- Seo Chang-yeol admitted in an interview that he was a bit too emotional.

- Seo Chang-yeol??

- He must be scared of Yang Da-geun, I guess. Haha.

- I never thought I'd see Seo Chang-yeol calm down. Haha.

[But why did Oceans fire the head coach after winning yesterday?]

- It's the wish of 70 million Oceans fans.

- 70 million? I'm laughing at that.

- Does that include the dead?

Some media outlets prepared articles, but the article exposing the misconduct of the Oceans' manager and general manager never went up.

Instead, an advertisement from the Oceans' parent company appeared on that media outlet.

The notorious Oceans' management didn't fire the so-called Bae Yu-hong faction coaches.

They were reassigned to the minor leagues and the third team, and with no plans to pay severance, they were expected to spend the rest of the season idly.

In any case, the game proceeded normally, unlike the atmosphere of the previous day.

- After the game yesterday, the team captains and veterans of both teams met and cleared up their grievances.

- Haha, it's a great decision. In fact, the Vikings' captain, Jo Yong-han, is a senior to the Oceans' captain, Yang Da-geun, from high school. It's great to see both teams like this.

- What do you think about the major changes in the Oceans' coaching staff?

- I can't say much about the internal affairs of the club, but... bringing in a foreign pitching coach and giving more power to Manager Hugh Breadman seems to be a gesture.

- The team atmosphere seems a bit chaotic, but still, Oceans, Kirk Simpson! Three-pitch strikeout! He strikes out Kim Man-jae!

- It was a great pitch. He threw two consecutive two-seam fastballs and then a slider. The batter was completely fooled. He deceived the batter with a pitch that moved in the opposite direction.

- Did the change in the pitching coach have an impact?

- It's hard to say it didn't. With a foreign pitching coach, there might be more positive aspects for foreign pitchers compared to domestic coaches.

Despite Kirk Simpson's excellent pitching, Oceans was trailing 3-2 as the top of the ninth inning began.

It just so happened that today was the day when the Vikings' starting pitcher, Lee Min-joon's slider was effective.

The KBO top-tier Vikings bullpen efficiently shut down Oceans.

- The Vikings' guardian, Lee Dae-hoon, is on the mound.

- An Oceans fan is really disappointed.

The camera showed an Oceans fan in the stands pulling his hair out, representing the feelings of Oceans fans.

Lee Dae-hoon, the national team closer and the best closer in the KBO, dominated with his four-seam fastball and changeup.

- Lee Dae-hoon has recorded 15.2 consecutive scoreless innings against Oceans!

While Kim Gwon-jong was a nemesis for Oceans, Lee Dae-hoon was also a tough opponent.

[Turn off the broadcast.]

[The game is over. Damn.]

[Is this a foul? Why only 8 innings for us?]

Manager Breadman sent in a pinch hitter starting from the ninth batter in the top of the ninth inning.

- Three-pitch strikeout! Lee Dae-hoon! The Vikings fans cheer!

But the result was a strikeout.

- The key point is whether Hwang Seok-gyu and Bae Young-han can get on base for Jang Geon-woo.

- That's right. Right now, almost every good pitcher in the country has been hit by Jang Geon-woo. The two players need to get on base somehow.

Hwang Seok-gyu knew he had failed to get on base in 15 consecutive at-bats against Lee Dae-hoon.

So he attempted a surprise bunt.

- Ah! Hwang Seok-gyu's surprise bunt! The third baseman watches the ball, hoping it will go out of bounds, but! No, it didn't! One out, runner on first! Hwang Seok-gyu successfully reaches base! He ends his 15-at-bat streak without a hit! Oceans gets another chance!

Bae Young-han knows what he needs to do.

Even if he strikes out, he must not hit into a double play.

If he has to make an out, he should hit the ball to the outfield.

Crack!

- Seo Chang-yeol's diving catch! The runner on first, Hwang Seok-gyu, can't move! Seo Chang-yeol, who struggled at the plate today, showed his defensive skills!

Bae Young-han retreated with a look of disbelief.

He could have let it go, but he caught it.

And it was a situation the Vikings wanted to avoid.

The situation Oceans fans truly hoped for was created.

[Geon-woo!!!!!!!!!!!!]

[Yoo-ri!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

[If you're a national team pitcher, you should start by taking a hit from Geon-woo.]

[He's coming, he's really coming, we're going to turn this around.]

This situation was one that fans of other teams watching different games would flock to.

Jang Geon-woo, who had hit all the national team aces and the strong closers of each team, finally faced