Chapter 88

There are all kinds of people -4-

#

Due to the Olympic influence, the first half of the season was quite tight, and the Oceans recorded a 47-2-31 record.

Currently in second place for the season.

In the three-game series against the Diamonds, they almost swept but had to settle for a winning series after failing to hold on in the last two innings.

However, they swept the three-game series against the Thunderbirds at home, closing the gap to just one game behind the 48-31 Bulldogs, and the 47-34 Pirates are right below the Oceans.

While the top teams are in a fierce battle, the mid-tier teams are looking for any opportunity to rise. Of course, it might be more important not to fall further. In the KBO, a league where half of the ten teams can advance to the postseason and play baseball in the fall, it's a different story.

While it's intense, the KBO league is quite different from the Major League.

Another difference is that tanking for an entire season is not very effective. In the Major League, it's common to finish at the bottom for several consecutive seasons, collect quality prospects, and then challenge for the championship, but this is possible because the talent pool in the U.S. is much broader than in Korea.

While the Oceans have shown a strong presence by bringing in Gang Geon-woo, this is an exceptional case.

In the KBO, losing teams don't lose on purpose; they just lose. In a structure where baseball teams hardly make a profit, finishing at the bottom can negatively impact the parent company's image.

Winning the championship doesn't necessarily mean making money, but finishing last is unacceptable.

This was the reason the Oceans' manager was frequently replaced, and it's no different for other teams.

Just before the All-Star break, a news article appeared in the sports section about the resignation of Jeong Yong-ho, the manager of the Suwon Diamonds, who were at the bottom of the league.

[(Breaking News) Suwon Diamonds Manager Jeong Yong-ho Announces Resignation.]

[Jeong Yong-ho: "It's all my fault. I will step down without any complaint."]

With the contract period almost over and no signs of a turnaround, it was generally seen as inevitable.

In any case, most people had predicted that Jeong Yong-ho wouldn't be able to continue, so it wasn't a particularly shocking event.

More attention was drawn to the interview Gang Geon-woo gave before the All-Star game.

[-All-Star Preview- Gang Geon-woo, when asked to do a three-line poem as a shortstop...]

- Yu: Yu-ri unnie

- Geok: Love you passionately

- Su: When the daffodils bloom, let's get married

└Is this guy proposing?;;;

└Is he proposing or just teasing?

└Haha, Gang Geon-woo, you're something else. I'm a fan, but sometimes I feel embarrassed by your antics.

└Yu-ri is the queen, right?

└Yu-ri is the best;;;

└Just get married quickly so you can focus and feel more stable.

└Gang Geon-woo, it's all about baseball-Yu-ri-baseball-Yu-ri, so there's no more stability to be had.

└Yu-ri? Add 'unnie' or I'll die.

└Yu-ri, The 'Unnie'

└If they break up, what will happen?

└Who's talking about breaking up? Don't jinx it.

└If they break up and he meets another girl, he'll probably go to her team.

└If Yu-ri becomes a soccer fan, will Gang Geon-woo learn soccer and join Busan FC?

└Gang Geon-woo, totally possible kek

└When do daffodils bloom?

└December to March

└He said he'd get married if they win the championship, so he'll probably book the venue and get married right after.

└Haha, I heard Park Yihyun also did a three-line poem as a catcher.

└What did he do? He doesn't seem normal.

└For: For the Oceans / Su: I'll take care of the defense, Oceans fans, I'm Park Yihyun, my future goal is to have my number retired by the Oceans, and I want to be buried at the home plate of Sajik Stadium.

└There's no normal here, seriously.

└I looked up what 'gu' means, and it's true.

└Is Park Yihyun a bit strange?

└Strange? The Oceans' catchers in the past were even stranger.

└Were they catchers? They were more like posers;;

#

I heard that the Major League All-Star game and the KBO All-Star game are quite different.

In the U.S., being selected for the All-Star game is almost a family honor, but in Korea, it's just an event.

"How about this?"

Yuri turned around with a delighted face and showed me the All-Star game commemorative uniform marked 'Geon-woo's girlfriend.' It was beautiful.

"Next year, let's mark it as 'Geon-woo's wife.'"

"What? Kimchi water... Haha!"

Yuri was about to scold me, but she burst out laughing.

This All-Star game is being held in Busan, so the tickets seem to be selling out even more.

This year's All-Star game has canceled the home run derby the day before. The All-Star break is also quite short due to the Olympic break.

If it rains a lot and many games are canceled, they might have to play on Monday or a doubleheader, but compared to the crazy schedule of the Major League, it's still relatively relaxed. The players are still in good physical condition, and they've also been working hard on physical training in addition to technical drills.

"Ah, I don't like this uniform."

Hyun-soo received the uniform marked 'Geon-woo's girlfriend's son.' Others got uniforms like 'Geon-woo's mom' or 'Geon-woo's girlfriend's dad.'

"Isn't it just Oceans fans at the All-Star game?"

This was said by my father, who was wearing the 'Geon-woo's dad' uniform. It's been a while since the All-Star game was held at Sajik Stadium, and with the Oceans in the top contention, Oceans fans are flooding in.

"You should consider yourself lucky. If you supported the Pirates, you wouldn't even be able to get in."

My father and my future father-in-law still argue whenever they get the chance.

In any case, I decided to head to the stadium first.

"See you later."

"Okay. Be careful."

"Geon-woo! Hit a home run and send a heart today!"

#

Moon Ho-cheol, the manager of the Eastern All-Star team and the Bulldogs, smiled wryly at the lineup.

'This is completely the Oceans' field.'

The Bulldogs are a popular team, but they were completely overshadowed by the Oceans fans.

The only player selected by fan vote was the closer, Yong Su-hyun, and the pitcher Seo Hyeon-woo, third baseman Seo Woo-ju, and second baseman Choi Yeon-je were recommended by the manager.

Actually, having too many players from one team in the All-Star game can be a problem. Since the All-Star game is held when players are starting to get tired, it can give them a rest.

So, he wasn't too unhappy with this lineup. The league will be temporarily suspended for the Olympics, but it's also an opportunity to push the Oceans players hard during the intense top contention.

Other team managers will participate as coaches and discuss the lineup together.

They also allocate playing time for each player. Manager Hugh Breadman might want to reduce the number of at-bats for the Oceans players starting the game, but it's generally expected that starting players will get at least three at-bats.

Regardless of the managers' thoughts, the players are mixing with each other.

"Seung-gi, you look like you're withering. Is your condition not good?"

Kim Kwon-jong, who is actually shy but doesn't seem so because of his tone, spoke to Min Seung-gi.

Min Seung-gi was not pleased that he wasn't the top fan vote-getter. With Andy Garfield not participating due to a recent start, he was selected as the starting pitcher, but he was not satisfied.

"Kim Kwon-jong..."

Kim Kwon-jong approached Min Seung-gi with a friendly face and whispered.

"Bro, are you really going to the Oceans?"

"...If they call me."

"Wow. Can I spread this rumor?"

"If you do, I'll spread the rumor that you're also going to the Oceans."

"Bro, I'm going to the Major League."

"Ah, Seung-gi was here first."

The Vikings' closer, Lee Dae-hoon, appeared.

Others were also coming in one by one.

Chae Ji-sung from the Engines and Seo Hyeon-woo from the Bulldogs. They were also strong candidates for the national team starting rotation, but they were overshadowed by the three national team starting pitchers.

"Isn't Gang Geon-woo going to the infielders' group?"

"Yeah. The Oceans manager threatened not to let him play in the All-Star game if he uses him as a pitcher."

"True. He's worth saving, isn't he? Wow, I was really impressed when I saw him throw 166 km/h."

"Hey, does that mean I don't need to be saved?"

"Ah, bro, that's not what I meant. But honestly, if I were the manager, I'd save Gang Geon-woo too."

"What are the infielders doing that they're not showing?"

"They seem to be plotting something among themselves."

At that moment, the infielders were gathered together.

"Hello! Nice to meet you! I'm Park Yihyun! Quiet senior! I've always admired you! Can I have a signature on my back? Ah! Baek Jun-sub senior! Please, just one signature! Oh! Seo Woo-ju senior! It's an honor for the family!"

Park Yihyun's presence alone was causing a commotion.

#

Min Seung-gi stood on the mound and looked at the infielders lined up to his left, right, and behind, rather than the Western All-Star team's leadoff hitter, Bok Hyun-seong.

'This is completely the Oceans...'

Almost all Oceans. Thanks to the Oceans fans who filled the lineup with Oceans players, Min Seung-gi could enjoy this glorious moment.

I Shi-wook at first base, No Gyeong-woo at second base, Gang Geon-woo at shortstop, and Hwang Seok-gyu at third base.

In the outfield, except for center fielder Jeong Bu-won, there were Wolfpack and Bae Young-han.

And the catcher was Park Yihyun, with whom he had a good rapport.

"Min Seung-gi! Min Seung-gi! Min Seung-gi!"

"Seung-gi! Come to the Oceans next year!"

Plus, the cheers of the Sajik fans.

'Is this...a perfect day...?'

Min Seung-gi looked up at the sky. The weather was clear. It felt like half of his dream had come true.

As Min Seung-gi looked up, the stadium buzzed a bit.

And the umpire, unable to stand it, ran out.

"Aren't you going to pitch?"

Min Seung-gi slowly lowered his head and smiled, raising one corner of his mouth.

"Let's do it. The game."

Not many players go all out in the All-Star game. There's a risk of injury, and there's no need to do so in an event game.

Even if you hit four home runs, it won't be added to your regular season record. The same goes for strikeouts. In a way, it's just a game that drains your energy.

But Min Seung-gi threw his first pitch with full power against Meteoros' Bok Hyun-seong.

"Strike! Ball!"

154 km/h.

Min Seung-gi's sincerity reached Park Yihyun's mitt.

"Wow! Nice pitch!"

Min Seung-gi smiled at Park Yihyun's shout.

#

[-Live- Western 0 : 0 Eastern]

-Starting pitcher: Min Seung-gi (Diamonds)

-Leadoff hitter: Bok Hyun-seong (Meteoros)

-First pitch swing strike (154 km/h)

└Damn, why is Min Seung-gi pitching with full power? Haha

└Bok Hyun-seong is confused, funny

└You don't know... Min Seung-gi always goes all out, no matter who he faces or what the situation is.

└Is he crazy to do this in the All-Star game?

└He's crazy about baseball.

└Haha, Min Seung-gi is really sucking up the FA market this year.

└No, he's always been amazing.

└Is he going to sign a big FA contract next year?

└Baseball noob ㅉㅉ

└Min Seung-gi is smiling at the Oceans catcher, funny.

└Seung-gi, come to the Oceans and be the Prince of Smiles, not the Prince of Tears.

└;;; Are these guys really that obsessed??

#

[(PHOTO) Starting pitcher Min Seung-gi of the Eastern team, after striking out the side in the first inning, sends a heart to the fans.]

└He was crying recently, but he looks happy today.

└Is he happy because the manager was fired?

└What nonsense. Min Seung-gi has been playing alone even before the manager was fired.

#

"Gang Geon-woo."

"Yes?"

"You're an excellent shortstop."

"Ah, yes."

"But as long as I'm on the mound."

"Yes?"

"You won't have a chance to play defense."

"..."

"Hehehe. I'd like to see you show your presence at the plate."

"..."

#

There are people like Seung-gi, who go all out wherever and whenever, but there are also those who don't.

Park Yong-jae, the ace of the Meteoros and the starting pitcher for the Western team, suddenly threw a knuckleball and gave up a triple to senior Hwang Seok-gyu.

Senior Hwang Seok-gyu, after reaching third base, started doing the national calisthenics. The fans were quite entertained, but personally, I think the fans laugh too easily.

If you laugh at such things, it becomes a habit.

Today's lineup has me as the second batter. Bae Young-han is pushed to ninth. Jeong Bu-won from the Engines is in the fourth spot, and senior Daegun is in the third spot, with the rest mostly the same.

I don't know why the lineup is like this, but it's the manager's decision.

I stepped up to the plate.

I don't think I need to go all out in