Chapter 9

- Gatling Gun in the Pocket -2-

#

[Newcomers' Grave Ocean's, Is This Time Different? The Advancement of Two Newcomers Participating in the Spring Camp.]

[Ocean's Defense Coach, ‘(Jung)Gihyun was in a dark place, but I think I can pin my hopes on (Kang)Genu.]

[Hugh Breadman, Ocean's Manager, ‘It’s a process of building a team. Everyone is sweating to prove their worth in the team.']

[Ocean's Newcomer Nokgyu, ‘I will work hard regardless of the position!']

[What the Coaches See in Genu? Possibility of Being the Second Rookie of the Year in Ocean's History!]

Lol kekkekkek

Just let it be, isn’t this what Kolsions do every spring camp?

Seeing Kolsions act like this, it feels like spring is really here.

[Ocean's Super Rookie Genu, ‘My goal for this season is to win the championship.']

This guy is really full of hot air;;

Isn’t he a comedian rather than a baseball player? kekkekkekkekkek

In exhibition games, winning is totally possible, Kolsions kekkekkek

Other teams’ rookies set goals like making their debut in the first team or getting a starting position, but what about this guy?

What is he, just a common braggart?

[-Ocean's TV Star of the Spring Camp? Genu!]

[-Ocean's TV Genu's Batting Training Video Released!]

[-Ocean's TV Major-Level Defense by a First-Year Rookie!]

#

It had been a while since the training camp started. I focused on the training and called Yurie whenever I had a chance.

-Genu, you’re quite popular these days.

“What are you talking about?”

-Ocean's fans really like you? Uncles and aunts come to our house every day to watch your videos. They upload one video a day on the Ocean's channel.

That’s what they say. Ocean's fans are already hyped up as if the Rookie of the Year and MVP are already decided.

“Do they like me that much?”

-Hmm.

I could hear Yurie’s sigh through the smartphone.

-Geez...

I just laughed at the sound of her gritting her teeth. It’s cute that she’s embarrassed. Since she’s an Ocean's fan, I also told her about the players and what they’re like.

-But how is the new manager? He looks like a mafia boss.

The new manager.

I heard that the channel manager of Ocean's made a mistake in editing and broadcast the manager saying ‘Fuck’ while watching the defense training.

Hyunsang told me that because of that, the manager got nicknames like Pukdong (from the sound of ‘Fuck’), Bbangdong (from his last name Breadman), and Hyudong (from his first name Hugh) because he sighed at the defense of Kolsions.

“Our manager...”

It wasn’t a big deal, but something did happen.

#

That day, we were in the middle of training. It wasn’t a particularly eventful day.

Kim Sewan, who covered various defensive positions as a backup infielder last season, was one of the players who wanted to become a regular starter.

Fans call him Kim Toss. Last season, he entered as a defensive substitute and tossed a routine infield fly to the outfield, leading to a walk-off loss.

He’s a good, gentle, and hardworking player.

But in the world of professionals, that doesn’t mean much. It’s inevitable.

He dropped the ball due to a fielding error, threw inaccurately, and even threw the ball over his head while trying to remove it from his glove.

The manager just watched coldly. When Kim Sewan’s defense training was over, the manager gave him some advice.

“Damn, are you kidding me?”

If you ask if that was advice, I think it was.

“Look at this. Where were your eyes, kid? The ball was halfway to the infield before you moved. What do you think about that?”

The manager even gave him personal coaching, demonstrating the defensive stance, and Kim Sewan almost cried but followed the manager.

After about 30 minutes of personal coaching, the manager patted Kim Sewan on the shoulder and said,

“Good. Now it’s time for batting practice. Hey! It’s the batting champion’s turn! Clear one of the batting cages!”

When the manager first got angry, Kim Sewan might have thought he would be kicked out of the camp and sent to the second team. But somehow, he seemed to relax a bit and hit the ball harder than usual during batting practice.

Of course, opinions can vary. There are many players who don’t like this style.

But some people don’t understand. Whether they like it or not, to stay on the team, they have to follow the boss.

When Kim Sewan finished his batting practice, the manager clapped and praised him, saying he did a great job. He encouraged him a lot, and when the manager turned around, the second baseman Go Euntae, who was close to Jung Gihyun, said to Kim Sewan,

“F*ck, are you laughing? Are you happy? You f*cking idiot.”

Go Euntae is a 28-year-old veteran who still thinks he’s in high school.

Ah, he probably didn’t know.

Our manager is studying Korean, and he learned the swear words first.

Actually, he asked me during a meeting and I taught him a few. And ‘f*cking idiot’ is one of the swear words I taught him.

The manager, who was clapping and turned around, stopped and shouted at Go Euntae,

“Get out of my team right now, you f*cking bastard!”

That’s why our team’s second baseman disappeared.

The third baseman and two outfielders left as free agents, and the keystone combo was gone.

Of course, the news about the second baseman Go Euntae hasn’t been released to the media yet. The front office, including the general manager, has been working hard to prevent it.

Anyway, coming back to the present.

I told her this story and warned her not to spread it.

-Of course. What do you take me for, Genu? Do you think I’m Jung Hyunsang?

“But, um... listen.”

-Why are you beating around the bush? Did you do something wrong? Did you meet a pretty lady in Australia? Are you going to die?

“What are you talking about? I’ve only been playing baseball.”

-Then what is it?

“Well, sorry. I think winning the championship this year might be a bit difficult.”

Yurie burst out laughing through the smartphone. She laughed for a while without answering when I asked why she was laughing.

After laughing for a while, Yurie, who was gasping for breath, said,

-Hey, Genu.

“Yeah?”

-...Were you really trying to win?

What is this?

You said winning was your dream.

Do Ocean's fans not even think Ocean's can win?

No, my in-laws firmly believe we will win.

Is Yurie unusual?

#

The players’ condition improved to a certain extent.

There was a bit of unease in the team because the main keystone combo was gone.

However, the atmosphere improved subtly.

“Genu.”

“What.”

It’s interesting. The team atmosphere brightened up after the two main players left, and the relationship between the pitchers and the batters, which was not good, improved a bit.

From the way they focus more on training, it seems the younger players were watching those two closely.

Anyway, one of those younger players, Nokgyu, approached me with a smile.

“Sweat never betrays you.”

“What are you talking about?”

This guy keeps trying to act friendly. I guess it’s because I’m the only one his age here.

“You and me.”

“What do you mean?”

“KBO’s first keystone combo to win the Rookie of the Year together...”

Nokgyu’s problem is that he has too many unrealistic fantasies.

Honestly, I don’t fully know his level since I haven’t played in KBO. Plus, since Ocean's is the worst team, I don’t have a good sense of the league’s average or the top players.

But I vaguely remember what Nokgyu said at a team dinner.

‘If I had continued as an infielder, I would have gotten 20 billion won more in free agency. I was moved to the outfield because of team circumstances, but my shortstop defense was amazing.’

I thought it was nonsense even then.

But now, watching his defense, I can’t understand how he ever played shortstop, even in high school.

“Trying to be a second baseman?”

“I’ll specially let you have the shortstop. How about it? Isn’t it a good offer?”

Someone on the internet said that he looks like he’s destined for failure just by his name.

But more than that, he’s a bit clueless.

“Did you not hear?”

“What?”

“The starting lineup for the intrasquad game was announced.”

“What? Where? What about me?”

“You’re an idiot.”

“No, I mean, what position?”

The coach clearly told us to check properly.

“Right field.”

“What? Right field?”

What a clueless guy.

#

“I have one question. Why do you think you finished last last year?”

Before the intrasquad game, the manager stood in front of the players and asked a question.

But he didn’t really expect an answer.

“I don’t know the answer. But there is one thing I do know.”

Some players bowed their heads as the interpreter relayed the words.

“When you step onto the field, if even one of you doesn’t do your part, it could happen again.”

Baseball teamwork is a bit different from other sports. It’s a cliche, but a team can be strong even without teamwork.

However, it’s a clear fact that the chances of winning increase when everyone does their job properly.

“The good news is that we have finished chemotherapy. This will make the Ocean's team function more normally.”

Chemotherapy.

It seems he’s talking about Jung Gihyun and Go Euntae. The media reports that Go Euntae returned to Korea due to poor condition.

Anyway, the expressions of some players who were close to them weren’t good.

“Anyway, I am still learning about Korean baseball and about you. Today’s intrasquad game is just the beginning. I hope you will show me more about yourselves.”

We don’t know how baseball will turn out, even if we peel the shell.

The manager, like me, knows almost nothing about Korean baseball or Ocean's baseball.

With five main or near-main players gone,

It’s hard to argue against the assessment that our strength has decreased, but with more positions open, the players are burning with enthusiasm.

And I, in this intrasquad game, will be the home team’s shortstop.

#

[-Ocean's TV L.I.V.E! Ocean's Intrasquad Game!]

-Is this lineup real? My heart is aching.

-I only knew that Park Jeongshin, Yang Jae-hyun, and Kim Sung-ho were gone, but Jung Gihyun and Go Euntae are also missing? kekkekkekkekkek

-Genu... let’s see Genu...

-Kang Genu is playing shortstop

-Nokgyu, why is he an outfielder?

-Nokgyu’s defense is terrible

-Is it that bad? I remember reading an article about him being one of the top 5 high school shortstops.

-That was only about his offensive ability. Including defense, he might not even be in the top 50 high school shortstops.

-Top 50?;;

-F*ck kekkekkekkekkek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek kek