Chapter 90

# -2-

#

- YappaTV

"Hello, everyone. Today's broadcast is from an outdoor location."

└ Why is he looking so serious from the start?

└ It's so hot, but he's wearing a trench coat? Is he crazy?

└ Outdoor? Where are you going?

"It's not hot. The weather is cool, which is great."

└ Oh, is today that day?

└ Ah ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋF*ck ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└ What day? What's so special about today?

└ Kang Geon-woo's batting average is 0.416 ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└ Ah, the old man said if Kang Geon-woo bats 0.400 until the All-Star Game, he'd go to the game in his underwear ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└ F*ck, is that true? Really? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

"Ah... viewers, I, well? I'm a man who keeps my promises to my viewers..."

└ What a joke, he's just going for the 5 million won.

└ That's hot, bro.

└ Note... Yappa... 5 million and he'll sell his soul...

"What are you talking about? No, anyway. The 10 KBO teams will each play 7 games before the Olympic break. The schedule is tight because of the Olympics, but it can't be helped. Today, I'll be at the Sajik Stadium to watch the game between the Oceans and the Engines, and I'll be doing a live broadcast to interact with the viewers."

└ (Breaking News) YappaTV arrested for public indecency

└ (Breaking News 2) Sentenced to life for showing something inappropriate

└ Bro, are you really going to accept a life sentence for just 5 million?

"It's not a life sentence. Oh, I'm so wronged."

└ Bro, you're an Angels fan, why are you going to watch an Oceans-Engines game? You're just going for the 5 million, right? I'm disappointed.

└ But if it's 5 million, I'd go to a game in my underwear too.

└ If you give me 100, I'll go with you in my underwear.

└ Think about it, it might be less embarrassing with two.

└ Less embarrassing? F*ck, it'll just turn into a gathering of perverts and exhibitionists. What's less embarrassing about that?

"Yes... I'm a sinner..."

└ Do you admit your sin?

└ Death penalty

└ Bro, did you pick a nice pair of underwear?

└ Don't point the camera at my lower body, I'll break it.

└ Yappa, are you finally going mainstream?

└ Nine o'clock news material

"Anyway, if anyone has time, let's meet up at Sajik. There's no need to bring anything, just bring a pair of underwear. Don't bring anything else."

└ Bro, do you want your channel to get shut down?

└ Let's all die together, then?

"Yes. Let's talk about baseball for a bit. Today's Oceans starting pitcher is Lee Hoon. This guy has a fast pitch, but his pitch count is a bit low, right?"

└ His pitch count and his brain are both low.

└ Home runs are like copies.

└ He was an idol in the K-pop scene, but he was overshadowed after Kang Geon-woo appeared.

└ Don't mess with Hoon...

"Yes. The Engines' starter is Chae Ji-sung, who was also selected for the Olympic team. He throws a variety of pitches and is smart..."

└ Smart (x) Cowardly (o)

└ Chae Ji-sung is a coward, not smart.

└ He only walks Kang Geon-woo out of fear.

└ Chae Ji-sung is the only pitcher who didn't give up a home run to Kang Geon-woo among the national team pitchers.

└ He's just a coward.

└ He's smart.

└ Isn't it better to walk him than to give up a home run?

└ The best octopus is from Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do.

└ What the f*ck are you talking about?

"Ah, everyone, don't fight."

└ Bro, honestly, as an Angels fan, isn't it a bit disappointing that Jeong Su-ho was selected for the national team?

└ Jeong Su-ho over Choi Chul? What a joke.

└ No, it should have been Yong Su-hyun.

└ Ignoring Hwang Bo-kyung?

└ Why wasn't Song Tae-woong selected, f*ck?

"No, but among the top left-handed pitchers, Jeong Su-ho has the best career and everything..."

└ Career-wise? Why did you bring in Tae Su-ho? I don't get it.

└ We need a left-handed pitcher because Kang Geon-woo is a righty.

└ Kang Geon-woo is a king, but...

"Without Jeong Su-ho, we have Kim Gwon-jong as a starter and Lee Dae-hoon as a closer, so we don't have a left-handed pitcher. I'm not saying this because I'm an Angels fan, but I really think it was a good selection."

└ Hoon should have been selected instead.

└ Hoon is f*cking amazing.

└ Hoon is a right-handed pitcher, but he's versatile against both lefties and righties.

└ He's weak against both lefties and righties, f*ck.

"Why are you fighting today?"

└ Because you're going to Sajik in your underwear!!!!!!!

└ Yeah, f*ck, you're making everyone lose their minds.

└ Thinking about seeing your underwear, I'm canceling my subscription. F*ck it.

#

One week before the Olympic break.

The day after the All-Star Game, it's Monday, but there's a game.

The team atmosphere is a bit chaotic. With no Korean players currently active overseas, the national team is composed entirely of KBO players. The U.S. team couldn't get the MLB commissioner's approval, so they can't use players from the 25-man roster, but they agreed to use players from the 40-man roster outside the 25.

They're selecting players from the 40-man roster who aren't regular starters in the MLB, players who could be called up to the majors at any time.

Honestly, if we look at the objective strength, I think the Korean national team is at a disadvantage.

But in international tournaments, you never know until you see it. Especially in a short series.

[The elite Japanese Olympic team, declaring their intention to win the gold medal in Olympic baseball.]

Japan also seems to have put a lot of effort into their roster.

Hmm.

Actually, I'm quite strong against Japan. That's why I'm not too worried.

A total of 12 countries are participating in this tournament.

The three host countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

From Asia: South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.

Australia is also participating, and from Europe, the Netherlands and Italy.

The remaining teams are Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.

Anyway, there are 7 days until the team assembly.

Since the players are given a break, it's understandable that they're a bit excited.

"Roh Kyung-woo."

"What?"

"Let's get a beer."

"Hey, but listen."

"But what?"

"Yesterday's blind date."

Why did I set up a blind date for Roh Kyung-woo yesterday?

I hope it went well.

"Why? Was it good?"

"Yeah, it was good, but..."

"It didn't work out, huh?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"He's a fan of Si-wook."

"What's the problem with that?"

"Well, it's just... you know."

"Isn't it better if he's better at baseball than Si-wook?"

Roh Kyung-woo looked around and whispered to me.

"Hey, am I better than Si-wook?"

I don't know.

"Let's get a beer and talk."

"Damn, that beer."

Baseball is a sport that requires talent. Personally, I think defense is the area where talent is least important.

Of course, defensive skills can vary greatly depending on talent.

But at least Roh Kyung-woo is lucky. He's quite talented in other areas, so if he focuses on defense, he'll improve.

At the All-Star Game after-party, I met a few Engine players we're facing today. Engine's second baseman, Lee Hyun-dong, said to me,

"Let's work well together. It would have been great if San had been selected too."

The Engine's immovable trio:

Jeong Bu-won, Lee Hyun-dong, and Kim San.

It's a shame that Kim San was the only one not selected for the national team.

Lee Hyun-dong, who is 5 years older than me, has a calm personality. We've played together on the national team a few times.

Back then, I was doing well in the MLB, and he even collected my autographs.

Jeong Bu-won, who has a bit of a sarcastic personality, asked me not to come up as a closer in this three-game series.

"Hey, don't do it. Don't come up. If you strike me out, you'll see."

Of course, if I pitch against him, I'll give it my all.

Chae Ji-sung, who only walked me in the past, said this time would be different, but I think he'll keep walking me.

Anyway, just before the game started.

"Let's finish the first half well."

Daekun gathered the players and said, and Lee Si-wook teased him.

"Bro."

"Yeah?"

"Did you draw a太极旗on your cap because you were selected for the national team?"

"Hey, it was already there."

"What are you talking about? I've never seen it before."

"It was always there."

"Bro, you really... because you were selected for the national team..."

"Hey, Lee Si-wook."

"What?"

"You really..."

"One! Two! Three! Oceans, fight!"

"Hey, Roh Kyung-woo..."

"Oceans, fight!"

"Ah, really. Oceans, fight!"

"Fight!"

#

During the game, there was a bit of a commotion. Jung Yoo-ri poked her head out and looked over.

"What's going on? What happened?"

"There's a pervert."

"A pervert?"

"Someone is only wearing underwear."

"Is it a man or a woman?"

"A man."

"Ugh, that's gross."

The commotion soon died down. The stadium security quickly came and took the culprit away.

Today's game, being the first after the All-Star Game, was a bit dull without any special events.

"Kang Geon-woo said..."

"Yeah?"

"Min Seung-gi is desperate to join the Oceans."

"He's a well-known Oceans fan."

"He refused a position change, right?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Most of the fielders were our players. That's why he refused the position change."

"Really? Min Seung-gi is a good guy."

"Park Ho-chul was so surprised he even swore."

As we chatted,

Lee Hoon got through the third inning without giving up a run.

"Why is Hoon like that?"

Even as an Oceans fan, Lee Hoon's recent form has been surprising.

"It's about time he did well. After all, with that much investment, he should be performing well."

Jung Jong-seok said indifferently. In fact, Jung Jong-seok didn't particularly like Lee Hoon.

Being known as an Angels fan was a big factor.

Of course, he thought the opposite about the rumor that Min Seung-gi would join the Oceans.

"Anyway, if Seung-gi joins us, how will we set up the starting rotation next year?"

It was a pleasant thought.

Two foreigners and Min Seung-gi?

That alone would put us in the top tier of the league.

But now, with Kim Jeong-yong and Kim Min-seong, Lee Hoon is also doing well.

We have six verified starters. We can move one to the bullpen. Kim Jeong-yong will be 34 next year, so he might lose some power, and Kim Min-seong or Lee Hoon might lose their stability.

In the bottom of the third inning,

Kang Geon-woo, who had walked in his first at-bat, came up to bat as the leadoff hitter.

"Kang! Geon! Woo!"

"Geon-woo! Yoo-ri is watching you!"

The crowd erupted when Kang Geon-woo came up to bat. Jung Jong-seok and Oh So-hee also cheered.

It had been a long time since the Sajik Stadium had been this lively.

"Geon-woo! If you want to be our son-in-law, you have to win the championship!"

"Ah, Mom."

Yoo-ri poked her mother's side, but she didn't care.

"Hey! Chae Ji-sung! Be a man and compete!"

But it was another walk.

Combined with the previous at-bats, it was now five consecutive walks.

"You're still on the national team?"

"Shameful! Give back the太极flag!"

The fans booed, but Chae Ji-sung didn't seem to care.

He struck out Yang Daekun with a flyout to center field.

He gave up a hit to Lee Si-wook, putting runners on first and third with one out, but induced a groundout to shortstop from Wolfpack for a double play to escape the jam.

"Ah! That cheap bastard!"

"Cheapskate!"

"So dirty, that guy!"

Chae Ji-sung showed precise control when not facing Kang Geon-woo.

And Lee Hoon, who was strangely matching him pitch for pitch.

[(Live) Daegu Engines 0 : 0 Busan Oceans.]

- Second batter Lee Hyun-dong, strikeout.

- Top of the fourth inning ends. Teams switch sides.

└ Why is Hoon like that??

└ Is this really our Hoon???

└ Why no home runs?;;;

└ What the f*ck, he used to give up home runs to other teams, but why is he suddenly pitching well against us? Is he on drugs or something?

└ What the f*ck??? Watch your mouth, you f*cking bastard.

└ You guys were just cursing Chae Ji-sung a moment ago ㅡㅡ

└ Is Chae Ji-sung the same as Hoon?

└ What the f*ck, that's ridiculous ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

#

"Huni, your talent is scary!"

After Lee Hoon pitched seven scoreless innings, Park Ui-hyun hugged the pitcher and exclaimed with a moved voice.

The win conditions were met. Roh Kyung-woo hit a solo home run off Chae Ji-sung's slider, making it 1-0.

I kept getting walks, and Chae Ji-sung made some clever plays to escape jams, but he couldn't stop Roh Kyung-woo.

"Is this enough?"

"What is?"

Roh Kyung-woo whispered in my ear.

"Didn't you do better than No-ru today?"

He's quite fixated on it. I just nodded and replied.

"Yeah. After the game, call and let's meet again."

Anyway, in the eighth inning, veteran Cho Hyung-oh, who had transformed into a setup man, allowed one hit but kept it scoreless.

The break was quite long, so his pitches were good. He seemed satisfied with his role as a setup man.

In the bottom of the eighth, our batters couldn't add any more runs.

In the top of the ninth,

I stepped onto the mound to the