Chapter 91

Oceans, what the heck -3-

#

For the Olympic representative team, most teams had their players evenly selected. Except for Min Seung-gi, who is suffering from a severe slump, and the Diamonds, who have only produced one representative player despite the coach's mid-term resignation, each team has selected 2 to 4 players. The Thunderbirds, featuring last year's home run king Yun Tae-ho and one of the KBO's top three closers, Bong Jae-seok. The Meteors, led by Park Yong-jae, who is known for his strong mental fortitude and is often mentioned as a star in major events, and Hong Jeong-su, who has the best batting average against foreign batters over the past three years. The Irons, with Park Jeong-shin, known as the "baseball sage," and the underhand pitcher and power hitter, Yong Jong-hyuk. The Bulldozers, featuring Seo Woo-ju, who is expected to have a batting average of .300 even without a bat, and Ye Ji-ho, who has won the stolen base title for three consecutive years. The Angels' left-handed veteran Jeong Su-ho, who is almost a sacred figure among Angels fans, and Song Byung-jae, the pride of the Angels. These teams each had two players selected. In fact, it wouldn't be strange if one or two more players were added. Hwang Bo-kyung, Bok Hyun-sung, Choi Cheol, Seo Hyun-woo, and Yun Se-hwan. These players narrowly missed the cut and were the subject of much debate. The Oceans, Pirates, and Vikings each had three players selected. The Oceans' lineup, led by Bae Young-han, Kang Geon-woo, and Yang Dae-geun, who are the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th batters, respectively. Bae Young-han is a regular on the national team, Kang Geon-woo, despite his short career, has shown an incredible impact, and Yang Dae-geun, due to the poor performance of other national-level first basemen and his improved form this season, has made his first appearance on the national team. The Pirates selected Son Yong-gi, Jeong Jo-jun, and Ok Si-kyung. It would be absurd not to select Jeong Jo-jun, who is making Major League scouts drool, and Son Yong-gi, who always manages to survive. Ok Si-kyung, while there was some debate compared to other shortstop candidates, was a reasonable choice. Jo Yong, known as the "human steroid" of the KBO, is a catcher. Kim Gwon-jong is a pitcher who has received genuine interest, not just lip service, for his potential success in the Major Leagues, and Lee Dae-hoon is the undisputed best closer in the KBO. Although Kang Geon-woo has achieved 10 saves in 10 games without giving up a run, he is not in the same league in terms of career. The Engines, who are facing the Oceans in the league, have completed a full generational shift by selecting four national team players, all in their 20s. Despite currently being in the middle of the standings, there is hope for a strong second half due to the expected replacement of underperforming foreign players. In the KBO, a team's season performance often depends on how well their three foreign players perform. The Oceans' success this season, from an external perspective, is partly due to the outstanding performances of their two foreign pitchers, including Kang Geon-woo. In contrast, the Engines' foreign batter has a batting average of .227 and is almost certain to be replaced, while one of their foreign pitchers has an ERA in the 6.0s. Despite this, the team's strong performance in the rankings is a testament to their depth. The duel between James Berry and Kirk Simpson, who have been leading the Engines' mound with sub-1.00 ERAs since May, after a shaky start to the season. James Berry won the game with 7 innings and 2 runs, while Kirk Simpson took the loss with 5 innings and 5 runs.

#

[Engines, Avenging Yesterday's Defeat! 7-3 Win Against Oceans.]

[Kirk Simpson, 5 innings, 5 runs. 5th loss (7 wins). Off-balance after 10 days off.]

└What the heck, yesterday Hoon pitched 7 innings without a run, but why is Simpson like this?

└Is it weird that Hoon pitched well?

└No, isn't it normal for Simpson to pitch 7 innings without a run and Hoon to pitch 5 innings and give up 5 runs?

└Don't curse Hoon...

└Something's up, something's weird ㄷㄷㄷ

└Be nice to Hoon. If he keeps this up, he'll get a Major League offer. You guys need to cheer for Hoon so he can dominate the Majors and come back to play for the Oceans in Korea ㅡㅡ

└What the hell, what's a Major League offer?

└? Are you cursing Hoon now?

└You're the one cursing?

└Cursing Hoon is the same as cursing Hoon

└Hoon is so annoying just to look at;;

└Stop oppressing the Hoon fans

└It's sad that you don't know how awesome Hoon is!

└Hoon fans, gather!

└ㅎㄴㅎㄴ

└ㅎㄴㅎㄴ

└ㅎㄴㅎㄴ

└Just go away ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠI'm embarrassed ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

#

No Gyeong-woo was a curious person. This curious rookie wasn't intimidated by the seniors' teasing and would bombard them with questions without hesitation.

“Hey, aren't you scared at all?”

This was the question he threw at Kang Geon-woo as soon as he arrived at the training ground today. Kang Geon-woo sighed slightly before answering.

“Can't you just say it all at once? How am I supposed to know what's scary if you say it like that?”

“No, like that James Berry yesterday. His control is terrible, but he keeps throwing inside. Isn't that scary?”

“If you're scared of that, how can you play baseball?”

“Jerk.”

“What?”

“Hey, and did you ask the girl you went on a blind date with to meet again?”

“Good job.”

“...”

“...Aren't you curious?”

“Should I be?”

“I was trying to go on a date while you were playing in the Olympics.”

“My family and Yoo-ri's family are all going to America. I'll be dating in America.”

“...You're a real jerk.”

“I'm going to be a jerk, so go catch a fly ball. You know that the error you made yesterday wasn't really an error, right?”

No Gyeong-woo ran away. He soon found his next target.

“Hoon hyung!”

“Hey, you're here.”

“Hyung, is my defense that bad?”

“Huh?”

If he were more perceptive, he would have realized that the “Huh?” contained a hint of affirmation, but No Gyeong-woo was more often called clueless than insensitive.

“No, Kang Geon-woo always criticizes my defense when he sees me. Just now, as soon as our eyes met, he told me to go catch a fly ball...”

Despite his words, he was quite diligent in training. Some pitchers get annoyed when fielders make errors, but recently, the Oceans' pitchers have been comforting No Gyeong-woo, saying that such things can happen. It couldn't be helped. He was endearing in his efforts, and when he failed, it was clear that he was disheartened. He would swing his hips a little smaller and make a double play, with tears welling up in his eyes. Kim Jeong-yong, seeing this, sighed and told the pitchers to take care of him, though No Gyeong-woo didn't know this.

“Gyeong-woo.”

“Yes.”

“You're doing well enough, so just keep doing what you're doing.”

“Of course...”

No Gyeong-woo, moved, poured out his feelings like Park Eui-hyun.

“Senior Hoon's character! And his insight! I want to be like him! I understand why Hoon hyung is so popular among Oceans fans! Hyung, please let me be the leader of the Hoon fans!”

Hoon felt a bit flustered. Hoon fans? Leader of the Hoon fans?

Before he could respond, No Gyeong-woo found his next target.

“Min-seong hyung!”

“Yeah.”

“Let's both make the national team for the next Olympics and get military exemptions together!”

“Yeah.”

“Honestly, if the Olympics were next year, both of us would have been selected, right?”

“Yeah.”

“And when you pitch next, try to hit the ball to my side. I've been practicing a lot.”

“Yeah.”

In any case, No Gyeong-woo had completed his quota for the day.

Chatting with two pitchers before training and then training.

Actually, this was Park Eui-hyun's routine, and the team seniors called No Gyeong-woo and Park Eui-hyun "Jung-dung2" (meaning "mouth2") because they were always talking loudly.

In a corner of the dressing room, Andy Garfield and Kirk Simpson were having a conversation.

“Park's English is getting better. He's a scary guy.”

“He apologized to me for his many mistakes in yesterday's game.”

“Really? He asked me if I could take him as my personal catcher when I go to the Major Leagues.”

“Haha. Is this his seventh declaration of Major League intentions this season?”

“He's a strange guy.”

“Yeah. At first, he annoyed me, but now I just laugh at whatever he does.”

“There's another guy like that.”

“Do you mean the one coming over there?”

“Oh, damn. Yeah, that's him.”

No Gyeong-woo waved his hand and shouted.

“Wow! Andy! Kirk! Nice to meet chu! Good morning! Or, good afternoon? Ujulikesomethingduling?”

The two foreign pitchers burst out laughing and said,

“Those two will adapt anywhere.”

“Yeah. Their adaptability is at the Major League level.”

No Gyeong-woo interpreted this in his own way.

“Oh, no, no. I'm not at the Major League level yet. No, it's impossible. But, I'm coming soon. I'm not ready now. You are ready. Thanks for saying so.”

#

The moment of being in first place didn't last long.

The Oceans won the first game against the Engines but lost the next two, and then started a two-game road series against the Irons.

Despite the losing streak, the team's atmosphere didn't falter. While No Gyeong-woo and Park Eui-hyun might not be praised for lifting the mood, they played a significant role in maintaining it.

Originally, the best people for lifting the mood are the fools. And it seems that even senior Kim Jeong-yong agrees.

“Eui-hyun and Gyeong-woo are really helpful.”

It's hard to tell if he's being sarcastic or sincere.

The muscles used for hitting and pitching are quite different, so I need to control my training volume well to maintain balance and do speed control training. Senior Kim Jeong-yong, who was watching, said,

“Is that so?”

I didn't want to say that there are players in the Major Leagues who play such roles. Sometimes, it's better to pretend you don't know.

“Yeah. You wouldn't know, Geon-woo. What the Oceans used to be like.”

“I'm a bit curious.”

This is genuine curiosity. I often wonder how bad the team was.

Senior Kim Jeong-yong smiled slightly and started telling stories.

“Well, it's in the past. In the old days, when a fielder's error would ruin a game, it felt like there was a transparent wall in the locker room.”

“When was that?”

“Last year?”

I didn't know what to say.

“When the batters score a lot and win, oh man, they act so superior.”

It sounds like Jeong Gwi-hyun and Ko Eun-tae.

“Now, those guys are coaches in the minors, and they've split the players into factions.”

“It's a good thing they're all gone now.”

“Actually, some are still around.”

“Really?”

This is pretending not to know. Some players are in the minors, and some are backups in the majors. They've been pushed out and are keeping a low profile.

“Well, now Daegun is the captain, and you guys are from different regions, so it's a bit calmer.”

I heard that the issue of educational background was also serious.

The story of a former head coach and his high school alumni shaking up the team has been famous for a long time.

“Before I joined, they were even spying on players with CCTV.”

It was a chaotic team.

“Foreign pitchers were also poached by other teams.”

“Hmm.”

“What...It's not just one or two things. Even though I love the team and play for it, it was a mess. The treatment of legends was also a mess...”

There was one thing I wanted to ask those people.

Why do they like such a team?

But I wasn't sure if it was appropriate to ask, so I hesitated. As if reading my mind, Senior Kim Jeong-yong smiled and said,

“Well, it's the team's fault... What can you do? I didn't know if I could have a professional career here, but I've been a fan since I was young.”

Indeed, Yoo-ri was the same. When asked why she liked the team, she couldn't give a proper answer. The same goes for Yoo-ri's parents and her father, who became an Oceans fan again.

“I was an Oceans fan before I was an Oceans player. I didn't want to make it a team that fans would be embarrassed to cheer for, and now I feel good that it's finally become that.”

I think this person is a real Oceans fan.

It's impressive that he can say such things with a smile even after losing a game yesterday.

“So, do your best today, Geon-woo.”

“Speaking as a fan?”

“Hehe. Yes. You're perceptive, which is good.”

“Who isn't perceptive?”

“Many.”

“No Gyeong-woo?”

Senior Kim Jeong-yong smiled and folded one finger.

“Senior Park Eui-hyun?”

Another finger.

And...

“...Senior Lee Si-wook?”

Senior Kim Jeong-yong laughed loudly.

“Three strikes!”

Yesterday, Senior Lee Si-wook was criticized for eating a chocolate pie in the dugout during a loss.

Anyway, I wasn't an Oceans fan, but showing