Ch 169

4.

In the past, the best hitters in the major leagues were always placed in number four.

clean up.

It is for this reason that the nickname of the scavenger who cleans everything in place of number 4 is also due to that reason, and that is why the hitters who dominated the past of the major leagues were called the number 4 hitter.

However, in the age of analysis, 3rd was recognized as the most important batting order rather than 4th batting order, and recently, the best hitter in the team has been placed in the 2nd batting order.

The era of evaluating batters by batting order is over.

But the pitchers were different.

In the long history of Major League Baseball, the best pitchers have always been placed in the same place.

1 selection.

Because of this, only the player who sat there could be called the best title of ace.

It goes without saying, but changing this first-choice was not an easy task.

It wasn’t because the player himself wanted to, it wasn’t something the coach made a recommendation, and it wasn’t something the coach could do arbitrarily.

A task that only one person, the leader, can do.

“This is a great opportunity.”

It was for that reason, General Manager Alderson, that he personally met and talked to Jinyong Lee.

He called Jin-yong Lee and, together with coach Collins, told Jin-yong Lee about his position as the first pick.

We talked about the value of the first pick, and we also talked about putting Jinyong Lee in the place of the first pick.

“At the same time, it’s a very tough test.”

And I warned you.

“The first selection is where all the spotlight is concentrated. It’s not uncommon for you to take first place. If you miss one match, you will be criticized. A completely different level of criticism than ever before.”

In the process, General Alderson said everything clearly, without hiding anything.

“I’m going to chew on you with a desire to get you out of the minor leagues or end your career like this. There will be pros who take money from other clubs and criticize you. like a lie? If you see the money moving in the major leagues, you’ll wonder why they don’t.”

If you really become an ace, how terrifying the burden you will have to bear.

“Certainly, this is not worth the money. Just because you sit in the ace’s seat doesn’t mean you get a higher salary. I can say this clearly.”

And at the same time, how worthless it is to be an ace.

In the end, General Alderson gave Jinyong Lee a chance to make a choice.

“So you can say no. If you have a vague determination, please decline it.”

Lee Jin-yong’s expression after hearing that long story through Lee Young-ye couldn’t be better.

It was natural.

‘You’re thinking.’

‘I’ll think about it.’

In a situation like this, at the crossroads of such an important choice, there would be literally no other human beings who did not stiffen their expressions.

With such a firm expression on his face, Lee Jin-yong carefully opened his mouth.

“So, in summary… if I accept this offer, do you mean that I will take a break from the starting pitch and then play in the starting game where deGrom is supposed to appear?”

At the words that Jinyong Lee spit out and came out through Youngye Lee, General Alderson nodded his head.

Then Jinyong Lee asked again, and Youngye Lee translated in real time.

“Do I have to skip one match at all?”

Even at this, General Alderson nodded again.

It is a very natural thing to say, but if Jinyong Lee became an ace, the Mets had to remove Jinyong Lee and rotate the starting rotation once, and then send out Jinyong Lee on the day the first starter came out.

In such a situation, Jinyong Lee let out a short sigh.

Even though he let out that sigh, Jinyong Lee’s hardened expression showed no sign of loosening.

In that state, Jinyong Lee carefully asked a new question.

“Can’t we start with the bullpen during the break?”

“Yes?”

At that question, Lee Young-ye paused for a moment. Then, instead of interpreting right away, he secretly looked at Lee Jin-yong.

To check whether what Jinyong Lee is saying is a mistake or not.

At the sight of the two, General Manager Alderson and Manager Collins opened their eyes and tilted their heads.

‘What were you talking about?’

‘Why are you doing that?’

Because they didn’t know Korean, there was no way to know what Lee Jin-yong was saying and why Lee Young-ye was reacting like that.

At that time, Lee Young-ye, who realized that Jin-yong Lee was telling the truth, immediately translated what he said.

“I said . . .”

At those words, the expressions of General Manager Alderson and Director Collins also changed to the same expressions that Youngye Lee made a while ago.

I looked at Lee Jin-yong in that state.

Jinyong Lee clearly answered the gaze of the two with a serious expression.

The question I asked now was never made as a joke.

In response, General Manager Aldance and Manager Collins stood still for a moment.

Both accidents stopped.

Naturally, only silence began to flow.

– You bastard.

Kim Jin-ho’s sincere voice faintly flowed through the flowing silence.

After a while, General Alderson came to his senses.

“Of course not.”

No!

In response to the answer that did not require an interpreter, Lee Jin-yong let out a long sigh and then sighed.

“there’s nothing we can do. Then just take a day off. Oh, but still, if you don’t know, please tell me that you can use it as a bullpen whenever you need it. In particular, please emphasize that I am good at finishing.”

In response, Young-Ye Lee interprets her with an awkward expression, and the moment they heard that, General Manager Alderson and Director Collins thought about it.

‘Have we made the right choice?’

‘Can I leave the ace position to this man until he bears the risk?’

Could it be that they entrusted the ace of the team to a strange person? thinking to do.

Anyway, at that moment, the decision was made.

Jinyong Lee, he became the ace of the Mets.

5.

The Mets moved quickly, and the media responded more quickly.

[Mets, ‘Lee will be the first starter’]

[The Mets put on a dangerous game early in the season!]

[Lee, how did he become an ace?]

As soon as the Mets talked about promoting Jin-yong Lee as an ace, the media knew that it was bound to be hotter than anything that is happening in the major leagues right now and started covering only that.

Major League Baseball was full of stories about ace Jin-yong Lee.

Of course, it wasn’t all good stories.

Being an ace Lee Jin-yong was something that had no choice but to affect the team in many ways.

[Does Lee deserve an ace?]

[Ace requires more than skill.]

Among them, public attention was focused on Jacob deGrom, who gave up his ace position to Jinyong Lee.

No, it was a voice of concern rather than interest, and voices of criticism were concentrated.

Even that voice was louder among Mets fans than anywhere else.

– He admits his Houman skills, but isn’t it?

– Somewhat. I don’t know if it’s 3rd pick or 2nd pick, shouldn’t deGrom be treated like this?

– DeGrom was dedicated to the Mets for three years. Even the latest grades are good. Redemption is over 100 miles! You shouldn’t treat him like that.

Jacob deGrom, because he was a young star of the Mets, and he was a player who showed performance and passion for the ace position of the Mets for three years.

– Howman is the only one wearing a Mets uniform for the first time this season! Throwing well and being an ace are two different things!

– Now, I can’t give a young kid who hasn’t played for less than a month to be the ace of the Mets!

Lee Jin-yong, who took up such an ace position, was a kid who had not played in the major leagues for less than a month.

Even for a pitcher who recorded a hit for the cycle that is not in the history of Major League Baseball, it is still a story at bat.

Of course, it is true that pitcher Jin-yong Lee is great, but the crown of ace was definitely too early for him.

Naturally, the eyes of those who did not like Lee Jin-yong began to change violently.

– Yeah, let’s give it a try.

– Just don’t do it. I will pick up the picket and occupy the city field right now.

As a beast with poison, Jinyong Lee began to wait for a break to emerge.

Under such circumstances, Jinyong Lee’s ace debut was held.

[Mets, this time at home against the Nationals for 3 consecutive games!]

The opposing team is the Nationals.

[Lee, ace first selection! Your opponent is Strasburg!]

[Major League’s best talent and Korea’s best talent!]

The pitcher Jinyong Lee shared the mound with was the Nationals treasure, Steven Strasburg.

6.

The greatest privilege for Major League Baseball managers is that they can watch the game they want, at the best possible place, at any time.

General Alderson also used that privilege generously.

“The ticket power is great.

The first game in a three-game series against the Nationals at home.

“It’s sold out in April, has there ever been anything like this other than the opening game?”

Amidst the sold-out Citi Field despite nothing special to be played in April, General Alderson was able to arrange a seat for himself with a single phone call.

Of course, the sudden arrival of General Alderson was like a lightning bolt from the dry sky for the subordinates.

Moreover, in the eyes of the subordinates, today’s match was not a game that could be enjoyed leisurely.

“So how is the atmosphere?”

“not good.”

“not good?”

“There are a lot of fans who have brought signs expressing their dissatisfaction with Lee and the club. Our reporters are also turning their eyes on.”

Jinyong Lee, the stage where he started as a starter for the first time had no choice but to be a test bed.

“Perhaps there will be a lot of boos the moment Lee appears on the first pitch.”

The situation in which boos may come out of the home towards Lee Jin-yong, who became ace.

The subordinate did not dare to say that the accusations and boos directed at Alderson would follow after the fact.

“Why did you raise Lee as an ace?”

Instead, I asked a question.

To be honest, what the world is curious about right now is not the fact that Jinyong Lee has become an ace.

I’m more curious about what General Alderson intended to allow it to happen.

To such a question from a subordinate, General Alderson answered calmly.

“DeGrom is the best pitcher. Now the best pitcher to throw 100 mph. A pitcher who can be an ace for any team. A pitcher who can protect the pride of the Mets no matter what team’s ace he plays.”

In response, the subordinate nodded his head.

Jacob deGrom was young, but he was outstanding and strong at the same time.

Last season proved that he wasn’t enough to become a franchise for the Mets in the end.

In the 2017 season, it was none other than Jacob deGrom who supported the falling Mets starting lineup alone.

So it was more questionable.

Is there any reason to give Lee Jin-yong the ace position even as he shuts down this young franchise?

Naturally, there was.

“Nevertheless, the reason Lee was placed as an ace is simple. Because Lee is a pitcher who can destroy the pride of the opposing team.”

“Yes?”

“If you lose a match with deGrom, your opponents will think like this. That’s great. But Lee is different. The players on the opposing team who faced him think so. I don’t want to see you again with that damn bastard.”

“ah.”

“That is the reason why Lee was forced to change into an ace in April. More teams to face Lee and fear Lee.”

General Alderson, who had said those words, looked at the ground.

At that moment, a small sized man began to walk on the mound like an isolated island on the ground.

wow!

woo woo woo!

Then two sounds, cheers and boos, began to mix in Citi Field.

At that sound, General Alderson did not continue to speak.

‘If Lee collapses under this pressure, it means that I am no longer qualified to be a general manager.’

Now it’s time to start a game with everything other than words.

If the boos at Citi Field today get louder than the cheers, General Alderson clearly intends to take responsibility for it.

That was then.

woo woo!

A third sound began to mix in Citi Field.

woo woo!

The sound from one of the spectators began to fill the gap between boos and cheers, like a lonely echo.

A noise that no one expected.

At the noise, General Alderson thought with a slightly anxious expression on his face.

‘······ Are going to be fine?’

In the head of General Alderson speaking, Lee Jin-yong’s voice came to mind, asking for him to pitch as a closing pitcher in the middle.

‘Yeah, I’ll be fine. ‘Cause I’m sure you’re talented Skill is….’

7.

Citi Field is the perfect stage for Mets pitchers anywhere else.

The stadium itself was nice, and above all, this huge stadium did not allow hitters to easily home runs.

Of course, the most amazing thing among the dogs was the passion Mets fans send towards the field.

Wasn’t it the Mets fan who couldn’t control his passion in the past World Series and jumped into the ground on a parachute?

It should be enough to show how great a fan’s passion for baseball is.

woo woo woo!

The boos uttered by such Mets fans were as hot and intense as their passion.

The problem is that the booing is being done ahead of the start of the first episode, not anyone else.

– Hey, it sounds good.

Mets fans were booing Lee Jin-yong, who is now their ace and nobody else.

– You will be the first pitcher to be booed in your first home game as an ace.

As Jinho Kim said, it may be the first thing in the major leagues in the major leagues.

To that, Jinyong Lee, who covered his mouth with a glove, tilted his head and answered.

“I’m not the first, am I?”

– What?

“Jinho Kim was also booed when he came out as an ace, right?”

– Whoa, what kind of bullshit? When I started as an ace, applause just poured out! At that time, the applause was so loud that people complained about it being noisy! uh! Written, people just went to the White House and the applause for Kim Jin-ho was too loud to live on, so what should I do with Kim Jin-ho? They protested and did that!

“Isn’t it? Obviously, did you see an article that criticized public opinion grew because Kim Jin-ho told disgruntled fans that it was something they didn’t even know about baseball when it was decided to go to the ace?”

– Well, it’s just like a minor happening by some filthy bastard. Minor. It’s like a really minor happening. And the original human memories become fabricated over time. Small things are remembered as big things. Hmm! Hmm!

Jin-ho Kim’s voice, who was talking, gradually diminished, and it ended with a cough in vain.

Jinyong Lee laughed at that fact.

“Yes, you will.”

– Hey, how do you remember that? Is this already 20 years ago?

In the end, Kim Jin-ho, who tells Lee Shil-jik.

Jinyong Lee said to him.

“I can’t remember.”

– why?

“Yeah…”

That was then.

[I will participate as a starter.]

[The quality start effect is activated.]

[Switching (B) effect is active. The current coverage rate is 80 percent.]

A notice from the baseball manager announcing the start of the game flowed into their ears.

[The ace effect is activated.]

At the notification, Jinyong Lee smiled and removed the glove from his lips.

Kim Jin-ho said at that appearance.

– hey! You have to answer it! Why do you remember?

Jinyong Lee answered that question in his heart.

‘How can you not remember a pitcher who struck out nine consecutive batters with a 100-mile ball and turned a boo into cheers at once?’

When the answer in your heart is over.

“Playball!”

The game started.

End