Ch 63
4.
The starting pitcher, the first pitcher to step on the mound.
There’s nothing wrong with looking at it this way.
In a way, it’s just the first pitcher.
However, in the long history of baseball, only starting pitchers have been treated as real pitchers.
It’s not that long ago that terms such as closer, setup man, long relief, swing man, and left-handed one-point came out, and even while the positions were subdivided, all clubs struggled with the lack of a good closing pitcher, not only closing pitchers but also bullpen pitchers. Despite the improvement in treatment, no bullpen pitcher was treated as good as a starting pitcher.
There are several reasons behind that.
But the biggest reason is that in the end.
The most perfect record that a pitcher can achieve, the only pitcher who can make a perfect game is the starting pitcher.
Regardless of odds, starting pitchers are the only ones qualified to achieve that glorious record.
It is a very great qualification, a precious qualification and a noble qualification.
Therefore, starting pitchers, no matter who they are, always greet their start morning with reverence.
Wake up quietly in the morning to find a baseball player with a cup of coffee, or meditate to clear your mind and heart.
In a way that cherishes the reverence befitting this noble qualification.
– Music cue.
“Music cue.”
Ddu-du, dou! ddu! ddu! Tututututu!
I can assure you, there was never a case of playing ‘Another one bites the dust’, one of Queen’s songs, on the morning of the day he was selected as a starter.
– Tutu, okay, the beat is good, and it goes into stretching. Don’t forget to take a deep breath. Okay, take a long breath!
“Whoa!”
– Alright, long exhale!
“Wow!”
Even worse, there are cases where he does a very exhilarating stretch in time with the song, and it can be said that it is a situation in which he has to seriously doubt the mental state of the pitcher after leaving his high school.
– Take a longer breath!
“Oh oh oh oh!”
But for Lee Jin-yong and Kim Jin-ho, that was everyday life.
Jinyong Lee has never missed stretching and running in the morning after meeting Jinho Kim.
– Don’t recoil! If you recoil while stretching, your muscles will tear! Do you want to hear about a hamstring injury while breathing? huh?
Furthermore, Kim Jin-ho showed a stricter appearance than ever when it came to stretching.
Actually, that was normal.
For an athlete, the body is like a car in car racing.
Without it, nothing happens.
That doesn’t mean he can’t save himself because he’s too afraid of an injury during the match.
To be honest, getting injured during a match is unavoidable. Because it is like destiny.
The problem is before the game.
Warming up before the game is the most important thing, and at the same time, if you have your own discretion, ability, and attention, you can avoid getting injured.
It means you need to be more alert than ever.
– If I can’t start today because of an injury while stretching today, I’ll probably go to Busan instead of Icheon to help my father. So focus.
Such stretching with Jin-yong Lee ended after more than an hour of Kim Jin-ho’s strict Spartan instruction.
Jinyong Lee, drenched in sweat, was able to start breakfast by eating the prepared water and banana.
“Oh, I want to eat ramen.”
In addition, recently, Lee Jin-yong has been excluding stimulant foods, foods high in salt or sugar.
– It sounds like ramen.
This was also Kim Jin-ho’s advice and request.
– When the pennant race started, I didn’t even drink soda. I didn’t even drink soda.
When Jin-yong Lee became a professional, Jin-ho Kim demanded more thorough diet management than anyone else.
“Aren’t carbonated drinks okay?”
– Of course it’s fine. Have you seen anyone who drank Coke and died?
It wasn’t just to take care of the body.
– As I said back then, the problem is mental power.
Refining the mental power to the limit through moderation and abstinence.
– If you can’t stand a glass of cola or even a chopstick of ramen, you can’t be the best on this floor.
It was never wrong.
In the first place, the professional world is not just a place to be good, but a place where you have to do better than your competitors.
– Of course, if your goal is to be just a professional baseball player, it’s okay to have a glass of whiskey before going on the mound.
If they had the same skills, the one who brought out their skills to the limit could win, and only if they win would be the place to get glory and honor.
“You’re not just trying to fuck me, are you?”
Occasionally, Kim Jin-ho’s orders and demands were questionable.
– Hey, what do you really see me as!
“I’m a ghost who’s anxious to see him wear men’s thongs.”
– It was a joke back then. No, and frankly, are there really people who wear thongs? Go around once, catch a passing player and ask. what panties were you wearing So, about two out of ten people would say T-Pants? And one in ten would say no panties.
“How will I be treated if I ask such a question?”
– You’ll be treated like a madman who wants to see men’s panties.
“Then stop talking and coach the game today.”
But such a joke is only a joke to the end.
– Coaching.
With those words, Jinyong Lee immediately searched for the Angels and Titans match article yesterday on his smartphone, and Jinho Kim looked at the contents of his smartphone behind him.
[Titans, 20 points in 2 games in a row!]
[Attack on Titan! Destroy the Angels!]
[Titans challenge 20 points in 3 games in a row?]
As soon as they read the article, the second match between the Angels and the Titans over the weekend of yesterday came to their minds.
“Ugh.”
The match was as disastrous as the first match.
“I think the Titans are crazy.”
As Jinyong Lee literally said, the hitters of the Titans pounded the Angels’ mound with a crazy feeling of hitting beyond the level of the water.
He scored 41 goals in two matches.
– don’t worry. Now, in a few hours, Jinyong, you will go crazy.
Of course, it wasn’t the Titans that really bothered me.
“Oh, I’m going crazy.”
What really went crazy was Lee Jin-yong, who had to face the Titans a little later, who now have a sense of nonsense.
“It’s going to be like this…”
First of all, Jinyong Lee had three big problems.
‘The analysis was not done properly.’
Currently, Jinyong Lee was not able to properly analyze the Titans batting line.
‘There are a few things that are different from the scouting report.’
To be more precise, there were a few errors in the Titans scouting report created by the Angels Power Analysis Team.
In fact, that’s why the Angels pitchers were slaughtered.
Angels pitchers naturally set their strategy based on the Titans data handed over by the power analysis team.
But is the data wrong?
It’s like looking at the wrong answer sheet and solving the problem.
‘The most dangerous thing is that they know I’m coming out.’
The bigger problem was that the Titans were preparing for a pitcher named Jinyong Lee.
The position of a losing pitcher was not a very desirable position for Jinyong Lee, but on the contrary, the position also gave Jinyong Lee a lot of merit.
The burden of conceding was not so great as it was in a losing game, and at the same time, the batters of the opposing team who faced Jin-yong Lee could not adapt to the sudden appearance of Jin-yong Lee.
But now there was no such advantage.
‘Now it’s a real head-to-head match.’
On the contrary, the Titans will do their best to somehow kill Lee Jin-yong.
The third and final problem was Jinyong Lee himself.
“Can I be a good starter?”
– You should be fine. Opportunities do not come easily, nor do they come impartially.
To be honest, for Jinyong Lee, starting before the Titans was unexpected.
Up until a week ago, he was a losing pitcher.
No matter how much he wanted to become a starting pitcher, he said he was taught to become a starting pitcher by Kim Jin-ho, but hopes and teachings are literally just hopes and teachings, and no one could have predicted that it would become a reality so quickly.
– Problems arise when things are done too quickly. You’re paying the price for sucking too much honey now. pretending. So, let’s quickly and cleanly get hit and go to the 2nd team. Let’s eat some tear-soaked bread.
It goes without saying that Jinyong Lee has a sense of pressure.
“How was Kim Jin-ho on the day of the selection?”
Jinyong Lee asked a question to Jinho Kim.
Did Kim Jin-ho feel the pressure of being selected for a position?
Kim Jin-ho answered the question calmly.
– me? Happy.
“happy?”
– If you strike out, it’s actually like earning 10,000 dollars, wouldn’t it be fun if you’re like that?
At those words, Jinyong smirked.
Is it really Kim Jin-ho’s mind?
– Why are you laughing?
“It’s so great that I laugh. I think Kim Jin-ho was definitely a great player.”
At Lee Jin-yong’s words, Kim Jin-ho said with a fishy smile.
That smile said so.
You’re the same guy as me.
Because of that, Kim Jin-ho knew.
– All right, get ready to be robbed.
“Yes.”
Just because he said this, Jinyong Lee wouldn’t be on the mound like a really mean dog.
“Let’s try it sometime.”
4.
Starting pitchers come with benefits as well as responsibilities.
Once excluded from group action.
If necessary, the starting pitcher may move in a personal car rather than a club bus.
Training is also provided separately.
If the pitcher has his own routine, the club is willing to let him play according to that routine.
Finally, the starting pitcher can have a close conversation with the starting catcher of the day before the game starts.
“So today’s pitching is going to be ground ball judo, mainly two-seam and changeup?”
“Now that the feeling of hitting is at its peak, I think the answer is to hit the pitch, as it will come out aggressively. To be honest, if I strike out like I did before the Shaxx last time, I think the number of pitches will be around 100 before the third inning.”
“It won’t be easy. You may have seen the game yesterday and yesterday, but now the Titans’ batting feeling is at the level that makes the ball a home run. I think the moment the loss comes out, I just give you points.”
“Yes.”
“And you want to increase the curve ratio?”
“When I threw it a while ago, the slider wasn’t great, but the curve was fine.”
“It won’t be bad. Andy and Cha Unho, neither of us used curves that much. To be precise, I was afraid to write curves. I felt like I was going to get hit no matter what ball I threw.”
Having a close conversation meant that the catcher would match the starting pitcher.
This was quite a perk.
As a pitcher, you can pitch in your own style without saying anything.
Moreover, the Angels’ main catcher, Ho-Chun Lee, was the perfect catcher for Jin-Yong Lee.
“Okay then, let’s go as you say. And if you have a ball mix you want, tell me in the middle of the inning.”
He was a catcher who followed the pitcher’s desired ball composition rather than forcing his assertion on the pitcher.
“Well, don’t be offended if you rob it too much.”
Of course, Ho-Chun Lee was not expecting much from Jin-Yong Lee at this moment.
“Right now, against the Titans, we did well enough to block five points in five innings.”
There are also doubts about Jinyong Lee’s skill, but Hocheon Lee watched the second foreign pitcher Andy Gonzalez and third starting pitcher Cha Unho ruthlessly beaten mercilessly against the Titans for two days, closer than anyone else.
If you expect Jinyong Lee to do what those two pitchers couldn’t do well, that would be rather burdensome for Jinyong Lee.
“Yes.”
Jinyong Lee didn’t even bother to appeal himself.
A pitcher just needs to prove himself on the mound.
– Who is coming?
At that time, Kim Jin-ho announced someone’s visit, and immediately a member of the club appeared.
An iPad was in the hands of such a club employee.
“Sent from the power analysis team.”
The club employee handed the iPad directly to Ho-Chun Lee, and Ho-Chun Lee turned on the iPad right away.
What Hochun Lee checked was the scouting report saved on the iPad.
“Titans?”
In addition, the scouting report was not about other teams, but about the Busan Titans, who will not be seen for a while after today.
“Why are you giving me this now?”
It was incomprehensible.
Usually, the power analysis team moves one game ahead.
For example, if the Angels and the Titans are in a three-game match, analyze the Ravens, the next opponent of the Angels, not that match.
That is the purpose of the power analysis team.
Analyzing the opposing team’s strength in advance!
There was never a case of suddenly sending out a scouting report for the Titans in this way.
“It’s called an addendum.”
“No, it’s an additional copy and I’m sleeping… OK.”
Hocheon Lee was about to say something, but then he stopped talking.
“Good.”
“Yes.”
The employee left immediately, and Hocheon Lee, who confirmed that the employee had disappeared, spit out a complaint.
“Anyway, that yangban is way too much. This isn’t any major league…”
Major League.
Jinyong Lee immediately responded to that word.
“Major League?”
“Byun Hyung-chae, the leader of the power analysis team.”
“Is there anything wrong with him?”
At that question, Hocheon Lee shook his head briefly.
“Is that possible? He’s a good guy. To be honest, that look is no joke. His eyes and skills are at the level of the major leagues.”
Lee Ho-chun, who was talking, looked at Lee Jin-yong and let out a short sigh.
“The problem is, we’re not at MLB level.”
Hocheon Lee shook the iPad with the horse.
“How are we going to use it if we can send it right away? To be honest, I still find it awkward to look at scouting reports like this, it’s awkward.”
In Hocheon Lee’s tone of voice as he spit out his complaint, he felt something like the grumbling of an old beast, as if he was falling behind the flow of the times.
On the other hand, Jin-yong Lee lit up his eyes like a beast that found its prey.
“Can I see that too?”
“I brought it for you to see, of course.”
With those eyes, I received the iPad that Hocheon Lee handed me.
At that moment, Jinho Kim said.
– Suddenly, I feel like I’m getting cold… No. oh no it won’t Today is the day the real Jinyong must learn something from defeat…
6.
Sunday, May 14th.
While looking at the crowd that filled Jamsil Stadium, the commentators and casters who were talking about the game today looked at the clock.
Now, the moment before the pitcher gets on the mound and throws the ball.
At that moment, the narrator and caster began to bring out their views rather than conveying basic information.
– The Titans in the previous two matches were really great.
– 20 points in 2 games in a row, 20 points in a horse, it is nonsense.
– If so, I wonder how many points the Titans will score today. Is it possible to score 20 points in 3 games in a row?
– Personally, I think it’s highly likely. Now, the hitting sensation of the Titans hitters is at its peak. On the other hand, today’s Angels starting pitcher is Lee Jin-yong. This is his first starter appearance.
– For reference, Jin-yong Lee replaced Do-seop Lee and struck out 10 in 3.2 innings.
– you’re right. Anyway, Jinyong Lee seized the opportunity through that pitching. The problem is that the burden of a starting pitcher is completely different from that of a bullpen pitcher.
– Yes.
– Crucially, today’s Titans must have prepared everything to defeat Jinyong Lee. On the other hand, Jin-yong Lee took a chance on his own, but he suddenly came up as a starter. I guarantee that Jinyong Lee would never have dreamed of starting out like this today when he replaced Doseop Lee in the match against the Shaxx.
– Apart from that, Jinyong Lee’s unique cheers are hot among baseball fans these days. What do you think of that?
– Now I’m going to be careful. If not, at least there’s no room for such cheers in today’s game. For Lee Jin-yong, today’s match will be exhausting just to face the Titans hitters.
– The moment I spoke, Jinyong Lee came up to the mound.
And the game started with the commentary of the commentators.
Jinyong Lee, he’s on the mound.
Lee Jin-yong, who came up to the mound like that, had a smile on his lips, and a sense of relief flowing from his body.
On the other hand, Kim Jin-ho, who followed Jin-yong Lee to the mound, was looking at the sky with gloomy eyes.
At that moment, a long sigh escaped Kim Jin-ho’s mouth.
– Oh, I hope it rains when the weather is gloomy.
At those words, Jinyong Lee said while covering his mouth with a glove, making the smile on his lips deeper.
“Then we should issue a heavy rain advisory.”
End