Sly Deception and Defensive Fireworks
Slyly, the caster asked with a hint of bewilderment, "Cunning, you say?"
"Yes, very cunning. I thought Kim Hu-seong was just a sharp player, but to pull off such a devious play... It wasn't just a numbers game—he set the whole stage, and that's how Go Ju-seok got caught."
Then a short replay clip aired.
"Any team doing proper scouting has figured out that Kim Hu-seong reads pitchers from second base by now. So when he got to second, pitcher Cha Gyu-seok started minding him, hiding his moves well. That's when Kim Hu-seong activated Plan B."
"Plan B meaning the steal attempt, right?"
"That's the usual assumption. Because Kim Hu-seong widened his lead like he was about to steal. In response, shortstop Go Ju-seok kept charging toward second to pin him down. But..."
At that moment, a replay of Gu Min-seok's at-bat played.
"That was the smokescreen. See it now? Gu Min-seok's ball looks like a lucky single slipping through, but it was really just a routine grounder to short. The third baseman and shortstop were hugging the bag, opening up the gap between them. Thanks to that, Gu Min-seok—a standard righty—hit it like normal and got a hit."
"It's like exploiting a shifted defense."
"Ah, exactly that vibe. Though it looks like Kim Hu-seong orchestrated it. Still, you can't blame the fielders much. Because... Kim Hu-seong has run in tough spots like this before. So the pitcher has to throw, but the fielders can't ignore the possibility completely."
"Ah, right. Against Pigeons, wasn't it? He stole twice recklessly and survived."
"Spot on. Shortstop Go Ju-seok? He's a five-tool player. Hits well, but his defense is elite too. That's why he's the national team shortstop. If Kim Hu-seong had gotten complacent after the pitch, Go Ju-seok was positioned to dive to the bag for a rundown play with the catcher's throw. But it was all a smokescreen to let them hit a single easily, and they fell for it."
"Wow... so much gamesmanship going on."
"That's why I called it cunning. The best way to hide intent is false information. Pretending to do nothing is obvious—pretending to do something else is way sneakier. When Kim Hu-seong's on base, the risk just spikes."
After the top of the first, I headed straight out to the field. The scoreboard showed 3 runs when I left the dugout, and scoring early had definitely loosened up the vibe. But that ease didn't translate to pure comfort.
Today's starter was Lee Dong-hyeon, the team's fourth guy. Solid lefty touching late 140s, but his control was shaky—not untrustworthy, just the type where variables could pop up anytime.
The anxiety became reality fast. He walked the leadoff hitter on four straight balls, then gave up a first-pitch single to the two-hole. Boom—runners on first and second, no outs.
I let out the tiniest sigh watching it. No runs yet, but the momentum could flip to them any second.
Cleanup hitter Kim Yong-hun stepped in. I dialed my focus up half a beat sharper than usual, waiting for the ball.
Whiiip—crack!
Batter hit it!
The instant the bat connected, a line drive rocketed up into my field of vision. Instinct kicked in first—no time to back up, I just leaped, snagging it off the tip of my glove as it grazed past my head.
Landed and checked the pocket—ball secure.
Shortstop jumps and catches it. Great reaction from Kim Hu-seong.
I scanned quick: runner from second, Jang Min-ho, scampered back; first-base runner Ryu Seong-jae retreated too. One out.
Whew... Breath settled then.
Next, four-hole Go Ju-seok. Power threat, so I shifted back a hair—deep enough to give up singles but cut off extra bases.
Crack!
Batter pulls it!
This trajectory looked familiar. Ball dropping right in front of left field... but I poured it on, sprinting diagonal, head back tracking as it sailed over. At the last second, read the landing, stretched full, and snagged the pop fly.
Pop.
Kim Hu-seong has it! Kim Hu-seong showing insane range! His shortstop defense is sharp too—great positioning. Being a step shallow made the out possible.
Just like that, two outs, runners on first and second. With the easy outs, starter Lee Dong-hyeon's face lit up.
Last batter, five-hole Tommy Nople. Righty too, but grounded routinely to me off a changeup.
Coming right at me—not a tough one. No rush, scooped it smooth, fired a laser to first.
Shortstop throws to first.
Pop! Ball hits the mitt—out called. Inning over.
Out! Chance wasted—Crows leave 'em stranded at the corners.
Top of the third, back at the plate. Sizing up the pitcher and fielders, catcher Lee Ji-hoon spoke first.
"Hey, you're pretty good. That earlier play—on purpose?"
I shrugged without looking away. "Dunno. Just wanted to steal, but it didn't pan out."
Lee Ji-hoon smirked and nodded. "Clever brain you've got. Baseball fun that way?"
I grinned back. "All pitchers and catchers are con artists, they say. I like that side. You? Nah, doesn't seem honest. More like... dirty tricks?"
Brief silence, then he snorted. "Heh... whatever."
With that, he flashed inside signs.
Whiiip...
? Deep.
Ball screamed in—I froze the swing, bailed back. Blatant. Nearly plunked.
Caught my breath, eyed the catcher. "Whoa, scary. Pitcher lose control?"
Lee Ji-hoon tilted his head, grinning. "Nah? Just dirty. You dodged nice."
Oh? Game on, huh?
Gripped the bat firm. "Okay, cool. Let's go all the way."
Alright. Time to show no intentions of getting on base this at-bat.
Choked up a bit.
...
Tick!
Kim Hu-seong fouls it off again. Eighth pitch, foul.
Reset quick—like it was nothing. Like I could do this forever.
Whew... good. Opener shaking—precision gone. Some hittable pitches, but I nudged or yanked fouls anyway.
Cha Gyu-seok looked deflated.
...Huh? Wait, no... eyes fired up again? What?
Then it hit—Cha Gyu-seok nodded like he spotted something.
Whiiip—gah!
Ducked fast—ball buzzed my head. Lee Ji-hoon lunged but missed.
Eyed the pitcher. Cha Gyu-seok's face screamed oh shit.
Overdid it. That was meant as a plunk to load me—misfired high.
So...
Yelled at the ump. "That a headhunt? Eject him!"
Lee Ji-hoon yanked his mask. "Total miss on control."
"Doesn't matter—this was at minimum a plunk..."
"Plunk? Didn't hit."
"I dodged."
"Enough."
Ump cut in. "Warning the pitcher. Calm down."
No good—that favors them. But push more and I risk ejection for arguing. Still... gotta appeal now.
"Second time. First pitch was basically a plunk too—I dodged lucky. You let it slide once. And this was the head. I dodged, but it flew at my skull. You heard our chat—intentional."
"..."
Ump pondered, then ejected the pitcher.
Crows skipper rushed out frantic.
Heh heh heh. Perfect. Top three, ace yanked already. Skipper protests won't overturn. And I'm at two strikes, one ball—next guy's gotta dance with me.
Bottom five, Kim Young-ho sat stock-still on the bench, eyes locked on the field. Scoreboard: 5-2 Turkeys. Seemed stable, but the story wasn't.
Hmm...
Starter Lee Dong-hyeon had grinded through, no meltdowns but leaking runs here and there. Visible fatigue—velocity dipping, ball losing bite.
Now one out, runners on first and second. Top of the order due.
Chief coach leaned in. "Skipper, who from the pen?"
Hmm... how do starters never reach five?
Same question pre-inning. Situation fuzzy. Three-run lead—cushy? Risky. Change now? Early.
Kim Young-ho lips pursed, silent awhile.
Finally, low: "Three-game skid? Nah."
Chief got it. Wants the firemen. Yeah... after that mess up top.
Flow ours now—no need unproven arms to blow it.
Chief nodded. "I say win the winnables."
"That so?"
"Yeah. Who to warm?"
Eyes still field-bound: "One hit here, bring in Lee Tae-sin."
"Got it."
Beat, then: "Tell 'em firemen's up today. Bats gave the edge—pitchers match it."