Earnestness (2)
Ivan Rodriguez crumbled without mercy in his second start.
He'd looked pretty solid after retiring the side in order in the first. But in the next inning, he gave up a leadoff single followed by consecutive walks, putting the bases loaded with nobody out.
Senior Baek Jihun's godlike defense minimized the damage from that jam, but...
Crack!!
Leadoff homer in the bottom of the third.
Thwack!!
"Ball."
Another walk.
"What?! How's that a ball! How?!"
Ivan Rodriguez vented his frustration at the uncooperative game...
Crack!!
He couldn't even make it through three innings, let alone five, and got yanked early again.
"Mierda!"
Spitting curses after getting chased for sucking soured the dugout vibe. Guy won't last long.
"Oh, honestly, I think one Rodriguez is plenty for this team."
Frank, the slugger with the same last name, seemed to agree.
In this situation? Does this dude have zero tact?
Personality's got issues, but his skills are top-notch, so better than the other Rodriguez.
Anyway. Unless Ivan pulls off some dramatic turnaround, we'll meet again in a few months. Rebuild's final year—Titans' manager and front office want results, and foreign players get swapped easy. Poor mercenaries' fate.
Crack!!
Funny part? The game flipped after Ivan stormed out pissed. Silent yesterday, fire-breathing today. Titans' bats were wildly inconsistent.
"Huh?"
Hitting hot and cold day-to-day means...
"Nah, can't be?"
Me, tomorrow's starter, shoved down the anxiety.
Even funnier shit happened post-game.
Feels like I got sniped outta nowhere.
Citizen ballclub formed from undrafted and released players. Stuck in Futures League forever as pro minors, finally hit KBO five years ago after going corporate. Carvers' roots are gritty, earnest underdogs.
Ace Park Gwangho loved that earnestness. Never lived the citizen days himself, but whatever.
So.
"I hate Jin Yuha."
Park Gwangho despised Jin Yuha.
"Dude, sniping a kid like that?"
"Why don't you hate him?"
"No reason to?"
"Forgot the Carvers spirit?!"
"Hyung, here we go again."
Son of baseball legend Jin Yusung, Jin Yuha—born with a silver spoon, never desperate once. Arrogant as hell.
Some guys fight just to step on the mound, and this punk casually talks ROY and MVP? The nerve?
Park Gwangho vowed to smack that arrogance down and declared it publicly.
"But hyung, you weren't exactly desperate either."
"What?"
"You're a talent freak who got overall #1 pick and rotated as a rookie."
"Hmph... but it's Carvers."
"Sometimes I wonder if you even like this team."
Junior's ribbing didn't shake his resolve.
"Cheongwon hyungnim. Brought Gwangho. Gwangho, apologize to Yuha quick."
Even when captain Kim Doyu dragged him to the Titans dugout pre-game.
"...No."
Park Gwangho refused to apologize for the interview.
"What?! Hey, Park Gwangho!"
Stunned Kim Doyu yelled.
"You kidding me right now?"
Park Cheongwon—usually chill—frowned hard, sparking this meetup.
Heart-pounding for anyone, but underdog rep Park Gwangho stayed unfazed.
"I stand by my words. I'll prove it on the mound."
He boldly predicted victory.
Oh... this guy's fun.
Jin Yuha watched the declaration with intrigued eyes.
Thwack!!
"Strike three!"
Top of the first. #3 hitter Frank Rodriguez froze at the plate for the inning's final out.
"Yes!"
The mound ace pounded his glove and roared.
"Park Gwangho hyung... thought he wasn't a bad guy, but getting more disappointed."
'Dugout cheerleader' Jeong Hanseong grumbled.
"Why? Celebrating's fine."
"You'd shield him after getting sniped?"
"Hm... trash talk's part of it."
I think some trash talk's necessary. Fans and press love it.
Not 'cause my family's famous for it or anything.
"Sigh... worrying about others."
"True. Worry about yourself."
"Hey!"
Even trash-talkers hold back on rookies, usually.
Guess I got karma.
Plus.
"Guess he fuels motivation like that. Whatever."
"Tch, thinks pitcher empathy comes with the job?"
Normal pitchers are rare.
"I'm different. One of the few sane ones."
Everyone else? Nah.
"...Fuck."
Left grumbling Jeong Hanseong and headed out.
Stomp stomp! Clap! Stomp stomp! Clap!
Foot stomps and claps echoed. My turn on the mound.
Have I ever been truly earnest?
Probably.
Kid me flailed to drag a hopeless team to playoffs. Wanted to build a dynasty like Dad's debut squad. Pretty earnest back then.
Later, with vets dropping like flies to injuries, I propped up the team. Aiming beyond dynasty, craving history. A bit earnest.
But now? Baseball ain't that earnest for me.
Just for fun.
Peaked, regressed. This life's pure enjoyment. No room for desperation.
Don't even know what earnest means anymore. Too long ago.
But I get what Park Gwangho—no, Carvers—means.
Carvers' earnestness is tenacity.
Hitters grind at-bats long, never fold easy...
Exhausting team. But.
Problem is, they stop at tenacious and tiring.
Like James said, not tough to face. Except.
For me today, worst matchup.
—"Yuha, just 80 pitches tomorrow."
I'm on an 80-pitch limit today.
—"Wanna throw more? Yuha, spare me. I'll get hanged from Sajik pole for overworking you."
For Manager Jeong Hyeonho's sake.
Doesn't mean I'll lose. Baseball ain't won on earnestness alone.
Whoosh!!
Started with four-seam, like always.
Thwack!!
"Strike!"
Ball stormed the plate, nestling perfectly in Park Cheongwon's mitt.
Tap tap.
Senior tossed the ball back, tapped the PitchCom.
Nod.
I nodded quick.
Whoosh!!
Fired it fast.
"Ah."
A fireballer over 160km/h with quick tempo? Nightmare for hitters. No think time—ball's just there.
Thwack!!
"Strike!"
Like now.
Tap tap.
Hitters panic eventually.
Whoosh!!
Panic swings are hasty. Tenacious types hate standing pat.
Foul tip!
Hasty swings rarely produce good contact.
"Out!"
Pop-up stayed in infield, gloved by third baseman Yoon Gangyeol.
Crack.
#2 hitter grounded to second on changeup.
Whiff!!
"Swinging strike three!"
#3 whiffed weakly on splitter.
I three-up-three-down-ed the first like Park Gwangho.
'Prove it on the mound,' huh?
So I'd show earnestness loses to skill.
Smirk.
Small smile descending the mound.
Grind.
Park Gwangho glared, teeth clenched, eyes ablaze.
I'm the total villain here.
Feels more natural, honestly.