What I Know and What I Don't Know (2)
Today's game marked my eleventh start. Which meant.
They've all finished their analysis on me by now, more or less.
I was the best pitcher in the KBO right now, so that was even more likely.
A fireballer who could touch 160 km/h with his four-seamer. A technician who freely mixed in sweepers, splitters, two-seamers, cutters, and changeups.
A bold aggressor who attacked the strike zone head-on. Precision that let him differentiate locations on the ball.
That was probably the gist of how they saw me.
Not bad. No wonder they call me a monster.
Well, I'd been called a monster in the big leagues too.
Anyway. The more analysis piled up on me, the harder it'd get to keep up these stats. Sure, my skill was the biggest factor in my current numbers, but I couldn't deny that I was still a relatively unfamiliar pitcher to the other guys.
But looking over that analysis.
Wouldn't you wonder why Jin Yuha never throws a slider?
I hadn't thrown a single slider so far. Sure, the sweeper was a slider variant, but these days it was treated as its own distinct pitch.
A lot of teams must have been puzzled. Did Jin Yuha not throw sliders? Or could he not?
Even Coach Kim Pilsun suggested I learn one.
Coach Kim Pilsun, who'd turned super passive with me after spring camp, had even brought it up. Everyone was curious. Straight to the point?
Of course I can throw it.
A slider was basically a fundamental breaking ball. With my natural feel for the ball—on par with my velocity—there was no way I couldn't.
Though my curve still lacks polish.
Guardians game: 7 innings, scoreless. Pistols game: 8 innings, 1 run.
Those were my last two outings. Impressive numbers, but lacking compared to what I'd done before.
The hitters are starting to get used to me.
I'd anticipated this from before the season. That's why I'd been hiding the slider.
In a word, it was my insurance policy.
Not that I couldn't dominate without it.
Thwack!!
"Strike three!"
But wasn't this more fun?
Look at that panicked face.
Adding one more pitch to a pitcher's arsenal wasn't just about having an extra ball to throw. It changed everything.
Thwack!!
"Strike!"
Crack!!
"Foul!"
A new breaking ball—especially a polished one—made you an entirely different pitcher.
Whiff!!
"Swinging strike three!"
This was my excuse for the Rhinos, who ate three strikeouts on nine pitches from me in the first—despite it being our second meeting. My thoughtfulness at work.
The top of the first ends with just nine pitches and three perfect strikeouts. That's Jin Yuha's second hitless inning of the season.
Hahaha... what can you even say? A slider out of nowhere... The Rhinos must've prepped hard for Jin Yuha, but it was all for nothing.
The Rhinos players looked totally rattled, right?
Jin Yuha already had a diverse arsenal, and now it's even bigger. Red alert—not just for the Rhinos, but for all eleven other KBO teams except the Titans.
...Any chance he's hiding more?
Well... can't rule it out. That slider was way too pro-level perfect to have just learned it recently.
Major League starters are trending toward more variety these days.
It's been that way forever. Japan's legendary pitchers threw up to 14 different pitches in games, and some mixed nearly 10 from all sorts of arm angles. Gotta have weapons to survive as a starter in the world's top league.
The majors really is where the monsters play. And Jin Yuha's right up there with them.
But the Rhinos don't need to lose heart yet. Their starter today is already buzzing as a major league comeback candidate next year.
Pedro Lopez. Season record: 7-2, ERA 2.48. He's half of the Rhinos' killer one-two punch alongside Carl Rauer, pulling their hot streak. And he's on the mound!
Unlike Carl Rauer—who covers his average stuff with pinpoint control—Pedro Lopez wields a mid-150s sinker as his main weapon. The question is how the Titans' hitters handle those nasty, wild-movement balls from his funky delivery.
Can Pedro Lopez revive the Rhinos' deflated vibe? The inning starts as Titans leadoff Jeong Suyeong steps in!
Jeong Galhun was thrilled about his trade to the Titans.
The Fighters weren't unpopular, but the Titans were hands-down the KBO's top draw. Plus, he'd gone straight from backup to starter on second base, with plenty of competition slack.
But above all.
I'm on the same team as that monster.
Jin Yuha.
Last year's Titans? Nah.
No matter how popular, he wouldn't have welcomed the trade to last year's Titans. But this year's squad had real championship upside—maybe even more than the Fighters, who'd lost their ace.
And that's thanks to Yuha too.
Bottom line, Jeong Galhun was happy here because of Jin Yuha. So.
I wanna help Yuha out too...
Helping the ace with his insane stats was simple: solid defense and hitting.
Defense I'm good at... but this Pedro guy's no joke. The East Division's brutal.
He just lacked confidence against the Rhinos' starter.
Crack!!
"Out!"
Leadoff hitter Jeong Suyeong grounded out to short.
Whiff!!
"Swinging strike three!"
Even Kang Gihoo—one of the league's top bats this season—whiffed emptily.
Could he, objectively several notches below them, even get a hit? As he pondered that, watching cleanup hitter Frank Rodriguez head to the plate.
"Huh?"
Jeong Galhun sensed something from Jin Yuha, who was watching the game from the dugout bench.
"Yuha. You know this pitcher well?"
He asked straight up.
"Pardon?"
Jin Yuha looked briefly flustered at the question.
"Not really a stranger."
But he answered quick.
Nice personality too...
The ace Jeong Galhun knew just spewed curses and griped every start. Obviously talking about Yoon Sung, the Fighters' drunk-driving disaster. Compared to that, Jin Yuha was an angel.
"Any tips on how to attack him?"
Jin Yuha stared right through him.
"Hmm, a senior like you might pull it off."
This angel even handed out answers.
"Sigh..."
"What's up, senior?"
Heading out to the field, Baek Jihun let out a massive sigh aimed at me.
"Dude, that tip you gave? I can't use it."
"Ah."
"If I were lefty instead of righty, I'd homer easy!"
Well.
Even with the tip, a homer from you might be a stretch.
Knowing the approach didn't guarantee success.
Fans are already calling it the golden generation. Top of the second pits two 2040 draft first-rounders against each other right off the bat.
Crack!!
No.4 hitter Baek Daegi—who's earned cleanup duties with hot bats since last month—aggressively attacks Jin Yuha's pitch! Low liner sneaks over the infield on a tricky trajectory. Tough grab for the fielders... Baek Jihun! Shortstop Baek Jihun sprints out at warp speed for the basket catch! He robs Baek Daegi's hit!
...Defense is all you need anyway.
June. The Rhinos' lineup had big changes.
Late May, DH Oh Daesu felt pain mid-at-bat. Older than even Park Cheongwon, he got shelved for rest right away.
The Titans filled the DH spot rotationally with guys needing breaks. That was the right way to use it anyway.
And in my starts, with Jeong Hanseong as personal catcher, DH went to Park Cheongwon.
- "Ha... Thought Hanseong would give me a chill day off, but I'm getting old too."
Senior griped like that, but.
Craaack!!
He perfectly met an inside sinker, banging it off the wall.
"Whoa, only to first?"
Slow feet plus scorching exit velo made second a no-go, but it was the team's first hit.
Next, veteran Yoon Gangyeol fouled off seven before striking out.
- No.6 hitter, 2B Jeong Galhun
Jeong Galhun senior's at-bat.
Craaaack!!
"Damn... pushes that one over the wall."
He poked an outside pitch over the fence.
"See? Knowing's key."
The Rhinos got owned 'cause they didn't know my slider.
Wait, they got owned anyway.
Hey, sometimes you lose even when you know.