Hold the Fuck On (2)
“Hyungnim Myeongun, why the hell did you release Ivan right now...”
Manager Jeong Hyeonho was deep in thought.
“If we're gunning for the championship, a replacement was necessary.”
“True, but... the team's in rough shape as it is.”
The Titans had been going through a tough stretch since June. Losing a starter who could gut out at least five innings, no matter how poorly he pitched, hurt like hell.
“They gave up seven runs against the Warriors, for crying out loud.”
“Tsk...”
Points were points, win or lose.
“Makes me regret sending Haeseong out there.”
With a gaping hole in the rotation, it was no wonder the manager second-guessed trading away a promising arm.
“But Hoon's been killing it, right?”
“Yeah. I'm not regretting the trade itself. It's just the timing sucks.”
The front office had done their job. Now it was up to the field staff to step up.
“No choice.”
“What's the plan for the rotation going forward?”
“When's the new mercenary showing up?”
“All-Star break at the earliest, they said.”
“...About three weeks left?”
They'd need at least three spot starters before the new foreign pitcher arrived.
“Let's go with Sangwoo for now.”
Manager Jeong Hyeonho's pick was Jang Sangwoo, who had been handling long relief in the majors.
“Sangwoo's solid enough as a fill-in starter.”
“He competed for the fifth spot last year.”
“Right.”
The manager stared holes through the calendar before getting up and heading to the home dugout at Shin Sajik Baseball Stadium.
Scribble scribble.
Jeong Hyeonho jotted something on the dugout's whiteboard.
“This is what we've gotta do from here on out.”
June. The Titans' strategy was set.
“Ha... Thank God tomorrow's starter is Yuha.”
Fortunately, Jin Yuha was on the mound tomorrow.
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Ivan got released. It was what we wanted, but still a shame.
Just a tiny bit?
Nah, not really.
It wasn't just because of the text he sent before leaving.
He even apologized separately in the group chat...
Ivan had gone into the Titans' team group chat to apologize for getting antsy over his stats and souring the mood.
No reason to hold a grudge now that he's gone.
Who knew what his baseball future held? Probably not some rosy dream.
Still, hope he turns out okay.
It wouldn't be the first time a guy bounced from the KBO and lit it up in the majors out of nowhere.
I'd heard about Ivan's replacement from Dad ahead of time.
Been a while.
He was my teammate before regression, so his stuff was legit.
Though he hasn't fully bloomed yet.
Still, plenty of time before he arrived. We'd have to grind to hold our spot in the standings until then.
Just like the slogan scrawled on the whiteboard overnight.
Right before taking the mound. During the routine high-fives with the team.
Clap!
“Yuha.”
Manager Jeong Hyeonho grabbed my hand after the final clap and held on.
“Make it happen...”
It was a desperate plea.
Thump thump! Clap! Thump thump! Clap!
“You got it.”
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Crack!!
“Strike three!”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
At least something was going right.
“Hm, guess it's my turn now.”
The Titans didn't have just one ace—me.
James Gilbert. Uncle Jack Gordon's fanboy, dreaming of Mets stardom, and the Titans' other ace.
After his own complete game shutout.
“Jonna hold on!”
He shouted our June slogan from the mound while dismantling the Carver lineup.
Final line: 7 innings, zero runs. Minimal bullpen usage and a team win—pitcher's dream outing.
Now it was up to senior Jang Sangwoo.
Won't be easy...
The opposing starter had a weird personality but threw gas.
“Jin Yuha! Shame we couldn't match up. I wanted to test myself against the guy who taught me a lesson. But I'll give it everything. Desperate times!”
The finale of the weekday series against the Carvers. Their starter: “Desperate Bird” Park Gwangho.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Whew...”
Before taking the hill, Jang Sangwoo took a deep breath to steady himself. First start in ages.
First of the season?
Last year, he'd battled for the fifth spot with plenty of chances. But the monster rookie's arrival relegated him to long relief this year.
Not complaining, though...
How could he? The 19-year-old kid who'd bumped him was now the staff ace.
...I wanna start, too.
Every pitcher dreams of starting. This outing was his shot. Kill it, and he might snag the shaky Kwak Jaewoong's spot.
Jaewoong was a solid teammate, sure—but still a rival for the rotation.
Conditions were ideal, too. Yuha and James had eaten innings, giving the pen full rest. He could push without worry.
Just fill five innings.
Sangwoo faced the leadoff hitter relaxed.
Whoosh!!
First pitch: four-seamer right in the zone on veteran catcher Park Cheongwon's lead. Post-Yuha, Titans catchers loved aggressive first-pitch strikes.
Crack!!
- 148 km/h
Nothing on Yuha's heat, but...
“Strike!”
Sangwoo's four-seamer had decent pop, zipping into the zone.
Tap tap.
Second pitch.
Whoosh!!
Curve from pitching coach Kim Pilsun.
Bwoooong!!
The batter swung at the big-breaking curve.
Crack!!
“Swinging strike!”
Whiff city.
Two strikes.
Dominating early, Sangwoo's confidence surged.
Bwoooong!!
And...
“Swinging strike three!”
Curve into high heat for the K—his bread and butter.
Today's the day?
Sangwoo sensed this could be his best start of the year.
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The venerable sports channel baseball show Baseball Tomorrow. Lately, no team got more buzz from the panel than the Busan Titans.
“The team that declared rebuild end—way ahead of expectations, topping the East.”
Their season was a total shock.
“Fun team to watch. Mercs—minus released Ivan Rodriguez—plus rookies shining bright.”
The Titans were that “fun to watch” squad.
“Titans fans nationwide must feel like they're walking on clouds.”
“Hence the altitude sickness joke?”
“Yeah, hits home for some here.”
“Ah, our Soyanghyeon was a Pistol back then.”
“Ahem.”
And above all...
“Ultimately, Yuha held the Titans together when June nearly broke them.”
The most watchable player? Jin Yuha, no contest.
“Series saver twice already, complete games both times. With an ace like that, no long skids.”
“Whoa! Both CGs!”
Snap!
Soyanghyeon, shaking off altitude PTSD, snapped his fingers.
“Exactly. Yuha and James Gilbert—ace inning-eaters.”
“Titans' pen was always weak, but those two mask it.”
“Gives relievers rest to dominate.”
“Jang Sangwoo said he trusted the fresh pen for aggressive pitches. Perfect cycle.”
Soyanghyeon and Kang Dongho—legends from weak teams Pistol and Titans—traded takes, insisting the Titans would hold first.
But...
“Dunno how long that lasts.”
Kim Chungshik, the “hater doll,” poured cold water.
“Aces got 'em through to Saturday, but rotation's far from fixed. Overload coming.”
Fair point.
“Kwak Jaewoong's still off. Took the L today vs. Rangers.”
If it was just a week, why plaster 【Fucking Hold On】 on the dugout wall?
Still...
“They survived the week somehow.”
“Sunday game left?”
Even the hater admitted the first hold-out week was solid—Sunday included.
“Yuha's on the bump. Obvious.”
No bashing the untouchable now.
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At least they're not calling it a 'test' anymore.
Jin Yuha switched off the TV, a satisfied smirk on his face.