Hitting the 20-Win Mark
To lower my ERA, I'd resolved to pitch even harder. But honestly, nothing was really going to change from what I'd been doing.
Do I really need to?
For a pitcher, knowing your own limits is crucial. My current stuff was the best I could offer right now. That said.
I did decide to put a bit more effort into the count battle from now on.
Of course, I hadn't completely ignored battling counts with hitters up to now. But.
Truth is, I hadn't obsessed over it that much.
It wasn't that I couldn't—I just didn't. I was confident I could dominate the KBO without sweating the details. And I had.
The basic talent gap is just that huge from the start.
But from here on out, I planned to give it my absolute best. Tough luck for the Wolves players I was facing today.
You should've met me sooner.
Crack!!
The fly ball soared high, clearing the infield and heading to the outfield.
"Shxt!"
But Frank Rodriguez hung his head.
"Out!"
It was an easy play for the outfielder.
"Ha... Lately, nothing's connecting."
Kang Gihoo sunbae, who'd already grounded out earlier, let out a sigh.
The Titans' top of the order, scorching hot throughout July, had cooled off in August. This week, it was beyond quiet—total silence.
"It happens, right?"
I had no intention of grabbing a fungo bat. For several reasons.
"Yeah? Good. I was worried you'd chew us out."
"...Do I seem like that kind of guy?"
"Moonwoo still flinches every time he sees you."
That guy.
"He's just spacing out on defense—that's why."
I'm not the type to rag on slumps. I know hitting goes in cycles, and in the end, only the good hitters keep hitting well anyway.
If I did complain.
"I'd have started with Baek Jihun sunbae, right?"
"Haha... Well. Tough question to answer."
"Huh? You call me?"
Oh.
"Sunbae, you're a tiger. Or maybe a demon."
"Random... But if I have to pick, demon. Defensive Demon Baek Jihun. Sounds cool!"
I patted the sturdy shoulder of the Defensive Demon.
"You said earlier it was boring with no plays, right?"
"Did I?"
He definitely had.
"This inning's gonna keep you busy."
Take it or leave it.
Top of the 2nd.
As the Wolves' foreign hitter Ryan stepped to the plate, he pondered what Jin Yuha would throw.
Probably a four-seam. His velocity's insane today, and he's brimming with confidence.
Having guessed the pitch type, next was location.
It's gotta come right in the zone... He's a rookie, but unlike most power pitchers, he doesn't skimp on hitter analysis. So...
High chance he'd target Ryan's weakest spot.
Inside?
Whoosh!!
The ball came in—inside, just as predicted.
Bzzz!!
Even a weak spot, if anticipated, boosts your odds of solid contact.
Crack!!
"Ugh!"
That is, if Ryan's guess had been spot-on.
"It's really coming at me!"
After years in the KBO, Ryan was decent with Korean, but he couldn't parse the shortstop's shout.
"A two-seam?"
Maybe he just couldn't admit getting toyed by a high school grad rookie with less experience.
The Wolves' foreign hitter, out on a grounder to short, trudged back to the dugout with a wronged look.
What?
It wasn't some injustice. I'd just hit his worst location, and it worked.
Did he think it'd be another four-seam?
Still, no reason to feel cheated. The loser was at fault.
Tap tap.
For top of the 2nd, I was calling signs myself for a bit.
Nod.
Jeong Hanseong fit the "pitch-framing" description perfectly, thrusting out his mitt without a word.
Whoosh!!
Lefty. Swings at anything near the zone. Against that type...
Changeup starting in the zone and fading off the plate.
Crack!!
The hitter, fooled by the changeup, sent a weak grounder rolling toward short again.
"Again!"
The Defensive Demon dashed, snagged what could've been an infield single.
"Out!"
And capped it with a smooth run to first for the out.
"You're the best, sunbae."
"...Yeah?"
Honestly, more house fairy than demon.
Crack!!
"Uwaa! That was a tough one!"
"Out!"
Facing Jin Yuha was a nightmare.
Thwack!!
"Strike!"
Predict pitch and location? He'd mock you with something totally different.
Bzzz!!
"Swinging strike!"
Sit and react? No dice.
Bzzz!!
"Swinging strikeout!"
Jin Yuha had too many out pitches. And his velocity was blazing.
Thwack!!
"Strike!"
Just when you started adapting.
"...It had to be four-seam timing, but a curve here?"
His patterns shifted suddenly.
Crack!!
"Out!"
Actually, two people were mixing pitches right now.
Thwack!!
"Strike!"
Jin Yuha himself.
Crack!!
"Foul!"
And catcher Jeong Hanseong behind the plate.
Thwack!!
"Strikeout!"
The Wolves' starting catcher in his 4th year still took dugout calls in big spots. Yet the Titans' high school battery was already running their own game fully.
"...Jealous."
The Wolves manager finally uttered what every other skipper thought about Titans' Jeong Hyeonho.
Bottom of the 6th.
The lineup finally woke up.
Crack!!
Jeong Hanseong ripped a double off the wall to second.
Thwack!!
Baek Jihun sunbae sac-bunted him to third.
Crack!!
Jeong Suyeong sunbae lifted a sac fly to score him. High-level baseball.
Just one run, but plenty.
"Yuha must be bummed. That hit broke the perfect and no-no."
Even straight-laced Yoon Gangyeol sunbae said it openly. I'd completely shut down the Wolves.
Top of the 7th.
Thwack!!
"Strikeout!"
The sweeper slammed the back door, threading the zone perfectly.
Thwack!!
Sudden bunt attempt, but.
"I got it!"
Hanseong's glove work was flawless.
Crack!!
The towering fly's landing spot?
"Too many balls coming my way today, no?"
Baek Jihun sunbae's glove.
"They're too easy."
"That mouth of his."
Jeong Suyeong sunbae scolded, but he was right.
It was a deflating watch from any angle. The Wolves' offense, momentum crushed early, folded without much fight.
Waaaaah!!
Yet the crowd roared like mad. Naturally.
This was Shin Sajik Baseball Stadium.
Top of the 9th.
The pitcher who'd claimed Sajik's throne in one season took the mound.
Thwack!!
"Strikeout!"
Still topping 160 km/h four-seams sent the leadoff man down swinging.
Snap!!
One of his arsenal's finishers—a cutter—snapped the next guy's bat.
Bzzz!!
"Swinging strikeout!"
The final batter whiffed to end it.
Thud thud! Clap!
Casually stepping off, chatting with the catcher.
Thud thud! Clap!
He tipped his cap to the fans' frenzy.
Waaaaah!!
Titans' first 20-game winner in 55 years: blue-eyed ace Jin Yuha.
"20 wins down..."
"Didn't you say wins don't matter much?"
True.
"But I had that goal from my first interview."
My shutout debut. I'd announced my season targets there.
20 wins. Sub-1.00 ERA. Rookie of the Year and MVP double.
"One down."
"...You've nailed the rest too. Overachieved, even."
Eh.
"Who knows. I might slip like a ghost."
"...Familiar. Mind games again?"
Busted.