Veteran Rookie (4)
In short postseason series like this, the importance of the first game goes without saying. That's why every manager prepares multiple plans for that opening matchup.
"Hyung, you're busy enough—did you really have to make all those calls? Our plan revolves around Jin Yuha anyway. Do we really need to scout him?"
Correction: almost every manager prepares multiple plans for the first game.
Rhinos manager Andonghwa was no exception.
He actively deployed hitters with strong records against Jin Yuha. For instance, surprising everyone by slotting backup infielder Jeon Ilsong into the two-hole.
It was a subtle edge, but he held the team's best stats against Yuha. If Yuha got rattled in his first postseason start, that tiny advantage could prove fatal.
For pitchers, the plan was to conserve them as much as possible. If Yuha pitched without nerves, like his usual self, expecting to beat him would be pure arrogance. Even in a best-of-seven, it made more sense to think about the next game.
That's why Pedro Lopez drew the Game 1 start. With his two-seamer as his main weapon, he was an innings-eater who induced ground balls galore.
"Ha…"
But Andonghwa had focused so intently on Jin Yuha that he'd overlooked the rest of the Titans roster.
In his defense, it was unavoidable. Yuha's presence alone exerted immense pressure on the Rhinos. Most Titans players lacked postseason experience, so a touch of complacency was fair too.
"I figured he'd at least hold through the fifth cleanly."
In truth, the Titans hitters were out of sorts through two innings. They swung desperately, gifting outs on Pedro's two-seamer.
But from the third, the mood shifted.
"Jin Yuha, you again?"
The cause? Probably Yuha.
– "Heh heh… Know your hyung's downfall? No Jin Yuha on the team!"
Andonghwa's ears rang with his lucky bastard little bro's words from last night.
Hitters have it easy. Not because I'm biased as a pitcher—it's just true.
Pitchers get flamed for one run like it's the end of the world, while hitters can go quiet all game and become heroes off a single RBI.
"Yuha! You see that?!"
Not that I mind Jeong Suyeong sunbae's fist pump after his timely hit. He gave it his all and delivered—he's earned the joy.
Hitters are just wired that way. Bluntly, getting three hits out of ten is hero status. Most can't even manage that.
But sometimes those three come in one inning. We call it a big inning.
Bottom of the third. Two outs, two on.
Crack!!
Kang Gihoo sunbae blended technique and power, smashing one off the wall for an RBI double.
Score: 2-0.
Crack!!
Lefty Frank Rodriguez pushed an outside two-seamer the opposite way, over the shortstop's head.
Two outs, bases loaded? No—two outs, runners on first and third.
Thwack!!
"Ball."
Veteran DH Oh Daesoo, retiring after the year, worked a seven-pitch walk.
Two outs, bases loaded.
Crack!!
Yoon Gangyeol sunbae, oddly weak against Pedro, flared a blooper that looked inning-ending.
"…Man, check out that hop."
Like Baek Jihun sunbae beside me marveled, it dropped in a perfect spot.
Score: 3-0. Still two outs, bases loaded.
Now Jegal Hoon sunbae, with the team's best numbers against Pedro.
Crack!!
"Foul!"
Crack!!
"Foul!"
Crack!!
"Foul!"
Relentlessly fouling off tough pitches, he battled on.
Whoosh!!
Pedro, tiring from the long inning, grooved one down the middle.
Crack!!
He crushed it perfectly.
Whoosh.
Standing still, watching it fly, he tossed his bat high.
– Whoaaa!!
Bottom of the third. Titans erupted for seven runs in a flash.
Crack!!
"Out!"
Late regular season. In blowouts like this, I'd usually come out early, pitch count be damned. But.
"No plans to exit early today."
"Huh? Never even crossed my mind."
Jeong Hyeonho manager grinned smugly.
"Told that sulking Andonghwa hyung too—my plan for today is you."
"…Meaning?"
"Shut 'em out complete."
Handing me a complete game, huh.
"Got it."
Not like I'd refuse.
"Coach Kim, ever heard that saying?"
Pitching coach Kim Pilseon furrowed his brow at Jeong Hyeonho's question.
"What nonsense now?"
"…Your respect for the manager's lacking, no?"
"You can't even boss Yuha around anyway."
"Think you should be saying that?"
"Tch…"
Kim Pilseon had no comeback. He was the same.
"Anyway. 'Everyone's got a plan—till they get hit.' Famous line."
"Sure is."
"But I think? Even after getting smacked once, folks gotta plan again eventually."
Kim Pilseon couldn't grasp where this genius manager was going.
"Andonghwa hyung's surely the type."
"Ah."
"Beat bad by Yuha in the regular season, but he'd have plans anyway. Guy like him probably mapped out Plan C."
"Makes sense. Meticulous as he is."
"But deep down, he knows. Those plans mean zilch."
Thwack!!
"Strike three!"
Yuha's strikeout parade resumed after a brief pause post-nine straight K's.
"Against us with Yuha on the mound? Plans are pointless. Just thrashing."
"…Smh."
Kim Pilseon, dreaming of managing someday, imagined facing Yuha and the Titans. He swallowed hard.
No answer in sight.
"That's my point."
"Which is?"
Whiff!!
"Swinging strike three!"
"Yuha joining us was a godsend."
"Such an obvious line. Bored or what?"
"Kinda feels that way. This really our first postseason?"
Thwack!!
"Strike three!"
"…Wait, have the Rhinos even reached base once?"
Kim Pilseon blankly checked the board.
"…Nope."
Original plan: Crush their spirit in Game 1.
Overshot it?
Rhinos no hits through seven.
Crack!!
Meanwhile, Titans piled up double digits.
"Perfect, huh?"
"Hey!"
Jeong Hanseong, scoring and jogging back, startled and tried to cover my mouth—then froze. Pitcher mid-perfect uttering the words?
"What."
"…Tch. You can't say that."
Eh.
"If the guy's doing it himself, should be fine."
"Baek Jihun sunbae got that huge lump on his head tempting fate like that."
Sue me.
"I'm the pitcher."
And.
"Think breaking the jinx means an instant hit?"
With Rhinos this limp today?
…
Crack!!
"Ah."
My bad—arrogant.
Crack!!
Thwack!!
"Strike three!"
Top ninth.
Rhinos manager Andonghwa stared dazedly at the blue-eyed ace on the mound.
Thwack!!
"Strike three!"
Three batters up, three more K's. Just nine pitches.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
"That ruthless bastard…"
Eastern Championship Series Game 1: Titans rout.
Jamsil Dome, Seoul.
Complete game hero Shim Chando checked the Eastern Game 1 result in the locker room.
WP: Jin Yuha (9 IP, 1 H, 16 K, 0 R)
"…Jin Yuha shut 'em out too."
Shim Chando sensed his dreamed-of duel with Jin Yuha drawing ever closer.