Chapter 91
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Even Rock-Paper-Scissors Must Be Won Against Japan (1)
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-"Maeng-ho, congrats on the homer."
"What, that's a given. Look forward to the season too. I'll smash everything."
-"Confidence. I like it."
"Heh, without confidence, I'd just be a corpse."
-"True enough. Our Maeng-ho. What are you gonna do tomorrow?"
"Hmm... that might be tough? Cheol-young hyung's injury isn't that bad."
-"Really? What a shame. If only his leg had shattered completely."
So-young saying something like that? I was startled by the unexpected words.
-"That way the season start would be delayed, right? Still, it's a relief. None of our pitchers went to the WBC this time. This season's the perfect opportunity."
Cheon So-young... scary woman. It was clear So-young was obsessed with the AT Thunderbirds.
-"Just kidding. We don't need that kind of help—we can win with pure skill. And Maeng-ho, you know this, right? Against Japan, you have to win even at rock-paper-scissors."
So it was a joke after all. I nearly got scared for a second. No, the real scary part was her genuinely believing the AT Thunderbirds could win the championship on skill alone.
"Of course I know. Sigh. If only I could play, Ohtani or whoever would just be breakfast."
-"Hehe. Naturally. Who do you think picked you?"
"Thanks for choosing me. So, no more ghost dreams lately?"
-"Yeah. But it feels a bit lonely... without you."
"Just wait. After the tournament, I'll pound you like a dog."
-"I'll look forward to it..."
Thinking about having sex with So-young made my dick twitch. Ugh, I want to fuck her soon.
-"Oh, right. Maeng-ho, you changed your Stargram profile pic? To the one from the article?"
"Yeah, it came out nice. Hold on, noona, you have Stargram? Why didn't you tell me? What's your ID?"
-"Oh, my ID is numbers for 'cheon,' English S... Uh, sorry, Maeng-ho! Later, I'll contact you later! Something urgent came up. Ha. Ha. Ha."
Click. So-young suddenly hung up. What was that? At least she gave me her ID. Might as well check Stargram now that it's out.
I never posted or checked DMs because of all the idiots, just followed pretty girls and lurked. But on a day like today, I wanted to see the DMs.
'As expected, tons of DMs.'
Well, after that performance, it'd be weirder not to get any. I skipped no-profile or guy-profile DMs, checked only from pretty girls, and replied. Mostly just 'Thanks for the support.'
"Oh, this one's hot—sent her own tit pic? Save first."
I was occasionally snagging pics and having a fun time when a drab guy's voice interrupted.
"Maeng-ho hyung. Meeting room, now. Pre-game analysis for tomorrow."
It was Jang Woo-ju. We'd gotten closer, so he used casual speech now. Tsk. My niceness is the problem.
"Okay. Why not just text? You came all the way here?"
"Hey, last time I texted and you bitched about no manners. Was gonna text, but heard your voice in the hall."
One thing I learned after going casual with Jang Woo-ju: his dialect barely showed in polite speech, but it popped in casual. Anyway, not important. To defend my honor, I shot back at Jang Woo-ju.
"Hey, that was senior-to-junior advice. Don't do it to other hyungs. I'm fine, but they might not like it. Wanna see real bitching?"
"Advice, my ass. Hyung, you're such a boomer, you know that?"
"Wanna see what a real boomer is? Huh?"
"Whoa, scary. Quit it and hurry up."
Following Jang Woo-ju to the meeting room, it was empty.
"What? You tricked me?"
"Maknae gotta come early."
Hmm... fair. Anyway, chatting with Jang Woo-ju about this and that while waiting, soon all the players gathered, and finally the coach entered.
"Ahem. First, congrats on the Australia win."
Wooo! Clap clap clap!
Cheers and applause filled the room. Nothing beats winning.
"But."
Coach Lee Geum-hyun's firm tone turned the excited players serious. Everyone focused on his words.
"No one's slacking just because we beat Australia. Our real opponent is Japan tomorrow. And that Ohtani. Batters stay, pitchers to the next room."
"Yes!"
"Got it."
As batters and pitchers split after Coach Lee Geum-hyun's words, the projector started showing Ohtani's pitching footage.
Ohtani's fastball thudded heavily into the catcher's mitt on screen.
"Fuck. What the hell."
Someone's curse slipped out. I knew it already, but analyzing made it feel even more insane.
'Rogers, what do you think?'
'...These kids nowadays are on another level.'
Even Rogers seemed a bit rattled by the velocity. Ohtani effect? But he's not even MLB's top pitcher. How monstrous is MLB?
"Fastball average 97.4 mph. About 156 km/h. Velocity-wise, Korea has pitchers like that too. Jang Woo-ju's hit 160 before. But the heaviness? You feel it from the video alone. Hell if I know what analyzing Ohtani even does."
Hitting coach Kang In-hwan's words drew groans from the batters. Every baseball player had seen Ohtani clips. Mid-to-high 150s fastballs, top speed over 160 km/h, near-90 mph splitter, plus cutter, slider, curve—everyone knew.
No obvious tells from video either. He used to have weird faces per pitch, but not anymore.
Ohtani analysis was just pitch-watching time.
"Man, how do you hit that mixed with splitter? Plus cutter, slider. Even occasional changeup."
"Han-beom hyung, what was it like facing him?"
"Felt pushed back every time."
"Joo-tae, anything? Same team."
"Dunno. Never faced him."
"Sang-joo, you?"
"I'm blind."
Team players grilled the MLB guys who'd faced Ohtani.
"Faced him last national team. Balls were fucking nasty."
Fucking nasty balls. Spot on. Ohtani's stuff sucked ass.
'Whatever, tomorrow he's not starting, so not my problem.'
So-young begged me to win, but if I'm not playing, does it matter?
"Ohtani's weaknesses? Misses inside a lot, control's iffy. Even if you hit one down the middle, good contact's no guarantee. Pitch count limit 65, maybe drag it out?"
"Nah, I disagree. Ohtani doesn't run from the zone. Against Korean hitters, he'll pound it. Stand there waiting, you won't even graze it."
Choi Joo-tae, Ohtani's teammate, got a nod from the hitting coach.
"Any other ideas?"
"Just swing at fastballs, I think. Even Ohtani gives up a homer per nine innings or so. Singles for runs? Impossible."
"Still drags the count."
"Even if Ohtani's out and another Jap comes in, same problem, right?"
True. Others agreed with Choi Joo-tae. Japan wasn't just Ohtani. Kikuchi, Darvish, Sawamura—MLB starters. Kenta back from injury. Sasaki with the perfect game hype last NPB year, Tanaka back from MLB. Monsters everywhere sans Ohtani.
Our group: Australia, Panama, China. No threats, so Japan would go all-out.
"Mountains behind mountains."
"Sasaki's no joke either. Sigh..."
Batters' faces darkened again at Choi Joo-tae's words. Japan really that tough?
"So, power lineup for the big blast, hope pitchers hold zero runs."
MLB insight. Hitting coach kept nodding.
"Gotta tell the coach?"
"Yeah. Power-heavy lineup, hunt fastballs, pray for homers."
"Alright, let's try that. No objections?"
"No! Joo-tae sunbae's right."
"Cheol-young, you?"
"Honestly, no confidence hitting Ohtani. Maeng-ho's stronger, so maybe him for the surprise bomb."
"Hyung..."
Yielding his spot for the national team glory. What sportsmanship...! Park Cheol-young's words moved me. He'd even subbed in the Australia game to prep perfectly.
Handing over his spot for the team? Cool as hell.
'Idiot. Stat management.'
'Not everyone's like Rogers. Hyung's doing it for the country.'
"Talk to coach first. Ohtani analysis ends here. Coach Lee! Next pitcher."
"Got it."
Possible start tomorrow, I focused harder on the projector than ever.
*
[Now, introducing the Korean national team's lineup. Leadoff hitter, shortstop Choi Joo-tae. Number two, center fielder Joo Seung-cheol. Three, left fielder Ki Sang-joo. Cleanup, DH Kang Han-beom. Five, right fielder Lee Jin-hong. Six, first baseman Koo Jin-mo. Seven, third baseman Kim Soo-ho. Eight, catcher Lee Yong-gi. Nine, second baseman Ji Maeng-ho. Lineup changed from yesterday?]
[Feels like Coach Lee Geum-hyun stacked it with big-bat guys. Choi Joo-tae's a contact guy in MLB now, but hit 30+ homers pre-debut. Joo Seung-cheol 30, Ki Sang-joo five straight 20+ seasons. Lee Jin-hong didn't play yesterday, but injury-free, he's homer title contender anytime.]
[Oh, word is the lineup's collective homer titles total eight.]
[Haha, wish Choi Jin-cheol was here for this.]
[Hmm. But second baseman Ji Maeng-ho—what's the idea there?]
[Rookie sensation last year breaking high school homer records. But worrying he's too burdened as a young kid. Need table-setters like Park Cheol-young too.]
[Still, Ji Maeng-ho's grit runs and homer showed well?]
[Sure, but Australia pitchers vs. Japan? Big difference. I like him personally—hope no slump, proves me wrong with a great game today.]
[And right on cue, play ball. Japan's starter: LA Angels' Ohtani Shohei. Last MLB: 15-9, 2.33 ERA. Korea's leadoff: Ohtani teammate Choi Joo-tae.]
[They know each other well, so mutual caution.]