Chapter 28
Chapter 28
As the season progresses, even the strongest teams sometimes have days when pitching and hitting just don’t sync.
For the Phoenix fans, that day was today.
The lineup couldn’t score a single run against the opposing pitcher, while their pitchers—both starters and bullpen—were completely dismantled.
If it had ended there, fans might have just cursed a few times and moved on.
But the Phoenix had won the winning series and overtaken the Marines, who had been half a game ahead in the standings.
Looking at the series as a whole, anyone could see that Phoenix had come out on top.
Yet right now, Phoenix fans were as furious as when they had suffered last year’s upset.
[Who the hell came up with the Park Si-woo trade?]
One user replied, “Just in the first inning alone, there were a ton of people saying Park Si-woo did well.”
Another added, “A young lefty who’s shown potential, and they only got Choi Jun-woo in return, lol.”
“Who could’ve predicted he’d suddenly throw a knuckleball like that?”
“Exactly. Why couldn’t we pull off what the Marines did immediately after the trade?”
“And that was rehab, lol.”
“Rehab = throwing 120 pitches like it’s nothing.”
Why did Choi Myung-joon even pitch today?
“His rotation was skipped, so was there a reason to bring him in?”
“They tried to show that Choi Myung-joon could pitch even better because Park Si-woo was doing well, and it backfired.”
“The front office is really the same everywhere, lol.”
“I’m seriously pissed. Watching Park Si-woo pitch is infuriating enough, but comparing him to Choi Myung-joon makes it worse, damn it.”
Park Si-woo, sent to the Marines, had pitched
dont add brackets and l,l letter
Understood! I’ll remove all brackets, the letter “l,” and still keep the translation accurate, with dialogue marks and the Korean tone intact. Here’s the corrected Chapter 28 translation:
Chapter 28 Translation
As the season progresses, even the strongest teams sometimes have days when pitching and hitting just don’t sync.
For the Phoenix fans, that day was today.
The lineup couldn’t score a single run against the opposing pitcher, while their pitchers, both starters and bullpen, were completely dismantled.
If it had ended there, fans might have just cursed a few times and moved on.
But the Phoenix had won the winning series and overtaken the Marines, who had been half a game ahead in the standings.
Looking at the series as a whole, anyone could see that Phoenix had come out on top.
Yet right now, Phoenix fans were as furious as when they had suffered last year’s upset.
Who the hell came up with the Park Si-woo trade?
One user wrote, “Just in the first inning alone, there were tons of people saying Park Si-woo did well.”
Another added, “A young lefty who’s shown potential, and they only got Choi Jun-woo in return, hah.”
“Who could’ve predicted he’d suddenly throw a knuckleball like that?”
“Exactly. Why couldn’t we pull off what the Marines did immediately after the trade?”
“And that was rehab, hah.”
“Rehab = throwing 120 pitches like it’s nothing.”
Why did Choi Myung-joon even pitch today?
“His rotation was skipped, so was there a reason to bring him in?”
“They tried to show that Choi Myung-joon could pitch even better because Park Si-woo was doing well, and it backfired.”
“The front office is really the same everywhere, hah.”
“I’m seriously pissed. Watching Park Si-woo pitch is infuriating enough, but comparing him to Choi Myung-joon makes it worse, damn it.”
Park Si-woo, sent to the Marines, had pitched a complete game shutout, while Choi Myung-joon, called in despite rotation changes, had shown the worst pitching of the year.
Phoenix fans showed no sign of calming down anywhere online, and to make matters worse, the worst news came.
Choi Myung-joon is out?
“Season ruined, hah.”
“Four to six weeks? Just forget the season.”
“At least it’s a lefty. If it were the right hand, including rehab, it would take at least eight weeks.”
“Wait, isn’t Choi Myung-joon a righty? Why a fracture on the left finger?”
“According to the article, he fell. Knowing his personality, he probably hurt it messing around by himself.”
“People who went to see him live would know. If you ask him for an autograph, his expression changes instantly and he bolts.”
“Even if it’s a mistake, he gets serious with seniors. Fans are no different, hah.”
“Park Si-woo was really good with autographs.”
“I even got one by accident walking on the street. He ignored others and gave it to me. Scary as hell.”
“He later refused autographs because he thought it brought bad luck to fans.”
“Thinking about it, you guys don’t deserve to miss Park Si-woo.”
“Park Si-woo even took care of Song Min-seok for a photoshoot.”
“Isn’t Park Si-woo’s salary minimum? His personality is just on a different level.”
“...Huff.”
Phoenix fans expressed their anger everywhere.
Many also blamed Oh Gyu-jin. He had led the trade and created this situation.
But Oh Gyu-jin felt wronged.
“If only he had listened to me.”
Choi Myung-joon was the epitome of a brat.
Now in his fourth year as a pro, he couldn’t even control his anger properly and ended up injured.
All of this had started with Choi Myung-joon.
If he hadn’t bothered Park Si-woo, at least if he hadn’t followed him into the restroom that night.
Even if Park Si-woo hadn’t become who he is now, he would have stayed with Phoenix somehow.
“If you’re not going to listen, at least win.”
The process and the result were both the worst.
Oh Gyu-jin barely suppressed his anger as he entered the hospital room.
“How’s your condition?”
“...Obviously not good.”
Choi Myung-joon looked at him as if asking, what do you want me to say? Oh Gyu-jin gathered all his patience and finally spoke.
“Listen carefully. From now on, until your finger heals, don’t go anywhere other than the hospital, the club, or home.”
“Excuse me? Why?”
“The public opinion is at its worst. Don’t stir up more trouble. This time, just listen to me.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
His attitude said it all: he wasn’t the one who would get in trouble. Oh Gyu-jin left after his last words.
“Don’t forget you’re the reason Park Si-woo had to leave the team.”
Choi Myung-joon watched the spot where Oh Gyu-jin had left.
“What did he say?”
In this world, skill is everything.
Unless it’s something like match-fixing, the team wouldn’t abandon him.
If his injury healed and he pitched well in the next game, today would just be a minor incident.
So whatever Oh Gyu-jin said, he thought it had nothing to do with him.
But Choi Myung-joon didn’t know.
If even that skill disappeared, Oh Gyu-jin would be the first to order Choi Myung-joon to be abandoned.
“Director. Today is the Durham Bulls.”
“Yes. Let’s go.”
North Carolina, USA.
Roughly two weeks into living in the US, Lee Gyu-tae climbed into the car, exhausted.
After their first-choice starter, Max Dalton, was injured, he had immediately flown to the US.
But it was still early in the season.
He had approached several players, but the results were unsatisfactory.
At this rate, he might have to sign a player who didn’t fully meet expectations.
Still, there was time.
Even though the first-choice starter was out from the opener, the Marines were surprisingly sailing smoothly.
Eight wins, three losses.
A three-game losing streak nearly broke their momentum, but Park Si-woo again carried the team.
I didn’t expect this much.
Lee Gyu-tae truly hoped for Park Si-woo’s success.
But this was beyond his expectations.
Even if the rookie Park Si-woo from the first season returned, he couldn’t match the current Park Si-woo.
Thanks to that, they had bought themselves a lot of time.
If not for Park Si-woo, Marines fans would be anxiously waiting for news of a new foreign pitcher.
People shared stories of meeting Park Si-woo in public.
“I got an autograph.”
“You too? Me too.”
“How could he have given so many autographs already?”
But Marines fans were obsessed with Park Si-woo.
“When will our foreign player news come?”
“Director’s in the US, it should come soon.”
“But at this timing, finding a proper player is tough.”
“Better to spend more time and find a good pitcher than rushing for someone like Max Dalton.”
Occasionally, foreign player news came, but the fans were understanding.
Thanks to this, Lee Gyu-tae could survey the market calmly.
But today also yielded no satisfying results.
Should I turn to Taiwan?
A gamble for the top or stability for the bottom.
The time to decide was approaching.
“Director!”
On the way back to the lodging, a staff member broke Lee Gyu-tae’s thoughts.
“I just got a call from Danny Jones’ agent!”
“Danny Jones?”
Hearing that, Lee Gyu-tae’s tired eyes brightened.
Danny Jones had been their top-priority player.
But after several days of no contact, they had given up.
I don’t know why he contacted us now.
Meeting first and then deciding was the right move.
“Let’s go right away.”
The next day, Lee Gyu-tae quickly finalized the contract with Danny Jones.
After signing, he asked the agent,
“Can I ask why he chose to sign with us?”
“Well, he originally had an offer from Japan, but switched to another player, Victor Morgan. Our client was left hanging, and then the Marines contacted him. It was lucky for both sides.”
That explained why negotiations were smooth.
Danny Jones needed a team immediately.
Whatever the reason, having Danny Jones was the best result.
Had they rushed to sign another player, they would have regretted it later.
Maybe this was thanks to Park Si-woo too.
Lee Gyu-tae smiled, shaking hands.
“Luck is good, then. I like that. Let’s do our best.”
Gale’s four-seam fastball sharply cut inside to the right-handed batter.
-Whack!
Gale ran toward the area behind third base with a sharp expression visible from afar.
By the fourth inning, one run had been allowed.
Not bad, but looking closely, Gale was struggling.
Against lefties, he allowed only one hit, but right-handed batters were the problem.
The last batter to hit safely was a righty.
“It’s strange, though.”
“What is?”
“Gale. Totally different from the last two games. Though, how comfortable must it have been to pitch after you?”
Senior Park Hyun-woo stretched.
“If I were Gale, I’d be crazy to see you now.”
“His pitches are good today too.”
“Right. But after the previous two games, would he be satisfied? Back then, he probably thought he was Nathan Wilson. Now he realizes he’s Gale Davis.”
“Really? That much?”
“I don’t know. Thinking about it, it’s unfair. Park Si-woo should ensure bullpen pitchers experience Nathan Wilson.”
Senior Park Jung-won joined in.
“Then I’m Rivera.”
“Hmm. Who’s famous in the setup role?”
“Park Hyun-woo?”
He laughed, half-joking, half-serious.
The team’s strikeout relievers were among the best compared to other teams.
The problem came before that.
Starters rarely pitch a full seven innings.
If another pitcher covers the seventh, fine, but often, Park Hyun-woo pitches multiple innings.
It’s manageable early in the season, but the workload adds up and bursts later.
“Don’t make a spot for me unnecessarily. If the fans find out, I’m dead.”
“Should I say it in an interview?”
“I said I’m dead.”
Senior Park Hyun-woo laughed and added seriously,
“Feeling pressured?”
“No. Not at all.”
Twenty-seven scoreless innings, unofficial three consecutive shutouts.
After yesterday’s game, he already knew the buzz.
“It’s better than talking about when I’ll get my first win.”
“...What does that make me?”
He understood what Senior Park Hyun-woo meant.
Passing the bomb.
Records are at stake, so everyone tries to break them.
But no need to worry yet. There’s still plenty of time before his turn.
“If I give up runs, I’ll trust only you, senior.”
“Hmph. Then I’ll show you.”
-Whack!
“Out!”
Gale safely finished the fourth inning, but in the fifth and sixth, each inning allowed a run.
Six innings, three runs, a quality start.
Not as strong as the previous two games, but minimum expectations for a foreign pitcher were met.
In the seventh, lefty Lee Geon-woo was brought in for a left-handed batter, but walked the leadoff.
Pitching changes, runners advanced, and outs exchanged.
Two outs, runner on third.
-Whack!
Eventually allowing another run, the Marines finally brought in Park Hyun-woo.
Luckily, the lineup had already scored six runs, and Park Hyun-woo and Park Jung-won closed it cleanly for a 6-4 victory.
But even in victory, Manager Kwak Gu-beom felt something missing.
“Too bad.”
The Marines were in a peculiar situation.
The first-choice starter had been injured in the opener, but Park Si-woo had perfectly filled the role.
Though the sample size was small, Gale Davis showed dominance against batters influenced by Park Si-woo’s pitching.
Third starter Lee Dong-hoon and fourth starter Oh Kyung-soo were solid, and fifth starter Choi Seung-ho fulfilled his role.
Starters were fine.
The urgent problem was the bullpen.
Even today, Park Hyun-woo had to pitch multiple innings.
Early season was manageable, but it borrowed from the future.
The best solution: get a foreign pitcher or use fifth starter Choi Seung-ho in the bullpen.
The only way: a foreign pitcher had to arrive as soon as possible.
And the awaited news came from the US.
“Coach! Danny Jones will be joining as the foreign player!”
“Really? That’s great.”
It had taken time, but a good pitcher arrived.
He could pitch within two weeks at most and handle a first-starter role.
During a meeting with the coaches, Manager Kwak Gu-beom faced a question.
“Where will you put him?”
Early season, teams mostly keep starters in their roles.
Where Danny Jones would go would affect the opposing batters.
Three options:
Use fifth starter Choi Seung-ho in the bullpen, after second starter Gale Davis, or the original first starter spot, Park Si-woo.
After a moment, Kwak Gu-beom decided.
“After Gale.”
“Yes, understood.”
At that moment, he essentially declared: Park Si-woo remained the Marines’ first starter.