Chapter 77
Chapter 77
“2nd inning, I want to focus on the knuckleball. How does that sound?”
“Sure. Because of the challenge, right?”
“Yes. The batters won’t just stand by anymore.”
Having an umpire make the call isn’t just a downside.
The umpire isn’t a machine.
Even with his own sense of the strike zone, he saw through the challenge that that pitch was a strike.
This could expand the strike zone, and pitches that ABS wouldn’t catch might now be called strikes.
“You’re amazing. You even figured out how to use that.”
“I didn’t aim for it, but I use what I can. If it fails, it’s lost, so I was just lucky.”
When I call a challenge, I’m half confident and half uncertain.
There were quite a few times in Korea where that pitch would be called a strike, so I gave it a shot.
“If it’s luck, go ahead. Challenge whenever you want.”
Minseok said that, but of course, it’s situational. You have to be smart about when to use it.
Challenge counts are shared across the team.
“Don’t worry. Use it freely if you want. You can use all of them.”
But hearing the pitching coach say that makes me hesitate again.
Well, I can figure that out on the mound.
-Wham!
While still talking with Minseok, the sound from the field grabbed my attention.
“That guy’s going to MLB, right?”
“Yeah. His stuff is crazy. ERA’s in the 1s, I think. But he’s the third starter.”
I honestly had high expectations facing Japan.
Yesterday, no one pitched as expected, so I was a little disappointed, but today, even with warm-up throws, all eyes followed him.
Mori Tsubasa.
Same age as me, likely to head to MLB after next season.
Posting rules in Korea are different, so that’s possible, but more than anything, his stuff is really impressive.
And there are at least two pitchers who throw better than him.
“Your pitches are way better.”
“Thanks.”
I smiled slightly at Minseok’s comment.
I don’t pay much attention to that. I always face the batters, not other pitchers.
It’s just interesting to see a pitcher my age throwing that well, and that there’s someone even better than him.
True to expectations, Mori Tsubasa retired all three batters in the 1st inning.
As he warmed up and walked back to the dugout, the fans’ cheers were deafening.
“Starting pitcher! Park Siwoo!”
Not just Marlins fans. The sound was insane.
I roughly guessed why.
It’s an important Korea-Japan match, and they already lost one at home.
They don’t want a second loss.
I’m not sure how many innings I’ll pitch today.
-Wham!
“Strike!”
I’ll just throw as I see fit.
Still, two losses in a row isn’t an option.
“Strikeout!”
“If they’re just watching, ugh.”
Itou Wataru, the Japanese manager, couldn’t hide his frustration.
The 2nd inning ended in another strikeout, six consecutive batters retired.
At least he avoided giving up three consecutive strikeouts to the fifth batter, which was a small relief.
“Tsubasa! Show them you’re better!”
Itou’s style is to push his players harder.
His voice wasn’t only directed at Mori Tsubasa.
“Remember. We’ve won twelve in a row against Korea. Before that, eleven straight wins. We don’t lose today. Got it?”
“Yes!”
An “even game”? Not a chance.
Japan treats a loss as catastrophic, and the same goes for Korea.
Park Siwoo, rated far above KBO level, was starting.
Everyone knows how great a pitcher he is.
“Today, I won’t fall behind in the starting role.”
“Siwoo’s pitches look better. This is doable.”
Just having Park Siwoo as the starter made most players think they could handle it.
“Seojin. What’s our win rate when Siwoo starts?”
Cha Jaehun’s awkward voice made Ha Seojin pause, then squeeze his eyes shut.
“35 wins out of 35.”
“Right? Then we’ll win today too. Haha.”
It sounded forced, but the content mattered.
If Park Siwoo is on the mound, victory is almost guaranteed.
That’s why Marlins always draw strength and motivation from him during the season.
-Whack!
It seemed that applied to the national team too—the first hit of the game came.
Cha Jaehun delivered it.
Even after two outs, that hit was a statement to keep his word.
No further runs scored that inning, but confidence began to rise among the players.
It peaked in the top of the 3rd.
“Ball, ball. Ah, Park Siwoo calls for a challenge again. Result! Strike! Out confirmed! That’s the third successful challenge today for Park Siwoo!”
“...Is he getting information from somewhere?”
Japan could hardly believe his accuracy.
He didn’t even need perfect strike pitches.
He picked borderline pitches that brushed the edge of the zone and challenged—driving them crazy.
Even umpires began to be influenced.
“...Strike!”
Pitches that wouldn’t have been called strikes in the first inning were now being recognized.
Still, some pitches were borderline for a challenge, risking the count.
The 3rd inning ended scoreless.
Nine consecutive batters retired, leaving Itou Wataru grim.
He calmed himself and assessed the situation.
‘There’s no way to beat Park Siwoo right now.’
Itou didn’t acknowledge him, but Park Siwoo proved his skill.
‘If the lineup can score against him, great. If not, we wait for the bullpen.’
Japan would have the edge in the bullpen.
Mori Tsubasa could hold it until then.
But in the bottom of the 3rd, Korea’s momentum was sharp.
No outs, bases empty.
“Ball!”
Song Minseok drew a walk after an 8-pitch battle, reaching first base.
Even though he challenged, it was called a ball, costing a challenge.
The next batter moved Song to second, creating 2 outs, runner on second.
“Strike him out! Ha Seojin!”
Ha Seojin, batting second for the national team, faced a battle aiming for MLB.
He won that duel.
-Whack!
A double to the wall sent Song home for the first run.
Only one run, but taking the lead mattered.
“See how tense they are? Stay focused.”
I knew better than anyone how Korea’s batters react when Park Siwoo is on the mound.
When Marlins score a single run with him starting, the batters feel immense pressure.
Swings get bigger, unnecessary risks are taken.
Japan felt the same.
Their expectations became reality.
Top of the 4th, Japan’s lineup restarted at the leadoff.
They knew if the top didn’t score, they’d keep falling behind.
They struggled to make runs.
Park Siwoo read their psychology.
-Whack!
Japan’s key batter, Ichiki, struck out swinging at a hard knuckleball.
Mori Tsubasa finished the 4th without giving up runs, raising Korea’s morale.
-Wham!
“Strikeout!”
Unable to react to the knuckleball.
-Wham!
“Strikeout!”
A high fastball evaded the bat.
“Strikeout!”
A splitter fooled him for the final strike. Japan’s mood collapsed.
Fifteen consecutive batters retired.
Nine strikeouts.
Japan, assuming they were several levels above Korea, suffered a shocking defeat.
These weren’t weak players.
Excluding MLB players, this was the best squad.
Not a single hit or walk allowed.
If Park Siwoo kept pitching, it wouldn’t matter.
After the 5th inning, Park Siwoo began icing himself, clearly done for the day.
This was his performance.
“...Even if they lost to Park Siwoo, the game’s still ours.”
There was still pride to protect.
Winning the game mattered.
In the top of the 6th, batters facing a new pitcher frowned at a strange sensation.
In Korea, it was already well-known.
How batters struggle against other pitchers after facing Park Siwoo.
While Japanese batters suffered, Korean hitters scored additional runs against the new pitcher.
Two runs, enough to secure the win.
-Whack!
“Out!”
Final out counted, and Korean players embraced as if they had won a championship.
No one loses on purpose.
Especially not in a Korea-Japan match.
At the center was Park Siwoo.
Today’s victory hero, naturally.
“This is why Marlins won.”
Players personally experienced Park Siwoo’s dominance.
Tasting it for a day, knowing they’ll face him next year was daunting, but for now, the joy of victory prevailed.
Scouts observing also marveled.
“...Huh.”
Yankees’ general manager, Neil Lindberg, asked James Lewis for one thing.
Ignore previous scouting reports, evaluate only this game.
‘...Did I really write this?’
Fastball – 80
Slider – 60
Splitter – 70
Knuckleball – 80
Control – 70
The 20–80 scale commonly used by MLB scouts.
‘Splitter could improve further.’
Mental toughness wasn’t rated, but James would easily give at least 70.
‘Haven’t made an evaluation like this in a while.’
Probably since Nathan Wilson.
James called the US immediately after leaving the stadium.
“Sir, the game’s over.”
-How is it?
“If this kid comes to the US like this...”
James knew what Neil Lindberg envisioned.
The plan required a central player.
Nathan Wilson, or less experienced but promising players like Eden Kelly.
But such talent is rare even in MLB.
“Yes. It’s possible.”
Discovering this talent in Korea was unexpected.
Neil Lindberg paused after James’ answer.
-Yes. Good work. Let’s meet when you return.
‘Decision won’t be easy.’
His career was on the line.
Neil would send scouts repeatedly to repeat this process.
Most would give similar answers as James.
‘If that happens, it’s going to be huge.’
Yankees weren’t the only team after Park Siwoo.
Most teams would compete, and even if the Yankees won, the price would be enormous.
James knew the market well.
‘The most expensive player is actually the cheapest.’
He had no doubt that would be Park Siwoo.
[Japan 0 : 2 Korea]
[The humiliating 12-game losing streak against Korea ends, thanks to Park Siwoo!]
God Siwoo! God Siwoo! God Siwoo! God Siwoo!
LOL, see? It’s not that we failed, it’s just Park Siwoo’s insane.
Five innings perfect against that lineup? Just insane.
Have we ever watched Japan comfortably like this?
The Marlins knew this secret.
We’ll face him again next year? Ugh…
Good thing it’s WBC and then the season, at least we can cheer for Park Siwoo.
Park Siwoo, Yoon Chanhee, Oh Garam, Heo Min, let’s go!
Yoon Chanhee is coming? The team won’t let him?
Even just having him as starter, reaching the semifinals is realistic.
Top Japanese talents Mori Tsubasa and Ichiki Kaito praised Park Siwoo.
Busan’s new stadium finally under discussion? Final negotiations between Marlins and Busan city underway!
Marlins aiming for consecutive championships! Declared participation in FA!
We must win as much as possible during the three years with Park Siwoo.
“Yes, GM?”
“Correct.”
“Did you record it wrong?”
“Wait. 880 million, correct.”
“Ah, okay. Got it.”
Too much money to worry about.