Chapter 54 Chapter 54
Chapter 54
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 54
There were people who, though they looked lazy, would still do what they were told. On the other hand, there were also people who would never do what they were told.
Fortunately for the Phoenix, the proportion of 'people who do what they're told' was high.
“Phew…. This is really tough. Tae-Seop, look at my stomach. I think I’m getting abs.”
Lee Sang-Jin, who had just come from fielding practice, lifted his shirt and revealed his stomach. Hmm, no matter how I looked at it, it was just ordinary abdominal obesity.
“Hey. Tae-Hyun says to stop talking nonsense.”
Shin Tae-Seop chuckled, gesturing at me with his chin.
Was it that obvious…?
Anyway, the Phoenix players, including Lee Sang-Jin and Shin Tae-Seop, who had been harshly criticized as junk cars on the first day, were somehow keeping up with the high-intensity training, perhaps due to the pressure of 'being sent to the second team if you get on the manager's bad side'.
No, was it really high-intensity training? I didn't think so.
Although he had made us do a rather foolish run on the first day, seeing as how he had moved on to systematic training since then, I think he had just wanted to gauge the physical strength of this team's players.
As for the result… it goes without saying that they had shown a miserable level of physical strength, and considering that, this level of training was 'necessary'.
“Our Phoenix is getting healthier.”
“You're right, Shin Tae-Seop. That's some insight worthy of someone who carries on the will of a 'god' like myself.”
As Shin Si-Woo slyly flattered him, Shin Tae-Seop chuckled. I hadn't seen the catcher, Shin Si-Woo, in a real game yet, but it seemed he was good at navigating social situations.
“But Tae-Hyun. Don't you get a feeling?”
Lee Sang-Jin asked.
“What kind of feeling are you talking about?”
“The feeling that… after spring camp is over… a bloodbath will sweep through the Phoenix.”
That was something I agreed with. I could definitely feel that the manager was serious about this team, and it was obvious from his displeased expression every time he looked at the coaches.
Most importantly, there were also rumors that the manager and the head coach had already had an argument once.
“I heard the head coach is quite dissatisfied with the removal of self-training.”
“Yeah. I heard that too. But honestly, I doubt he's saying we should bring back self-training for our sake. It's all just an excuse, and it's more comfortable for them to have self-training. Those salary-stealing bastards. …Well, it's not really something Tae-Seop or I should be saying.”
Shin Tae-Seop, who had chuckled, nodded his head.
“Honestly, it's true that things have been abnormal until now. I see it as things are in the process of becoming normalized.”
“Aargh…. Shin Tae-Seop, shouldn't you not be saying that? I came here because you said the Phoenix was a sweet deal…”
Lee Jun, who had come to the Phoenix through a free agent contract, grumbled. Lee Jun also had a lot of dirt on his uniform, as if he had been through a lot of rolling around.
“What? You? Hey Lee Jun. You should be careful with those words. He's not here, but our team's pitcher, Sean White, is black, unlike his name.”
Andy suddenly chimed into the conversation. However, since his Korean was a bit lacking, the seniors tilted their heads as if asking what he meant.
“Tae-Hyun. You're good at English, right? Can you translate?”
“He said the one who believed him is a fool, Lee Jun.”
“What?”
For a moment, the stunned Lee Jun rushed at Andy, and as Andy fled, shouting, “No! No! Wait! What’s the problem?” everyone clutched their stomachs and burst into laughter.
Just as I was about to slyly say that it was a joke.
“Alright, alright! Stop resting! Get up!”
The manager appeared, and the players soon began to get up from their seats. There were almost no people showing their displeasure anymore.
“This is the last training before the game tomorrow. Everyone, follow me.”
““Yes!!””
A resounding voice filled the indoor practice facility. Compared to the first day, the Phoenix was definitely changing, little by little.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇;
The day of the first practice game in spring camp had arrived. The opponent was the Dinos, who had also come to Miyazaki Prefecture for spring camp.
It seemed I would be able to see Lee Ji-Ho as well. Although he was a rookie, with Lee Ji-Ho's skills, he would have surely secured a starting position.
“Uh, uh oh, wh-what… do I do, Tae-Hyun?”
Right. Even the rookie, Shin Si-Woo, who was so nervous about playing in a game that he had become a player, was starting, so there was no way Lee Ji-Ho would be left out.
“Why is a guy who's usually so lively so nervous?”
“Why… why am I starting!!!”
A hollow laugh escaped. A rookie who was refusing a starting position.
“Didn't you get a feeling when the manager put you in the first-team camp? He's going to stick with you and develop you. It's a good opportunity, so don't be nervous and just show a better performance.”
“I know that, but… they're broadcasting it today. You seem fine, so how do you do it? Teach me the secret.”
“Uh… I just have confidence that I'll do well?”
It was a rather serious answer, but Shin Si-Woo's face crumpled.
“Wow… Cha Tae-Hyun. Do you hear that you're arrogant a lot?”
For a moment, I was stunned.
Am I really arrogant…?
Anyway, I needed to ease Shin Si-Woo's tension a little. The Phoenix had many weaknesses, but among them, the one that was always mentioned first was the catcher.
In the end, if Shin Si-Woo couldn't play the role of the catcher properly, the championship was out of the question.
If he got nervous today and became the main culprit of a defeat, he might lose his confidence from the first day. As they say, you always have to get the first button right.
“Hey, what was your batting average in your third year?”
“Me…? Late .200s…”
It was a slightly disappointing batting average for a catcher drafted in the second round, but… surprisingly, it was enough to instill confidence. Because the opponent was the Phoenix catcher.
“Do you know that last year's Phoenix starting catcher's batting average was .170? If you do just a little better, the fans will be ecstatic. So there's no need to be nervous. You'll hit better than .170, right?”
Only then did Shin Si-Woo's lips curl up in relief, and he raised his voice.
“Right! That's what I was waiting to hear! Thanks, Cha Tae-Hyun. I grant you the right to use the Si-Woo ceremony!”
“I don't need it…”
“Try it! Si-Woo!!!!!”
…Did I instill too much confidence?
Just as I was about to ignore him and go to the dugout, Andy suddenly followed me.
“Hey catcher! Are you a fan of our hyung too? Should we do it together?”
“Sounds good!”
“Si-Woo!!” “Si-Woo!!”
…My head started to get a little dizzy. But since his tension was relieved, it should be fine, right?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇;
[Today is the historic day that marks the first step of the Hwangnix dynasty.]
└What nonsense is this all of a sudden??
└WTF lol. I think he's like that because the Kolnix are having a practice game?
└What kind of crazy fan excitement is this, starting from a practice game lol
└And it’s ‘before’ the practice game. It hasn’t even started yet lol
└Let them enjoy it while they can lololol
└lol not getting triggered~ We're gonna win the championship with Tae-Hyun the God~
└It seems he has forgotten about the dynasty talk when Lee Seung-Tae came last year lol
As Shin Ha-Yoon chuckled while looking at the chat window, her younger sister asked.
“Unni, come to think of it, weren't you pretty close with that Lee Ji-Ho oppa? He went to the Dinos.”
“Huh? Lee Ji-Ho? I guess so…?”
“Then are you going to cheer for the Phoenix or the Dinos, unni?”
Well, that was obviously… The words, ‘Tae-Hyun, of course,’ had come all the way up to her throat, but Shin Ha-Yoon barely managed to stop her mouth.
“……The Phoenix, of course. It's not like I'm a team-hopper.”
Shin Ha-Yoon's younger sister narrowed her eyes and laughed slyly.
“Hmm… so you're saying you like Tae-Hyun oppa more?”
Startled, Shin Ha-Yoon rushed at her sister.
“You… I told you it wasn't like that last time!”
“Aack! I get it! I get it! I won't tease you! No, more importantly, unni, the game… the game is starting! The game is starting!”
Shin Ha-Yoon, who had been putting her sister in an armbar, hurriedly went and sat in front of the computer as soon as she heard that the game was starting. She had a look of anticipation on her face.
Her younger sister, who saw her like that, muttered in disbelief.
“And she says she doesn't like him…”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇;
The Phoenix and the Dinos had a rivalry. Or so only the Phoenix fans claimed. Based on last year's season, their head-to-head record was 1 win and 15 losses.
In what world would you call that a rivalry with this record? In fact, it was more correct to say that the Phoenix was the Dinos' punching bag.
“Yes. It's true that the Phoenix has shown a bit of a weakness against the Dinos.”
As the commentator, who knew that, made an honest comment, the chat window was instantly flooded with question marks. It couldn't be helped.
This broadcast was from Phoenix TV. The commentator, who had smiled bitterly, hurriedly continued.
“Haha…. But! That was the Phoenix of last year. What about this year's Phoenix?”
└Different!
└ Of course they’re different from Tae-Hyun the God.
└Dinos, you better be ready lol
└Hwang.Nix. Cham.pion.ship.
└Are you ready to get 15 wins and 1 loss? lol
“Yes! That's right. I also believe without a doubt that they will show a definitely different side! Now, the game has started. The number one batter, Jin Kyu-Hyun, is stepping up to the plate.”
Today's starting pitcher for the Dinos was Kim Hyun-Soo. He was a pitcher famous for his decent speed in the late 140s and his good slider and changeup.
The number one batter, Jin Kyu-Hyun, hit the first pitch, a four-seam, but it didn't go far. A ground ball out to the infield.
The number two batter, Lee Jun, cleanly hit a slider and hit the wall. Lee Jun arrived at second base with ease. Manager Lee Eun-Seok smiled with satisfaction and clapped.
└Kya, this is why I spend money lol
└ This is why I spend money, hehe.
└Kong Jun's first hit of the season is a double too lol
└There’s really something about that Lee Jun guy lol
└ Scary… the two-time runner-up ghost 😳
└WTF. Isn't the Phoenix going to fail to win the championship because of that two-time runner-up ghost?
└lol Isn't it a relief if they even get second place?
└For real lol. These Kolnix bastards are unbelievable.
└Why are the Seoul Winners bastards coming to the Hwangnix broadcast and starting fights? Go to your own broadcast.
└I came to see Lee Jun, Lee Jun Lee Jun
└Should the Lee Jun corps check in?
└Ikr ikr
└Ikr ikr
└Aargh WTF, get lost.
In the following at-bat, the $1 million mercenary batter, Andy John, who had received all the expectations of the Phoenix fans, stepped up to the plate. Andy John hit the first pitch with a confident expression, and.
“Out!”
“Shit! If it wasn't for the Japanese kimchi I had this morning!”
He was out on a line drive to the second baseman. Still, the quality of the batted ball was quite clean, so the manager nodded with satisfaction. However, to most fans, it just looked like another out.
└Aargh WTF, Andy sucks.
└The quality of the batted ball was okay, but it's a shame.
└Sucky Andy sucks.
└Why is everyone swinging at the first pitch?
└We got ripped off again, WTF. Send that bastard home quickly and get a new Yankee.
└No, are you guys making such a fuss over one at-bat? You're overreacting. Let's just wait and see.
└Get lost, you Winners spy.
└Busted lol. Lee Jun Lee Jun.
After just one at-bat, Andy John had become Andy Sucks.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇;
The top of the first inning ended a bit disappointingly.
I did think that it would have been different if I had been the number four batter, but I was grateful just to be put in the lineup right away as a rookie who had never played a game before.
The starting pitcher who would be protecting our team's mound today was Su-Ho. As Su-Ho was evaluated as someone who could be the number one starter on any team, it wouldn't be easy to hit him, but.
“Tae-Hyun, I want to try pitching to contact today. Is that okay?”
He said he was thinking of inducing ground balls today.
When I asked why, he said he had to check the defensive level of me and Andy in advance so that he could reduce the number of hits in the regular season, even if only by a little….
Just what was the state of last year's Phoenix infield defense for him to think like this?
Soon, the top of the first inning defense began, and as he had said he would try to induce ground balls, Su-Ho threw a two-seam for the first pitch.
The batter's bat immediately followed and hit the ball, but since the movement was good, the ball weakly headed my way. Not a very difficult ball. I caught it calmly and threw to first.
“Out!”
“Nice! That was so clean, Tae-Hyun!”
Huh…?
Su-Ho gave me a thumbs up with an excited look. It was a ball that should have been caught, of course, but the reaction was one that would have come out for a great defensive play, so I was a little embarrassed.
The next number two batter persistently fouled off Su-Ho's pitches and then hit the fourth pitch, a slider, well.
A hard-hit ball that flew fiercely toward first base, a ball that anyone would have thought would have gone past first and second base.
Andy caught it with a diving catch, and then threw to first while lying on his stomach.
“Out!”
Not bad. That ball was a hard one to catch unless you had a very good sense of defense.
It was a ball that could only be barely caught by predicting the direction of the ball as soon as you heard the sound and running, just like he did.
It seemed there was a reason he had received $1 million.
“This is Andy John!”
As Andy stood up and did his ceremony, Su-Ho smiled so brightly that his teeth showed and gave Andy a thumbs up as well.
“Good! Andy, very good! Nice catch!”
The following number three batter also swung his bat at Su-Ho's two-seam, and a rather well-hit ball flew my way this time. However, it was too much of a line drive.
I reacted, but the speed of the ball was very fast, and it flew higher than my head.
Can I catch it?
While the thought was processing, my body instinctively jumped, chasing the ball. But this wasn't enough to catch the ball. I lowered my right shoulder as much as possible and stretched out my left arm.
I couldn't follow it with my eyes, but I felt the sensation of the ball digging into my glove through my fingertips. The well-hit ball tried to climb up the surface of the glove as if to escape, but I clenched it tight with my strength before that.
“Out!”
As I lost my balance while landing and bumped my hip on the ground, I heard the umpire's out call.
-Nice! Cha Tae-Hyun!
-Isn't he a real crazy bastard, hahaha!
-He's worth the 2 billion!
Although I heard cheers from here and there, the first person to rush to me was Su-Ho.
“Cha Tae-Hyun…!”
“Yes…?”
Su-Ho, who had smiled so brightly that all his white teeth were showing, shouted loudly.
“Finally… I can see the Phoenix championship!”
Uh…. I've only caught one ball so far?
“This is it! This is it!!! This is defense!! You know how to catch the ball so cleanly? You even do a jump catch? Is this even allowed?”
Isn't that what a defender is supposed to do? Although incomprehensible words were pouring out of my senior's mouth. I could only nod my head.
“Ha…. Really. Do you know? what I even used to think? If I can't get a strikeout, it's my fault. Let's not blame my teammates! If I didn't think like that, I couldn't sleep at night, you know?”
Just hearing him talk, I could roughly guess what the Phoenix's infield defense was like….