Chapter 63

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 63

Chapter Title: Bullpen Blues After the Sweep

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Putting Cha Tae-hyun on the mound as the opening day starter—and having him bat too—was a crazy strategy, but since it led to a win, it's fair to call it a success.

"...We should use him as a two-way player in moderation."

But fixing him as the ace and running him through the rotation every time? Even if he's a monster, that feels a bit much.

No matter how monstrous Cha Tae-hyun is, he's still human. He can't complete every game he pitches.

Sure, you could shift him to another position and bring in a reliever, letting him continue as a hitter even without ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a complete game. But the new pitcher still has to bat in that spot.

In the end, that means a hole in the lineup.

If it's not a complete game, things get complicated in all sorts of ways...

"Pitch him once every two weeks, or use him two ways only in big games... That seems right, Coach Gu."

The manager's words made Coach Gu tilt his head.

"Hmm... If Tae-hyun's okay with it, shouldn't we just try it?"

-Crack!

No sooner had the coach finished than a Dragons batter smashed Lee Su-ho's pitch. The ball rocketed toward the gap in left-center.

Cha Tae-hyun calmly tracked it down, snagged it, and fired a quick throw from his glove.

The blistering throw arrived at first base...

"Out!"

And just like that, the inning ended.

"Imagine if Ji Chan-woo was out there. Would it have ended this cleanly?"

In truth, it was a tough ball for anyone to handle, not just Ji Chan-woo, but whatever.

"Yeah, probably not."

"What do you think happens if we overwork Cha Tae-hyun and he gets hurt?"

Coach Gu pondered that future for a moment.

-Damn!!!!

He flinched as if hearing furious fans roaring in rage.

"Sajik Stadium would go up in flames..."

It was a joke, of course, but the chill down his spine came from the nagging thought that it just might happen.

"Exactly. Let's both play it safe, Coach Gu. And... look at Su-ho's face."

Lee Eun-seok nodded toward Lee Su-ho.

"Haha! Cha Tae-hyun! I like you, man!"

"Uh...?"

"Andy, you too! Get over here! Group hug for our keystone combo!"

"What? No! I'm not gay! I got a wife!"

Lee Eun-seok chuckled and continued.

"I've been a Phoenix fan since Su-ho debuted, and I've never seen him this beaming. And it's not just Su-ho. If Cha Tae-hyun were gone, the pitching staff would be... You get it."

"Yes. Loud and clear."

"That Dragons foreign pitcher's seriously weird."

Shin Tae-seop muttered, and Shin Si-woo—always glued to his side despite sharing a surname—jumped in.

"He really is. He gives up hits to me too, but no runs... Tsk. Kinda pervy? Not even piling up runners for thrills."

This time, even Shin Si-woo agreed.

He gives up hits all the time—even to Shin Si-woo—but somehow always strands them, no scores.

-Crack!

Then leadoff hitter Jin Gyu-hyun crushed the first pitch. It sailed over the first baseman's head.

Jin Gyu-hyun touched first and headed for second before retreating back to first.

Always thought it, but he's like a bowl of hearty beef soup as a hitter.

Great eyes, contact, decent speed—perfect leadoff material.

If he were on another team instead of Phoenix, he'd be a star by now.

As next batter Lee Jun stepped up, Lee Sang-jin yelled.

"Hey, Lee Jun! Earn your nickname this time! Hit a double!"

"Ugh... I told you not to say that."

Lee Jun scowled, and Lee Sang-jin and Shin Tae-seop snickered.

They tease him about anything '2'-related every time, and it always lands. He must really hate the number two.

-Thwack!

Lee Jun watched the first pitch go by. Looked outside to me,

"Striiike!"

But not to the ump.

-Damn! That's a strike?

-Ump's blind!

-Damn! You took that bet, didn't ya?

Lee Jun frowned, clearly unhappy, and reset his bat.

His glare at the pitcher sharpened.

Second pitch. Lee Jun swung big—the ball just cleared the shortstop. He jogged easily to first.

-Hahaha! Damn! That's Lee Jun!

-Lee Jun! Lee Jun!

-Shoulda just thrown a ball, huh?

"Lee Jun delivering after all? Earning that nickname."

"Hyung Sang-jin, no double though—isn't that failing the nick?"

Shin Si-woo asked.

"Two singles. That's peak Lee Jun."

"Aha!"

...Does that even make sense?

Anyway, even a double play gets me up. Triple play? Nah, won't happen.

At the on-deck circle, Andy was waiting like he'd been there for me.

"Tae-hyun, ready for that grand slam?"

Figured he had a reason to linger.

Obsessed with that kimchi soup joke aside, he's a fun guy.

"You know it."

Grinning at my answer, Andy stepped in.

-Crack!

-Woooaaaaah!!!!!!

-Andy! Andy! Andy!

Real hit.

At first, Andy uppercut the air toward the stands, then mouthed at me furiously.

-Let's kill that pitcher!

Hard to hear, but probably 'hit it big'.

Already planning to.

How many times have we failed to score? Fans must be boiling.

Especially Mi-yeon Teacher, who gave up her holiday to come.

-Cha Tae-hyun! Cha Tae-hyun! Cha Tae-hyun!

Just walking to the plate brought deafening cheers that rang in my ears.

Winning the opener yesterday? Phoenix fans seem even more packed.

Mi-yeon Teacher... Tough to spot as always.

Maybe suggest a reserved seat for her when we get back to Sajik...

"Focus on the game?"

A snippy voice from behind. Short glance compared to most guys' routines.

But whatever.

"Yes. Gotta focus and score."

That usually smooths it over.

"Getting cocky now that you're hot stuff? How long you think that'll last?"

"Focusing on the game."

Ignored the scoff and grumbles, locked eyes on the pitcher.

As I said, he piles up runners but weirdly never lets runs score.

Not an easy out.

Three at-bats against him so far: two hits, but no extra bases from me.

Throws pitches he hasn't shown me before, like he's wary.

Curve, two-seam, slider, fork, changeup already. More? I'll clap for a single and call it good.

Pitcher rubs the rosin bag, goes into windup.

In that split second before release, batter must read form, arm speed, predict the pitch.

Ball leaves his hand.

Arm action looks like four-seam at first glance. But I've watched him closely.

No four-seams as first pitch all game, even in the sixth.

So?

High chance it's a changeup mimicking four-seam form.

Changeup's vicious—same arm action fools you.

But if you know...

It's batting practice.

-Craaaaack!!!!!

Matched the timing on the plummeting, slowing ball—full swing.

Ball soars high, screams out.

Held the bat, didn't toss it—watched the flight.

-Woooaaaaah!!!!

Cheers swelled with distance. My lips ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠curled up.

Slammed into the outfield stands—I spun and flung the bat.

Heading to first, paused.

"Thanks. Focus is key, huh."

We're a Confucian nation—can't forget thanking the senior.

Hits not falling were frustrating enough, but worse was hitting but not scoring.

Like a movie building hype then cutting before the climax.

Phoenix fans felt it bursting inside—this game heading that way.

Then Cha Tae-hyun stepped up.

Rookie steadier than vets, always delivering hope.

His bat whipped through,

-Craaaaack!!!

The climax fans craved exploded.

"That's bigger than it looked! Left fielder chasing gives up! Where's it landing? Where's it landing? Outfield stands! Grand~ slam! Cha Tae-hyun blasts his first career bases-loaded homer—in just his second game—taking a 4-run lead!"

Endless frustration, then sweet relief down the throat...?

Enough to drive you mad.

"Is he for real???"

"A rookie who delivers on demand? Haha!"

"Tae-hyun, I love you!"

"Damn, what a killer! Worth the trip from Incheon!"

"Gotta hit Sajik every game now—no more office!"

"Right, 200 bil for Tae-hyun! Lifetime Phoenix in return!"

Phoenix swept the opening two-game set, kicking off the season on a high.

Good baseball brings peace to Busan—it's no joke.

Especially Sunday wins. Victory joy lasts through Monday.

Plus, 2-0 puts Phoenix atop the standings through Monday. Perfect for bragging.

Reporters pumped out articles; fans got lit.

All positive Phoenix buzz, but Lee Eun-seok wore a sour look reading it.

"Lucky Su-ho finished that complete game..."

Reporters and fans didn't know—manager did.

Bullpen bomb hadn't exploded yet. But it could anytime.

Guarantee: Once it does, games turn hellish, and these praising fans turn demonic.

Prevent that...? Impossible. At least delay the devil fans.

Manager propped chin on bullpen list; Coach Gu Min-seung asked.

"Manager-nim, Lee Min-woo's rehab almost done. Bring him up?"

Lee Min-woo. Name made him flinch.

Once Phoenix ace with killer forkball, multi-win king.

Player Lee Eun-seok adored as fan.

But fan love short-lived. Overused shoulder-taxing fork led to ruin.

Three Tommy John surgeries. Return now? Six years out.

"Good... Min-woo would pitch well."

Even in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bullpen, he'd adapt fine—Lee Eun-seok sure.

But...

"No. Stick to rehab schedule."

Trade future for wins? Fine.

But not gamble a broken player's life for a title.

Regretful hold on Lee Min-woo. Next hope?

[Cha Si-hwan (Underhand, RHP/RHB)]

Closed roster file, stood.

"Coach Gu, Cha Si-hwan around?"

"Yes. Probably pitching drills. Saw him this morning—control clicking, throwing like mad."

"Huh? Thought it'd take ages for control."

"Just glanced this morning, so not sure..."

"Whatever. Ask him direct. Let's go."