Chapter 81
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Three Straight Shutouts
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"Cha Tae-hyun, come here for a sec."
I had to prepare for the bottom of the ninth, our final defensive inning, but the manager called me over.
"I get why you're pissed. I totally understand. But for now, just hold off..."
The manager trailed off without finishing, but I could guess what he meant.
He was telling me to hold back on the retaliation pitch for the time being.
The game resumed after the bench-clearing brawl. But it was a situation where post-game suspensions could still happen.
Throw a retaliation pitch, mess up the control, hit them in the head or back, and things could blow up big time. It happens more often than you'd think.
That could lead to another bench-clearing, and players might end up suspended in the process.
The manager was probably worried about that risk.
If we lost players from Phoenix's depth right now... especially if it was me?
Hmm... How much would our standings drop?
But then the manager seemed to change his mind, patting my back.
"Nah. Just drill one in there good and hard. But stick to the thigh or butt, got it?"
I knew those words came after some deep thought, and I appreciated the consideration.
"No, I wasn't planning anything special. I'll just... well, finish it out like normal."
Thing is...
I wasn't planning on throwing a retaliation pitch anyway.
As someone who wants Phoenix to win it all, minimizing risk makes sense. And there are plenty of ways to make them pay without a beanball.
"Alright. Another pitcher's gotta keep a cool head to throw good stuff. You've got the shutout on the line too—smart thinking."
Yes, Manager.
I'll snag that shutout...
And blow off some steam while I'm at it.
"That fucking Shin Min-seok..."
The Winners batter muttered under his breath as he stepped out of the dugout.
The reason he was cursing Shin Min-seok that badly was simple.
Our pitcher threw a beanball first, so someone on our side was bound to eat one now.
Fine, I get it—a rookie's ceremony can come off as cocky.
If we're thinking like old-school hardasses, even the beanball makes sense... kinda.
But hitting the opposing pitcher? With a guy throwing 160 km/h heat? What the hell?
"Hoo... hoo..."
The batter's heart was pounding way faster than normal.
Sweat soaked his hands gripping the bat.
'Damn... standing in the box makes it even scarier.'
Cha Tae-hyun stared at him with just one corner of his mouth curled up. What crazy stunt was he planning with that menacing grin?
To the batter, it looked like a psycho raising a revolver for Russian roulette.
'Please... not me, please... anyone but me... Hit Woo-joon instead!'
Exactly on the third pitch he'd been praying through.
"Hng... heek!"
A 157 km/h fastball screamed toward his chest.
He let out a shrill yelp, crashing ass-first to the dirt on a hair-raising near-miss.
"Ball!"
The batter scrambled up, biting his lip as his heart raced even faster, waiting for the next one.
Lololol why's that guy so hyped? 😂
He's just stoked he didn't get plunked lol 😂😂
Dude that was straight-up brutal, brushing him back without hitting lol 😂 Batter must've been dying inside 😂😂
For real 😂😂😂
'Fuck... not me, right?'
The next batter's face went pale as he stepped up.
[Yes. Just struck out the third batter in the lineup, leaving only the final out of the game. Amazing. He started the inning with shaky control, walking a guy on four straight, then fanned two in a row. Thrives under pressure, huh?]
As if 😂😂😂
You didn't see him toying with them? 😂😂😂😂
Even I watching from my couch scratching my belly can tell, how's the announcer blind? He's just sugarcoating cuz it's his job 😂😂😂😂
Fr 😂😂😂 Saw Tae-hyun smirking at their faces 😂😂😂
But Tae-hyun God always smirks like that lol 😂😂😂
He's got that "can't say it was intentional" vibe 😂😂😂 Just gas 😂😂😂
Today's final batter was Jin Tae-hyun, of all people.
'Me...?'
Even with his friendship with Cha Tae-hyun, Jin Tae-hyun couldn't shake the thought of a retaliation pitch from his mind.
Beanballs happen on manager or senior orders sometimes, even if the pitcher doesn't want to.
It fit the picture perfectly: him on a seven-game homer streak, getting plunked.
Mirroring Shin Min-seok's beanball to stop a cycle.
'I get it, but...'
Still disappointing.
Not the failed streak—that he could chase anytime.
Just wanted one more at-bat against Cha Tae-hyun.
Thwack!
Jin Tae-hyun's mouth fell open at the pitch tailing off the outer edge.
The four-seamer had way more velocity and command than before, clearly outside the zone.
No doubt about it—this was a strikeout pitch.
He glanced at Cha Tae-hyun, who grinned back.
Jin Tae-hyun grinned too and let out a deep breath.
'Sorry, Cha Tae-hyun. I knew you weren't that guy.'
The subtle pressure of a beanball vanished, and his tense body relaxed.
Crack!
"Foul!"
Body and bat in perfect sync on the swing.
Not bad.
In this state,
Against a gassed Cha Tae-hyun in the ninth...
'I got this!'
Crack!
[Another foul! Jin Tae-hyun hangs tough on Cha Tae-hyun's four-seamer!]
"Ball!"
Crack!
With focus maxed out, Jin Tae-hyun didn't even realize it was full count.
As Cha Tae-hyun went into his windup, Jin thought:
'Time to put it away.'
Cutter for the kill?
Or... mix it up with a fork?
'Cutter... assume cutter. Better to hunt that than the fork.'
The instant he decided, the ball hurtled toward him.
Jin Tae-hyun swung with everything.
It looked like contact, but the ball veered, grazing the bat's end and diving away outside.
Thwack!
"Strike! Out!"
"Nice! Cha Tae-hyun! Three straight shutouts! You madman! You're really doing this?!"
Shin Si-woo chucked his mask and charged the mound as Sajik erupted once more.
Jin Tae-hyun, streak snapped, didn't look disappointed or crushed.
Relieved, even, gazing at the mound.
Struck out ugly, but no regrets.
"At least I forced out the sweeper."
Drawing out one hidden pitch was enough for him.
"Congrats, Cha Tae-hyun."
Muttering as Cha got mobbed, Jin headed to the dugout.
The game ended 0-9, and the player of the game interview was underway.
"Yes! Cha Tae-hyun! What an incredible performance today. Player of the game doesn't even cover it! Debut cycle hit! Three straight shutouts! Wow... just wow!"
Cha Sam-bong vibes, damn
Not even a month since debut and he's shattering how many records? 😂😂😂😂
Just... our team's pitcher Cha Tae-hyun
A guy who shuts out as pitcher AND hits a cycle? This'd get roasted even as manga 😂😂😂
The announcer was hyped to the point of overkill, but Cha Tae-hyun kept smiling and chatting nonstop.
Then the question that shut him up.
"In the last inning, you looked shaky early on but settled down. What shook you up?"
A loaded question—answer wrong, and it could stir drama. A rookie unused to interviews might spill emotions and make headlines.
But Cha Tae-hyun wasn't some interview-noob rookie.
He'd done them like meals in the big leagues, faced tougher ones countless times.
Cha Tae-hyun smiled casually, rubbing his thigh.
"My thigh was hurting pretty bad, threw off my focus. If it hadn't hit, I'd have finished cleaner. Shame."
Lmao fr 😂😂 Thigh pain's distracting af 😂😂 Gotta plant that front foot
Fr 😂😂😂 Can't help that one 😂😂😂
But he still brushed them perfect without hitting?
Looking out for his buddy ^^
"Oof... Cha Tae-hyun took a hard one to the thigh. Totally understandable. Thanks for the interview, that's all for—"
As the announcer wrapped up, Cha Tae-hyun snatched the mic.
Her eyes widened at the stunt; he held up a finger—"one more sec"—and brought it to his mouth.
'Can't just end it like this.'
Cha Tae-hyun held grudges forever against those who crossed lines.
"If something like this happens on my next start... I might not have control then. Shin Min-seok sunbaenim."
"Holy shit, this guy's nuts... Says in the interview 'Try that bullshit again and I'll blast 160 heat into your hitters' skulls'—to a senior no less."
"I didn't say that."
Shin Si-woo shook his head.
"Same diff."
I snorted.
"Fair."
He'd toned it down, kept it polite, but anyone who watched got it, just like Si-woo.
Already, some boomer fans from other teams were raging about the rookie's attitude.
"What're you gonna do mouthing off like that? You don't know people's lives—could trade teams someday. Manage your image."
Uncharacteristically sensible from Si-woo. But meaningless to me.
"You think I'll still be here in seven years?"
"...True. No reason for you to stick around. Ugh, you're such a prick."
"Like the quick agreement, drop the prick part."
"That's the key part. Compromise on just 'prick'?"
I was about to fire back with a laugh when the manager entered the locker room.
"Cha Tae-hyun, come here."
Si-woo chuckled, waving me off to get my scolding.
The manager waited outside.
"Hm..."
His face was stern. No way... chewing me out over the interview?
That'd be a letdown.
"Cha Tae-hyun."
"Yes."
"Handled that well."
The manager grinned, patting my shoulder.
Yeah. Knew he wasn't some boomer.
"Right. A rookie's gotta have that fire. Ignore the haters, keep that confidence and grit all the way."
"Yes. Thank you."
"Oh, and your friend."
"Friend...? Oh, the coach aspirant?"
"Yeah, him. Can't hire him straight as coach, you know? But I pulled strings for an internship spot on the strategy analysis team. Start there, show results, push for more later."
No convincing needed—he'd flip for even an internship on Phoenix's strategy team.
I knew how much he loved Phoenix.
"You've turned into a real mensch, Cha Tae-hyun."
I tilted my head at the random compliment.
"These days, tons of guys get jealous when friends succeed. Not many grin like you."
Guess I was smirking without realizing. Felt good, knowing how into Phoenix he was.
Picturing his reaction had me grinning again.
"He really loves Phoenix."
"Good. Tell your buddy the news and head home."
"Yes. Great work, Manager!"
Can't wait.
Wonder what his face'll look like.