Shuffle
A matchup between a two-win team and a three-loss team.
To the Rhinos fans, the defeat might have felt like quite a shocking result. But from the perspective of the players who actually played the game, it wasn't particularly so.
How was anyone supposed to deal with Kim Jae-sang being a complete madman in yesterday's game? It was no different from getting hit by a truck while walking down the street.
Pitcher and batter. Which of the two positions contributes more to victory?
In the end, aren't they just the same baseball players? Peaceful and boring opinions like that are meaningless. People are built to feel satisfied only when they can rank things somehow—and even more so in sports, where ranking is everyday life.
In Major League Baseball, there's usually a tendency to value batters higher. The highest contract ever belongs to a batter, and MVP feels strongly like an award that batters receive. Of course, pitchers have the Cy Young Award, so it's hard for them to claim MVP as well.
Conversely, in NPB, pitchers are treated better. It's been a pitcher-friendly, low-scoring environment for several years already, and looking at Japan's unique manga-like sensibility, pitchers can't help but be more popular. The "lonely ace" on the mound—how much of a power-up scene is that?
Regarding this, I personally hold a rather simple thought. Regardless of pitcher or batter, the one who performs well contributes more to victory.
Last year, Do Jeong-hoo shut out Game 1 of the Korean Series and led the Wolves to victory. Yesterday, Kim Jae-sang swept up eight RBIs by himself and gave the Swallows their precious third win. Last year, Charlie showed tremendous fighting spirit from the playoffs through the Korean Series and contributed to the Wizards' championship. Last year, I put on a truly insane performance and created the Wizards' championship.
There's no need to decide the superiority of pitchers and batters. The team with the one who does well wins. And yesterday, Kim Jae-sang—who ranks among the very best even in the KBO—simply had a day when he performed as if possessed by a god, so we lost.
That said, claiming it doesn't bother me at all would still be a lie. The defeat in yesterday's game did leave a bitter taste. In the end, I'm just one player overflowing with competitive spirit. All the long-winded talk I've done so far is close to mental victory.
However, the words I said to Kim Jae-sang after yesterday's game—that winning today's game would seem easy—are not a lie. Because the Swallows are a weak team among weak teams that have only three wins in eighteen games. It's true that Kim Jae-sang was a madman. It's also true that Kim Jae-sang accounted for almost ninety percent of the Swallows' team win share yesterday.
But the fundamental reason the Rhinos lost yesterday was because the Rhinos collapsed on their own. Especially the pitching staff.
Before today's game started, Kang Ho-san boldly declared he would straighten out the pitchers' minds once and for all, so minor mistakes like yesterday's won't happen. So I just need to take revenge on the Swallows fans for yesterday. Isn't it Korea, where if pure love is trampled, one becomes a thug?
"Hoo…"
Top of the first. With lead-off hitter Jang Tae-wook on base via walk.
-Waaaaah!!
Leaving behind the Swallows fans' curses that continued today, I stepped into the batter's box.
"Good work~"
"What a polite young man."
"Shut up. I wasn't greeting you."
"Even I get hurt, you know."
"Oh… how truly pitiful, Jae-sang."
"Look at that reaction. Like an old man."
Old man?
"Come to think of it, the old man said to come visit once. You haven't visited even once since going pro?"
"Pyeongtaek is far. And you're not one to talk. At least I live in Busan—you didn't go even when you were in Suwon?"
"…"
The karma of the damn Minor League Yeopo again.
"But these days I visit often, you know?"
"Just looking at it, you only go when you need something and say 'Ajae-mong, help me~'"
Why so sharp.
"Tsk. Let's focus on the game. Jae-sang. This isn't a class reunion."
"Yeah, running away because you're losing the verbal battle is super lame, right?"
Ignoring Kim Jae-sang's unnecessary nonsense, I focused on the game. The pitcher on the mound was a typical batting-practice pitcher. In other words: control wasn't good, the ball wasn't fast, and the breaking balls were bland. That kind of pitcher. The fact that lead-off hitter Jang Tae-wook walked was as good as created by the pitcher.
Just like our pitchers yesterday…
"Ahem."
Still, I shouldn't speak ill of our team's pitchers. I'm different from Lee Min-ho, who by now is probably smelling the scent of slacking off in the Wizards' second team in Iksan. I don't look down on pitchers, who are a different position from me. Rather, that kind of thing—
"…"
"What?"
"A bastard like Lee Min-ho."
"Who's that?"
My one and only rude classmate does that. Of course.
This guy just looks down on other people as a default, so he probably doesn't think something like catchers are superior.
He might think only he is superior.
"Your expression is very displeasing."
The first pitch that came in right after Kim Jae-sang finished speaking was a wild pitch that almost went all the way back—a pitch that flew far away.
"Ha…"
Kim Jae-sang, who threw his whole body to catch the ball, let out a deep sigh. Looking at that, I showed flashy footwork.
"Hey… what the hell is this?"
"Doesn't it remind you of the old days?"
"Crazy bastard…"
I had decided to take revenge. But I had no intention of creating the so-called "Ji-hoo play" infinite foul hell like last year's Korean Series. Nor of burying the opposing pitcher like I did to the Stars' starting pitcher whose name I don't even remember now. The Swallows pitchers had no sin. And the Swallows fans were just trying for the victory of the team they support. Above all—
I don't think it'll go as I please.
It takes two to clap. Continuously making foul balls, or making strong hits toward the pitcher, also needs the right conditions. In short, the Swallows pitcher's skill is far too lacking to induce the direction of the batted ball.
"…Hoo. Ah, that guy's pitches are dirty bad while his temper is short—this is bad."
As I said sometime before, the person who helped a lot in completing my batting form in high school is none other than Kim Jae-sang. But saying I was a high school student means Kim Jae-sang, who was practically my batting coach, was also a high school student. No matter how much Kim Jae-sang was called a baseball genius since middle school, creating someone else's batting form from start to finish anew was impossible.
So Kim Jae-sang followed a famous truth: the truth that there is no creation without imitation.
"Bring it. I'll make you an awesome batting form that suits you."
The player Kim Jae-sang focused on was a Dominican outfielder who was evaluated as a once-in-a-generation prospect for the Nationals at the time. Near 190 cm build. Abnormally excellent plate discipline. Tremendous athletic ability. I could dare say I was a similar type of player to him. That's why Kim Jae-sang referenced that player's form a lot in making "Gong Ji-hoo's batting form," and actually a form that fit me perfectly was completed.
Of course, after that, his and my futures were completely different. Unlike that player who smashed the heads of baseball fans bickering over whether pitchers or batters are superior and proved "I am the most superior," renewing the all-time highest FA amount recorded by the Japanese two-way player in just one year while saying "if you're young and hit well, that's the best"—Minor League Yeopo Gong Ji-hoo retired futilely after crawling in the deep sea afraid of the fans. After regressing, I am also walking a flower path, but—
Sssssk.
I dragged my right foot and pushed it outward.
Sssssk.
This time I dragged my left foot and pushed.
Kuuuk.
I lowered my hips and dropped my stance. Busily repeating this pattern. The so-called Shuffle footwork. The somewhat comical routine that the "trillion-won man" often shows before taking his batting stance.
"First, let's try copying this player's form exactly. This guy is definitely going to succeed."
A routine filled with memories of Kim Jae-sang and me from high school days. Of course—
"Ha…"
I seem to be the only one lost in memories. Kim Jae-sang, who shares the same memories, is just sighing heavily. And the starting pitcher on the mound—
At this rate his face is going to explode.
—was huffing with a bright red face. That makes sense. This shuffle thing, when you actually experience it, is really annoying. Because it looks like you're mocking the pitcher.
"Tsk… hey, better not do that shuffle or tap dance or whatever? You'll become a beanball collector at this rate."
So I stopped. Honestly it was also embarrassing. It wasn't a good look. The past me was a common high school student—a style-obsessed kid, you know. Why did the me of that time—
Not know how fun this is…
Thwack!!
"Ball."
A ball digging deep inside. It was a threat pitch as if saying "I'm angry!", but without caring—
Srrrk.
Right foot.
Srrr.
Left foot.
Kuuuk.
Hips.
And—
Slurp.
This time I even added lip-licking.
Crunch.
It seemed like the sound of grinding teeth came from somewhere.
Am I going to get hit by a beanball at this rate.
Then no choice. At that time it's not a minor prank like now but real thug behavior.
"Jae-sang."
"What."
"No beanballs. You know?"
"I know… if a narrow-minded guy like you gets hit by a HBP, would you stay still? You'll bury him like that Stars guy."
"Huh? What are you talking about. I don't know what that is."
Kim Jae-sang knows better than anyone that I actually don't have a very good personality. Anyway, it's an old connection. He'll avoid beanballs as much as possible. Of course, if the pitcher just throws it, it can't be helped.
Thwack!!
"Ball."
Hmm…
There doesn't seem to be a chance of getting hit by a beanball. The pitcher whose anger has reached the top of his head isn't even showing the control to hit me. Then—
Again. Shuffle. And on top of that—
Grin.
Even a pure smile.
"Hey Gong Ji-hoo bastard."
"What Kim Jae-sang bastard."
"I'm really too tired."
"So what."
Making weak sounds.
"The fundamental cause is with the Swallows fans."
"What?"
"Cheering for another team's player for the sake of curses—how vicious is that."
"What kind of bullshit is that again?"
Thwack!!
"Ball."
Bullshit my ass. You should know better.
After thoroughly harassing the pitcher on the mound, I walked on a straight four-pitch walk. No outs, first and second.
Crack!!!
As if avenging yesterday's defeat—
Crack!!!
—the heart of the lineup exploded. Creating a big inning with five runs from the first inning, the Rhinos.
"Hmm… it's really easy."
I nodded satisfactorily.
How many more times can I shuffle from now on?
I might get addicted at this rate.
The second matchup between the Rhinos and the Swallows held at Sajik ended with the Rhinos' overwhelming victory. A shocking score of 12–2.
The Swallows' starting pitcher, after the game ended, stated his position through an interview:
But it didn't gain much sympathy—not only from Rhinos fans but even from Swallows fans. Both teams' fans have high favorability toward Gong Ji-hoo, and the shuffle Gong Ji-hoo showed today clearly has its origin in the higher league, Major League Baseball.
This guy suddenly why like this?
Wanted to dance?
"Why?"
Gong Ji-hoo was puzzled.
"Why is the atmosphere in the Swallows community good?"
Surely after the curse failed and the team lost, they should be depressed, right? The answer to that could be heard from a same-age friend who loves the Swallows too much.
"Huh? Curse? It was real cheering because I like you… what kind of misunderstanding are you under?"
"Ah…"
Knowing the truth, Gong Ji-hoo hung his head. Gong Ji-hoo needed to atone.
"It's my fault."