Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: The Tutorial is Too Hard
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Perfect Game
A perfect game refers to a situation where the pitcher doesn't allow a single batter to reach first base until the end of the game.
Thus, from the pitcher's perspective, a perfect game means they pitched a truly flawless contest.
Choi Seung-taek glanced at the scoreboard.
The lineups for both teams had been submitted, and the starting pitcher for Buma High School was listed as Go Tae-san.
'Shit.'
Aside from the fact that Choi Seung-taek himself had been late, that brutal game was about to replay itself in full.
The throw to first base sailed behind the runner.
"Seung-taek! Focus!"
Captain Han Bang-man's shout rang out.
"Sorry."
He'd messed up because his mind had wandered for a moment.
'How could I have forgotten about this day?'
Humans are forgetful creatures. Because of the memory of suffering through that perfect game, all the Suseok High players had fallen into despair.
Choi Seung-taek had forgotten and shaken it off, but the others couldn't, and the aftermath led to early exits from the President's Cup and Phoenix Cup as well.
Pop!
The ball smacked into the catcher's mitt.
"Here we go again!"
As they kept tossing the ball around the infield, his body began to loosen up bit by bit.
At least, sending throws was no longer a struggle.
"Game's about to start, so get ready!"
"Yes, sir!"
Choi Seung-taek settled in behind home plate. As he took his stance, Kang Tae-pung climbed the mound.
'Whew, it's been forever.'
Whiiir!
Thwack!
Even in warm-ups, the fastball nearing 130 km/h buried itself in Choi Seung-taek's mitt.
'Ah... this sensation. It's been too long.'
Pro players' pitches are fast and heavy.
That's why a catcher's basics are solid receiving. To snag fastballs like these without injury takes know-how.
And Choi Seung-taek caught it with perfect instincts.
'Oof...'
His success was short-lived; when he threw back to Kang Tae-pung, it sailed too far.
"Sorry!"
Whiiir!
Thud!
'Ow, damn. That felt personal.'
Choi Seung-taek flinched from the sudden velocity.
The scoreboard flashed 151 km/h. Way too much gas for warm-ups.
'Prickly bastard.'
Kang Tae-pung was a hothead. That burning drive for victory had gotten him this far, but putting up with his moods for three years of high school had been a grind.
Whenever Choi Seung-taek slipped even a little, he'd show his dissatisfaction right away.
'Yeah, the guy's personality is kinda trash. How do you even handle that?'
Whiiir!
Thud!
152 km/h lit up the board again.
'The old me would've shrunk, but not now!'
Thanks to his pro experience, he adapted to 150 km/h heat instantly.
Once Kang Tae-pung seemed fully warmed, the umpire and Buma High's leadoff hitter approached.
'Oh crap! Forgot the signs! What do I do?'
Pro ball has tons of signs. Each pitcher has their own, plus ones to relay from the bench.
Choi Seung-taek's head was stuffed with Busan Sea Gulls signs; he couldn't recall Suseok High's.
'If I ask Tae-pung, he'll think I'm a total idiot.'
A chill ran down his spine.
Just imagining Kang Tae-pung flipping out made his head shake.
But they couldn't lose like this. Choi Seung-taek hurried toward the mound.
"What the hell are you doing up here?"
Kang Tae-pung's gruff voice hit him.
"Cover your mouth."
"What?"
"Cover your mouth first. Look, I couldn't explain, but do you remember our signs right now?"
Kang Tae-pung shot him a disgusted look.
'Knew it.'
"Fastball is... down low with curve... down low, slider... down."
Kang Tae-pung answered irritably, half-assed.
'What the hell? He's mumbling like crap.'
"Any other signs?"
"Uh... fastball's pinky and ring, curve's index, slider's index and middle."
Kang Tae-pung dredged up his memory, speaking slowly enough for Choi Seung-taek to memorize easily.
"We'll use those today. Honestly, from Buma's side, they just need to stop you. They might've scouted our signs. Let's switch 'em up from the start."
"Fine, got it."
His face had soured at first, but the logic softened him.
'Yeah, man. Sounds good, right?'
A good catcher knows how to talk. Pitchers come in all types, including the sensitive ones. Calming them is part of the job.
Having dealt with prospects to vets in the minors, Choi Seung-taek handled Kang Tae-pung without much trouble.
Choi Seung-taek returned to home plate. The umpire was already set, and the batter had arrived.
"Suseok High catcher ready?"
"Yes, ready."
"Then let's play ball."
Play ball!
The Blue Dragon Cup quarterfinal between Buma High School and Suseok High School was underway.
As Choi Seung-taek took position behind home base, the message popped up again.
At the same moment, a virtual strike zone appeared before his eyes.
'What is this? Strike zone?'
Buma High's leadoff hitter stepped in. The zone adjusted to fit the batter.
'Whoa, that's cool.'
Choi Seung-taek recalled Buma High's leadoff hitter.
'Buma High's #1 is Go Myeong-jin.'
Go Myeong-jin was Buma High School's center fielder.
Despite being a first-year, he was talented enough for the leadoff spot—a top prospect the Busan Sea Gulls would snag with a first-round pick two years later.
A righty hitter with lefty throw, excelling in hitting, fielding, and baserunning. He shone all three high school years, capping senior year with a .700 average.
Remembering Go Myeong-jin, the strike zone filled with red.
'No way. Myeong-jin's good, but Tae-pung can't have nowhere to throw.'
Kang Tae-pung was Suseok High's starter and ace. Pros had eyed him since freshman year, leading to a first-round pick by the Gangdong Falcons.
A lefty power fireballer, his four-seam fastball in the low-to-mid 150s was his bread and butter.
Plus decent curve and slider, plenty to earn ace status.
Recalling Kang Tae-pung's info, blue patches started appearing in the strike zone.
'Ah, got it.'
Kang Tae-pung was an aggressive inside fastball guy.
Choi Seung-taek called for it right away.
[Inside fastball]
He positioned his mitt toward the batter's body. The space in front glowed blue.
Nod.
Whiiir!
Thwack!
Strike!
A sharp fastball dove into the inside corner.
"Nice!"
"Nice one! Great pitch!"
Cheers erupted from the dugout. Choi Seung-taek's face lit up.
'A glimmer of hope. If the system's real, leading like this should make it easy.'
[Inside fastball]
He set up inside again.
'Leadoff hitter'll want to see pitches. Gotta lead more aggressively.'
Whiiir!
'No! Tae-pung! That's a meatball!'
Crack!
Kang Tae-pung's pitch hung middle-in, and Go Myeong-jin pounced.
He yanked it hard through the 1-2 hole. Go Myeong-jin reached first.
"Damn it..."
Baseball's full of variables.
Even perfect stats can't prevent them.
Even with the system stacking odds, pitcher mistakes like that were unbeatable.
'Whew... nothing for it. Back to it.'
Choi Seung-taek reset. The #2 hitter stepped up immediately.
Buma High's #2, Kim Dae-in. Righty hitter/thrower, shortstop. Second-round pick material, but no hitting standout.
Kang Tae-pung's stuff should handle him, but now it wasn't just batter vs. pitcher.
Choi Seung-taek eyed first base briefly.
The problem was Go Myeong-jin. Tricky runner on first meant trouble ahead.
'They'll probably steal. Or...'
He instinctively glanced at the dugout. Coach Kim Ik-hyeon signaled, but Choi Seung-taek didn't catch it.
'Crap... gotta wing it.'
Fast runner on first? Steal or sac bunt.
Choi Seung-taek went standard.
First, gestured infielders in a step. Then signaled Kang Tae-pung to hold first.
Sliiiide.
Go Myeong-jin headfirst-slid back to first.
'No chance. Reactions are sharp.'
Choi Seung-taek shifted outside.
[Outside fastball]
Mitt half a ball off.
Whiiiiiir!
Thwack!
Kang Tae-pung painted it about a ball outside.
'Watched the ball on purpose. No bunt signs. Steal attempt? Still gotta cover both.'
[Outside fastball]
Same call again.
...
Nod.
Whiiiir!
'Huh? Curve? With a runner going? You bastard.'
Whoosh!
Thwack!
Swing and miss!
Choi Seung-taek fired to second as soon as he caught it. The ball flew to the second baseman's shoulder.
Safe!
Taunting timing cost the steal prevention. Buma High had a runner in scoring position already.
"Whew..."
Choi Seung-taek sighed, settling back in. Buma's #2 openly squared for a bunt now.
'Yeah, just need the infield single.'
Pop!
The bunt rolled toward first.
First baseman Han Bang-man scooped and threw to covering Kang Tae-pung.
Out!
'One out, runner on third. Like hell.'
Buma High's #3, Im Seong-han, stepped up.
Inside guy, so target outside smart.
Choi Seung-taek called outside, but Kang Tae-pung fired inside.
Whiiir!
Crack!
#3 Im Seong-han's fly headed to the outfield.
Plain fly without a runner, but third had one.
Out!
Suseok's outfielder caught it, but third-base runner Go Myeong-jin tagged up and scored.
"Yes! Nice!"
Buma's #4 cleanup Baek Ho-ryeong and Go Myeong-jin high-fived, pumped.
Choi Seung-taek's face hardened.
'These damn pros. They play ball way too well. Hard to keep Go Tae-san scoreless now, and we're already down. Shit, is this really the tutorial...?'