Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Reasons to Win
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The final game of the opening three-game series between the Daejeon MacPhies and the Busan Sea Gulls.
Time flew by, and it was already the bottom of the second inning.
Sitting uneasily.
A phrase describing a state where one sits but finds no comfort, fidgeting restlessly due to an uneasy mind or situation.
It was the perfect way to describe Choi Seung-taek's current predicament.
'Fu… fuck. I screwed up. What a slip of the tongue.'
Choi Seung-taek had made the starting lineup today.
He was playing as the catcher and batting sixth.
He had just finished defense in the top of the first and second innings, but he couldn't even remember how he'd gotten through them.
Right now, his mind was replaying that interview comment over and over.
In a panic to smooth things over, he'd thrown out the template "Not really in my heart."
But upon reflection before the game, he realized he'd said something terribly wrong.
In other words, nuances be damned—he felt like he'd handed the reporter prime fodder for a negative story.
'Please, let it not be a big deal….'
Normally, he should've started with a crisp "Not really," or delivered it playfully before following up jokingly with "Not really in my heart!"
That way, the reporter would've taken it as lighthearted banter and written a breezy article.
But what he'd said? Anyone hearing it would've known it was a mess.
'No way. The reporter definitely heard it right. So what do I do now?'
The more he chewed on it, the riskier it seemed.
Manager Han Geun-seong might not show it, but he was surely offended.
At the very least, as long as he was manager, his authority was boundless.
Depending on his mood, Choi Seung-taek could be demoted to the second team at any moment or scratched from the starting lineup without warning.
Knowing Han was that kind of manager made it all the more agonizing for Choi Seung-taek.
'This means… I have to perform. Just fucking crush it.'
As Choi Seung-taek waited with a heavy heart, his chance arrived.
Crack!
A crisp hit echoed through the stadium.
- Pacific! A hit! He threads it between the second baseman and shortstop!
The leadoff hitter in the bottom of the second, Pacific, had smacked a single.
'Good. Runner on base.'
Crack!
- Cha Haeng-jin! A line drive splitting center and left field!
Cha Haeng-jin swung cleanly too, producing another hit, and suddenly runners were on second and third.
Then it was Choi Seung-taek's turn, waiting in the on-deck circle.
'Alright, time to show 'em. In the end, the guy who performs gets forgiven. Crush this one too and earn some goodwill.'
Steeling himself, Choi Seung-taek stepped into the batter's box.
'Plus, there's another reason.'
His girlfriend, Park Ga-young, was cheering for the MacPhies' victory, so his grip tightened even more.
Choi Seung-taek eyed the pitcher on the mound.
The System visualized information on the Busan Sea Gulls' starting pitcher.
'Hm? That's promising.'
Having just given up back-to-back hits, the Sea Gulls' starter was in rough shape.
As Choi Seung-taek recalled what he knew of Park Se-jun, the System displayed trajectories of his preferred pitches.
And simultaneously, the paths highlighting his current issues.
'That's why he got tagged twice.'
The cruelest moment for a pitcher had arrived for Busan Sea Gulls starter Park Se-jun.
Sudden command issues.
It was better than just missing wildly, but with his breaking balls involuntarily drifting middle-in against his will, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and throw.
Whether the two hitters before Choi Seung-taek knew it or got lucky, they'd capitalized on those middle-in sliders for hits.
Choi Seung-taek planned to hunt sliders first as he entered the box.
'Whew….'
Whiiiff
Thwack
Strike!
He took the first pitch for a strike.
Park Se-jun's pitch caught the outer edge of Choi Seung-taek's strike zone.
He'd gone with his straightest offering—a fastball—and fired it confidently despite the runners on second and third.
'Whoa… He's got some experience now; didn't just groove it down the middle….'
Choi Seung-taek closed his eyes briefly.
'He's sticking to pitches he can locate. So where next? Inside or outside fastball? He went outside, so inside this time?'
Opening his eyes, Choi Seung-taek visualized the inside fastball trajectory.
Whiiiff
Sadly, Park Se-jun threw exactly where Choi Seung-taek predicted.
And in that instant, the pitch looked as big as a watermelon to Choi Seung-taek.
'Gotcha!'
Crack!
- Choi Seung-taek! Right back in the lineup, and he rips a hit!
...
Today's line for Choi Seung-taek: 5-for-5 with 6 RBIs. His bat was on fire.
With both their aces spent, the Sea Gulls pitchers were easy prey for Choi Seung-taek.
Tuesday arrived.
Another three-game series loomed, and Choi Seung-taek arrived at Incheon Cranes' Munhak Stadium for the road trip.
Being away, they started practice a bit later, and thanks to the wait and travel time, the players who arrived early on the bus were catching some rest.
But even in that short break, Choi Seung-taek had special batting practice calling—he headed off for more swings.
Crack!
"Nice, Choi Seung-taek. Keep that Sunday feel going!"
The batting coach tossed another pitch as the clean sound rang out.
"Hey, Coach, anything off about my swing?"
"What advice am I gonna give the guy who went 5-for-5 on Sunday?"
'Ahem.'
"No, but if you see any flaws, feel free to point them out."
"Nah, nothing. Your form's solid. Smoother than I expected—don't wanna mess with it. How do you even swing like that? Anyway, yeah. Just keep doing you. You're crushing it; what more is there?"
'Knew it.'
Maybe because he was an experienced hitter himself, the batting coach approved of Choi Seung-taek's current mechanics and was just feeding balls to maintain them.
"Got it."
"Oh, and the manager said two boxes, right? Let's just do one and call it. Can't have our last starting-caliber catcher tweaking his hand and sitting—puts me in a tough spot."
"Yes, sir! Thanks."
'Sweet.'
Choi Seung-taek's status now: irreplaceable asset.
He wasn't even slacking, and others were covering for him anyway. As he cleared the box, the chief coach appeared from behind.
"Hey, kid, Choi Seung-taek."
"Yes, Chief Coach!"
"What was that interview?"
The chief coach sought him out with a slightly awkward expression.
'Ugh! Here it comes.'
Choi Seung-taek's face stiffened.
The interview must've hit the papers and spread.
"Sorry."
"No… Seung-taek-ah. The manager hates that kinda stuff, you know? Everything in moderation."
"Yes, sir! Got it. Sorry!"
"No need to apologize… You're one weird kid."
'…Weird kid?'
The chief coach dropped the cryptic line and left.
'What?'
"Uh… anyway, let's keep going. Almost done anyway."
"Yes, sir."
Choi Seung-taek refocused on special teams batting.
Crack!
Crack!
Crack!
Five minutes later, having finished the balls, he headed to the clubhouse.
"Choi Seung-taek!"
"Yes, Manager."
The manager eyed him briefly too.
"Seung-taek-ah, saw your interview."
"Oh, yeah?"
"But… you always been that type? Thought not."
"Huh?"
"Nah. Thinking back to camp, maybe you have?"
'What the hell?'
Choi Seung-taek grew even more confused by the manager's words.
The manager stared thoughtfully at him, then shook his head.
"Never mind, sorry. Uh… head to the field for full defense drills soon."
"Ah, got it."
Choi Seung-taek headed inside, tilting his head at the exchange.
He grabbed his catcher's gear from the clubhouse.
"Whoa! Choi Seung-taek!"
"Yeah, hyung."
"You're all in, huh!"
Now shortstop Hwang Kang-kyeong was saying weird stuff too.
'All in what?'
"You're the starter already, but digging in like that."
"What do you—"
"Impressive! Real impressive! Not easy to pull off."
As the baffling comments piled up, Choi Seung-taek panicked.
'The article? Gotta check.'
"Catcher ready yet?"
"Ah! Seung-taek's suiting up now."
"Tell him hurry up."
"Let's go first. Seung-taek-ah!"
"Coming."
He wanted to check the article but got rushed, so no time.
For now, mask in hand, he jogged to the field.
"Good!"
"Nice!"
"Deeper! Harder!"
"Back home!"
The fast-paced defense drills continued, and Choi Seung-taek completed them all.
Sigh.
"Hey, you sycophant~"
'Sycophant?'
A few players heading to the dugout snickered and whispered at Choi Seung-taek.
"Hey, suck-up's killing it again today. Which part are you? Jeong-geun's the left arm!"
Choi Seung-taek couldn't take it anymore.
'Aaaah, gotta check now!'
Defense over, he bolted to the clubhouse and fired up his phone.
Straight to Sports Korea, searching his name.
From the headline to the final line, the article painted Choi Seung-taek as a fierce supporter of Manager Han Geun-seong.
'Th-this… that's not what I meant at all!'