The Old Timer's Final Wisdom
The atmosphere at the table had been nice for a reason.
It was the high-ranking major-leaguer from South Korea sitting at the next table, and thanks to that, Park Gyeok-po’s father had come to look at Choi Seungtaek in a positive light.
Of course, that didn’t mean Choi Seungtaek had actually wanted to be in this situation right now.
“So after leaving the Dodgers and going through all those team moves, what I realized is that when your own value shines, everyone treats you that way. That’s why it’s important to leave the other stuff behind and build your value on your own.”
“Oh! The Dodgers story is finally over!”
“When I left the Dodgers, there were a lot of things like that happening.”
“Yeah. Oh! You said your position is catcher, right? I’ve played with a bunch of catchers after switching teams a lot in the Majors. The so-called superstar catchers I’ve met usually stay planted right in the middle. At first I didn’t get it, but once I caught with catchers who didn’t move around in the center and only worked the glove, I remembered that my command got even better. So if you can do it, try staying right in the middle of home plate instead of rushing all over the plate. Work on adjusting the glove perfectly, and get your blocking down solid so the pitchers can throw without any pressure. Like that trust I had where even if I made a mistake the catcher would always take it—no matter what? That’s the heart of a battery, throwing and catching with that kind of trust.”
“Thank you for the advice, senior. It’s gold.”
Choi Seungtaek gave a bright smile, nodded mechanically, and added some enthusiastic “um-huhs” to show he was taking it all in.
“Ah… and what I learned from my own failures is that health matters more than anything. Not just avoiding injury—maintaining the right weight, the right strength for me, and then putting in thousands and thousands of repetitions to develop pro-level pitches and find my own signature point. Once I find that point, the next step is to throw that same number of times until I own it completely. If I can do that, I become a pro player who gets recognized. From then on I train to keep that feeling sharp, and once I have it, even if I lose the point again I’ll know how to get it back. I won’t stay down.”
Choi Seungtaek’s ears were starting to feel like they were about to bleed.
*Cuck. I can’t take this anymore.*
The advice kept going and going, and right as Seungtaek’s eyes were starting to glaze over, he caught sight of an unexpected face.
It was the legend’s wife. From her seat she had been quietly watching the terrace where Seungtaek was sitting, then she gave him a clear hand signal to come inside.
*That’s…! No way!*
This was salvation.
Seungtaek gave a little tilt of his head in confusion.
“You weren’t mistaken. What you’re understanding right now is exactly right,” she gestured. The legend’s wife nodded at Seungtaek and waved him toward the table.
“Back then I had stepped down from my prime and was thinking about what to do when I got a call from a Japanese team. So I took a new challenge…”
“Senior! It looks like… she’s calling you.”
“Ah!”
Seungtaek quickly told the legend, who froze for a second. Then he put on a look of quiet disappointment, glanced at his wife waiting at the restaurant, and decided to stop talking.
“Um… then I guess I should go in. Let’s go.”
“Yes, senior.”
Seungtaek stood up, gave the legend’s wife a small bow of thanks as he left, and exchanged light greetings with the family.
After that he went back to spending time with Park Gayeong and her parents.
***
While Choi Seungtaek was enjoying sweet moments with Park Gayeong, the Daejeon Magpies had already finished their second spring camp.
In spring camp, the first round was about building the body. The second round was about sharpening real game feel, which is why they played so many exhibition games against other teams.
In Okinawa they had faced Japanese teams and other squads on the island. Now that they were back in Korea they were preparing for the exhibition season.
The Daejeon Magpies had lost every single exhibition game. The mood in the clubhouse was not good at all.
“Seungtaek… any news yet?”
“Manager, you just called me over.”
“No. Wait.”
“Manager! Why chase him out when he’s not even on the 1A roster? Just let him train!”
“Right now… I’m trying to break him in.”
The head coach was getting frustrated with Manager Han Geunseong.
“Manager, right now even Woosoo has a bad knee and Gyeok-po’s got a bunch of minor injuries. We should play Seungtaek in a game. He’s got talent!”
“Seungtaek… is usable, but that kid has to want to play baseball… he has to come into the office, kneel down, and say he’s going to work hard like his life depends on it to become the big player later.”
“Aigoo, manager… I’m dying here.”
The head coach looked ready to explode.
“Prepare for today’s game or the practices.”
“Yes, sir.”
***
For days on end Manager Han Geunseong’s whip had no effect on Choi Seungtaek. He was spending every moment with Park Gayeong in pure sweetness.
“Heehee~”
“So you like that?”
“I like you more every time I see you.”
“Ugh.”
Thanks to that restaurant a few days ago, Park Gayeong’s parents had finally given their blessing for her to go out more often. Thanks to them, Seungtaek got to go on almost daily dates with her.
“Where are we going today?”
“I know all the good spots. Today it’s a meat restaurant.”
The place Seungtaek had picked was a clean, cozy lamb house right by Jamsil Bongdong.
Outside there was a wide park, and farther off you could see Jamsil Stadium. Inside the restaurant the decor was spotless and there was a huge TV in the corner.
“Lamb? How did you even know about this place?”
“Pfft! I prepared this date because I wanted to spend time with you. Once the season starts I won’t have much time. So we have to do this now while we can.”
“Uwaa. I’m actually going to get fat.”
“You’re going to get fat? You’re looking extremely pretty right now. Sit down. The salt-grilled lamb here is supposed to be legendary.”
“Really?”
“Yep! I’ll order!”
But Park Gayeong’s face was a little gloomy.
*Hoo… but is Seungtaek really seeing me as a woman?*
The way he acted was so nice, but she felt a little sad.
They had been dating for a while now, but the most physical contact they had managed was just holding hands.
*This is the point where a guy should lead… I could kiss him right here in front of my parents and they’d probably just laugh it off.*
“By the way, Seungtaek.”
“Hm?”
“I want to do other dates besides eating or watching movies.”
“Yeah? Want to go to an amusement park? It’s still cold, but that means fewer people. Should be fine.”
*This blunt idiot.*
“No…”
*No, this is how it usually goes.*
Choi Seungtaek really didn’t understand when people said things indirectly. So Park Gayeong had made up her mind.
“Seungtaek, I was thinking a hotel date would be nice too. What do you think?”
“What…?”
“I’ve always wanted to go on a date at a nice hotel once.”
And she turned her head toward the window, blushing.
In the end, Park Gayeong had thrown the direct question first, and Seungtaek was completely dazed by the aftershock.
*This is basically it!*
Her shy reaction told him he had been right all along.
“Um… then should we go… today?”
Park Gayeong gave a tiny nod.
Seungtaek’s heart rate spiked and he started frantically searching his phone for a decent hotel nearby.
**The exhibition game between the Gangbuk Sparrows and the Daejeon Magpies is about to begin.**
Inside the restaurant, the TV was showing baseball.
“Seungtaek, isn’t that your team on the screen?”
While Seungtaek was searching, he looked up at the TV.
“Ah? Yeah. Today’s an exhibition, huh? I didn’t know.”
“You didn’t know?”
“Yeah, no official announcement came out.”
Seungtaek was watching the TV with interest when he heard loud voices in the corner of the restaurant.
“Wow! Your team’s playing today. Last time the Magpies finished in what place again?”
“Eh! Don’t mock the eighth-place team.”
“They’re in ninth now because the new Gangnam Parrots joined. Impressive, right? A brand-new team that dropped themselves to ninth instead of sulking. That’s why you don’t mock them.”
At that moment the Magpies fan started grumbling and cursing under his breath.
“Haa… bastards.”
The other guys got even more excited and started teasing the Magpies fan harder.
“Oh, right, you’re a Sparrows fan, huh? You must be enjoying this game a lot.”
“What place did your team finish?”
“The Sparrows? Fourth place last time. Their ranking dropped after summer but they were in first for a bit… Still, they’re going to the playoffs so I’m satisfied.”
“There’s a saying—teams that overperform in spring always drop.”
The Magpies fan gave a passive counter.
“That’s why I feel sorry for your team. You have nowhere left to fall to.”
“Ehh~ shit.”
“Pffft~”
The over-the-top teasing made the Magpies fan grumble again.
“Haa… damn it.”
*Cough. I haven’t even played in a game yet, so I feel bad for the guy.*
And right then the TV announced a loud play.
**Oh! Backup fielder Gyeok-po has a hamstring injury.**
On screen, the backup fielder at first base suddenly grabbed his thigh, collapsed, and the replay showed the moment.
Fortunately the ball hadn’t gone anywhere so the batter was safe, but the fielder had run hard to first and then torn his hamstring. The situation was bad.
*Hamstring? That’s a hamstring tear?*
Choi Seungtaek frowned at the screen.
**With the season just starting, this hamstring injury… what a shame.**
“Waa… it’s over.”
The Magpies fan immediately reacted.
“Why? Is he a key player?”
“Ah… at least Gyeok-po’s the one who got hurt. Woosoo’s knee is out too, so what about Jungkyungho?”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing… they can’t even play.”
In the end, Jungkyungho was replaced at the plate in the bottom of the second and the game continued.
**Thwack!**
**Another hit! The Magpies score! Runner on first and second.**
In the top of the fifth, Jungkyungho was up with runners on first and second.
“They’re not getting any runs this inning, are they?”
“I’m not expecting anything. I just hope he strikes out—it helps the team.”
The Magpies fan’s blunt comment left his friends stunned.
“Striking out means you do nothing and die, how does that help the team?”
“Striking out means you die alone. The pitcher has to throw three pitches. That’s helpful for the team.”
“You crazy fan!”
The cold evaluation made the friends shake their heads.
**Thwack!**
**Oh! Jungkyungho… six-four-three double play, inning over.**
But just like the fan had predicted, Jungkyungho hit a grounder in front of the shortstop. The shortstop tossed to second, who threw to first and the inning ended.
“Ao… he hit it on the first pitch! I told you.”
“Wow, really.”
“As expected from a Magpies expert. Go tell the manager.”
The friends shook their heads again at the accurate call.
**Thwack.**
“Aigoo…”
**Thwack.**
**Nice!**
In the bottom of the fifth the Sparrows came out swinging. The two fans’ fortunes had completely reversed.
Runners on first and second with no outs. One more hit and the Sparrows would score.
**Thwack!**
**Oh!! He hit it! A hit!**
**Center fielder Lee Guntaek is throwing home!**
Lee Guntaek threw home and Jungkyungho collided hard with the visiting foreign hitter as the ball crossed the plate.
**Oh!!! Strong collision at home!**
“Eww! What happens now?”
The situation got chaotic and Seungtaek kept chewing his lamb while he watched the screen.
In the video Jungkyungho was clearly in pain and couldn’t get up.
**Jungkyungho and Hannibal collided hard at home. Jungkyungho is down. We’ll have to check his condition, but the Magpies will need another catcher.**
“What do we do? He must be hurt.”
“Yeah… big problem. Is Woosoo coming up?”
Park Gayeong had jumped when she saw the collision and Seungtaek’s face tightened.
*Wait, the fan said Woosoo’s knee is out too, right? Is there a second-team catcher we can call up?*
**Looks like we’ll have to make the substitution…**
**Right now Woosoo’s also sidelined with a knee injury, isn’t he?**
**That’s right. Looking at the lineup we have… oh! Rookie Seungtaek is still here. If Jungkyungho doesn’t recover, it looks like Seungtaek will be the one who steps in.**
Choi Seungtaek froze right there in the restaurant.
*Me?*