The Returned Catcher Wants to Win the Championship
The day before the game, the Busan Seagulls' conference room buzzed with the low hum of strategy sessions and the occasional sharp laugh.
"Choi Seungtaek. The rookie first-round pick number one in the 2015 secondary draft."
"Whoa~ So this is the big problem, huh?"
"Yes, that's right. He mentioned wanting to join the Seagulls in an interview, but it fell through a bit sadly."
Ha Seok-jin, the data analytics staff member, was going through his completed analysis of Choi Seungtaek and delivering his report to the coaching staff.
"How much does this guy make?"
"Signing bonus is three hundred million, but his annual salary is the minimum."
"Whoa, three hundred million. The Magpies really screwed that kid over. Is he some kind of sucker? Normally, that kind of bonus would come with a decent salary too."
One of the coaches shook his head at the money part, muttering in agreement.
"From what I heard, he didn't live in the dorms because he got less. The club let him off the hook because he wanted to take care of his mom and both sides won."
"Oh~. Really? A filial son. I thought he was just some spoiled brat, but he turned out to be pretty smart. Good talking."
The coaching staff of the Busan Seagulls kept the meeting going with light teasing, keeping the mood easy and relaxed.
"But how exactly does that story from the MLB analyst go?"
The director asked the one thing that had been bugging him most.
"We still can't judge it with numbers yet."
"What? You can't judge it?"
"Well... sabermetrics is what they use in the majors for analysis, and we're trying to bring it in too, but honestly it's still too much to follow their know-how."
Ha Seok-jin's words made the director's face darken.
"So the MLB analyst said it all, but you still can't figure out exactly why?"
"Unfortunately, that's the case. But that doesn't mean there aren't obvious weaknesses right in front of us. We found strengths and weaknesses separately from what the MLB analyst said."
"Hmph.... Then hurry up and tell us."
Using the words from the MLB analyst who appeared on Baseball Together, the Seagulls' data analytics team added Choi Seungtaek to their watch list as a key figure to monitor alongside the domestic core hitters like Woo Jeong-geun, Tae Pyung-yang, and Lee Gun-taek.
"Even though he's a rookie, I gathered and organized information from his high school days."
"Really? Well, that should be enough. You're a catcher, so you wouldn't have time to grow that fast anyway, right?"
"No, that guy is weird. He's too good. Doesn't even feel like a rookie."
The pitching coach made a light comment, but the battery coach corrected him.
"That's right. Choi Seungtaek's growth is incredibly fast. Every month feels like his skills improve; it's hard to believe he changes every season."
"Really? That's impressive."
The pitching coach looked quite surprised by the battery coach and data analyst's words.
"Yes. Simply from what the media has shown, this guy is no ordinary talent."
"Would he have been a good fit as the backup catcher behind Pung-gi?"
"Looking at his current growth trend... I think he could pass him within a few years."
"Huh.... That's quite the thought."
"Enough with that. Let's pull out the strengths and weaknesses we found and start picking at the weaknesses."
"Yes."
Ha Seok-jin, the data analytics staff, showed the prepared materials.
"The standout strengths are his exceptional anticipation and ability to stop stolen bases."
"Anticipation and stopping steals?"
"Yes, so when facing pitchers, it's best to read the play quickly."
"And you can't let him steal, right?"
"Yes. It's better not to let him. His pop time is terrifying."
"A solid 1.9 seconds, dropping to 1.8 on good days? He's insane."
The battery coach made a face as he checked the information.
"The weakness is that his hitting ability and basic catching fundamentals are still lacking."
"But he can still play in the pros, right?"
"Yes, that's correct. What we recently found out is that when we scouted him in the exhibition games and reviewed the suspension, the player has a somewhat aggressive style."
"Aggressive?"
"Yes, as you can see, when he runs into an unreasonable situation, he reacts roughly."
"His blood is still boiling, huh?"
While listening, the pitching coach said something.
"Then we can just go in and put the pressure on. With his great anticipation, instead of letting him pitch more, just throw a fastball into his body and send him to first base."
"Just hit him?"
"That's what it means by 'hitting the body.' Remember the game after Children's Day when he ran into the first baseman? I saw it, and he was using his fists to block. Use that as an excuse and tell the seniors not to swing at him without reason."
The director of the Busan Seagulls stroked his chin at the somewhat aggressive suggestion.
"And the base-running?"
"Average. Around league average."
"Hmph. Then we won't. We have a reason to hit him, and killing his spirit from the first day at home will give us the advantage."
"That's right."
Everyone agreed with the pitching coach's plan.
Baseball is a sport of data, but in the end, it's people who play it. If a young rookie suddenly faces intense pressure, he might get discouraged and fail to perform at his best.
For the batter, they could openly throw at his body to instill fear of the inside pitch. For the pitcher, the pressure would make it harder for him to throw properly.
***
The catcher who had just been hit by the ball and reached first base couldn't help but give a bitter smile.
"What the hell is this? They really meant to hit me from the start?"
Normally, when a pitcher hits a batter, the pitcher at least waves an apology from the mound. Even if the pitcher is the younger one, when the batter steps out, he might still show some regret. But not doing anything at all when arriving at first base meant...
"Disrespect? This rookie treatment is something. Well, actually it's okay. It gives me grounds too. They're laying a trap, and letting me make it even better."
Choi Seungtaek looked back at the pitcher once more, but the Seagulls' starter didn't move an inch.
"Seungtaek, are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. But it's just as I thought. I want to hit back hard."
The Magpies' first-base running coach handed over the equipment and checked on Choi Seungtaek's condition, and after confirming he was okay, the plan began.
Choi Seungtaek signaled to the first baseman as if he wanted to be heard, and the first baseman looked startled as he took in the words.
"What was that about?"
"Don't talk so roughly. It's obvious he's trying to scare you. It's fine, ignore it."
"But the feeling's dirty."
"Well, since you're the catcher, maybe they want you to throw a retaliation pitch. Or the manager might have given the order."
"No, why would that be necessary? Senior Chang-su is here now, but it's a bit awkward."
"That's true?"
Even so, the first-base running coach had a satisfied expression, probably because Choi Seungtaek had spoken like a normal person.
Choi Seungtaek finished what he had to say and stood at a slight distance from the first-base line.
"Hey, your words are pretty bad."
But the Seagulls' strategy didn't end there. Disrespect was still in play.
Choi Seungtaek had expected the same thing to happen on first base too, ever since he noticed the disrespect had started at the Seagulls.
"It feels familiar. Plain as day."
"What do you mean?"
"Your talk is garbage."
"Ah! Then I'll pass it along properly later. If they throw at my body again, I'll throw a fastball back and knock them out. So don't do that."
'More trash talk is better than getting hit.'
Choi Seungtaek glared at the first baseman for a moment, and the first baseman's anger began to rise.
"This bastard."
"You watch your mouth. You know your team has a real problem with character, right?"
Just as the Seagulls' first baseman was about to say something to Choi Seungtaek, the running coach at first base intervened.
"I can punch him right now."
"Yes, understood."
With the intervention of the first-base running coach, the first baseman's intimidation toward Choi Seungtaek ended.
"Ugh.... I wanted to do that, coach...."
Choi Seungtaek felt a twinge of regret, but he decided to focus on the game.
'I need to bother them with something else. There are other ways, so it's fine.'
Choi Seungtaek focused on watching the pitcher. Since he knew the opposing starter well, he quickly figured out how to bother him.
'The opposing starter is five-starter Lee Do-ryeon, a pitcher on the decline.'
The best way to bother a runner when a runner is on was stealing. Or, more precisely, stretching the lead distance and poking at the nerves of both the catcher and pitcher.
'The fastest pitch from the opposing pitcher is around 130 km/h for the fastball, and the off-speed pitches are even slower in the 120s. If I time it right.... I can steal too.'
Since Choi Seungtaek was a catcher, he knew exactly what he could do to bother.
Moreover, his body felt light and his legs quick, making him perfect for speed baseball right now.
'I felt good when they hit my body earlier, right? Now I'll make them feel it.'
Choi Seungtaek deliberately widened the lead distance and glanced between the pitcher and the catcher.
Of course, since Kang Pung-gi was a good catcher, he immediately noticed Choi Seungtaek's change.
'Should I run off the pitcher's first step and be conservative, or throw a pickoff?'
Choi Seungtaek knew that Kang Pung-gi would throw a pickoff at least once.
Whip
Thud
Of course, he threw a pickoff toward first base, and Choi Seungtaek immediately returned to second base.
'I need to bother more. If I increase the distance, he'll throw a fastball.'
Choi Seungtaek tensed up and watched the pitcher closely.
Whoosh
Pop
Again, as expected, he threw a fastball, and Choi Seungtaek ran a simulation of stealing into the head.
'A fastball is dangerous. But an off-speed pitch would be possible. If I can't steal when he throws a 110-120 km/h off-speed, I'm an idiot.'
Choi Seungtaek stretched the distance again. Lee Do-ryeon, the starter, kept glancing at the nervous Choi Seungtaek several times.
'Now~ until he throws the off-speed pitch, the pressure keeps building.'