Chapter 603 – Episode 590. A South American Powerhouse. (1)
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Yes, it’s okay. Just leave it to me.”
Joo Hyeong-jin, the new coach of the Korean baseball team, nodded his head in satisfaction at Jang Woo-joo’s enthusiastic answer.
“Opponent Alcantar, isn’t it going to be tomorrow?”
“Of course, Director. What is Alcantara? Is it a big deal? To be honest, I was itching because I could only throw it once.”
Dominica, the powerhouse of South America. And even against Dominican ace and monster pitcher Alcantara, Jang Woo-joo was expressing confidence.
Jang Woo-joo vs. Alcantara. Looking at the name value alone, it was clear that no one would be able to raise Jang Woo-joo’s hand in this match-up. Because Alcantara was nothing short of a monster who won the Cy Young Award in 2022 and 2024.
In addition, it was natural that the fact that Dominica’s batting lineup was full of monsters recognized in the major leagues, including Tatis Jr., Machado, Soto, Franco, and Rodriguez, would have influenced that judgment.
It was true that most hitters in Korea couldn’t even reach the toes of those hitters.
Excluding Ji Maeng-ho, it was a bad situation where even Joo Seung-cheol, the best batsman in Korea and his own son, was better than those players, but Joo Hyung-jin believed in Jang Woo-joo.
If you were to ask who the best pitcher in Korea is, Joo Hyung-jin would confidently choose Jang Woo-joo.
Most people would have chosen Jung Woo-sung, who was in the starting rotation in Pittsburgh, or Sung Hyun, who was playing for the Yankees until two years ago, but Joo Hyung-jin had a different opinion.
Because Jang Woo-joo had a fastball that could exceed 100 mph.
Jung Woo-sung had a record of 10 wins in the major league with his unusual pitching form of throwing the ball with side-underhand, which is one of the few in the majors, but his record was on the decline, perhaps because he played in the majors for too long and the analysis was over, and after his injury last year. He was not able to throw powerful balls like he did in his prime.
He may be able to block at least one turn of the batting lineup, but would he be uneasy as a starter? So Joo Hyung-jin was thinking of using Jung Woo-sung as a bullpen in this tournament.
And although Seonghyun was still performing well, dominating Korea with his outstanding pitch control and breaking balls, his velocity and speed were not what they used to be as he got older. It would have worked if the speed had been only about 4-5 km/h, but now Seonghyun was no different from a batting ball to the Dominican batters.
However, Seonghyun’s introduction was thought to be in the semifinals because he was able to get through to Cuba, which had a relatively weak batting line.
The problem is the quarterfinals and finals. If they pitched in the quarterfinals, they could have started until the finals considering the rest period, so it was expected that most other countries would also have aces as starters in the quarterfinals.
And in that situation, the pitcher chosen by coach Joo Hyung-jin was Jang Woo-joo, whom he considers to be the best pitcher in Korea.
Jang Woo-joo, who had been expected by fans to throw 100 mph since his debut, began to gain strength with the ball last year, and in the second half of the year, he showed a pitch that could be considered a league ace. So much so that scouts from the major leagues came to see it.
The problem is an injury suffered in baseball last fall. When Joo Hyung-jin first heard the news of the injury, he felt like slapping Kim Jong-seok, the former head coach of the future Buffaloes, for failing to manage the future of Korean baseball.
However, fortunately, the condition of Jang Woo-ju, who continued injection treatment and rehabilitation, improved, and it was confirmed during training that his arm was lighter and his velocity was better than before the injury. However, he started physical training late due to treatment and did not yet have the stamina to throw 100 or 120 pitches, but it did not matter to the WBC because the 80 pitch limit was imposed anyway.
If they are eliminated in the quarterfinals, it is a game that could be criticized as to why they started Jang Woo-joo instead of major-leaguer Jung Woo-sung or Sung Hyun, who is considered the best Korean pitcher of all time…
“Please believe me. “Director.”
“Yes, I believe it.”
“Thank you! Director!”
Jang Woo-ju also knew that fact, so he expressed more confidence than usual. And he was actually confident.
‘Even if the Dominican bastards are good at hitting, will they be better than Meng Ho?’
The source of that confidence was the experience of dealing with Ji Maeng-ho.
Although Jang Woo-joo had experienced the 2023 WBC and the 2024 Olympics on a big international stage, none of the batters he met there felt the same as Ji Maeng-ho. Of course, if he looked only at pure hitting ability, major league players could have hit better.
However, he had never felt Maeng-ho’s eyes look at him as if he knew what pitch he was going to throw, and he actually hit his ball over the fence as if he knew what he was going to throw.
After experiencing such a hitter, does it feel like all the other hitters except Ji Maeng-ho are shit? And that other person is watching my back?
He couldn’t be without confidence.
It was a short conversation, but the two people, satisfied with the coach’s trust and the player’s confidence, soon ended the conversation. Even if I talked more, it would be meaningless to those who had made up their minds.
So, after having a light talk with director Joo Hyeong-jin, Jang Woo-soo took his steps back to his room. No, he tried to move. Until I met Ji Maeng-ho in the hallway.
‘Anyway, this guy isn’t a nobleman either. How did you know what I was thinking just now, out in the hallway?’
Since he was the older brother whom he had considered reliable just a moment ago, Jang Woo-ju greeted Ji Meng-hao warmly.
“Brother? What are you doing? “I’m not sleeping.”
“Ah…”
However, Ji Maeng-ho’s condition did not seem to be that good. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his skin looked oddly dull, making him look like someone who had not been able to sleep.
‘Fuck, I shouldn’t be doing this? If Mengho’s condition isn’t good, we’ll be in trouble…’
Probably because I’m worried about tomorrow’s game. From his point of view, he was a dependable Mengho brother, but from Mengho’s point of view, it was understandable that he was worried when comparing himself to Alcantara.
So, to reassure Meng Hao, Jang Woo-ju opened his mouth brighter than usual.
“Brother, are you okay? Tomorrow I will do well…”
“Sweet, I can’t sleep. Is it because of the time difference?”
But all I hear is an unexpected comment about not being able to sleep due to jet lag.
“… Time difference? Hojunde?”
“Why Australia? Are you sick? When you go abroad, it’s definitely difficult because of the time difference. “We’ve been on a plane for over ten hours.”
“No, there’s only about a two-hour difference between Australia and Korea? Well, Gyeongdonga and Widonga are similar, so the time difference is not that much. … Brother, didn’t you know?”
“… ?”
Ji Maeng-ho’s face looks embarrassed when he is told the truth…
‘Fuck, can I trust this stupid bastard and play tomorrow? No, I knew it was a bit ignorant, but is it to this extent? … ‘Have I been getting beaten up by this bastard all this time?’
The day before the game, starting pitcher Jang Woo-joo’s confidence was dropping just right for the game.
*
Before boarding the plane, I thought I wouldn’t see them for a week, so I left the hotel without anyone noticing and enjoyed a week’s worth at once. I took a nap on the plane because of the strong memories, and when I came to Australia, I wasn’t in such good shape.
But today was different. Perhaps thanks to a good night’s sleep yesterday, I was in pretty good shape today, when the quarterfinals were held.
‘Isn’t it because of the time difference?’
‘Ai, I told you were mistaken! And, even Mr. Rossby didn’t know.’
‘Why should I know that?’
‘Then why do I need to know?’
‘You should know, you monkey. Is that my country? And if I had been born around this time, I would have definitely known. How can you not know this in an age where you can even watch movies with your hands? Tsk tsk.’
Honestly, there were a lot of things I didn’t know, but one thing I knew for sure. The fact that Mr. Rossby would not have known even if he were from the 2100s rather than the 1900s. However, if he didn’t know it, he was left speechless by the imposing appearance of Mr. Rossby.
‘Ugh. Just don’t say anything.’
It felt like I would only be harmed if I continued to say more, so I stopped talking to Mr. Rossby and began to feel the air on the ground.
‘The wind is nice. Can’t we blow toward the fence when we’re at it, and blow against the wall when we attack those bastards?’
It was a ridiculous idea, but without that much help, we were clearly outnumbered. Although the media was optimistic because they had beaten the team once during the Olympics, the situation was not that good. The match between Alcantara and Jang Woo-joo was obviously an easy win for Alcantara.
And my role is to turn that situation around. As the media and people were looking forward to it, I felt like I had to do something this time.
Although the name Alcantara written on the electronic display board was pressured.
‘I felt it at the Olympics too, but the feeling of intimidation was overwhelming. But why is that bastard on the WBC? Didn’t the season get ruined in 2023 because of the WBC?’
Well, I guess it came out because even Dominicans would have the same patriotism… As a person dealing with it, I couldn’t help but feel annoyed. As I felt the air of the ground and went to where the players were gathered, the coach spoke briefly as usual.
“There is a limit of 80 pitches this time, but don’t think that you will increase the number just by looking at the ball. Instead, swing as much as you can today.”
The coach’s words before the game were truly spot on. Not only was it difficult for Alcantara to hit the bat to get a foul, but he was the kind of pitcher who would just hit the ball in the zone, making it difficult to look at the ball for too long.
The players also knew that fact, so they all had a determined expression.
“Go out and show how we won the last Olympics and which country is the defending Olympic champion.”
And the director’s words that stimulate us.
“”Yes!””
We answered with one voice and went out to the field to play defense in the top of the first inning.
“Strike! Out!”
“Out!”
“Out!”
Contrary to expectations, starting pitcher Uju got off to a good start by blocking Dominica’s top batting lineup, which included Tatis Jr. And Machado, with a three-way strike.
“Wow, I thought I hit a home run in consecutive hits.”
… Of course, the batted ball flew right in front of the fence, and it would have been impossible without the outfielders’ rain.
Anyway, a three-way trip is a three-way trip. The start couldn’t have been better. If I’m going to break the ice here, it’s because baseball was a sport I really didn’t know about.
“Give me just one point, and I’ll block them all.”
The universe knew that too, so he asked me to pack my bat and leave the dugout. There is only one answer I can give here.
“I’ll do it for you. “Please wait.”
After saying a few words for the starting pitcher and for my country, I walked to the waiting box.
