Chapter 99

"Hello, it's me -6-

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[Samurai Japan, solidify 1st place in Group!]

└Make it so that Japan can't even think about winning for the next 30 years!!!(｀Д´)

└That peninsula, after winning against the likes of Oranda, acts all high and mighty. WWWWWWWW

└Is the Prince of Tears not going to take the mound?

└The next opponent is Kim Gun-joon of the Baikings. Suraida is his main weapon and he has shown quite a bit of promise in international competitions.

└Ah, I remember. That guy. He had a very expressive face.

└His smiling face was annoying.

└He caught Daichi off guard and smiled smugly. I think he will do well if he joins Hanshin.

└Hanshin can bring in anyone, they say. It's just a joke, though.

└WWWWWWWW Do you seriously think they will beat Kango? Hey, they run for their lives to avoid enlistment, don't they?

└Do you think they can beat Japan with a rotten mindset to avoid the military? WWWWWWWWW

└If they lose to Korea, just send them to the Self-Defense Forces, right?

└Technically, they are clearly ahead, but why do they struggle so much against Korea?

└Honestly, I don't think they will lose at all.

└Even if you wash your eyes, you won't find a KBO All-Star who is one level below the overseas players (笑)

[What kind of game will the Korean team play against Japan?]

└Even if they finish last, if they beat Japan, it's all good.

└If they lose, just let them live there.

└They should be sent to North Korea, not the United States.

└Just give them a log and let them swim over.

└It's going to be tough... There's not a single Major Leaguer...

└Anyway, Major Leaguers can't even participate in the tournament.

└If they can't beat Japan when both Japanese Major Leaguers can't participate, that's unacceptable.

└I only trust Geon-woo.

└Kang Geon-woo, isn't he strong against fast pitches? The Japanese guys throw some weird curveballs, but he should be fine, right?

└Kang Geon-woo has a .489 batting average against pitches over 150 km/h and a .642 on-base percentage against forkballs. He can slaughter those mediocre forkball pitchers.

└What kind of pitch can't he hit?

└.341 batting average against 130 km/h fastballs.

└Is .341 a weakness? Shit, lol.

└Don't worry, Yurina is watching the game today.

└★Yurina★Watching★Game★Undefeated★

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“Look closely. What does this look like?”

Team captain Jo Yong-hyun held up a baseball bat and asked. Who wouldn't know? Among the 24 players gathered here, 14 of them make a living with that bat, and the other 10 make a living by not hitting it as much.

A few of the senior players chuckled, and Song Byung-jae said with a stern face.

“This is the first time for some of the new team members, so they might not know. This is the ultra-luxury cruise ship we'll have to take home if we lose today.”

This is an old joke among the team. If they lose to Japan, they have to go home on a wooden bat.

Of course, they won't actually cross the North Pacific on a bat if they lose. It's just a way of saying they shouldn't think about losing.

Naturally, in a 1-on-1 team sport, there will always be a winner and a loser, and they can't always win.

So, they have to win no matter what.

Seo Woo-ju looked up at the ceiling with a nostalgic expression and said,

“A legendary senior on the team once lost to Japan in Japan and swam from Fukuoka to Jeju Island via Tsushima...”

If my memory serves me right, that legendary senior is...

“This senior is Coach Choo Sung-tae. So, if we lose to Japan, he will drop each player into the sea.”

Of course, everyone knows this is a joke. And...

“Hey, you guys! Are you making fun of me again!”

The coach kicked the door and appeared.

“Ah, Coach. How did you know again?”

“If you have time to joke, get one more hit!”

Honestly, I agree.

Well, it's a kind of speech to ease the tension of the players who will face their first Korea-Japan match. The coach naturally walked among the players and said,

“Don't worry, swimming isn't that hard. It's fine. Don't worry too much.”

Amid the laughter, the coach quickly changed the mood with a serious face.

“But going from LA to the East Sea might be a bit tough. Stopping by Hawaii would make it even longer. And there's a lot of radiation in Japan. If you drink it, you're done. Got it?”

Is he trying to ease the tension or increase it?

Well.

The Korea-Japan match has always been the pinnacle of irrationality.

#

The Korean team presented a slightly different lineup from usual.

Starting pitcher: Kim Gun-jong.

1st: Center fielder Song Byung-jae.

2nd: Left fielder Jung Jo-jun.

3rd: Shortstop Kang Geon-woo.

4th: Designated hitter Seo Woo-ju.

5th: First baseman Yang Dae-geun.

6th: Third baseman Park Jung-shin.

7th: Catcher Jo Yong-hyun.

8th: Second baseman Lee Hyun-dong.

9th: Right fielder Bae Young-han.

Center fielder Song Byung-jae and right fielder Bae Young-han.

It was quite a bold lineup. Although Song Byung-jae can play all outfield positions, it had been a long time since he played center field full-time for his team. Given the nature of the Korea-Japan match, it was a risky move, but they filled the lineup with the players in the best hitting condition.

“Do you have confidence in winning?”

Coach Choo Sung-tae answered,

“Even if I don't have confidence, we have to win.”

It was a statement that could divide opinions. Some people criticized it as outdated mentalism, while others praised the coach for saying the right thing.

Even though he knew he would face backlash if they lost, the coach didn't think about the consequences.

And Jung Yoo-ri, who had gained quite a bit of fame in the United States, just as she did at Sajik Baseball Stadium.

“Is that Yoo-ri?”

“Haha... Yes...”

I didn't expect to be recognized even in the United States.

I've already experienced a lot of pressure. And I had this thought to some extent.

‘Geon-woo will do something.’

Actually, Kang Geon-woo can't guarantee a win in every game.

If he could, the Oceans would be leading the KBO with a perfect record.

Anyway, the game started with Japan batting first.

The ratio of Japanese and Korean fans was similar. A fierce cheering battle began, and Korean starting pitcher Kim Gun-jong allowed a hit to the leadoff batter but struck out the second batter.

“Wowwwwwww!”

“Kim Gun-jong! Kim Gun-jong!”

Kim Gun-jong has a variety of nicknames.

When he strikes out a batter and celebrates with a strange pose, he's called Kim Gun-jong.

When he performs poorly and is pulled from the game early, he's called Kim Gun-jong, etc.

In the third batter's at-bat, the Korean team's best catcher, Jo Yong-hyun, showed off his incredible 2nd base throw.

- Ah! Jo Yong-hyun! He stopped Toshino Watanabe's steal! It was an amazing throw! He threw it immediately after catching it!

- This player has incredible speed. The throw was perfect. Kang Geon-woo's tag was also good. Toshino Watanabe is hitting the ground in frustration.

- The ground is innocent. I just wish it would go smoothly.

- Japan doesn't usually finish things smoothly.

- Haha. Is that so? The 3rd batter for Japan, Takato Matsuo, is preparing to hit with a 1-ball count. Ah, hasn't Toshino Watanabe been called out yet? Did he sprain his ankle? He's known for his speed, but his steps are quite slow.

The atmosphere is contagious, and Kim Gun-jong's sharp slider to the infield ended the top of the 1st inning.

The Japanese pitcher Nakajima Masata, who has attracted interest from at least 10 MLB teams, took the mound.

- He not only throws fastballs at 154 km/h but also uses at least four types of pitches at a high level. His control is also good. He had an ERA of 1.98 last year and 2.25 so far this season.

- Yes. He's a pitcher who throws a great slider, curveball, sinker, and especially a devastating forkball.

- What does today's Korean team lineup mean?

- There are many good hitters with good plate discipline, especially with Song Byung-jae leading off as the center fielder.

- Kang Geon-woo is still batting 3rd. What do you think?

- Experienced players are mainly placed in the top of the lineup, but Kang Geon-woo is different. He was phenomenal as the 3rd batter for his team, so there was no need to change it. I think it's the right decision.

Among baseball fans, there are often discussions about the difference in league levels between the KBO and NPB.

Technically, there is a significant difference in level.

However, some people also focus on the mystery of the KBO.

A league where players who can't be considered professional and players who could play in the Major Leagues coexist.

Song Byung-jae is a hitter who has consistently ranked in the top 5 in batting average for several seasons in such a league.

But Nakajima Masata is also a pitcher who reigns supreme in the NPB.

- Ah! Song Byung-jae! He strikes out on the 5th pitch, a forkball!

- The downward angle is truly an art. It looks like it will be a pitcher's duel today.

Jung Jo-jun's hit went straight to center field.

The center fielder ran in and caught the slightly sliced ball.

- It looks like it will be a tough game.

- That's right. The next batter is Kang Geon-woo! This player, who rose from the Oceans' super rookie to a national team blue chip, will show what kind of hitting!

Kang Geon-woo stepped into the batter's box. From one side of the stands, a cheer, smaller than at Sajik Stadium, could be heard.

“Geon-woo!”

“Yurina!”

“Home run!”

“Hit it!”

Kang Geon-woo hid his rising smile.

Nakajima Masata.

He's a good pitcher.

About three years later, he joined the Seattle Mariners and said,

“I came here hungry for victory. Only victory can fill my stomach.”

The Seattle Mariners were in the same division as the Oakland Athletics, where Kang Geon-woo was playing at the time, and that season was when Kang Geon-woo won both the Cy Young Award and the MVP.

20-20.

Not 20 home runs and 20 steals, but 20 wins and 20 home runs.

Nakajima showed a good performance right after his debut and led the rise of the Seattle Mariners.

In the game where he faced off against Kang Geon-woo as a starting pitcher, he gave up two home runs to Kang Geon-woo.

A three-run homer and a grand slam.

Kang Geon-woo was the first player to notice Nakajima's habit.

He wrinkles his nose when he throws a forkball. It's hard to notice and doesn't seem significant, but after this habit became