Chapter 77, The Taiwan Game
Manager Heo Jun thought about it for a long time.
This was the semifinal.
If they lost here, they would immediately fall into the bronze medal game.
The Taiwan game.
There had been no major surprises in Group A.
The United States had beaten every team by mercy rule.
It was like the old basketball Dream Team.
That was what America felt like right now.
They were overwhelmingly the strongest team in the world, crushing one national team after another.
Choi Seong.
Every American scout had come to the stadium to see him.
Yoo Jong-hyeon, who had been expected to form part of Korea’s one-two punch, had struggled more than expected.
I have to dream bigger.
Choi Seong was eligible to pitch starting from the Taiwan game.
He could not pitch against Cuba because Korea’s third starter had gone out.
If Choi Seong threw around fifty pitches against Taiwan...
America will destroy us afterward.
Manager Heo Jun finished his calculations.
As a manager, sometimes he had to gamble.
He would start Yoo Jong-hyeon against Taiwan.
Heo Jun needed a championship on his national team résumé too.
In the end, he made his decision.
He would save the Choi Seong card.
To beat America and win the gold medal, he absolutely needed Choi Seong.
“Yoo Jong-hyeon will start against Taiwan.”
A few players let out disappointed sighs.
Yoo Jong-hyeon briefly glared around him, but there was nothing he could do.
The media had already pointed at him as the biggest reason Korea almost suffered disaster against China.
“We will beat Taiwan, then go all-out against the United States. We can do it, right?”
“Yes!”
Manager Heo Jun noticed Choi Seong’s surprised expression but did not show any reaction.
Only Choi Seong could stop America.
No other player could do it.
“If we give up runs, we score more. If we can’t score, then we don’t allow runs.”
Everyone nodded at Manager Heo Jun’s words.
However, the players were not deeply moved like they had been during Choi Seong’s speeches.
Manager Heo Jun awkwardly scratched his head.
“There will also be some lineup changes against Taiwan.”
Changes were needed in the middle infield and lower part of the lineup.
The top of the order was performing well, but the bottom had been terrible.
There had not been any major defensive errors, but most of them were batting in the low .100s.
“This time, Go Gyeong-tae will join the starting lineup.”
Republic of Korea National Team Starting Lineup
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Starting Pitcher: Yoo Jong-hyeon, Incheon Dolphins
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1st Batter: Kwon Geon-woo, Left Fielder, Busan Oceans
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2nd Batter: Cho Seung-hun, Center Fielder, Colorado
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3rd Batter: Choi Seong, Designated Hitter, Busan Oceans
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4th Batter: Yoon Jae-jun, Catcher, Busan Oceans
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5th Batter: Lee Byeong-hwan, First Baseman, Daejeon Hawks
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6th Batter: Ahn Hong-gyu, Shortstop, Seoul Triples
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7th Batter: Gu Ja-cheol, Right Fielder, Daegu Cats
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8th Batter: Park Min-ho, Second Baseman, Masan Wolves
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9th Batter: Go Gyeong-tae, Third Baseman, Busan Oceans
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Honestly, replacing the third baseman made sense.
Second baseman Park Min-ho was also batting in the .100s, but his defense was excellent, so they could not remove him.
Ahn Hong-gyu had actually done well enough at shortstop.
He was hovering around the low to mid .200s and had even hit a home run against Cuba.
“I’m playing third base? It’s been years since I played there.”
Go Gyeong-tae asked in surprise.
Manager Heo Jun did not change his decision.
Go Gyeong-tae’s weak nerves were about to appear again.
I calmly grabbed his shoulder.
“Senior, just think about playing good defense at third. Nobody expects anything from your bat. Just think of making the national team as pure luck.”
Go Gyeong-tae’s expression somehow relaxed.
I had insulted him pretty hard.
Why did he look better?
Kwon Geon-woo, who had been listening beside us, started looking uncomfortable.
Did Go Gyeong-tae have some slightly masochistic tendencies?
It almost felt like that.
“Thanks. I’ll go practice defense at third!”
“Are you... really okay?”
“Of course! You said it harshly on purpose, right? Somehow, the pressure disappeared.”
At least it ended in a good direction.
When I was about to help him practice fielding, someone grabbed my shoulder.
This pattern was becoming strangely familiar.
I turned around and saw Yoo Jong-hyeon smiling bitterly.
“How do you think I should pitch? I feel like you understand this opponent better than anyone here...”
Lee Sang-heon, who was standing nearby, spoke to his senior.
“Hyung! Just ask confidently. We all need to play well anyway, so what’s the problem?”
Now that I looked at them, the two Incheon Dolphins players had completely opposite personalities.
Lee Sang-heon had a fiery personality and was nicknamed a real man.
Yoo Jong-hyeon, on the other hand, was the type of ace you strangely wanted to protect.
He cried more often than expected and frequently became emotional.
Lee Sang-heon usually kept him steady from the side.
“Senior, are you seriously going to keep acting like that? He’s your junior, your junior!”
Apparently, he was frustrated watching Yoo Jong-hyeon hesitate.
Yoo Jong-hyeon acted completely differently off the mound from the bold pitcher he appeared to be during games.
Then again, Lee Sang-heon was the same.
“Senior Sang-heon, last time you were desperately asking me for advice from the bullpen. You’ve changed quickly.”
“Wh, what?”
Lee Sang-heon’s face only turned red.
He had no answer.
I gave Yoo Jong-hyeon simple advice.
“Be careful with Peng Yuan. He’ll probably bat cleanup. If possible, just walk him.”
Peng Yuan was Taiwan’s famous first baseman.
In my previous life, he played a huge role in leading Taiwan to fourth place.
He was the eleventh Taiwanese player to reach America.
