The Genius Pitcher Dad Throws for His Daughter - Chapter 106

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 106
#106.
After hearing what Se-jin said, I headed to the Locker Room and searched for footage of Manager’s playing days.
“Wow… look at that quality….”
In this age of 4K and QHD, Manager’s footage topped out at 360P—not even 720P.
The ball’s trajectory was barely visible, but one thing was certain: Manager’s two-seam fastball looked quite solid.
At least the characteristic movement—curving and sinking toward same-handed batters—was unmistakably clear.
What amazed me was that 90% of batters who made contact with that pitch were pulled into infielders’ gloves and retired before reaching first base.
Still, I could understand why Manager hadn’t lasted long in the 1st Team.
‘His velocity was quite slow. And his control wasn’t great either.’
That wasn’t the important part—Manager’s two-seam fastball was definitely superior to his other pitches.
So the remaining question was how to learn Manager’s two-seam fastball.
‘Should I just ask him to teach me?’
Honestly, that would be the fastest and most direct method.
But if it were the Pitching Coach instead of Manager, there wouldn’t be a Pitching Coach who’d refuse to teach someone showing enthusiasm for learning and managing pitchers.
Still, when I searched to verify the Pitching Coach’s credentials, nothing came up.
From what I gathered through discreet inquiries, the Pitching Coach only played through high school, then quickly completed coaching certification courses to reach his current position.
In its own way, that’s impressive—his coaching career is far longer than his playing career.
Still, not knowing, I went and asked anyway.
“Coach, would you teach me the two-seam fastball?”
“Huh? Two-seam? Don’t you know the grip?”
“It’s different when you teach it, Coach.”
“Is that so? Hold on.”
With that, we went into the Bullpen, and Coach showed me the two-seam fastball grip.
– You can spend points to receive Baek Sa-jun’s two-seam fastball (D) transmission.
Not bad.
A D-rank was still one tier above E-rank, so depending on my effort and point expenditure, I could develop it quickly.
And the two-seam fastball Coach threw had less velocity than I expected.
I’d hoped for more movement toward the batter’s body and sharper sink, and compared to Manager’s two-seam fastball, it lacked detail.
Naturally, I was disappointed, so I threw a few myself.
But pitches not registered in the system won’t throw properly no matter how hard I try. Not a two-seam, not a four-seam—just bland fastballs came out repeatedly.
“Seems like the two-seam doesn’t suit you.”
“Guess so.”
I nodded in agreement and returned to the Bench.
Meanwhile, the game had started, and with Foreign Pitchers from both teams taking the mound, play began.
“Play ball.”
With the Umpire’s call, I glanced at Manager.
‘For now, let me wait for the right timing.’
All I could do right now was wait for the right moment.
* * *
The game progressed through the innings with Kevin’s steady pitching.
However, his splitter control was off today, and the drop was less pronounced than usual.
Of course, this wasn’t a problem.
Instead, batters unable to adjust to the reduced drop swung at empty air, and over six innings he struck out eight, clearly demonstrating the splitter’s effectiveness.
But as mentioned, whenever the splitter’s control faltered and came in flat, he gave up hits, and naturally as his pitch count increased, he’d already surpassed 100 pitches by the end of the fifth inning.
Ultimately, Kevin came off the mound with 5 innings pitched, 2 runs allowed, 5 hits, and 2 walks.
After that, the Dolphins’ bullpen was activated.
But the four who’d been digging tunnels—or rather, the former Clutch Team members—sat frozen on the bench, their eyes darting around frantically.
‘Is this really our rest day?’
‘Are we getting sent down to the 2nd Team like this?!’
‘We’re winning though?’
‘If this keeps up….’
They genuinely began to wonder if they’d be demoted to the 2nd Team once this road trip ended.
In truth, this was their misunderstanding.
Considering just the Clutch Teams across all ten organizations, they could be counted among at least the top five in terms of strength.
Kim Jin-woo with 2 holds.
Jo Sang-hyuk with 3 holds.
Jung Ji-hoon with 4 holds.
Choi Sung-hyuk with 4 saves.
Choi Sung-hyuk was currently leading in saves, and these three had their names among the rankings in holds as well.
Yet the reason their self-esteem had plummeted so drastically was simply because they’d been overshadowed by the specter of their losing streak.
Frankly, if they’d dug tunnels like this over just a four-game losing streak, considering the games the bullpen had blown over the past decade, Sajik Baseball Stadium would have already been buried deep underground.
Anyway.
Taking the mound in their place were the Three Hitters—pitchers who’d had experience on the mound late last season and had clearly impressed the Manager during this Spring Camp.
Song Moon-jung, Hwang Seung-tae, and Yun Jung-woong.
These three took the mound as if there were no tomorrow, throwing with all their might.
And moreover, it was their first time on the mound in this season’s 12th game.
They split the remaining 3 innings, each pitching one inning.
Honestly, the results weren’t good.
Song Moon-jung: 1 inning, 24 pitches, 3 hits, 2 walks, 2 runs allowed.
Hwang Seung-tae: 1 inning, 32 pitches, 6 hits, 3 walks, 4 runs allowed.
Yun Jung-woong: 1 inning, 16 pitches, 1 hit, 1 walk, 0 runs allowed.
The score went from 3:2, where they’d been winning, to 3:8, a complete reversal.
While they sweated profusely on the mound fighting through the innings, Manager Bong Jun-sik stood up from his chair for the first time and approached the four who’d been digging tunnels.
“Did you get good rest?”
At those words, the four men’s gazes turned toward Manager Bong Jun-sik.
Seeing their half-lifeless stares, he smiled and spoke.
“Then, starting tomorrow, you can get back on the mound and secure wins for the pitchers, right?”
At those words, the four men’s dull eyes began to gradually recover.
“Out of 144 games, it’s just one game. And even if we play, it’s only four games. But if you let the mood fall apart like this, what happens to the team? Look. Those guys over there are getting beaten to death because of you.”
Under normal circumstances, they could have climbed back and claimed victory. The realization that they themselves were the cause of throwing it away filled them with shame.
“Baseball is a long game. But it only takes one day to destroy the momentum.”
Those words jolted me awake.
“You’re playing well. Far better than I did in my playing days. So…”
Ultimately, the game ended without any additional runs in the top of the ninth inning.
Though the disappointed batters wore bitter expressions and the words “five-game losing streak” seemed written across their faces, Manager Bong Jun-sik pressed on undeterred.
“Work hard. Then you won’t suffer like this when you’re old like me.”
At this practical advice, a faint smile crossed the faces of the four players.
They stood up abruptly and bowed their heads toward the manager and the rest of the team.
“We apologize.”
It was an apology for inexplicably dampening the atmosphere and creating this losing streak.
With promises to perform better starting tomorrow, everyone gathered their equipment and prepared to leave.
Though they’d lost the game and fallen into a five-game losing streak, the Dolphins’ previously gloomy team atmosphere had been slightly refreshed.
With that, they dispersed, resolved to sharpen their focus starting tomorrow.
However, the Community was ablaze.
* * *
The Community erupted in flames over the five-game losing streak.
– I knew this would happen, you bastards.
Even during the seven-game winning streak, there was no sign of them forgiving everything with “well, these are our players.” Instead, they typed away at their keyboards like possessed demons.
– The reason we went up was to come back down!
– That’s gravity.
– Why are we Dolphins? Because we dive hundreds of meters deep.
└ Ah! So that’s why we occasionally surface above the standings to breathe?
└ Damn, never thought of it that way lol
All the fans began criticizing the Dolphins.
To an outsider, it might seem like malicious comments, but for Dolphins fans, this was merely affectionate banter.
Over the past decade, the posts that had accumulated required only four characters to express.
– Disband.
– Sell the team.
– Give up.
– Quit baseball.
There was no need to look further—the posts were remarkably clear and appropriate.
What managed to calm the Community even slightly during what should have been a raging inferno was an interview Manager Bong Jun-sik gave to a reporter.
Reporter: It was a winning situation. Why didn’t the Clutch Team come in?
Manager Bong: The recent winning streak became poison, and the Clutch Team needed rest.
Reporter: Still, it was an opportunity to break the losing streak.
Manager Bong: We can break a losing streak tomorrow or any day, but player injuries can’t be prevented just by wishing them away. Rest is necessary, and since we’re in a rebuilding phase, testing new players is essential.
Reporter: Then, if a similar situation arises, will your decision be the same?
Manager Bong: Of course. We can’t send the entire season with just 29 starting players.
Manager Bong: Of course. We can’t get through the entire season with just 29 starters.
Reporter: If you had one last word for the fans?
Manager Bong: We’re still early in the season. I’m working to stabilize the team. Please be patient a little longer. If we catch sight of a winning position, I’ll build the team so we can charge forward without hesitation.
The fans found the brief but impactful interview satisfactory.
They’d gotten caught up in the excitement of a seven-game winning streak, then bristled at a five-game losing streak—but now they remembered that this year was supposed to be a rebuilding season.
Still, they realized the team was producing decent results, and new faces were appearing from time to time.
– Hmm… I should keep watching this.
– It’s a losing streak, but they’ll go on a winning streak again.
– Looking at that last game, the atmosphere seemed different from the beginning—it felt a bit better.
– I was wondering what was up when they suddenly bowed like that.
– Anyway! Let’s do better!
– Yeah, that’s what we need!
The Dolphins fans who’d been seething with anger and rage until the end of the game quickly settled down.
Baseball is a sport of ups and downs.
It was a sport that proved that all too well.
* * *
At that moment.
I followed Ga Jin-heo into a restaurant.
“Wow… is duck stew possible at this hour?”
Surprisingly, as we entered the restaurant, duck stew was bubbling away.
In front of it were stacked Mudeungsan barley rice and grilled beef ribs—apparently famous dishes in Gwangju.
“Come on, sit down and eat.”
Jin-heo tore off a duck leg and handed it straight to me.
It was something with a size and firm meat you couldn’t find on a chicken leg.
“Hyung, is this possible at this hour?”
At my question, he just laughed, and just then Se-jin suddenly stood up and greeted the Restaurant Owner coming out of the kitchen.
“Mother! Hello!”
“What! Se-jin came?!”
Surprisingly, this restaurant was run by Jin-heo’s Mother.
And since another table was set up beside us, I wondered who was coming, but an unexpected person arrived.
“Manager?!”
Surprisingly, the Gwangju Elephants Manager and our Dolphins Manager were seated there.
What was this?

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————