One Outs 15

One Outs, Volume 2, Chapter 15 (pp. 145~166)


<145>
="Flow" exists in any kind of sport...
=And baseball is no exception.
OHHH

=And now, no matter how anyone looks at it...

=The Lycaons are in full flow.

=He hits it—
CRACK
Chapter 15: Chance

=Runner rounds 3rd,
OHHHH

=He's heading home!!


<146>
=4th run!!
=The Lycaons have made this a 7-run game!!
OHHH

Chapter 15: Chance


<147>
=Looks like this pitcher's gonna be switched out too.
=We might really turn this whole thing around.

=I don't know about that...

=Mizuhashi is pitching next.

=No way... It's a 7-run lead and it's still the 7th.
=They wouldn't play their trump card in a situation like...
=They're using him because it's this situation.

=He may be young, but he takes the game as seriously as anyone.
=He's extremely sensitive about his team getting into a bad "flow".

=He actually had 4 appearances last year where he pitched even though he wasn't getting a save

=The Eagles are making a pitching change.


<148>
=Substituting for Izuta is
=Mizuhashi//No. 43

=For real?
=He's really coming out.
OHHH

=You sure about this?

=Yes.
=I'm not a cheap closer who only pitches in save situations.

DOOO—M


<149>
=Yo.
=Is this Mizuhashi really that badass?

="Badass"?//He's the league's top reliever!
=6 wins, 34 saves, 1.02 ERA.

=We're done for now that this guy's pitching.

=Steeerike yer out!!


<150>
=Phew...
[bubble]SWAP
OHHHH

=So his best pitch is a slider.
=Is it really that hard to hit?

=What's amazing about him...
=Is that his slider and fastball come in from the exact same angle.

Normally, the position of the wrist and elbow shifts ever so slightly when a pitcher throws a breaking pitch.
But not with Mizuhashi.
His form never changes whether he throws the fastball or the slider... Guy's a freakin' machine...

=Huh—

=Steerike yer out—
BWAP


<151>
=That's his 2nd strikeout in a row!!
=Mizuhashi has completely shut down the Lycaons offense—!!
OHH

=He's totally staunched our flow.
OHHHHH

=Just goes to show how a really good pitcher can turn any situation around.

=Do you get how ridiculous that 1.02 ERA is? He threw 49 innings last year, and only lost 5 runs.
=Getting 7 runs in only 2 innings from a pitcher who only loses 5 runs per year... Understand? Even a monkey could estimate our chances of winning.

=Hah! I was never into the whole studying thing.
=A monkey might really know more about that stuff than I do.

=Instead, I've gambled through countless situations,
=And here's the answer I've come up with.

=The only important thing about a low probability is...


<152>
=It's not zero.

=Bottom of the 7th, the Lycaons defense—
=Has kept the Eagles at bay yet again—!!
OHHH

Top of the 8th//Lycaons at bat.

=Steerike yer out—!!


<153>
=There's another strikeout!
=This Lycaons lineup is looking hopeless against Mizuhashi!
OHHHH

=Huh—//He pretty much only throws sliders and fastballs...
=There's no habit or anything to pick out the slider?
=I wouldn't be standing here if there were.

=Hah-hah-hah
=You make it sound like all you gotta do is tell the sliders apart from the fastballs.
IRK
=Wha...!
=It would make a pretty big difference!
HAH-HAH-HAH—

~change~
If we can avoid swinging for the slider that dips outside of the zone, it'll make it a lot harder for him...
But we can't tell the pitches apart because his form is identical and he lacks any habits.

=No habits, huh...?
=We could use that.

=Huh?


<154>
=Lack of habits. That'll be his downfall.

BAAP
=Steerike!!

=T-Timeout.

=Okay, that's all.

=Timeout.
=Huh?


<155>
[x3]ZUSH
=What is it?

=During that timeout just now//I heard what Tokuchi was saying.

=He said... You have a habit where you keep the glove open whenever you throw the slider.
=Huh!?

=Didn't realize that.//I'll be careful.
=Right.
=Just 5 more outs, let's do this.

Tokuchi...
I'm impressed you found out Mizuhashi's habit, but it's useless now that I've overheard you—

=There was an awkward pause there, but the game's started back up!!
ZWUSH

BWIP


<156>
CRAAACK
=He hits it—!!

=To center field—
=He caught the slider right on the button!
OHHH

=No worries
=He just got lucky.

=Just watch your glove.


<157>
=He's got it—
CRACK

=That's the 5th hit in a row. The Lycaons are unstoppable—!!

=Runner rounds 3rd and scores!!

=7th run!!
=The gap has now closed to 4 runs—!!

=I don't think we've ever seen Mizuhashi being bombarded like this!


<158>
=Wow!//Tokuchi was totally right.
=We can hit Mizuhashi's slider.

=But man, I'm surprised you managed to find that habit Mizuhashi has with his glove.

=Actually,
=There is no habit.

=...Huh?

=But we've still managed to get at Mizuhashi, haven't we?
=To be precise,

=I created a habit for him.

When I went over to talk to the batter just now, I purposely spoke loud enough for the catcher to hear me.
I said, "When Mizuhashi throws the slider, he opens his glove".

=But... Didn't you correct yourself right afterwards and say "His gloves closes"?
=I heard that too.
=Same.
=True... I did correct myself.


<159>
=But that time, I said it so the catcher couldn't hear me.

And that catcher took the timeout just like I wanted.
He told Mizuhashi
"Your glove opens when you throw your slider".

=Actually, Mizuhashi had his glove open all the time, whether or not it was a slider. But now that the catcher's warned him, he's started to intentionally close his glove when he throws the slider. This means,

=He's gotten himself a habit now.

...Unbelievable
To think he planned that far ahead...

...How cunning can this guy get...?


<160>
The Lycaons lineup is now unstoppable.

Getting 4 more hits from Mizuhashi,

They've managed to force the ace reliever to hit the showers,

And score 6 runs in this inning...

Making it a 1-run game.
OHHH

=I don't like this!!
GATHUCK

=Call the dugout!
=Yes Sir...
*panic panic*

=The only important thing about a low probability is...
=It's not zero


<161>
=Yoshida...
=Call from the owner.

=Hello
=Yes...
=Yes.

=Get back on defense if there's a chance next inning!!
=Beg Tokuchi if you have to!!

=They're getting used to the 8-man formation... So get back in there and screw them up. Understand?

=Yes sir.

=After that spurt of offense last inning, the Lycaons are now in a huge pinch!!

=One out, runners on the corners.
=Will Tokuchi finally be giving up a run!?

=Tokuchi


<162>
=Could you...
=Put me back on defense?

=Please...

=Ohh—Looks like Yoshida's returned to his position!

=So Yoshida admitted he was at fault?
=No... He's just setting his feelings aside for the sake of this game.
=...Admirable decision on his part.


<163>
Heh-heh-heh
You fell for it Tokuchi.

=You didn't think it was a trap, did you?

=Now up is Eagles power-hitter Mitchell.

=First pitch from Tokuchi

=He throws it!


<164>
=He hits it!!

=Blazing line drive to the shortstop's right!!

=Yess!!
=It's right next to Yoshida!

=Hup...


<165>
=Yoshida's got it—!!
SWAAP

=Whaat!?
=Yoshida makes a fine play!!

=The throw for the 6-4-3...


<166>
=Double play!!
OHHHHH

=Yoshida gets back on defense...

=And saves the Lycaons with some nice glove work—!!


Proofread by quantula